Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Friday, May 10, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and today, we’re covering a bunch of critical stories that you need to know about—from Ohio’s election ballot drama to a noteworthy legal settlement in Texas. And also new information regarding former President Donald Trump’s ongoing legal battles, Don King’s presidential endorsement for 2024, and a story about Denver’s immigrant standoff.
Ohio Lawmakers Adjourn Without Placing Biden on the State’s General Election Ballot
In Ohio, lawmakers wrapped up their session without reaching a consensus on how to ensure President Biden appears on the state’s general election ballot. The big issue is all about the timing for nominating presidential candidates, as Ohio law demands this has to be done 90 days before the general election.While the president is set to be officially nominated at the Democratic National Convention in August, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine remains optimistic that President Biden will make it onto the ballot, possibly through legislative action or, if necessary, a court decision.
Ohio has one of the earliest deadlines for these nominations, unlike most states that have deadlines in September or October. President Biden’s campaign is confident he will secure a spot on the ballots in all 50 states.
Meanwhile, Alabama has smoothly passed a bill to include President Biden on its ballot, which was signed into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.
On the other hand, Ohio’s Republican-majority Senate recently passed a bill that not only moves the certification deadline but also prohibits foreign donations to state ballot measure campaigns, a stipulation that was not found in an earlier House bill.
As President Biden continued his ballot access quest in Ohio earlier this week, independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he had collected enough signatures in the state to appear on its ballot.
Sheriff’s Deputy Fired Over Jan. 6 Secures Nearly $400,000 in Settlement
In Texas, Roxanne Mathai, a former sheriff’s deputy who was terminated after attending a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, has settled with Bexar County for $395,000. Ms. Mathai had sued the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office claiming wrongful termination, and her attorney hailed the settlement as a vindication of her rights, emphasizing that wrongful termination will not be tolerated.Ms. Mathai had shared photos and videos on Jan. 6th, 2021, from a rally for then-President Donald Trump in Washington, held just before people breached the U.S. Capitol. She didn’t enter the Capitol and hasn’t faced any charges. However, she was dismissed in June 2021 for allegedly failing to report criminal activities and engaging in behavior deemed unbecoming of an officer. Her firing was later upheld by an arbitrator who said that she “knew or should have known she was observing illegal activity” near the Capitol and criticized her decision to post footage online.
Ms. Mathai filed a lawsuit in 2022, asserting that her constitutional rights were violated. She claimed she had received approval from a superior to attend the rally, positioning herself as a “law-abiding citizen” at a peaceful event in support of the president.
In 2023, an effort by Bexar County officials to dismiss the case was denied by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, affirming that Ms. Mathai’s right to file a federal claim remained intact.
Despite the settlement, the county itself continues to deny any claims of discrimination or retaliation.
Trump Announces ‘Major Motion’ Filed in New York Appeals Court
The latest legal challenges for the former president include a move to contest a gag order in a New York state appellate court.This gag order currently prohibits him from discussing certain individuals linked to his ongoing trial. Both President Trump’s appeal and a response from the Manhattan district attorney’s office have been filed under seal, with details remaining confidential.
President Trump has publicly criticized the gag order as unconstitutional, and he says there have been favorable developments in his case. The gag order, issued by Judge Juan Merchan, forbids President Trump from speaking about potential witnesses, court and prosecutor staff, and family members involved in the trial. The former president has faced fines and the threat of jail for previous violations of this order.
His legal team is arguing that the gag order violates President Trump’s First Amendment rights, which is really important, given his role as a leading figure in the Republican presidential race.
Also, President Trump’s other legal proceedings have been put on hold: his criminal prosecutions in Georgia and Washington are paused, and a federal judge in Florida has indefinitely suspended the classified documents case due to mishandling of evidence.
The trial in New York, which is expected to continue for another two weeks, centers on charges that President Trump falsified business records related to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election.
President Trump has entered a plea of not guilty to all the charges.
Boxing Promoter Don King Endorses Trump for President
Don King, well-known in boxing circles, has thrown his support behind President Trump for the 2024 presidential race.Mr. King, who also backed the former president in 2016, says that President Trump is uniquely equipped to tackle and reform what he sees as a corrupt system.
He frames a vote for President Trump as a vote for oneself, aiming to dismantle a system filled with lies and hypocrisy.
When being asked on May 8 on the sidelines of an event if he has a message for President Trump, Mr. King said, “Get reelected.”
He also said: “And we must reelect him to save ourselves. You know, a vote for Trump is a vote for yourself.”
While Mr. King does not specifically elaborate on the corruption and hypocrisy he refers to, it may allude to the legal battles that President Trump is currently facing.
The former president shared King’s endorsement on his social media platform, Truth Social, expressing his appreciation for the support.
President Trump has also received endorsements from other prominent figures in the sports world, including former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and UFC President Dana White.
Mr. Tyson, who endorsed President Trump in 2016, praised his business acumen, while Mr. White recently voiced his support for President Trump’s 2024 campaign, applauding his resilience and ability to face adversity.
Mr. White also expressed some reservations about President Trump’s chances of winning due to the “dirty” and “ugly” nature of politics.
He said: “Obviously, I’m rooting for him and I’m behind him and I hope he does.”
Illegal Immigrants Refuse to Leave Denver Encampment, Send List of ‘Reasonable’ Demands to Mayor
In Denver, Colorado, a group of illegal immigrants has taken a stand by refusing to leave their encampment until certain conditions are met. They have sent a list of 13 demands to Mayor Mike Johnston, seeking improvements that would provide them with long-term stability and opportunities.The demands include better living conditions and accountability to address their homelessness. Specific requests from the group include the ability to cook with fresh ingredients, access to unlimited showers, regular medical check-ups, employment support, and access to legal counsel for immigration matters.
Moving on, the group says they want to discuss these issues directly with Mr. Johnston and those responsible for the Denver Newcomer program, aiming to enhance the support provided to illegal immigrants.
The city of Denver is currently facing a $180 million budget deficit, which Mr. Johnston attributes to the financial strains caused by the ongoing illegal immigrant crisis. He says that the city must reduce its expenditures by $18 million each month to continue providing necessary services to illegal immigrants arriving in the city.
A nonprofit group, called Housekeys Action Network Denver, has criticized the mayor’s approach, calling for more sustainable solutions for the illegal immigrants. As of now, Denver Human Services has not responded to requests for comment on this very important issue.
I see we have only seconds to spare, so that’s going to be our final story on the Friday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief.
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Finally, as we do each and every day on this program, we’re going to wrap things up with a very “notable” quote.
It was Pablo Picasso who said: “Everything you can imagine is real.”
Picasso led a “real” interesting life. He was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and even a theater designer. He is estimated to have completed about 13,500 paintings during the course of his career.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas, and we appreciate you spending some time with us today! We’ll see you right back here tomorrow for the weekend edition of The Epoch Times News Brief, and have an incredible day today.
