According to a court motion filed by one of President Trump’s co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case‚ Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis hired an alleged romantic partner to prosecute Trump. The court filing‚ which argued the criminal charges were unconstitutional‚ alleges Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade had engaged in a “romantic relationship.” It also alleges that Wade‚ a private attorney‚ paid for extravagant vacations he took with Willis using the Fulton County funds his law firm received. “County records show that Wade‚ who has played a prominent role in the election interference case‚ has been paid nearly $654‚000 in legal fees since January 2022. The DA authorizes his compensation‚” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. WATCH: BREAKING: Fulton County DA Fani Willis' unexperienced LOVER was paid $1 MILLION in legal fees to go after President Trump. The level of corruption being revealed is on the scale we've never seen before. pic.twitter.com/B7jxW33iZU — QᵁᴱᴱᴺᴹᴬᴳᴬᵁᴸᵀᴿA (@QueenMAGAUltra) January 9‚ 2024 In the filing seeking to dismiss the charges‚ Trump co-defendant Michael Roman accused Willis and Wade of traveling together and being seen together around Atlanta in a personal capacity. More from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The motion‚ filed on behalf of defendant Michael Roman‚ a former Trump campaign official‚ seeks to have the charges against Roman dismissed and for Willis‚ Wade and the entire DA’s office to be disqualified from further prosecution of the case. Pallavi Bailey‚ a Willis spokeswoman‚ said the DA’s office will respond to Roman’s allegations “through appropriate court filings.” Wade did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The document offers no concrete proof of the romantic ties between Willis and Wade‚ but says “sources close to both the special prosecutor and the district attorney have confirmed they had an ongoing‚ personal relationship.” Roman’s lawyer‚ Ashleigh Merchant‚ said she reviewed the case file in Wade’s ongoing divorce proceedings at the Superior Court Clerk’s Office and made copies of certain documents. But the case file was later improperly sealed because no court hearing was held as required by law‚ the motion said. Because the case remains under seal‚ Merchant said she is not sharing the information she obtained from the divorce file until the seal is lifted. She also said she is asking a judge to unseal the case file. It is unclear if the explosive issues raised in the filing undermine the validity of the indictment against Trump and the remaining 14 co-defendants or simply muddy the waters by questioning Willis’ professional ethics. JUST IN: NEW LEGAL FILINGS IN GEORGIA REVEAL FANI WILLIS SEXUAL AFFAIR WITH PRIVATE LAWYER WHO WAS PAID BY HER OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE DONALD TRUMP! Fulton County DA Fani Willis was having a sexual affair with private lawyer Nathan Wade who was paid to INVESTIGATE… pic.twitter.com/LWyl5ORuA9 — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 9‚ 2024 “The district attorney chose to appoint her romantic partner‚ who at all times relevant to this prosecution has been a married man‚” attorney Ashleigh Merchant wrote‚ according to NBC News. Per NBC News: When reached for comment‚ Merchant addressed the lack of evidence in Monday’s filing‚ saying that she cannot share some of it until Wade’s divorce records are unsealed. “At a hearing‚ the concrete evidence would be presented. So‚ when we get a hearing‚ there would be concrete evidence and obviously that could be in the form of two of the prosecution team members‚” she said‚ referring to Willis and Wade potentially testifying. Merchant added that she has asked a Cobb County judge to unseal Wade’s divorce records. Roman worked for Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. In addition to the racketeering charge‚ he is accused of conspiring to organize “alternate electors” to cast votes for Trump after President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Four defendants in the case have pleaded guilty‚ while Roman and Trump‚ who faces 13 criminal counts‚ have pleaded not guilty. Read the filing HERE.

Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN)‚ brother of former Vice President Mike Pence‚ announced Tuesday he’s retiring from Congress. “In 2017‚ I ran for Congress because I was Ready to Serve Again. As a former Marine Officer‚ I approached the job with purpose. After three terms‚ I’ve made the decision to not file for reelection‚” Pence said in a statement posted to X. pic.twitter.com/55wv9Fe7lY — Rep. Greg Pence (@RepGregPence) January 9‚ 2024 Just in: Indiana GOP Congressman Greg Pence who is Mike Pence older brother has announced he is retiring in 2024. pic.twitter.com/sqlATGhMFX — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) January 9‚ 2024 Pence is the latest GOP public servant to announce their departure from Capitol Hill. Per Axios: First elected in 2018‚ Pence holds a widely sought-after seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Pence is the fourth Republican to announce this month plans to retire from Congress – out of a dozen retiring House Republicans overall. Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.)‚ Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.)‚ all of whom have been in Congress more than a decade and are senior members of their respective committees‚ aren’t running this year. Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) also announced this month he will run for Senate rather than his House seat‚ and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) plans to retire earlier than expected. Rep. Greg Pence will retire from Congress at the end of the term‚ marking six years of service. https://t.co/JUyngmwqsM pic.twitter.com/BNzzVbcRdM — The Hill (@thehill) January 9‚ 2024 Indiana Capital Chronicle added: Pence‚ brother of former Indiana Gov. and Vice President Mike Pence‚ represents the 6th Congressional District‚ which covers central eastern Indiana and some counties south of Marion County — including his hometown of Columbus. Greg Pence joined the Marine Corps in 1979‚ rising to the rank of first lieutenant after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago‚ according to his congressional bio. Following his honorably discharge‚ he joined the energy distribution industry and currently serves on Congress’ energy committee. Some of Greg Pence’s biggest priorities‚ according to his website‚ include: limited government‚ fiscal responsibility‚ economic development‚ domestic energy production and the protection of conservative Hoosier values in Washington. He could be a possible running mate should Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch win the GOP nomination for governor. Republicans are clinging to an extremely slim House majority. After Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) departs later this month‚ the GOP will have a 219-213 majority. From The Hill: House Republicans’ already-slim majority will dwindle even further later this month when Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) resigns earlier than expected. Johnson’s office on Tuesday confirmed the congressman’s new official resignation date of Jan. 21‚ after he was expected to resign to take a job as president of Youngstown State University before mid-March. The resignation will leave the House with 219 Republicans‚ 213 Democrats‚ and three vacancies — meaning Republicans will be able to afford to lose only two votes on any party-line measure‚ assuming full attendance. Currently‚ the Republicans have a three-vote cushion‚ with the resignation of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Dec. 31 and the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) accounting for the two other vacancies.

Ray Epps‚ the man filmed multiple times telling protestors to go inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6‚ 2021‚ was sentenced to 12 months probation. Epps will spend no time in prison for his role that day. He was given: 12 months probation $500 in restitution 100 hours of community service “Ray Epps‚ the only January 6 protester who actually told people to go into the Capitol‚ has been officially sentenced to one year probation‚ $500 restitution‚ and 100 hours community service. While many J6 protesters are rotting in jail for non-violent crimes‚ Epps escapes a prison term entirely‚” Greg Price wrote. Price shared footage of Epps telling protestors to go inside the U.S. Capitol: BREAKING: Ray Epps‚ the only January 6 protester who actually told people to go into the Capitol‚ has been officially sentenced to one year probation‚ $500 restitution‚ and 100 hours community service. While many J6 protesters are rotting in jail for non-violent crimes‚ Epps… pic.twitter.com/qPWwktAPbu — Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 9‚ 2024 “For reference‚ the average sentence a January 6 defendant has received is 3 years. For those who receive guilty pleas like Epps did‚ it has been two years. Yet for some reason the guy who instigated the Capitol riot has escaped with probation and community service‚” Price continued. For reference‚ the average sentence a January 6 defendant has received is 3 years. For those who receive guilty pleas like Epps did‚ it has been two years. Yet for some reason the guy who instigated the Capitol riot has escaped with probation and community service. — Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 9‚ 2024 “This verdict does seem weirdly weak‚” Elon Musk commented. “Not only that but he was able to phone in to his sentencing hearing whereas most of the J6 defendants had to be present in the courtroom‚” Price noted. Not only that but he was able to phone in to his sentencing hearing whereas most of the J6 defendants had to be present in the courtroom — Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 9‚ 2024 “Ray Epps‚ the man who took credit for “orchestrating” January 6th by encouraging people to raid the Capitol‚ has been sentenced to 12 MONTHS PROBATION. He will receive ZERO jail time. Meanwhile‚ there are truly peaceful protestors ROTTING in prison simply for wandering onto Capitol grounds. As expected‚ this is a total miscarriage of Justice. Does anyone actually believe Epps is NOT a federal asset?” journalist Nick Sortor questioned. #BREAKING: Ray Epps‚ the man who took credit for “orchestrating” January 6th by encouraging people to raid the Capitol‚ has been sentenced to 12 MONTHS PROBATION. He will receive ZERO jail time. Meanwhile‚ there are truly peaceful protestors ROTTING in prison simply for… pic.twitter.com/3cd0RdrrD3 — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 9‚ 2024 The Associated Press reports: Ray Epps‚ a former Arizona resident who was driven into hiding by death threats‚ pleaded guilty in September to a misdemeanor charge. He received no jail time‚ and there were no restrictions placed on his travel during his probation‚ but he will have to serve 100 hours of community service. He appeared remotely by video conference and wasn’t in the Washington‚ D.C.‚ courtroom when Chief Judge James Boasberg sentenced him. Epps’ sentencing took place in the same building where Trump was attending an appeals court hearing as the Republican former president’s lawyers argued he’s immune from prosecution on charges he plotted to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost. “Ray Epps‚ the man who directed people to go into the Capitol and privately claimed credit for orchestrating the Capitol breach‚ gets one year probation. Nothing to see here!” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said. “Strange‚” Elon Musk replied. Strange — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9‚ 2024 Per Zero Hedge: According to Epps’ sentencing memorandum‚ Epps should have served 6 months in jail. “Although Epps engaged in felonious conduct during the riot on January 6‚ his case includes a variety of distinctive and compelling mitigating factors‚ which led the government to exercise its prosecutorial discretion and offer Epps a pre-indictment misdemeanor plea resolution‚” wrote DOJ senior trial counsel Michael Gordon in the sentencing memo. Epps’ attorney‚ Edward Ungvarsky‚ argued that Epps should serve no jail time‚ and that “right-wing political dramaturges” resulted in Epps being “attacked‚ defamed‚ and vilified.” According to the sentencing memorandum‚ Gordon asserted that Epps “has been the target of a false and widespread conspiracy theory that he was an undercover government agent on January 6.” Other mitigating factors included Epps calling the FBI on Jan. 8‚ 2021 to explain his actions two days prior. Further‚ Gordon listed his cooperation with both the FBI and the now-defunct House Jan. 6 Select Committee (which lost video evidence of their witness interviews)‚ and what the DOJ describes as his efforts to de-escalate tensions between protesters and the police. “Epps only acted in furtherance of his own misguided belief in the ‘lie’ that the 2020 presidential election had been ‘stolen‚'” reads the memorandum. “However‚ due to the outrage directed at Epps as a result of that false conspiracy theory‚ he has been forced to sell his business‚ move to a different state‚ and live reclusively.” As the Epoch Times reports further‚ Epps’ photo was removed from the FBI’s Jan. 6 most-wanted page without explanation. On Sept. 18‚ 2023‚ prosecutors charged Mr. Epps with one count of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds‚ a petty misdemeanor with a maximum six-month jail term. On Sept. 21‚ 2023‚ Mr. Epps pleaded guilty to the charge. In mere days‚ the high-profile case was dispatched‚ a stark contrast to many Jan. 6 prosecutions that have stretched across nearly three years.

Beirut‚ Lebanon — An Islamic State group attack killed at least 14 soldiers aboard a military bus in the Syrian desert Tuesday‚ a war monitor said‚ in the second such attack this year. "At least 14 members of the regime forces were killed" and several others wounded "in a bloody IS attack on a military bus" in the desert near the ancient city of Palmyra‚ the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syria's defense ministry confirmed the attack in a statement issued later‚ but gave a lower death toll. It said eight soldiers had been killed in a "terrorist attack" on an army bus in the desert‚ south of Palmyra. Last week‚ IS killed nine Syrian government soldiers and militiamen in an attack on military posts in the eastern desert‚ according to the Britain-based Observatory. IS proclaimed a "caliphate" in June 2014 across swathes of Syria and Iraq and launched a reign of terror. It was defeated territorially in Syria in 2019 but its remnants continue to carry out deadly hit-and-run attacks and ambushes‚ particularly from desert hideouts‚ targeting both pro-government forces and Kurdish-led fighters. More than half a million people have been killed in the civil war which erupted in Syria in 2011 after Damascus brutally suppressed anti-government protests.

Magnum guitarist and co-founder Tony Clarkin has passed away‚ it has been confirmed

Bodega share news of their third album Our Brand Could Be Yr Life and drop new single Tarkovski‚ inspired by the famous Russian film director of the same name