Ted Cruz Under Investigation for Breaking Campaign Finance Laws

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Tuesday April 09, 2024 · 8:34 AM PDT

2024/04/09 · 08:34

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks to members of the press outside the â€œAI Insight Forumâ€ at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on September 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Lawmakers are seeking input from business leaders in the artificial intelligence sector, and some of their most ardent opponents, for writing legislation governing the rapidly evolving technology. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

BREAKING: @CampaignLegal has filed a complaint against @tedcruz alleging his scheme to produce a podcast for @iHeartRadio and funnel the money to a Super PAC supporting his campaign violates federal law pic.twitter.com/7zmpJDkS0z
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) April 9, 2024

1. After Citizens United, there are few restrictions on spending money in federal elections

But @tedcruz may have violated one of the last legal guardrails to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of his reelection campaign

Follow along if interested 🧵 pic.twitter.com/fnGHMh8bnc
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) April 8, 2024

It’s illegal to raise money for a Super PAC supporting you — but Ted Cruz has been doing just that.

In exchange for “volunteering” as a podcast host, iHeartRadio dumped $630k into his Super PAC, while also lobbying for bills handled by Cruz's committees.

This is corruption. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yL2KMiVOSw
— Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) April 8, 2024

NEW: We filed an FEC complaint with @CampaignLegal calling for an investigation into Senator Ted Cruz for directing over $630,000 from iHeartMedia to a super PAC supporting his campaign.

He needs to be held accountable.https://t.co/j84uMHT9oo
— End Citizens United (@StopBigMoney) April 9, 2024

Vote him out!

There is no more loathsome, dishonest traitor in the Senate than Ted Cruz. His goal is to bring his brand of radical right wing Theocracy to SCOTUS.

Democrat, Colin Allred can defeat Cruz in Texas. This will help women receive healthcare, promote public education, pass gun… pic.twitter.com/cEhHCKKT62
— Southern Sister Resister - Wordsmith #IAmTheStorm (@ResisterSis20) April 9, 2024

colinallred.com

New Last-Ditch Attempt to Avert Manhattan Trial

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Monday April 08, 2024 · 9:58 AM PDT

2024/04/08 · 09:58

Breaking….

New York Times (gift link)

Trump to Sue Judge in Last-Ditch Attempt to Avert Manhattan Trial

Donald J. Trump’s lawyers indicated they would file an action asking an appeals court to delay the first prosecution of a former president. The move is unlikely to succeed.

Mr. Trump’s unorthodox move — essentially an appeal in the form of a lawsuit — is unlikely to succeed, particularly so close to trial. And the appeals court might act fast to reject it. A single appeals court judge will most likely issue a preliminary ruling on Monday, setting up a full five-judge panel to consider Mr. Trump’s request in the coming days.

...

In a separate filing with the appeals court on Monday, Mr. Trump was expected to ask the court to move the trial outside Manhattan. The request reflects his deep unpopularity in the solidly Democratic borough.

….

Mr. Trump’s lawyers have tried several times to delay the trial, but this is their first attempt in an appeals court. The former president, who is again the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is aiming to push all four of his criminal cases past Election Day. If he wins, the cases are likely to grind to a halt.

Trump sues judge in last-minute attempt to delay Stormy Daniels trial: report.
Trump is making a mockery of our legal system and he will continue to do it until the system stands up to his efforts and imposes some meaningful consequences on him. https://t.co/nZa78cwT0k
— James Hughes (@JamesHu29812484) April 8, 2024

DENIED: No change of venue for the election interference hush money trial. SAD! https://t.co/1jcUIHj7hB
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) April 8, 2024

Cannon Rules on Presidential Records Act

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Thursday April 04, 2024 · 12:30 PM PDT

2024/04/04 · 12:30

220906162006-aileen-cannon-and-donald-trump-full-169.jpg

Breaking

Judge Cannon just rejected Trump's bogus Presidential Records Act defense, but only for now. She has (weirdly and pointedly) refused to actually decide the issue, despite Jack Smith's warning that double jeopardy would then apply. I think Smith has no choice but to go to the 11th… pic.twitter.com/JcQzqOCJEl
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) April 4, 2024

I agree. I think Mandamus is the only option. Her remarks at the end were basically inviting him to do so. “The parties remain free to avail itself of whatever appellate options it sees fit to invoke.” pic.twitter.com/PrlpGccbDC
— Danielle (@judicialmermaid) April 4, 2024

Jack Smith literally and figuratively lays down the law. The disqualification bucket runneth over, and it’s time for a motion to remove Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon from presiding over a case involving a defendant to whom she owes her job: pic.twitter.com/dYK2aEiOqK
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) April 4, 2024

Paxton's Charges Dropped

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Tuesday March 26, 2024 · 7:40 AM PDT

2024/03/26 · 07:40

FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017. The Texas attorney general who survived a historic impeachment trial last year made a Super Tuesday primary a bitter Republican-on-Republican brawl, targeting the House speaker and dozens of other lawmakers who had sought his ouster. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

Breaking

Breaking: Prosecutors on Tuesday agreed to drop the securities fraud charges facing Texas AG Ken Paxton if he performs community service and fulfills other conditions of a pretrial agreement, bringing an abrupt end to the nearly nine-year-old felony case. https://t.co/rv5xgg0miQ
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 26, 2024

What a joke. So one of our top officials whose job is to hold other accountable for breaking the law gets to break the law with a slap on the wrist. Texas corruption at its finest.

I’m in Houston to watch as AG Ken Paxton cuts a deal to have the fraud charges against him dropped.

I’ve been following this story since Paxton was indicted 9 yrs ago.

Top of mind: why would prosecutors cut a deal now, 2 weeks before trial? #txlege https://t.co/pPtMdfebVh
— Lauren McGaughy 🎧 (@lmcgaughy) March 26, 2024

This is especially disheartening coming on the heels of yesterdays lenient treatment of Trump!

Going out on a limb to suggest that what's wrong with Paxton won't be fixed by 15 hours of ethics education. https://t.co/cmdFnQMJqA
— Bryan Edward Stone 🗽 (שָׁלוֹם) (@bestoneTX) March 26, 2024

Supremes Side with Texas on Border

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Tuesday March 19, 2024 · 12:02 PM PDT

2024/03/19 · 12:02

The map for the Texas Senate race in 2018. Sen, Ted Cruz narrowly won re-election that year.

Beginning this moment, Texas law enforcement officers can arrest any person in the state they believe crossed illegally. And judges can now order people to walk back into Mexico at threat of 20 years in prison if they don't—even if the person has federal permission to be here. https://t.co/w0aucax3Xo
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) March 19, 2024

NEW: "The court gives a green light to a law that will upend the longstanding federal-state balance of power and sow chaos." - Justice Sotomayor on SCOTUS allowing Texas to run a rogue immigration policy pending litigation. SCOTUS has a legitimacy problem. https://t.co/mUQcslFDJV
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) March 19, 2024

🚨🚨 HUGE WIN: Texas has defeated the Biden Administration’s and ACLU’s emergency motions at the Supreme Court. Our immigration law, SB 4, is now in effect. As always, it’s my honor to defend Texas and its sovereignty, and to lead us to victory in court.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 19, 2024

Texas officials can begin arresting and deporting migrants after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to further delay a new state law that seizes immigration enforcement authority long left to the federal government. https://t.co/GVloEJJUFR
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) March 19, 2024

It’s only a huge win for people like you. The rest of us don’t support “show us your papers” nonsense. https://t.co/pBIScGWjwG
— Rhonda Hart-For Congress Texas CD 14 (@KimsMom3) March 19, 2024

Fulton County Judge Rules

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Friday March 15, 2024 · 6:13 AM PDT

2024/03/15 · 06:13

FILE- Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides over a hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. Scott McAfee, who's presiding over the election interference case, drew two challengers Friday, March 8, 2024, for his nonpartisan race in May: civil rights attorney Robert Patillo and Tiffani Johnson, a staff attorney for another Fulton County judge. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool, File)

Breaking

Man is not a plan. He’s out.
— donna harris (@DonnaFreeatLast) March 15, 2024

MCAFEE blated Willis for a "tremendous lapse in judgment" and said he may be prepared to issue a gag order on the prosecution for her out of court statements on the matter. But he said that was not the motion before him — yet.https://t.co/21usblJdm0 pic.twitter.com/gbXeIphDeT
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) March 15, 2024

McAfee: “This finding is by no means an indication that the Court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the District Attorney’s testimony during the evidentiary hearing."
— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) March 15, 2024

Nathan Wade has resigned from his role as special prosecutor in Trump's RICO case, eliminating the appearance of a conflict of interest, and now the case can continue.
— I Smoked The RNC (@BlackKnight10k) March 15, 2024

Engoron's Big Numbers

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Friday February 16, 2024 · 12:13 PM PST

2024/02/16 · 12:13

Breaking

BREAKING: Trump Hit With Massive Fine in NY. Stripped of business licenses for 3 years. https://t.co/yEYMGFwnvg
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 16, 2024

Long awaited Paxton trial to proceed in April

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Friday February 16, 2024 · 10:36 AM PST

2024/02/16 · 10:36

FILE - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office, May 26, 2023, in Austin, Texas. The Texas Senate is set to gavel in Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, for the impeachment trial of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a formal airing of corruption allegations that could lead Republican lawmakers to oust one of their own as lead lawyer for America's largest red state.(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

The news today in Houston is that a Harris County judge rejected the Texas attorney general's attempt to have his trial dismissed. His latest claim was that the charges have taken too long to go to trial. (I agree that it has taken too long, but that is because he has used every legal trick in the book to delay it.)

Houston Chronicle

Paxton, 61, is accused of encouraging investors in 2011 to invest in a technology startup, failing to disclose that the firm paid him for those referrals. In a separate charge, officials allege Paxton solicited clients for a friend's investment company without registering himself as an adviser with the state.

The attorney general blamed the special prosecutors for trying for years to seek additional payment from Collin County, where the case began, for the bulk of the delay. Paxton’s lawyer, Dan Cogdell, said his client had nothing to do with that delay – a contention that prosecutors disputed.

Judge Andrea Beall asked both sides to tally the number of days Paxton had spent behind bars and how many court appearances he had made.

(His jail time has amounted to about a day after he quickly made bail.)

Note this case is from 6/3/2015.

It’s about time!

Texas Defies Supreme Court and Sets Up More Razor Wire

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Tuesday January 23, 2024 · 1:51 PM PST

2024/01/23 · 13:51

BREAKING

DEVELOPING IN TEXAS: Texas National Guard putting up more razor wire and barriers at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass Texas, defying Supreme Court ruling. WATCH pic.twitter.com/xv35UXiR9c
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) January 23, 2024

Republicans are defying the Supreme Court. Because they don’t believe in our democracy anymore. They are dangerous and must be defeated. https://t.co/w4k3cjHA1O
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) January 23, 2024

In a new statement, the Texas National Guard says it “continues to hold the line in Shelby Park to deter and prevent unlawful entry into the State of Texas. We remain resolute in our actions to secure our border, preserve the rule of law, and protect the sovereignty of our State” pic.twitter.com/vy4k3aZhvG
— Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) January 23, 2024

HISTORIC BORDER SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OF TEXAS 🚨

Texas officials say they will ‘hold the line’ and not allow BP agents into Shelby Park to access to the razor wire

This comes as SCOTUS gave the Biden administration a temporary victory ruling… pic.twitter.com/pf58AJI1b8
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) January 23, 2024

Rudy Verdict: Pay The Ladies

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Friday December 15, 2023 · 1:24 PM PST

2023/12/15 · 13:24

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to reporters as he leaves the federal courthouse in Washington, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. The trial will determine how much Giuliani will have to pay two Georgia election workers who he falsely accused of fraud while pushing President Donald Trump's baseless claims after he lost the 2020 election. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Over the course of 2 days, an 8-person jury has been deliberating about the amount of damages owed by Rudy Giuliani in defamation case brought by Georgia election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman.

Unanimous verdict: Rudy Giuliani hit with $148M verdict for defaming two Georgia election workers

Lengthy verdict form

Compensatory damages: $16,171,000 for Ruby Freeman

$16,998,000 for Shaye Moss

Intentional infliction of emotional distress

$20,000,000 for Ruby

$20,000,000 for Shaye

Punitive damages — $75 million

Not going to lie. Weekend hasn’t even started but a massive jury verdict against Rudy for what he did to destroy the lives of two innocent election workers in Georgia would lock it in as a great weekend.
— Jason Kint (@jason_kint) December 15, 2023

pic.twitter.com/2ZPkuBkgpw
— Rob Johnson (@llccar1) December 15, 2023

Speaker Mike Tampers With Evidence

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Tuesday December 05, 2023 · 9:02 AM PST

2023/12/05 · 09:02

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 11: U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol May 11, 2022 in Washington, DC. Boebert held a news conference to discuss "defunding the Homeland Security Department's Disinformation Governance Board.â€ (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Protecting insurrectionists:

Bank President: We have to blur some of the faces of the bank robbers who participated in the bank robbery because we don’t want them to be retaliated against and to be charged by DOJ

The party of law and order https://t.co/FqasUqmehx
— Pete Strzok (@petestrzok) December 5, 2023

TFW Speaker Mike confesses to tampering with evidence. Seems obstructiony. https://t.co/i4OcOZj0PR
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) December 5, 2023

Sidney Powell takes guilty plea!

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Thursday October 19, 2023 · 7:06 AM PDT

2023/10/19 · 07:06

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 23: In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, attorney Sidney Powell poses for her booking photo on August 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Donald Trump and 18 others facing felony charges in the indictment related to tampering with the 2020 election in Georgia have been ordered to turn themselves in by August 25. (Photo by Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images)

Breaking

NEW: Sidney Powell just pled guilty before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to 6 counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties.
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) October 19, 2023

Sidney Powell, leader of the Krakens, pleading guilty to crimes in Georgia is very bad news for criminal defendant Donald Trump. Those of us in the reality-based community knew this for years, but for Powell to join and to commit to testifying truthfully, is devastating for Trump https://t.co/erxx8jC0OH
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) October 19, 2023

Powell is now pleading guilty of six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties pic.twitter.com/EjSAbYwEVh
— Tamar Hallerman (@TamarHallerman) October 19, 2023

NEW: Sidney Powell just pled guilty before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to 6 counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with the performance of election duties.
— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) October 19, 2023

Does Sidney Powell want to run the risk of a sentence of 5 to 20 years in a Georgia state prison? Or might she decide it’s time to cut her losses and testify to what she knows about Trump? New from me for ⁦@MSNBCDaily⁩ https://t.co/7ob2oqOMpN
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) October 19, 2023

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