News from the Note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
This is an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
NEW: Arizona investigators have subpoenaed Reps. GOSAR and BIGGS in their probe of the 2020 election.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 4, 2024
It’s unclear if either lawmaker has complied or resisted — or if AG Mayes is seeking to enforce.
w/ @woodruffbets https://t.co/x9b8JWQlAq pic.twitter.com/dwEVGE2Gnd
Early forecasts for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season suggest it could be extreme, perhaps even record-breaking.
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 4, 2024
“This is the highest April forecast that we have put out,” a meteorologist and hurricane forecaster said. https://t.co/GGuf7QSB3j
Colorado State University, a prominent hurricane and tropical weather forecast center, released its predictions on Thursday: 11 hurricanes, five of which are expected to become Category 3, 4 or 5, meaning they’d have wind speeds of at least 111 mph. Overall, the researchers anticipate 23 named storms this season.
[snip]
The two main reasons forecasters expect the coming season — which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 — to be so far above average are extreme levels of Atlantic Ocean heat and a seasonal switch to La Niña, a natural pattern of variability. Ocean temperatures have been record-high for a year, which makes powerful storms more likely and can enable them to intensify more quickly.
NBC News.com. 04/04/2024.
NEWS: Bar discipline authorities say Jeff Clark violated his professional duties in his bid to help Trump derail the transfer of power in 2020.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 4, 2024
Bar investigators say they intend to seek his disbarment. https://t.co/lF9c8ibYMd pic.twitter.com/qEfqrBuq0V
Bar discipline investigators said Trump turned to Clark — and considred placing him atop DOJ — when he grew frustated that its leaders wouldn't use their power to help him sow doubt about the election reuslts.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 4, 2024
He viewed Clark as the solution, they say.
https://t.co/lF9c8ibYMd
1/Judge Cannon has just denied Trump's motion to dismiss the classified documents case in Florida. Trump had argued the Presidential Records Act gave him the ability to designate classified material as personal records, shielding him from prosecution under the Espionage Act. pic.twitter.com/TDS911v1jm
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 4, 2024
3/The Judge's characterization of what Special Counsel asked for is incorrect. He wanted a ruling on the Presidential Records Act motion, the ruling she has now delivered. And she ruled in his favor.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 4, 2024
5/ Contrary to what the judge says in her order, Jack Smith was clearly demanding a ruling on the PRA, the one she has now made. It's a big loss for Trump, delivered through the skillful legal maneuvering of the special counsel. pic.twitter.com/6innjF9RrY
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 4, 2024
7/ If you've read this far, you're probably interested in knowing more about the details, which you can find here. You can sign up for my newsletter for free if you're interested in staying on top of issues at the intersection of law & politics. https://t.co/3IRpcaqERU pic.twitter.com/r1hTMGcuYR
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 4, 2024
BREAKING: Georgia judge rejects former President Trump’s bid to dismiss election interference charges on free speech grounds. https://t.co/0dm6wA8MTJ
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 4, 2024
In a 14-page ruling, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said their right to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election did not protect them from the charges that District Attorney Fani Willis’s office brought.
The “Court finds these vital constitutional protections do not reach the actions and statements alleged by the State,” McAfee wrote, and their motions to dismiss are “therefore denied.”
[snip]
McAfee, however, found “the Defendants’ expressions and speech are alleged to have been made in furtherance of criminal activity and constitute false statements knowingly and willfully made in matters within a government agency’s jurisdiction which threaten to deceive and harm the government.”
NBC News.com. 04/04/2024.
Programming alert….
Beth is having surgery tomorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with her.
For the next several weeks, with the help of Halodoc and Lady Snark, we will be covering the Note while Beth recovers.
We wish her a speedy recovery…
