Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Thursday, May 9, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and today, we delve into key topics including a pivotal Georgia court case, allegations of electioneering in Michigan, new voter registration laws, a nationwide pushback against a state National Guard plan, and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine withdrawal.
Georgia Appeals Court Agrees to Review Fani Willis Disqualification Ruling
The Georgia Court of Appeals is set to review a lower court’s ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue overseeing the case against former President Donald Trump.The court issued an order on May 8 granting the review, and President Trump and eight co-defendants have been given a 10-day window to file their appeal.
This legal battle revolves around charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, with prosecutors alleging that the former president and 14 others were involved in a so-called criminal scheme to contest the 2020 election results.
The trial court judge held an evidentiary hearing after it was revealed that the attorney hired by Ms. Willis had an affair with her during the investigation. The trial court decided that removing this attorney would eliminate any perceived conflicts of interest.
If Ms. Willis and her office are removed, a new prosecutor would need to be appointed. The case could face delays, with the potential for charges to be dropped or added, requiring additional litigation.
President Trump’s legal team has expressed concerns that an August trial could influence the election, although the judge has not yet confirmed a trial date.
The judge is also considering whether to try the defendants together or separately, a process that could extend over several months due to the complexity of the RICO charges.
Defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant initiated the motion to disqualify Ms. Willis in January and questioned the legitimacy of the hiring process of Nathan Wade, an outside lawyer.
These developments have prompted further investigations into potential financial improprieties within the district attorney’s office.
Biden Admin Officials Subpoenaed in House GOP Probe Over Potential Electioneering in Key Swing State
A House committee led by the GOP has issued subpoenas to two officials from the Biden administration, citing concerns that the agency they work for might be leveraging taxpayer resources to boost President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign in Michigan.The House Committee on Small Business has targeted Tyler Robinson and Arthur Plews from the Small Business Administration (SBA). They’re checking out a voter registration partnership between the SBA and the Michigan Department of State, suspecting it may favor Democrats.
Efforts to secure voluntary cooperation from SBA staff have been fruitless, prompting the committee to escalate the matter with subpoenas. Republicans on the committee accuse the SBA of engaging in illegal election activities and suggest that similar tactics could be in play in other states.
This investigation ties into an executive order issued by President Biden, enacted on March 7, 2021, which mandates federal agencies enhance voter registration and participation.
The directive has been adopted by various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture, all of which are working diligently to register new voters.
The SBA, as part of this broader effort, has been integrating voter registration prompts in its marketing materials, website, social media platforms, and physical signage across the country.
Critics argue that federal efforts like this unfairly benefit Democrats, especially through engagements targeted at groups traditionally leaning left, coordinated by welfare agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Bureau of Prisons.
Experts such as Stewart Whitson, legal director of the Foundation for Government Accountability, are concerned over third-party groups collaborating with federal agencies on voter registration, raising issues about the transparency of these partnerships and their adherence to state laws.
Republican Introduces Bill Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) has proposed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which is designed to ensure that only U.S. citizens participate in federal elections.This bill would introduce stricter requirements for voter registration, including mandating that applicants provide solid proof of citizenship, such as a REAL ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or other valid government-issued identification.
The bill also addresses concerns about foreign election interference, stating that allowing people from other nations to vote in U.S. elections undermines security and self-governance.
The proposed legislation includes a clear outline for both in-person and mail-in registration, specifying how individuals can verify their citizenship if they’re not able to produce documentary proof of citizenship.
Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to investigate cases where non-citizens might have registered illegally and take appropriate actions, which could include deportation proceedings. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) plans to introduce a similar bill in the Senate.
The legislation also seeks to revise aspects of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which allows citizens to register to vote at motor vehicle departments without showing proof of citizenship. Under the new bill, this would change to require documentary proof to enhance the verification process and ensure voter rolls do not include ineligible non-citizens.
Despite likely challenges in the Democrat-controlled Senate, the bill has substantial Republican backing and stands a good chance of passing in the House of Representatives.
50 Governors Oppose Federal Plan to Move National Guard Units: ‘Power Grab’
Governors from 50 states, as well as several territories, have expressed their opposition to a Department of Defense plan to transfer state National Guard units to the U.S. Space Force.The proposal, requiring congressional approval to become law, has sparked concerns among state leaders about losing control over their Guard units, which play critical roles during emergencies and natural disasters.
While 48 governors co-signed a letter to express their collective disapproval, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued their own statements. Mr. Abbott has openly requested the Air Force to withdraw what he considers an overreaching directive. Mr. DeSantis highlighted the essential role of the National Guard in responding to frequent natural disasters in Florida.
The National Guard Association of the United States has also criticized the plan, proposing instead the establishment of a Space National Guard. In contrast, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has attempted to downplay concerns, asserting that the impact on Guard members would be minimal and the issue is exaggerated.
The proposal noted that the National Guard units of Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Ohio are already engaged in space-related missions.
AstraZeneca Begins Worldwide Withdrawal of COVID-19 Vaccine
The pharmaceutical giant has announced a global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria. It said there’s a variety of new vaccines that can more effectively combat recent COVID variants and that’s why they’re making the big change.As of yesterday, the vaccine is no longer authorized in the European Union, a decision that followed AstraZeneca’s own request to withdraw the product on March 5.
The company says that this has nothing to do with safety issues, despite a recent admission in a UK court document that Vaxzevria could cause rare, yet severe, side effects including blood clotting and low platelet counts. The vaccine had been temporarily suspended in various European countries and Australia due to concerns over those adverse effects.
AstraZeneca has defended the effectiveness of Vaxzevria, saying that it saved over 6.5 million lives in its first year of use. Nonetheless, the company now faces several lawsuits alleging that the vaccine caused injuries and deaths. An agreement with the UK government means that British taxpayers could potentially cover the costs of any settlements if AstraZeneca is found liable.
Time is just screaming by, so that’s going to be our final story on the Thursday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief.
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Finally, as we do each and every day on the News Brief program, we wrap things up with a very “notable” quote:
It was Sir Winston Churchill who said: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Churchill, you may recall, led Britain to victory in World War II, he won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1953, and they say he loved a good cigar.
On that note, don’t forget, the News Brief is a smoke-free zone—no tobacco allowed!
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas, and thanks for being here today! We’ll see you right back here tomorrow for the Friday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief. Have a fulfilling day today.
