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Here are the 5 GOP lawmakers trying to oust McCarthy
A rebellion against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is underway after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., followed through on his threats to introduce a motion to vacate.
Gaetz, the ring-leader of a handful of anti-McCarthy Republicans, accused the speaker of reneging on his commitments to conservatives after the House passed a 45-day continuing resolution to fund the government. The measure averted a shutdown, but conservative hardliners argue a continuing resolution breaks GOP campaign promises by extending spending levels set by the last Democratic-controlled Congress.
Because of Gaetz's motion, the House must vote on whether to keep McCarthy as speaker. Though McCarthy is supported by the vast majority of the GOP conference, if Democrats are united in opposition, only five Republicans need to vote against McCarthy to take away his gavel.
As of Tuesday morning, at least five Republican lawmakers, including Gaetz, have said they will vote to oust McCarthy.
MATT GAETZ INTRODUCES MOTION TO VACATE AGAINST HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY
They are Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Bob Good, R-Va., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.
"Last November, I ran for House Speaker because I feared that Kevin McCarthy would not rein in federal spending and take on Democrats. As seen by his latest CR, these fears are now reality. He cannot remain speaker," Biggs wrote on X Monday evening.
Adding to the intrigue is what Democrats could do. If some moderate lawmakers vote "present," then the threshold for McCarthy to remain speaker is lowered, and he will survive the GOP defections.
VOTE TO OUST MCCARTHY AS SPEAKER COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS TUESDAY
Gaetz has accused McCarthy of negotiating a "side deal" with Democrats to bring up a supplemental package with aid for Ukraine in exchange for their help to remain speaker.
Lawmakers removed $6 billion in Ukraine funding from the short-term spending bill that kept the government open, which prompted an objection from Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., that nearly derailed the deal. However, Bennet released a hold on the continuing resolution after he said Senate leadership committed to fully funding Ukraine in a supplemental package.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS LOOK TO EXPEL FLORIDA REP. MATT GAETZ
McCarthy has made no public commitment. However, President Biden told CBS on Sunday there was a deal with McCarthy on Ukraine, though he gave no details.
If true, there is a possible incentive for Democrats to keep McCarthy as speaker to secure a House vote on Ukraine aid.
McCarthy has kept his head held high amid the dissension in his ranks. After Gaetz made his motion, he reacted with just three words in a post on X: "Bring it on."
Fox News' Brandon Gillespie, Tyler Olson, Chad Pergram, Kelly Phares and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
McCarthy vows he won’t make any deals with Democrats to save his speakership
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday that he won’t offer Democrats any deals in exchange for their votes on a motion to vacate his speakership, which the House will begin considering later in the day.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a motion to vacate the speaker's office on Monday. McCarthy can only stand to lose a handful of votes, prompting speculation that he could seek help from across the aisle.
McCarthy, however, quashed the notion on CNBC’s "Squawk Box," declaring, "They haven't asked for anything, and I'm not going to provide anything."
VOTE TO OUST MCCARTHY AS SPEAKER COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS TUESDAY
"Are we now in a situation in our government that we just provided keeping government open, that we're going to play politics with how you become speaker? If that's the case, then I think we've got real problems," he said.
McCarthy said he refuses to put House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries "in any position at all, and I respect whatever decision anybody makes."
McCarthy said Gaetz has had it out for him "from the very beginning."
"He’s been blaming me for an ethics complaint against him that happened in the last Congress I have nothing to do with," McCarthy said. "He wants me to try to wipe that away. I'm not going to do that. That's illegal. And you know what? If someway I lose my job because I uphold the law because I uphold the continuity of government, so be it."
The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Gaetz since 2021 on allegations, including campaign finance violations as well as claims of taking bribes and using drugs — accusations the congressman has vehemently denied. Gaetz also denies allegations leaked from a Justice Department sex trafficking probe said to have involved an underage girl.
Fox News' Daniel Wallace contributed to this report.
Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to federal gun charges out of Special Counsel David Weiss' probe
WILMINGTON, DE—Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to federal gun charges in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware Tuesday morning after being charged out of Special Counsel David Weiss' years-long investigation.
The president's son appeared in person in court for his arraignment Tuesday morning after being charged with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.
With all counts combined, the total maximum prison time for the charges could be up to 25 years. Each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
Biden pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
HUNTER BIDEN TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL GUN CHARGES
Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke presided over the hearing, and laid out the conditions for Hunter Biden's release which require the president's son to seek employment and communicate all international travel plans. Biden also is prohibited from possessing a firearm and using alcohol and/or drugs. Biden also is required to get drug tested randomly and participate in a substance abuse counseling program.
Burke said the conditions are "appropriate," and both the government and defense agreed.
Burke explained that both the government and the defense have a deadline of Nov. 3, 2023 to file any motions.
Hunter Biden defense attorney Abbe Lowell notified Burke that the defense plans to file a motion to dismiss, due to the diversion agreement on the gun charges, which he said he believes is still in effect.
The diversion agreement was included as part of the original plea deal that collapsed in July. Biden was set to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax, which would allow him to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge. That deal fell apart during his last court appearance. The president's son, in July, was then forced to plead not guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and one felony gun charge when the deal collapsed in court.
The federal gun charges are the first charges Weiss has brought against Hunter since being granted special counsel status by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August.
Lowell also said the defense's motion to dismiss would include an argument regarding the constitutionality of the statutes that, he said, have been discussed. Lowell added that he will also be making a request for an evidentiary hearing.
The government was represented by federal prosecutors Leo Wise and Derek Hines. Weiss was not present.
According to the indictment, "on or about October 12, 2018, in the District of Delaware, the defendant, Robert Hunter Biden, in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, that is, a Colt Cobra 38SPL Revolver with serial number RA 551363…knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement, intended and likely to deceive that dealer with respect to a fact material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm…in that the defendant, Robert Hunter Biden, provided a written statement on Form 4473 certifying he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance, when in fact, as he knew, that statement was false and fictitious."
The indictment also states that "on or about October 12, 2018, through on or about October 23, 2018, in the District of Delaware, the defendant Robert Hunter Biden, knowing that he was an unlawful user of and addicted to any stimulant, narcotic drug, and any other controlled substance…did knowingly possess a firearm, that is, a Colt Cobra 38SPL revolver with serial number RA 551363, said firearm having been shipped and transported in interstate commerce."
Fox News first reported in 2021 that police had responded to an incident in 2018, when a gun owned by Hunter was thrown into a trash can outside a market in Delaware.
HUNTER BIDEN INDICTED ON FEDERAL GUN CHARGES
A source with knowledge of the Oct. 23, 2018, police report told Fox News that it indicated that Hallie Biden, who is the widow of President Biden's late son, Beau, and who was in a relationship with Hunter at the time, threw a gun owned by Hunter in a dumpster behind a market near a school.
A firearm transaction report reviewed by Fox News indicated that Hunter purchased a gun earlier that month.
On the firearm transaction report, Hunter answered in the negative when asked if he was "an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance."
Hunter was discharged from the Navy in 2014 after testing positive for cocaine.
His attorneys, who initially requested for the court appearance to take place via video conference, signaled that he would plead not guilty to the charges earlier last month. Burke rejected Hunter's request, saying he should not receive special treatment.
"In the end, the Court agrees with both the Defendant and the Government, that Defendant should not receive special treatment in this matter — absent some unusual circumstance, he should be treated just as would any other defendant in our Court," Burke stated in a filing last month.
Ohio Senate hopeful who proposed reparations for descendants of Civil War soldiers raises $4M in third quarter
Bernie Moreno, a U.S. Senate candidate vying for the Republican nomination to take on three-term incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown next year, has reportedly raised $4 million in the third quarter, according to campaign finance disclosures, and $3 million of that has come out of his own pocket.
The wealthy Cleveland businessman, who has received praise from former President Donald Trump, also announced he has about $5 million in cash on hand.
The Republican's campaign provided those figures to Politico ahead of the Oct. 15 disclosure deadline with the Federal Elections Commission.
Moreno, who made headlines earlier this year for suggesting reparations for White descendants of Civil War soldiers at a campaign stop, is one of the first major Senate Republican candidates to reveal his campaign haul for the third quarter, which spans from July 1 to Sept. 30.
OHIO DEMOCRAT EARMARKED A 6-FIGURE AMOUNT TO GROUP THAT PROMOTED 'DRAG QUEEN SONG AND STORY TIME'
Moreno previously said he raised nearly $2.3 million in the second quarter. This is his second bid for the U.S. Senate after a short-lived primary run in 2022.
Trump, who played a key role in throwing support behind candidates in the midterms, praised Moreno in a TRUTH Social post in April but has not yet endorsed a candidate in the 2024 race.
"Word is that Bernie Moreno, the highly respected businessman from the GREAT STATE of OHIO, and the father-in-law of fantastic young Congressman, Max Miller, is thinking of running for the Senate. He would not be easy to beat, especially against Brown, one of the worst in the Senate!" Trump wrote.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, considered a top ally to Trump, endorsed Moreno in May.
"Thrilled to endorse Bernie Moreno for senate. He’s a good friend, a job creator, and will be a fantastic senator. We’d make a hell of a team!" Vance wrote on X, still known as Twitter at the time.
Besides Moreno, considered a political outsider, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and State Sen. Matt Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, are also vying for the GOP nomination to take on Brown. Roll Call considers Brown one of the most vulnerable Democrat incumbents in the 2023 election.
Both Moreno and Dolan have the ability to finance their campaigns by dipping into their own fortunes. In the 2022 race, Moreno reported more than $3 million in self-financing, according to Politico.
Initial vote on whether to remove McCarthy as speaker set for Tuesday
The initial vote to vacate Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as House speaker will come Tuesday after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., first introduced the motion Monday night, Fox News Digital has learned.
Gaetz, a frequent McCarthy critic, introduced a motion to vacate on Monday. Tuesday's vote will determine whether it advances to a committee vote.
The last time the House faced such a vote was in 1910 with Speaker Joe Cannon, R-Ill.
MATT GAETZ INTRODUCES MOTION TO VACATE AGAINST HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY
McCarthy can only stand to lose a handful of votes, prompting speculation that he could seek help from across the aisle. He told CNBC on Tuesday, however, that he won’t offer Democrats any deals in exchange for their votes on a motion to vacate his speakership.
"They haven't asked for anything, and I'm not going to provide anything," he said.
VOTE TO OUST MCCARTHY AS SPEAKER COULD HAPPEN AS EARLY AS TUESDAY
"Are we now in a situation in our government that we just provided keeping government open, that we're going to play politics with how you become speaker? If that's the case, then I think we've got real problems," he said.
McCarthy said he refuses to put House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries "in any position at all, and I respect whatever decision anybody makes."
McCarthy said Gaetz has had it out for him "from the very beginning."
"He’s been blaming me for an ethics complaint against him that happened in the last Congress I have nothing to do with," McCarthy said. "He wants me to try to wipe that away. I'm not going to do that. That's illegal. And you know what? If some way I lose my job because I uphold the law because I uphold the continuity of government, so be it."
The House Ethics Committee has been investigating Gaetz since 2021 on allegations, including campaign finance violations as well as claims of taking bribes and using drugs — accusations the congressman has vehemently denied. Gaetz also denies allegations leaked from a Justice Department sex trafficking probe said to have involved an underage girl.
Fox News' Daniel Wallace contributed to this report.
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He has been a member of a church affiliated with the racist Black Liberation Theology movement for twenty years.
The Obamas, until recently, had been active members in the Trinity United Church of Christ of Chicago for about 20 years. The "About Us" section of Trinity United website underscores the racial tone and tenor of the church and its purpose: "We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian . . .Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain true to our native land . . .We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community." For new attendees, the church offers a "Black and Christian New Member Class," clearly implying that one cannot be a member of this church if one is not black.
The Trinity United Church of Chicago is a proud member-church of the Black Liberation Theology movement. Much like the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy nor Roman nor an Empire, Black Liberation Theology is neither a theology, nor about Liberation, nor strictly about black people. Black Liberation Theology is a subset of the global Liberation theology movement which was founded in Nicaragua and spawned vicious socialist dictators and rebels such as Che' Guevara. Black Liberation Theology is predicated on the notion of saving dark-skinned people through the gradual extermination of light-skinned people and their beliefs. The father of the Black Liberation Theology movement is James H. Cone and the bible of the Black Liberation Theology Movement is Cone's Black Theology and Black Power. The following is a quote from same book: "Black Theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the Black community. If God is not for us, and against white people, then he is a murderer and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill gods who do not belong to the black community. . . . Black Theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy."
This is the theological backdrop for Barrack Obama' s political activism. This is the church where the bombastic and racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright had served as pastor for the span of that time. Obama has described Wright as his "moral compass," "sounding board," "confidant," and "mentor." Wright married the Obamas and baptized their children. Only after 20 years, strong political pressure, and Wright disavowing Obama, did Obama finally disavow Wright. But Obama never thought to disavow Wright after any of the numerous racist and anti-Israel remarks made by Wright both at and away from the pulpit over the course of 20 years! Obama was also reluctant to reject Louis Farrakhan's endorsement until there was enough media scrutiny on the part of Tim Russert to make that endorsement another liability. Obama has a proven track record in doing what is politically wise, not morally wise.
Indeed, The Obamas not only had a personal relationship with Wright, but also a professional and financial one; The Obamas donated over $20,000 toward subsidizing Wright's activities, and until a few months ago, Wright sat on Obama's "African American Religious Leadership Committee." Obama misused the Trinity Church's tax-exempt status by giving a campaign speech which included campaign promises in a lecture he gave to the congregation in June of 2007. Obama borrowed the title of his book – "The Audacity of Hope" – from one of Reverend Wright's sermons.
The following words contained in Wright's sermons are well known, but what's not known is how they represent just the tip of the racist iceberg that is the Trinity United Church of Chicago:
"Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich, white people; Hillary would never know that, Hillary ain't never been called a nigger".
"God damn America!"
Wright's explanation of the horrors of 9-11 is "America's chickens coming home to roost." Wright typically refers to America as the "U.S. of KKK A."
"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans," he said, "and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards."
When many of these comments finally surfaced in the media, Obama originally responded by saying, "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community," implying that the entire black community is racist and ignorant, and we should all come to expect and accept that fact!
Rev. Wright is an anti-Israel activist who has given sermons at Trinity United calling for the US to cease and desist from all aid to Israel. Wright publicly accused Israel of working with South Africa to build an "ethnic bomb" to kill Negroes and Arabs. Rev. Wright also allowed his church bulletin to publish an editorial by a Hamas terrorist named Marzook entitled, "A Fresh View of the Palestinian Struggle." Wright is also good friends with fierce and notorious anti-Semite, Louis Farrrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam movement. This same Farrakhan, who called Jews "bloodsuckers," was the recipient of an award from the Trinity United Church. The church's magazine also honored Louis Farrakhan in its front cover. Barrack Obama has yet to publicly condemn the granting of this award. In fact, all the evidence suggests that Obama, himself, has had a close relationship with Farrakhan. Obama even chose to march with Farrakhan in the Million Man March of 1995 despite the Anti-Defamation League pleading with African American leaders not to attend.
And it wasn't just Wright who gave anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sermons at Trinity. Father Pfleger and Reverend James Meeks, both supporters of Louis Farrakhan, have been regular guest speakers at Trinity over the years. When Jewish members of an Illinois state board, mandated with monitoring hate speech, resigned after a fellow board member affiliated with the Nation of Islam refused to denounce Farrakhan's anti-Semitism, Pfleger retorted with the words, "good riddance." Reverend Meeks has been known to scapegoat "Hollywood Jews" for corrupting the moral climate in America.
Barrack Obama may not be racist, much like Wright and Meeks and others who frequented Trinity United; Obama may have just been using the church for his political advantage. As Stanley Kurtz writes in a June 2 National Review Online article, "So Obama's political interest in Trinity went far beyond merely gaining a respectable public Christian identity. On his own account, Obama hoped to use the untapped power of the black church to supercharge hard-left politics in Chicago. He created a personal and institutional political base that would be free to part with conventional Democratic politics." The question voters must pose is, "does it matter?" If a candidate were a member of the KKK for 20 years just for his political advantage, would voters forgive him? So why should they forgive a member of the black version of the KKK?