2024 Elections

Add to the onslaught of crises swamping the election prospects of North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, add conservative donors wondering how money they donated to the controversial lawmaker's campaign has been spent.

According to a New York Times report on Robinson, who was already trailing in his bid for the governorship before CNN dropped a bombshell report about his previous postings on the "Nude Africa" adult website where he called himself a "Black Nazi" and described various sexual acts he enjoys, the exodus of some of his top campaign staffers has opened up new questions.

According to the Times, the departure of chief consultant Conrad Pogorzelski III and finance director of the campaign, Heather Whillier, has led to increased scrutiny of a campaign that already was facing questions.

ALSO READ: Trump's hate-filled rhetoric and its violent consequences

"Some Republican donors also said they questioned how the campaign’s money was being spent. The latest campaign finance report shows that the Robinson campaign had raised $15.8 million as of July," the Times is reporting before adding Pogorzelski pocketed approximately $2 million and The Whillier Group Inc receiving $1.3 million.

According to Heather Dickson, a North Carolina GOP fundraiser, "Donors, elected officials and consultants have been privately raising concerns about Robinson’s excessive spending since the primary, especially on his top two operatives,."

One prominent donor, former chair of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Harry Smith, who admitted he wasn't impressed with Robinson but donated anyway, “I wrote a check for $6,400 early on and very much regret it,” before confessing he would be voting for Robinson's opponent, Democrat Josh Stein.

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After a string of blunders, misrepresentations and outright fabrications that have dogged embattled vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance on the campaign as Donald Trump's running mate, the Ohio Republican is deploying his MAGA fans to run interference for him when confronted with reporters' questions.

According to a report from Politico's Adam Wren, there has been a noticeable change at "historically unpopular" Vance's sparsely-attended rallies where the candidate picks out a reporter to ask him a question and then the pro-Vance crowd surrounding him proceeds to boo and drown out his inquisitor.

Case in point, Wren wrote, "Inside an open-air barn at the Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds, Vance, who favors questions from local reporters before national ones at his events, called on the Traverse City Record-Eagle reporter, who identified himself as the 'hometown' scribe. Before he even got his question out — a relatively anodyne one about housing costs — the reporter endured a hail of boos as the Republican vice presidential nominee smiled" and then commented, "You’re allowed to ask your question; they’re allowed to tell you how they think about it. That’s OK. This is America.”

ALSO READ: 'I want Vance to apologize': We went to Springfield and found community hurt — and divided

According to the reporter in that instance, 65-year-old Peter Kobs, Vance has his own Greek chorus doing his bidding.

“The Greek chorus is there to amplify and, you know, put emotion in it. But hating the media is a juvenile approach to politics," he stated.

According to Jeff Timmer of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, Vance is insulating himself after a series of mistakes and awkward encounters – such as a disastrous visit to a donut shop that went viral — in front of the press.

“He was so bad without a supporting cast, they had to kind of wrap him in this bubble wrap. That’s what the people backing him there are doing. It’s bubble wrap to protect them from smashing his head," he colorfully explained.

According to Robert Schwartz, a “Haley Voters for Harris” Republican, Vance's latest tactic "feels a little hostile."

“I would say it’s important for the candidates to be able to answer questions. So I think that’s a good thing. But using our independent media as a prop to get boo lines? Most Americans rely on the media to ask these questions," he suggested.

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A 61-year-old man ended up in jail on Thursday after he attacked a Black U.S. Postal Service employee after she placed a political mailer for Vice President Kamala Harris in his mailbox.

According to a report from CBS Detroit, Russell Frank Valleau of Farmington Hills is facing charges of one felony count of ethnic intimidation and one misdemeanor count of assault and battery that could lead to "up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000."

The CBS report notes Valleau grew incensed when a mail carrier left the flyer which led him to complain he didn't want "that "Black b***h" in his mailbox.

ALSO READ: Let's call Springfield what it is: Republican-made terrorism

"He's accused of yelling derogatory, racist and sexual remarks about Harris and the carrier, calling the postal carrier a 'Black b***h" and lunging at her with a knife," the report notes. "The postal carrier used pepper spray on Valleau to stop the attack. Farmington Hills police later arrested him in a neighbor's yard.

In a statement, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told reporters, ""In this highly charged political moment, everyone has a right to their political opinion and vote. Whatever our political beliefs, no one should be assaulted or threatened because of their race, or for doing their job. Hate crimes impact all of us, and we will vigorously pursue all such cases."

You can read more details here.

For the second time in less than 24 hours, Donald Trump ranted that he has no intention of suing ABC host David Muir for putting him on the spot during the ex-president's disastrous debate performance when he faced off with Vice President Kamala Harris.

The central object of Trump's ire is Tara Palmeri of Puck News who reported "Trump, of course, is still stewing over what he perceives was unfair treatment during the first debate, especially at the hands of ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir, whom he has told people he plans to sue, according to two sources with direct knowledge. (On what grounds it’s unclear, but it would certainly be for publicity, much like his lawsuit against George Stephanopoulos.)"

Late Friday Trump took to his Truth Social platform to argue, "Fake News sources at Mediaite, whatever that is, report that it is my intention to sue Lightweight Anchor David Muir of ABC for his constant and unagreed to interruptions during the Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris, a Debate which I won, as indicated by the Polls. The report in Mediaite is FAKE NEWS, reposting someone named Tara Palmeri, who I don’t know, but I understand is very close to, and writes for, a competitor. I am not suing David Muir! I should sue him, but there is not enough time - I’m too busy winning the Election, which should not be hard to do when it was just announced that Kamala has let almost 14,000 locked up for life MURDERERS into our Country through the Southern Border!"

ALSO READ: Trump turned politics into a joke — and now he’s the punchline

Apparently, the report is still bothering the former president to the point where he is once again insisting that he came out the victor on debate night with another post on Truth Social.

On Saturday morning he wrote, "It is a totally false story that I am going to sue lightweight anchor David Muir of ABC FAKE NEWS, perhaps the worst and most dishonorable network in broadcasting! Despite an unfair and unethical 3 on 1, I easily won the recent Debate. My sole focus is to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

On Saturday morning, the conservative Wall Street Journal took a deep dive looking into recent comments Donald Trump has made about the Department of Justice and combined those with reports on DOJ changes he reportedly will make if he is re-elected in November.

The Journal's Alex Leary and Sadie Gurman began by explaining that nothing has infuriated the former president more than the DOJ which has led his inner circle to make plans to remake it into a weapon he will be all too willing to use against his perceived enemies.

To bolster their case, they noted a recent Trump statement where he claimed, "OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT AND DISCREDITED, especially as it pertains to the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump,” before singling out the FBI for being obsessed with ‘Getting Trump’ for so long.”

ALSO READ: Behind the legal tactics Trump is using to dodge justice for January 6

The Journal is reporting that plans leaking out of Trump's camp are being received with alarm by some supporters of the former president.

"Trump has repeatedly signaled he could seek retribution against his perceived enemies. This has alarmed many Americans, including some former supporters who think Trump during a second term would be savvier and more determined to bend the institution to his whims. Trump has said winning in November would be his form of retribution," tyhe report states before adding, "Trump and his allies have been considering candidates for attorney general who share his expansive view of presidential authority and would be more willing to do the White House’s bidding."

According to a former Trump lawyer, his desire for revenge should not come as a surprise.

“It’s certainly his character to seek vengeance,” explained former Trump-era White House lawyer Ty Cobb.

With Mike Davis, a legal activist close to Trump, stating, "There needs to be a housecleaning on day one," the Journal added, "Moves Trump has suggested include giving political appointees at the Justice Department greater oversight of the FBI, including its traditionally independent director, shrinking the size and power of its Washington headquarters and affording more resources instead to agents in the field. Some allies have suggested reviewing all of the FBI’s investigations and terminating those they find objectionable."

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