As former President Donald Trump completed a Michigan campaign rally and a Wisconsin town hall, the MAGA leader made what one legal expert called a "last-ditch" attempt to move his New York hush money case to federal court before his sentencing. Three months ago, Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stemming from a payment he's accused of making to cover up an alleged tryst between him and porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump filed a request Thursday to have the case moved to federal court before he's due to be sentenced Sept.
18. "This 'zombie' case should have been dismissed long ago," Trump's lawyers wrote in the filing. They accused prosecutors in Manhattan of violating the presidential immunity doctrine in grand jury proceedings and at trial by relying on evidence that they claim were "official acts" Trump did during his first term.
ALSO READ: Trump’s RFK Jr. endorsement actually helps Harris “The ongoing proceedings will continue to cause direct and irreparable harm to [former] President Trump — the leading candidate in the 2024 presidential election — and voters located far beyond Manhattan,” the filing said. MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin noted Trump's team previously attempted to remove the case from the Manhattan court more than a year ago and lost.
Thursday night's filing, she said on X, "is a last-ditch attempt to stop the sentencing under the guise of a removal notice." "Because what they want most -- and they say so expressly -- is for Manhattan federal judge Alvin Hellerstein to 'confirm that Justice [Juan] Merchan may not sentence [former] President Trump during litigation over the removal.'" She added: "A state court cannot sentence a defendant who has a pending removal notice until a federal court expressly sends it back.
" However, she poured cold water on his chances, noting that the federal judge could reject the removal request on the grounds that he must obtain the federal court's permission to file his late notice. A Democratic strategist gave Kamala Harris a tepid thumbs up for her first sit-down interview as presidential nominee and said that while she accomplished what she "needed to do," she didn't "move the ball all that much forward." During a roughly 40-minute interview with CNN anchor Dana Bash, Harris revealed her " day one" priorities , slapped away her opponent's questioning of her racial identity and addressed her change in stances on certain major issues.
David Axelrod told panelists on CNN's "NewsNight" following the debate that Harris needed to be the "same person" people have seen on stage for the last month. Someone with a sense of calm, confidence and comfortability "that we haven't seen before from her," particularly the last time she ran. "She was very connected to her words," said Axelrod.
"Seemed strong. She seemed competent. She seemed like someone who could be president of the United States.
That was the first test." Axelrod also praised Harris' handling of Harris' evolving positions on certain key issues, such as fracking, while noting she made a "good bridge" in saying she's kept her values consistent. ALSO READ: The real reason corporate media won't cover Trump's attacks on democracy He noted that Harris appeared to distance herself from President Joe Biden a bit, as she talked about "turning the page.
" As she spoke, I thought it showed a certain character, the way she talked about Joe Biden," he said. "She didn't run away from him. She gave him I think his due.
She understands there's some political risk to that. That actually was elevating to me in a way that i hadn't expected." Overall, while it wasn't a "huge night," Axelrod said it was a "good night.
" I don't think she moved the ball that much forward, but she certainly didn't fall back," he concluded. Watch the clip below or at this link . Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris shook her head in her first sit-down interview and needed just four words to take down Republican nominee Donald Trump's widely criticized attack on her racial identity.
Speaking at a convention with the National Association of Black Journalists last month, Trump told the audience: "I did not know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. Is she Indian or is she Black ?" When shown the clip, Harris flattened his comments needing just a handful of words in the CNN clip, which aired Thursday night. ALSO READ: The real reason corporate media won't cover Trump's attacks on democracy "Same old tired playbook," she said, adding with a laugh: "Next question, please.
" "That's it?" anchor Dana Bash followed up. "That's it." Watch Harris' response below or at this link .
Vice President Kamala Harris ' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , was questioned by CNN's Dana Bash during their joint interview on Thursday evening about the numerous Republican accusations that he distorted various aspects of his personal background. Walz owned up to "mistakes" — but also insisted people keep sight of the real issues at stake in the election.
"You had to clarify that you had said that you and your wife used IVF, but it turned out you used a different kind of fertility in order to have children," said Bash. "And then when you ran for Congress in 2006, your campaign repeatedly made false statements about a 1995 arrest for drunk and reckless driving. What do you say to voters who aren't sure whether they can take you at your word?" "Well, I've been very public," said Walz.
"I think they can see my students come out, former folks I've served with, and they do vouch for me. I certainly own my mistakes when I make them." ALSO READ: The real reason corporate media won't cover Trump's attacks on democracy "The one thing I'll tell you is, I wish this country wouldn't have to do this," said Walz.
"I spoke about our infertility issues because it's health, and families know this, and I spoke about the treatments that were available to us that had those beautiful children there. That's quite a contrast. And folks that are trying to take those rights away from us.
And so I think people know who I am. They know that record. They've seen that I've taught thousands of students.
I've been out there and I won't apologize for speaking passionately, whether it's guns in schools or protecting reproductive rights." "The contrast could not be clearer between what we're running against, the vice president's position on this ..
. and I think most Americans get it if you've been through that, I don't think they're cutting hairs on IVF or IUI," said Walz. "I think they're cutting hairs on an abortion ban and the ability to be able to deny families the chance to have a beautiful child.
" Watch the video below or at the link here . - YouTube www.youtube.
com.
