Media Today

[Rick Plant]

FBI were looking for ‘classified nuclear documents’ during search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, report says

Government officials were reportedly concerned information was ‘potentially in danger of falling into the wrong hands’

Watch:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-fbi-search-nuclear-documents-b2143554.html

[Rick Plant]

Attorney General Merrick Garland Delivers Remarks From Justice Dept. | NBC News

Watch:

[Rick Plant]

Trump search: Unsealed search warrant suggests ex-president being investigated under Espionage Act

A copy of the warrant obtained by The Independent shows former president is under investigation for violations of three US laws, including the Espionage Act

Watch:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-fbi-search-documents-mar-a-lago-b2144170.html

[Rick Plant]

Trump Under Investigation for Violating Espionage Act

Investigators pulled 11 boxes of sensitive and top secret information from Mar-a-Lago.

Former President Donald Trump is under investigation for several violations of the Espionage Act and illegally keeping "top secret" government documents when he left the White House last year, according to court documents unsealed Friday afternoon.

And the FBI was spurred to move so aggressively and search the former president's Mar-a-Lago oceanside estate in Florida because some of the documents they were seeking pertained to the nation's nuclear weapons, according to The Washington Post.

The FBI search warrant lists three federal statutes to justify the search at the Palm Beach mansion: 18 U.S.C. § 793, 2071, and 1519. That means the Justice Department—in a historic move—is investigating the former president for violating the Espionage Act, mishandling federal records, and falsifying official documents to obstruct an investigation.

Together, they present the possibility that Trump may face up to a decade in prison—and be barred from ever running for office ever again.

"They're investigating him for willfully gathering documents with the intent to cause harm... or that he saw [classified] markings on them and, knowing what they mean, failed to deliver them when the National Archives asked for them," said Jamil N. Jaffer, who founded the National Security Institute at George Mason University's law school.

Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart in West Palm Beach unsealed the records Friday afternoon, shortly after the Justice Department and Trump agreed that the records—which are normally kept private until criminal charges are filed—should be made public.

The seven-page search warrant and property receipt was signed FBI special agents and the Trump attorney present at the mansion during the search, Christina Bobb. In it, federal agents list what they grabbed when they searched the former president’s mansion: approximately 20 boxes including photo binders, handwritten notes, vaguely described information on the “President of France,” and a copy of the executive grant of clemency for Trump issued for his associate, GOP operative Roger Stone.

The Wall Street Journal and Fox News were the first to report that the FBI had seized 11 boxes of sensitive and “top secret” documents.

Trump's attorneys, Evan Corcoran and James Trusty, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump immediately countered that the documents were, from his point of view, no longer restricted.

"Number one, it was all declassified. Number two, they didn't need to 'seize' anything. They would have had it anytime they wanted without playing politics and breaking into Mar-a-Lago. It was in a secured storage, with an additional lock put on as per their request," Trump's account posted on his own social media network, Truth Social.

The investigation is examining whether Trump unlawfully took highly sensitive documents from the White House and then failed to comply with requests from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Justice Department to return them voluntarily. Earlier this year, NARA found 15 boxes of missing presidential documents at Mar-a-Lago. Some of the files had been “torn up by former President Trump,” NARA said in a statement at the time, forcing officials to tape them back together.

As a result, NARA asked the Justice Department to look into whether Trump had potentially breached the Presidential Records Act, a Nixon-era law that forces departing presidents hand over all records when they leave office. (Ironically, Trump signed a law in 2018 that made breaches of the law a felony after Hillary Clinton’s email fiasco.)

On Friday morning, Trump denied a Washington Post report alleging that the feds carried out the search to locate classified documents about nuclear weapons, along with other items. He dismissed the report as a “hoax,” adding that those involved in the raid of his property were, in his view, “sleazy.”

Trump had also been critical of the search itself even while calling for the warrant to be unsealed. “Not only will I not oppose the release of documents related to the unAmerican, unwarranted, and unnecessary raid and break-in of my home in Palm Beach, Florida, Mar-a-Lago. I am going a step further by encouraging the immediate release of these documents,” he fumed in a post on Truth Social on Thursday night.

His screed came after Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Department of Justice would seek to unseal the warrant. Garland added that he had personally approved the operation after “less intrusive means” of retrieving the documents proved fruitless.

The highly unusual disclosure—warrants typically remain sealed during an investigation—comes after a week of right-wing rage, with hardline loyalists repeatedly pushing the idea that the search was an illegitimate, politically motivated attack launched by a tyrannical regime. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential rival to Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, called the investigation a “weaponization of federal agencies.”

It was even a hill that at least one MAGA fan was literally willing to die on. Ricky Shiffer, a hard-boiled Trump stan who was enraged by the Mar-a-Lago search, was shot dead on Thursday after attempting an armed break-in at the FBI’s Cincinnati office. “Kill the F.B.I. on sight, and be ready to take down other active enemies of the people and those who try to prevent you from doing it,” an account using Shiffer’s name wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.

The FBI raid was just the beginning of a torrid week for Trump’s legal team. Less than 48 hours later, Trump was hauled before a civil hearing with New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is investigating fraudulent practices in Trump’s business empire. The ex-president, who has previously criticized people who plead the Fifth, decided to do exactly that 440 times during the deposition.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-details-emerge-on-fbi-search-warrant-for-raid-on-donald-trumps-mar-a-lago-home

[Rick Plant]

Anne Heche Dead at 53

Anne Heche has died. She's survived by her two sons, Homer and Atlas. The actress was known best for roles in movies, such as 'Six Days Seven Nights' and 'Volcano,' as well as her TV performances, including 'Hung' and 'Chicago P.D.' Anne appeared on season 29 of 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2020, where she opened up about her past romance with Ellen DeGeneres and its lasting impact on Hollywood.

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[Rick Plant]

US astronaut Jessica Watkins sets sights on Moon... and Mars



If you had the choice, would you rather go to the Moon or Mars?

The question is utterly theoretical for most of us, but for US astronaut Jessica Watkins, it hits a bit differently.

"Whichever comes first!" Watkins says with a laugh, in a lengthy interview with AFP from her post on the International Space Station (ISS).

At 34, Watkins has many years ahead of her at the US space agency NASA, and could very well be one of the first women to step foot on the Moon in the coming years, as a member of the Artemis team preparing for upcoming lunar missions.

Missions to Mars are off in the future, but given that astronauts often work into their 50s, Watkins could conceivably have a shot.

Either way is just fine, she says.

"I certainly would be just absolutely thrilled to be able to be a part of the effort to go to another planetary surface, whether it be the Moon or Mars."

In the meantime, Watkins' first space flight was a history maker: she became the first Black woman to undertake a long-term stay on the ISS, where she has already spent three months as a mission specialist, with three months to go.

The Apollo missions that sent humans to the Moon were solely staffed by white men, and NASA has sought over the years to widen its recruitment to a more diverse group of candidates.

The agency now wants to put both women and people of color on the Moon.

"I think it is an important milestone for the agency and the country, and the world as well," Watkins says. "Representation is important. It is true that it is difficult to be what you can't see."

The Maryland native added that she was "grateful for all of those who have come before me... the women and Black astronauts who have paved the way to enable me to be here today."

Geologist at heart

Born in Gaithersburg in the suburbs of Washington, Watkins grew up in Colorado before heading to California to study geology at Stanford University.

During her doctoral studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, her research focused in part on Mars and she worked on NASA's Curiosity rover, which just celebrated 10 years on the Red Planet.

Watkins still has a soft spot for Mars. In fact, she has published a scientific study on the planet during her stint on the ISS.

"I would certainly call myself a geologist, a scientist, an astronaut," she says.

Watkins remembers the moment that she realized space and planetary geology -- the composition of formation of celestial bodies such as planets, moons and asteroids -- would be her life's work.

It came during one of her first geology classes, in a lecture about planetary accretion, or when solids gradually collide with each other to form larger bodies, and ultimately planets.

"I remember learning about that process... and realizing then that that was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life and what I wanted to study," she recalls.

"The notion of being able to be a part of an effort to actually do field work on the surface of another planetary body is super exciting, and I look forward to being a part of it."

The Artemis program, a successor to Apollo, is aimed at slowly establishing a lasting human presence on the Moon. The end goal is to set up a base that would be a forward operating station for any eventual trips to Mars.

The first uncrewed mission under the Artemis banner is set to take off for the Moon at the end of August.

Watkins is one of 18 astronauts assigned to the Artemis team, to either provide ground support or eventually take flight.

Officially, every active NASA astronaut (there are currently 42) has a chance to be selected to take part in a lunar landing.

'Push the limits'

While previous mission experience may weigh heavily in NASA's choices for personnel for the first crewed Artemis flight, Watkins's academic background certainly should boost her chances of being chosen.

Being good-natured and having a healthy team spirit are also key for space flight teams, who spend long periods of time confined in small spaces.

Watkins says her colleagues would call her "easygoing," and her time playing rugby taught her the value of working on a team.

So how does she define being an astronaut?

"Each of us all have that sense of exploration and a desire to continue to push the limits of what humans are capable of. And I think that is something that unites us," she says.

Watkins says she dreamed of going to space when she was young, and always kept it in the back of her mind -- without ever thinking it could be a reality.

"Don't be afraid to dream big," she says. "You'll never know when your dreams will come true."

AFP

[Rick Plant]

Lyons Magnus adds 30+ nutrition drinks to recall over botulism threat, including Ensure, Pediasure


More than 50 beverages are affected by the Lyons Magnus recall

Lyons Magnus, which recalled 53 beverages including Oatly, Glucerna and Premier Protein drinks last month, has added more than 30 more drinks to the call back due to potential for botulism contamination as well as the previously mentioned Cronobacter sakazakii threat.

"This recall is being conducted due to the potential for microbial contamination, including from the organisms Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum," the Food and Drug Administration said in a release Wednesday. "Although Clostridium botulinum has not been found in products, consumers are warned not to consume any of the recalled products even if they do not look or smell spoiled."

Nor, it said, should consumers drink any products past their sell-by date.

Clostridium botulinum, the FDA warned, can bring on a severe form of food poisoning anywhere between six hours and two weeks after consuming a contaminated product. Symptoms may include:

Double or blurred vision
Drooping eyelids
Slurred speech
Difficulty swallowing
Muscle weakness
Botulism poisoning can result in death from respiratory paralysis.

The FDA had previously warned that Cronobacter sakazakii can cause bloodstream infections and meningitis. Infants, seniors over the age of 65, and people with weakened immune systems are the most susceptible to serious illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Customers with questions about the recall are instructed to call Lyons' 24-hour Recall Support Center line at 1-800-627-0557. Products can be returned to the place of purchase for a refund.

Which products have been added to the recall?

The latest recall bulletin adds more than 30 new beverages as well as additional lot numbers of products announced in the July recall.

If you think you may have an affected product, you can match them up with lot numbers and sell-by dates here. The products may be sold in single cartons or by the case.

New additions as of Aug. 10:

Cafe Grumpy Ready to Drink Cold Brew Coffee
Ensure Harvest 1.2 Cal For Tube Feeding
Kate Farms Pediatric Peptide 1.0 Vanilla
Kate Farms Standard 1.0 Vanilla
Kate Farms Nutrition Shake Coffee
Kate Farms Nutrition Shake Coffee Chocolate
Kate Farms Nutrition Shake Vanilla
Kate Farms Standard 1.4 Plain
Kate Farms Peptide 1.5 Plain
Kate Farms Pediatric Peptide 1.5 Vanilla
Lyons Barista Style Sweet Cream Frappé Base
Oatly Oat-Milk Barista Edition
Oatly Oat-Milk Chocolate
Oatly Oat-Milk
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Vanilla
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Chocolate
Organic Valley Organic 1% Milkfat Lowfat Chocolate Milk
Organic Valley Organic 1% Milkfat Lowfat Milk
PediaSure Harvest 1.0 Cal For Tube Feeding
Premier Protein Café Latte
Sweetie Pie Organics Organic Lactation Smoothie Mango Banana
Sweetie Pie Organics Organic Lactation Smoothie Apple Pear
Sweetie Pie Organics Mango Banana Smoothie
Sweetie Pie Organics Apple Pear Smoothie
Rejuvenate Muscle Health+ Vanilla
Rejuvenate Muscle Health+ Chocolate
Sated Complete Keto Meal Shake Chocolate Flavor
Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein Shake Chocolate
Tone It Up Plant-Based Protein Shake Vanilla
Uproot Oatmilk Organic Oats
Uproot Peamilk Chocolate

Previously announced:

Lyons Ready Care
Lyons ready Care 2.0 High Calorie High Protein Nutritional Drink: Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Vanilla
Lyons Barista Style: Almond, Coconut, Oat non-dairy beverages
Pirq Plant Protein: Decadent Chocolate, Caramel Coffee, Golden Vanilla, Very Strawberry
Glucerna Original (sold only at Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club): Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla
Aloha Plant-Based Protein: Chocolate Sea Salt, Coconut, Vanilla, Iced Coffee
Intelligensia: Cold Coffee, Oat Latte
Kate Farms Pediatric Standard: Vanilla
Oatly: Oat Milk Barista Edition
Premier Protein: Chocolate, Vanilla, Cafe Latte
MRE protein shakes: Cookies & Cream, Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Vanilla
Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee With Oat Milk: Original, Horchata, Chocolate, Cream & Sugar Original
Imperial: Med Plus 2.0: Vanilla, Butter Pecan

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2022/08/11/beverage-recall-expanded-botulism-threat-ensure-pediasure/10300835002/

[Rick Plant]

Judge denies Sen. Lindsey Graham’s bid to quash subpoena in Trump election probe in Georgia



A federal judge on Monday denied Sen. Lindsey Graham’s bid to throw out a subpoena for his testimony before a special grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of its investigation into possible criminal election interference by former President Donald Trump and his allies in 2020.

The court rejected Graham’s contention that the subpoena should be quashed because of his status as a high-ranking government official, among other arguments. The subpoena requires the South Carolina Republican, who is a witness in the probe, to appear before the grand jury on Aug. 23.

District Attorney Fani Willis, who is conducting the investigation, “has shown extraordinary circumstances and a special need for Senator Graham’s testimony” about “alleged attempts to influence or disrupt” Georgia’s elections, Judge Leigh Martin May wrote in Monday’s order in U.S. District Court in South Carolina.

Graham’s office said the senator plans to appeal the ruling. His attorneys are reviewing the ruling, their spokesperson Beth Huffman of law firm Nelson Mullins told CNBC.

The district attorney wants to question Graham about phone calls he made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the weeks after the November 2020 election. Graham’s lawyers argued that those calls were “quintessentially legislative factfinding” by a sitting U.S. senator, and as such are protected by the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution.

But that argument fizzled before May, who ruled that even if that clause protected Graham from testifying about the calls to Raffensperger, he could be still questioned about other issues relevant to the probe.

“The mere possibility that some lines of inquiry could implicate Senator Graham’s immunity under the Speech or Debate Clause does not justify quashing the subpoena in its entirety because there are considerable areas of inquiry which are clearly not legislative in nature,” May ruled.

In a statement later Monday morning, Graham’s office defended the calls to Raffensperger and accused the judge of ignoring relevant legal precedents.

“The Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause prevents a local official from questioning a Senator about how that Senator did his job. Here, Senator Graham was doing his due diligence before the Electoral Count Act certification vote — where he voted to certify the election,” the statement said.

“Although the district court acknowledged that Speech or Debate may protect some of Senator Graham’s activities, she nevertheless ignored the constitutional text and binding Supreme Court precedent, so Senator Graham plans to appeal to the 11th Circuit,” Graham’s office said.

Trump called Raffensperger on Jan. 2, 2021, four days before Congress convened to confirm Biden’s electoral victory.

In that call, Trump urged Raffensperger to “find” him enough votes to overturn Biden’s win in Georgia.

“All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes,” Trump told him.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/15/lindsey-graham-bid-to-quash-subpoena-in-trump-georgia-election-probe-rejected.html