A Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee took President Donald Trump to task over his latest threat to prosecute one of his enemies.
Rep. Rebecca Balint (D-VT) spoke with Raw Story on Thursday after former special counsel Jack Smith testified publicly before the committee on Thursday morning. His testimony came as the Trump administration faces significant pressure on multiple fronts over its failure to release the Jeffrey Epstein files by the deadline required by law and his continued fruitless efforts to prosecute people the president considers enemies, like former FBI Director James Comey and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
Following Smith's testimony, Trump posted on Truth Social that there is "no question" Smith should be prosecuted.
"The president proves our point!" Balint said. "It is all about punishment. It is all about vindictiveness. It's about retribution. The fact that we were making this case that that is what the president is about; he was literally on Truth Social doing it in real time, and my colleagues on the Republican side pretend that it's not what that's about."
Balint also called out her colleagues for supporting Trump's revisionism surrounding the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
"The receipts are there!" Balint said. "They were running away from the January 6 people. They were hiding in their offices, and there they were hours later, saying this was horrible. It's like they've all had lobotomies."
A CNN reporter revealed on Thursday that the vice president's speech in Minneapolis "didn't do a damn thing" to calm tensions in the city after a high-profile killing by an immigration officer.
Sara Sidner, CNN's senior national correspondent, reported on Vice President JD Vance's speech from Minneapolis, where he spoke to the community as he was surrounded by police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The speech happened at a time when tensions are high in Minneapolis after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother who was leaving the scene of an ICE raid in her car.
During the speech, Vance called on protesters to stop "assaulting federal officers." He also blamed local law enforcement for not helping federal agents perform immigration raids.
Sidner's sources told her that Vance's speech seemed to escalate tensions in the city.
"What you're also hearing frompeople is if he came here tocalm things down, what he diddidn't do a damn thing towards thateffort," Sidner said. "People here, I think,will be calm because of what ishappening above us. The weather.Things are going to get so, socold. We're in the negativedegrees as we speak now, andit's only going to get worse.
Sidner reported that protests appear to be organized regardless of the weather.
"There is a planned protestthat will happen tomorrow, whichis not out in the streets," she said. "It'sactually to do nothing to not goshopping, to not engage, to stayaway from helping the economy,for example, to stop and to maketheir voices heard in the mostquiet way possible. By notengaging in anything."
President Donald Trump called for former special counsel Jack Smith to be prosecuted just minutes after he told a House committee that there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict the commander-in-chief.
During a Judiciary Committee hearing, Smith said Trump "was charged because the evidence established that he willfully broke the law, the very laws he took an oath to uphold." Under Smith, the president was charged with attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election and with mishandling classified documents. The charges were later dropped.
Trump reacted to Thursday morning's testimony by calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Smith.
"Jack Smith is a deranged animal, who shouldn't be allowed to practice Law," Trump wrote in a morning post on Truth Social. "If he were a Republican, his license would be taken away from him, and far worse! Hopefully the Attorney General is looking at what he's done."
Apparently, Trump was still fuming when he returned to Truth Social that afternoon, minutes after Smith concluded.
"Based on his testimony today, there is no question that Deranged Jack Smith should be prosecuted for his actions. He destroyed the lives of many innocent people, which has been his history as a prosecutor. At a minimum, he committed large scale perjury!" he exclaimed.
A CNN legal expert revealed something surprising during former special counsel Jack Smith's testimony on Thursday.
Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig described how Smith omitted something in his first public testimony over his investigations of President Donald Trump before the House Judiciary Committee hearing. CNN anchor Briana Keilar asked Honig to respond to the questions involving the timing around Smith's pursuit of going to trial against Trump.
"To your question, Brianna, thelast congressman we saw broughtup the fact that Jack Smithdemanded a trial date fourmonths out, five months out in acase involving 13 million pagesof documents," Honig said. "There is nodefense lawyer in the countrywho can constitutionally preparefor trial and defend his clienton that short of time frame. Theimplication was you were rushingto get this in before the 2024election. Jack Smith did notdefend himself, by the way. Hedidn't say a word about that,which I found, I found strange... And he didn'tdefend."
Smith, who has maintained that he is a nonpartisan prosecutor amid the fiery hearing with Republican and Democratic lawmakers, responded to questions over whether Smith was trying to push the trial for Trump forward ahead of the 2024 elections. At the time, Trump had called for retaliation against people with whom he disagreed politically, which Smith discussed with lawmakers during the hearing.
"And Jack Smith has always maintained this veneer that he never thought about the election. Of course he did," Honig said. "Why would you demand such a quick trial date? But there's a contrast that some of the Democrats made, which is, here you have Donald Trump explicitly calling for prosecutions of people. So some of Jack Smith's conduct gives rise, I think, to a fair conclusion that he was trying to rush it before the election. And Donald Trump is explicitly saying, 'go after this person, DOJ, go after that person who I don't like politically.'"
Smith, a career federal prosecutor, was appointed as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to investigate Trump's handling of classified documents and his role in the events surrounding the Insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Smith led high-profile criminal investigations and prosecutions against Trump on multiple counts, including obstruction of justice and violations of the Espionage Act related to classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, though the cases faced significant legal challenges and delays, with Trump ultimately avoiding trial on these charges following his 2024 election victory.
President Donald Trump on Thursday made a big announcement about an upcoming global event and who he picked to help lead it.
He posted the following on his Truth Social platform: "Today, I am announcing the United States’ intention to bid for the World Expo 2035. The Great State of Florida has expressed strong interest in hosting the Expo in Miami, which I fully support. Miami Expo 2035 can be the next big milestone in our new Golden Age of America."
Trump shared the news just a day after meeting with world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and having major pushback to his demands to seize Greenland and invoke tariffs on European allies in retaliation to their objections — then announcing he had sought a new deal over the Arctic nation.
He also revealed who in his circle will help lead the effort.
"I am appointing Miami native Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Chair the efforts of coordinating and advancing this exciting opportunity to convene the World. We will create thousands of jobs, and add Billions of Dollars in GROWTH, to our Economy. In my First Term as President, I fought hard to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 LA Summer Olympics to the U.S.A. I now have the Honor of hosting as the 47th President, plus America250, G20 Doral, and the G7. I look forward to winning and participating in the Miami Expo 2035!"
Former Capitol Police Officer Michael Fanone responded with profanity after Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) suggested that the Jan. 6 Committee's initial investigation was political.
During a Thursday hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Nehls told former special counsel Jack Smith that his "witch hunt" against President Donald Trump had been "politically motivated."
"To put it bluntly, Mr. Smith, the stink remains on you," Nehls said. "And lastly, I would like to quickly address the police officers on January 6th... I'm a member of the new select committee to actually examine, actually examine what happened that day. And I can tell you, gentlemen, that the fault does not lie with Donald Trump."
"We know, we know they had the intelligence, and there was going to be a high propensity for violence that day," he continued.
With that, Fanone could be heard coughing, followed by the phrase: "Go f--- yourself."
"You will be in order!" Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) exclaimed. "We've had some disruptions already. We don't need that."
After that, Fanone apparently began using gestures to communicate with the lawmaker.
"And last thing, your hand gestures, Mr. Fanone, you need medication," Nehls griped.
A Republican lawmaker Thursday had an unexpected reaction after he asked former special counsel Jack Smith about President Donald Trump's threats.
Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) was questioning Smith during the House Judiciary Committee hearing — the first time Smith has testified publicly on the probes against Trump — when he asked about the gag order the prosecutor sought against the president.
"Mr. Smith, America was founded on theprinciple that the governmentdoesn't silence politicalspeech, in particular speech,before it happens," Cline said. "You sought aprior restraint against President Trump without asingle violation of pretrialrelease. In fact, there was noreal world harm that you couldarticulate, justified givingthe federal government thepower to silence him as apresidential candidate wasthere."
Smith fact-checked Cline.
"The court granted thosemotions and found that theprosecutor did not have to waituntil someone was harmed tomake such a motion," Smith said.
Cline responded, pausing for a moment and stumbling on his words.
"Actually, the request wasrejected when the case wasactually when when you actuallywere not able to, it wasrestricted. Correct? The gagorder was restricted, correct?" Cline said.
Smith clarified what actually happened.
"Well, wewe filed for anorder in the district court.The district court granted anorder," Smith said. "Mr. President Trumpappealed that order. The courtof appeals absolutely agreedthat there was a basis and thatthe threats to witnesses thatcame from the targeting by Donald Trump were real, andthat we had a duty to protectthem. You are correct in thatthe court of appeals narrowedthe order. So the order coveredwitnesses, court staff, thejudge and my staff. Thedifference was that it didn'tcover me anymore, which I wasfine with."
Cline asked Smith if he had any evidence that Trump had threatened him or intimidated witnesses to prevent them from coming forward.
"I had evidence that he said, 'if you come after me, I'm coming after you,'" Smith said. "He asked — he suggested a witness should be put to death. The courts found that those sort of statements not only deter witnesses who've come forward, they deter witnesses who have yet to come forward."
Cline asked Smith if he was able to identify a witness who might have been intimidated by Trump — that's when Smith set the record straight.
"We had extremely thorough evidence that his statements were having an effect on the proceedings," Smith said. "That is not permitted in any court of law in the United States."
Cline tried to push back and argue that he should have reconsidered the gag order. Smith had a sharp response to the suggestion.
"Both courts upheld the orders, and it is not incumbent on a prosecutor to wait until someone gets killed before they move for an order to protect the proceedings," Smith said.
Cline tried to argue that the gag order could have infringed on Trump's First Amendment rights.
"My recollection is that we, of course, discussed First Amendment issues regarding this application because I and my staff respect the First Amendment, but the First Amendment does not allow one to make statements that interfere with the administration, administration of justice, and a judicial proceeding," Smith said.
"My interpretation was supported and agreed upon by the district court and the court of appeals in terms of the phenomena of the statements being made, targeting individuals, causing threats to happen to them, I would I would also add, sir, that in the days after Donald Trump made some of these statements, the district court in this case received vile threats, threats to the district court's life in that environment," Smith added. "I felt a duty as a prosecutor to make that motion, and I make no apologies."
Smith, a career federal prosecutor, was appointed as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to investigate Trump's handling of classified documents and his role in the events surrounding the Insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Smith led high-profile criminal investigations and prosecutions against Trump on multiple counts, including obstruction of justice and violations of the Espionage Act related to classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, though the cases faced significant legal challenges and delays, with Trump ultimately avoiding trial on these charges following his 2024 election victory.
The White House used its social media presence to share at least one image of an alleged anti-ICE protester, which was altered by artificial intelligence.
In an announcement on Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that the DOJ "arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota."
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a photo of Armstrong being arrested on X.
The White House's social media team later altered the image to make Armstrong appear to be crying.
Donald Trump returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos without securing agreement on his Greenland demands, facing public rejection that his niece Mary Trump called a devastating humiliation.
On her Substack platform Thursday, Mary Trump analyzed her uncle's current position, attributing his struggles to multiple compounding factors. "Given the perfect storm of his incompetence, increasing decline across several categories (the psychological, the cognitive, and the physical); and the sense that he is losing control—over himself and the narrative—and the desperation that goes along with that, it was perhaps inevitable that humiliation has come to stalk him at every turn."
She identified public rejection as Trump's deepest fear. "The one thing Donald has always feared most is to be seen as a loser and the humiliation that comes with that," she wrote.
Mary Trump described Trump's nearly 90-minute speech as "a melange of threats, unfounded and ahistorical grievances," arguing it demonstrates significant psychological deterioration. "We do not need any more proof that Donald is a deeply psychiatrically disordered man, but if we did, more evidence can be found every day in his outbursts, his hypersomnia, his alarming lack of impulse control, and his increasingly obvious deviance and corruption."
She directed blame toward Trump's inner circle and congressional allies. "The silence of Donald's enablers is tantamount to complicity. Their unwavering dedication to a madman and an agenda that threatens to destabilize America domestically and internationally tells us everything we need to know about what we are fighting against and against whom we need to wage the fight."
According to Status reporter Natalie Korach, there is an "erosion of morale" at the Post where things have deteriorated significantly during Chief Executive and Publisher Will Lewis's two-year tenure. Lewis has struggled to address declining newsroom morale and readership, prompting looming and devastating organizational restructuring to reduce staff.
Following mass layoffs in 2025, additional concerns have emerged. Status reports indicate "a fresh round of workforce and operational budget cuts set to take place in February." The Post's leadership is targeting both headcount reductions and operational cost savings, with the Information Technology director instructed to implement significant budget cuts.
Newsroom anxiety has intensified following the Trump administration's FBI search of reporter Hannah Natanson's home. Natanson has conducted investigative reporting on the president and administration officials.
Owner Jeff Bezos has remained notably silent regarding the apparent press freedom concerns, adding to staff frustration.
Korach described the disconnect: "The split-screen at The Post speaks to further tensions within the newsroom. As Post executives mingle with global power brokers in Davos, and their billionaire owner remains missing in action, staffers back home are grappling with the FBI's search's aftermath, while worrying about the latest threat to their job security."
President Donald Trump called for criminal charges to be filed against pollsters who find results he doesn't like after a new survey found his reputation spinning into freefall.
The New York Times released polling data Thursday showing fewer than one-third of voters believe the country is better off since Trump's return to office a year ago, while majorities disapprove of his handling of the economy, immigration and other issues, and 57 percent believe he's prioritizing the wrong issues.
The 79-year-old president fumed across two lengthy social media posts.
"Something has to be done about Fake Polls! They are truly OUT OF CONTROL," Trump complained Thursday afternoon on his Truth Social website. "We have the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country, we have the Strongest Border in History, nobody has ever done a job like I have done, and they have me in the low 40s."
"The Democrats destroyed Healthcare, I’m trying to fix it, and they give me FAKE low numbers," he continued. "Fake Polls on the Economy, on the Border, on just about everything, are ridiculous and dangerous. The REAL Polls have been GREAT, but they refuse to print them. This is no different than a writer who is corrupt, of which there are many. The New York Times, and so many others, print Polls that are knowingly false."
"They have become deranged, and sick," Trump added. "They suffer from a major case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME (TDS). Their 2024 Election coverage was so bad, and so wrong, and yet they never get called out for it — But I am calling them out with the lawsuit that I have filed which is making its way through the Courts. They have to pay a price for FAKE AND FRAUDULENT NEWS and, hopefully, in the not too distant future, they will!"
Trump then clarified that the price pollsters should pay for negative results against him should be criminal prosecution.
"Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense," the president raged. "As an example, all of the Anti Trump Media that covered me during the 2020 Election showed Polls that were knowingly wrong. They knew what they were doing, trying to influence the Election, but I won in a Landslide, including winning the Popular Vote, all 7 of the 7 Swing States, the Electoral College was a route, and 2,750 Counties to 525."
"You can’t do much better than that, and yet if people examined The Failing New York Times, ABC Fake News, NBC Fake News, CBS Fake News, Low Ratings CNN, or the now defunct MSDNC, Polls were all fraudulent, and bore nothing even close to the final results," he continued. "Something has to be done about Fraudulent Polling. Even the Polls of FoxNews and The Wall Street Journal have been, over the years, terrible!"
"There are great Pollsters that called the Election right, but the Media does not want to use them in any way, shape, or form," Trump added. "Isn’t it sad what has happened to American Journalism, but I am going to do everything possible to keep this Polling SCAM from moving forward!"
Attorney General Pam Bondi was reportedly "enraged" after a Minnesota federal magistrate judge refused to sign off on charging Don Lemon.
"The Attorney General is enraged at the magistrate judge's decision, a source told CNN.
Bondi was seeking charges for Lemon after he showed up to report on anti-ICE protesters at a Minnesota church.
"I'm just here photographing, I'm not part of the group… I'm a journalist," Lemon said at the time of the protest.
Without confirming the details surrounding Lemon, Bondi revealed on Thursday that the DOJ had "arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered an explanation after President Donald Trump was pictured in Switzerland with new bruising on his left hand.
“At the Board of Peace event today in Davos, President Trump hit his hand on the corner of the signing table, causing it to bruise," Leavitt told CNN.
The White House has previously blamed Trump's bruising on aspirin and shaking hands.
It was not clear if there was any video proof of the president hitting his hand on a table.
A bump generally takes a few hours to days to show up as a blue or purple bruise, according to medical experts.
