Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Tuesday, July 16, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and today, we have a special edition of the News Brief focusing on major breaking developments surrounding former President Donald Trump, and here’s what’s going on.
Former President Trump has picked his vice presidential running mate, he’s also officially nominated as the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential candidate, and a federal judge has dismissed the classified documents case against the former president. Also, the Secret Service has strengthened its security plan for the Republican convention in Milwaukee, and we have an update on the man who tried to assassinate the former president.
Trump Selects JD Vance as Running Mate
Former President Trump announced that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will be his running mate, ending speculation about who will join him in the 2024 presidential election.Mr. Vance, a Marine Corps veteran and successful businessman, “will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for,” former President Trump wrote in a statement on social media, including American workers and farmers in key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
The former president revealed his decision just a couple of days after surviving an assassination attempt, which highlights the significance of having a strong vice president.
Mr. Vance, who’s 39 years old, rose from Appalachian roots to achieve an Ivy League education and won his Senate election with Trump’s endorsement. Although he initially criticized then-candidate Trump in 2016, Mr. Vance later endorsed him, saying that former President Trump is “the best president” of his lifetime.
Mr. Vance’s unique background and connections could sway voters in key battleground states.
The Biden campaign criticized the selection of Mr. Vance in a statement, saying that he was chosen because he would “enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people.”
Vice President Kamala Harris is the running mate for President Joe Biden, and she will face Mr. Vance in a vice presidential debate on either July 23 or Aug. 13.
Trump Secures Republican Presidential Nomination
Former President Trump is now officially the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nominee. The nomination was confirmed by the GOP, with the addition of Florida’s delegates to the official count.The nomination process began with a roll call of states’ delegates. Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann nominated Mr. Trump and said that the former president is a champion of the people and “has kept his word!” Mr. Kaufmann added that it’s an honor for him to nominate Mr. Trump.
Mr. Kaufmann’s nomination was seconded by Nevada GOP Chair Michael S. McDonald, who said that former President Trump is fighting against “weaponized lawfare” not only for himself, but also for everyday people.
Loud chants of “USA, USA, USA!” were heard in the nomination process.
While the nomination of former President Trump was expected, the official confirmation was a necessary and eagerly awaited step toward the Nov. 5 general election.
The former president faced four criminal charges, one of which resulted in a conviction, and another one was dismissed just before yesterday’s nomination vote. As you know, on Saturday he survived an assassination attempt, which has added emotional weight to his nomination as the party faithful look ahead to the election.
The upcoming election will see the former president most likely facing off against President Biden, with policy disagreements on issues like the economy, immigration, and so much more. Both candidates have called for peace and unity in light of recent violence and political tensions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced that the former president had received 2,387 delegate votes, which is nearly double the total number of votes he needed.
Federal Judge Dismisses Trump Documents Case, Says Jack Smith Unlawfully Appointed
Just yesterday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case involving former President Trump, saying that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Appointments Clause.The 93-page opinion and order came after oral arguments regarding the appointment of the special counsel and the statutory authority used by Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint Mr. Smith.
The dismissal of the indictment also excuses the cases of co-defendants Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira. All scheduled hearings and deadlines have been canceled, while restrictions on sealed and classified information remain in place. Prosecutors plan to appeal the order.
The Appointments Clause requires officers to be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. It distinguishes between “principal” and “inferior” officers, noting that department heads can appoint inferior officers if Congress permits it through legislation.
The judge ruled that Mr. Smith’s appointment violated this clause, as there was no statutory authority for the attorney general to appoint an inferior officer like the special counsel.
Judge Cannon found the arguments by prosecutors for the attorney general’s authority to appoint special counsel to be inconsistent with historical practice. She noted that historic special counsels varied in their appointments and powers, with the recent practice of appointing private citizens like Mr. Smith being an exception rather than the rule.
The judge also said that the lack of special counsel legislation is a critical factor. She pointed out that Congress had previously created offices for special counsels with the Independent Counsel Act of 1978. But it found that independent counsel, the closest comparison to the special counsel office, had too much independence, so Congress let the law expire in 1999.
Due to these inconsistencies and the violation of the Appointments Clause, she dismissed the case.
This dismissal will not affect the second case that Mr. Smith is prosecuting against former President Trump in the District of Columbia. In this second case, the Smith team indicted the former president on charges stemming from what they allege were illegal efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election. The former president has pleaded not guilty in this case.
Secret Service Says RNC Security Plan ‘Strengthened’ in Wake of Assassination Attempt
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle expressed confidence in the security plan in place for the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee following the weekend assassination attempt on former President Trump.Ms. Cheatle said that the agency had also implemented changes to former President Trump’s security detail since the assassination attempt to “ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign.”
She also extended condolences to those affected by the shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania, calling it a “senseless act of violence.”
The director stated that the security plan for the RNC has been reviewed and strengthened, with the flexibility to adapt to ensure the highest level of security. She defended the agency’s response to the assassination attempt, saying that personnel moved quickly during the incident to not only protect the former president, but to neutralize the shooter as well.
The Secret Service says it'll continue to work with a number of law enforcement agencies to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The RNC, which is designated as a National Special Security Event, has been a focus of concern following the assassination attempt on Saturday. The security plan, which had been developed for over a year, is designed to respond to evolving security threats and to ensure everyone’s safety.
Ms. Cheatle said that the Secret Service is dedicated to protecting current and former U.S. leaders. You should know that former President Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement personnel for their quick response to the shooting.
President Biden and other officials have called for answers regarding the security failure, which will now lead to congressional hearings.
What We Know About Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Crooks So Far
The 20-year-old man who attempted to kill former President Trump in Pennsylvania left few clues behind. He opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally over the weekend, wounding the president and killing one spectator.Investigators are trying to uncover what motivated Thomas Matthew Crooks to carry out the attack. The FBI is handling the case as a potential act of domestic terrorism, but so far, officials have not publicly disclosed a motive in the case.
Mr. Crooks was a registered Republican voter in Pennsylvania but donated to a liberal political action committee in January 2021.
The FBI says it has searched the suspect’s home and vehicle, and found suspicious devices at both locations.
An FBI agent said that the AR-style rifle used in the shooting was purchased legally. The agency believes he acted alone and was not previously known to law enforcement. The bureau is working on unraveling the sequence of events leading up to the shooting and has seized his cell phone for investigation purposes.
Footage from the shooting showed Mr. Crooks wearing a T-shirt referencing a popular gun-related YouTube channel. The channel’s host expressed disbelief over the incident. Mr. Crooks’s family is cooperating with the investigation.
During the rally, witnesses said that they saw Mr. Crooks on a roof with a rifle. Butler County Sheriff Michael T. Slupe reported that Butler Township officers began searching after receiving reports of a suspicious person on a roof near the event. Mr. Crooks aimed a weapon at an officer who was climbing onto the roof, causing the officer to retreat for cover.
Another officer climbed the roof and encountered Mr. Crooks, who turned toward him before the officer safely dropped down. The sheriff stated the officer couldn’t use a gun due to the situation.
Investigators are exploring Mr. Crooks’s online presence but have not found substantial evidence of his activities on social media platforms.
Mr. Crooks graduated from high school in 2022 and worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home, and he had a clean background check when he was hired. Some former classmates indicated that he was bullied during his time in school and they also said that he was quiet and often isolated.
Looks like our time is just about up for today, so we’re going to call it a wrap for the Tuesday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief.
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We heard from Jill Cosby in Georgia and Karen Bolt, and Cookie is with us in New Mexico.
Pamela Holmes checks in from Edmond, Oklahoma, which is home to Lake Arcadia, and my pal Russell Livingston was kind enough to send over a thoughtful email as well.
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And finally, as we do each and every day on this program, we wrap everything up with a very “notable” quote.
It was President Ronald Reagan who said: “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”
Reagan was our nation’s 40th president, serving two terms from 1981 to 1989, and he’s considered one of the most prominent conservative figures in American history.
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas.
Thank you for making us your one-stop source for a concise, accurate, and unbiased daily synopsis of many of the news stories you need to know about.
Enjoy the remainder of your Tuesday, and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow for the Wednesday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief. Have a superb day today, and bye for now.
