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  • DOJ investigating Mike Lindell over potential identity theft, damage to protected computer

    DOJ investigating Mike Lindell over potential identity theft, damage to protected computer

    September 22, 2022 at 05:11PM DOJ investigating Mike Lindell over potential identity theft, damage to protected computer

    The Justice Department (DOJ) is investigating MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell over potential identity theft and damage to a protected computer in connection with a breach of a Colorado county’s voting system.

    The FBI seized Lindell’s phone last week while he was waiting at a drive-thru in Minnesota — a move that the Trump ally is contesting in court.

    The warrant for the search, which was filed by Lindell’s team on Wednesday as part of his lawsuit to the United States District Court in Minnesota, showed that the DOJ is investigating Lindell for identity theft, intentional damage to a protected computer and conspiracy to commit identity theft or intentionally damage a protected computer.

    The warrant was approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Tony Leung on Sept. 7, according to document. Law enforcement were required to execute the search warrant before Wednesday, Sept. 21.

    The magistrate approved the search and seizure warrant on the basis of probable cause that Lindell may have violated federal law.

    Agents searched for records or information connected to Mesa County election clerk Tina Peters’s alleged scheme to breach voting machines during the 2020 election.

    Peters was indicted on state criminal charges in March.

    Officials first became aware of the breach after passwords and hard drive copies from Mesa County voting machines were presented at an event hosted by Lindell.

    Lindell, who has frequently made unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen, is currently facing defamation lawsuits from two election technology companies, Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems Inc., over his claims of election fraud.

    via The Hill

  • Conspiracy Theory! Stacey Abrams Freaks Out And Says Heartbeat Machines Are Fake [VIDEO]

    Conspiracy Theory! Stacey Abrams Freaks Out And Says Heartbeat Machines Are Fake [VIDEO]

    This is shocking, especially coming from a woman who holds herself out to be one of the greatest genius minds on the entire planet. Radical progressive leftist Stacey Abrams, to who RINO Republicans actually are dumb enough to submit their freedom and liberty – has gone and shown that her ‘elevator does not go to the top’. She says there is no such thing as a heartbeat in a human baby at 6 weeks gestation.

    That is crazy!

    WATCH:

    “Stacey Abrams is pushing a theory here that ultrasound machines, used in hospitals now all over the world, were designed by a cabal of men, to manufacture a sound beat on purpose, in order to convince women to keep unwanted pregnancies. This is beyond QAnon shit,” Stephen Miller posted on Twitter with a clip of Abrams spouting off her crazy ideas.

  • New PA Dominion Lawsuit Alleges Foreign Databases Were Connected

    New PA Dominion Lawsuit Alleges Foreign Databases Were Connected

    Dominion voting systems face a major lawsuit that was submitted on Wednesday morning that focuses on alleged violations of the group’s contract, certification issues, connectivity issues, and alleged foreign databases and scripts which have been found on the systems that tabulate many US elections.

    FLASHBACK.. anyone else remember?

    Some of the topics of concern for election activists, who have been rallying to displace the Dominion machines, remain: internet connectivity, outdated security protections, remote accessibility, and random USBs inserted.

    The details of the lawsuit will be alarming since it comes from a battleground state that was central in much of the 2020 election controversy.

    “Pennsylvania County Sues Dominion Voting Systems for ‘Unauthorized Python Script’ & ‘Foreign IP Address’. Fulton County PA filed a lawsuit against Dominion Voting Systems this morning for a “breach of contract,” reported a poster known as KanekoaTheGreat, in a newsletter.

    According to the lawsuit, the county says that it became “aware of severe anomalies” with Dominion Voting Systems during the 2020 election after it was unable to reconcile “voter data with votes actually cast and counted”.

    An investigation by Wake Technology Services of West Chester, Pa. into the machines at the county’s request in February 2021 found numerous significant issues with the machines.

    These included ballot scanning errors and non-certified database tools installed on the system.

    Speckin Forensics Laboratories based out of Lansing, Michigan, was retained to acquire forensic images of six hard drives in Fulton County, Pennsylvania on July 13-14, 2022.

    The private forensics firm, whose “examiners have presented testimony in over 30 states”, produced a county-commissioned report on September 15, 2022, which revealed “several deficiencies” that directly contradict the “contractual terms and conditions” provided to Fulton County by Dominion Voting Systems.

    The report alleges that Fulton County’s log files show “an external IP address” located in Quebec, Canada, and that an unauthorized “python script” had been installed after the certification date.

    Moreover, the system’s security patch had not been updated since April 10, 2019, and default usernames and passwords had not been changed since the time of installation.

    The report says, “This python script can exploit and create any number of vulnerabilities including, external access to the system, data export of the tabulations, or introduction of other metrics not part of or allowed by the certification process.”

    What’s more, this “external IP address” was found on the very same adjudication workstation that contained the “post certification python script.”

    Much of the evidence disclosed is the result of an analysis and report issued by Erick Speckin. The Gateway Pundit reported on Speckin’s research in another PA county earlier this week.

    From the lawsuit:46. On or after November 2020, Fulton County became aware of severe anomalies in the Dominion Voting Systems due to the inaccuracy and/or inability to reconcile voter data with votes actually cast and counted, i.e., tabulated, by the System in Fulton County

    47. On or after November 2020, Fulton County became aware of certain factors and aspects of the Dominion Voting Systems that did not meet the “conditions” for certification set forth in January 2019 / February 2019 certification report

    49. In addition, Fulton County was informed of additional anomalies and problems in Dominion’s “voting” systems via an expert report written by J. Alex Halderman in July 2021. (EXHIBIT C, the Halderman Declaration, September 21, 2021).

    50. In his declaration, Halderman described numerous security vulnerabilities in Dominion’s ICX software, including flaws that would allow attackers to install malicious software on the ICX, either with temporary or physical access (such as that of voters in polling places) or remotely from election management systems. EXHIBIT C

    52. At the time of that report, the author described that these vulnerabilities still existed, and could be mitigated, but that such mitigation would “take months for Dominion to assess the problems, develop responsive software updates, test them, obtain any necessary approvals from the EAC and state-level certification authorities, and distribute the new software….”

    54. The report also notes that the ICX is set to be used in 2022 in at least parts of 16 states, including Pennsylvania, with these vulnerabilities and faults still in place

    57.

    c. There were non-certified database tools installed on the Dominion Voting System;

    d. There were changes made to EMS three weeks before the 2020 election; and

    e. There was a lack of commonwealth L&A inspections of the Dominion Voting Systems.

    66. …on September 15, 2022, a commissioned report revealed several deficiencies and the absence of information and data that directly implicated and contradicted the contractual terms, conditions, promises, and warranties provided to Fulton County by Dominion in the Agreement and the conditions required for certification in the Dominion Certification Report.

    69. The September Report showed that external USB hard drives had been inserted in the machines on several occasions, and that there is no known list of approved external drives that could have been or were used or inserted into the machines. In this regard, the report concluded that there was no way to determine whether and to what extent these unauthorized drives compromised the data or the system.

    And there is so much more. Here is the lawsuit: Lawsuit 

  • Parents On Edge Freak Out At School After Reports Of Active Shooter Rumor [VIDEO]

    Parents On Edge Freak Out At School After Reports Of Active Shooter Rumor [VIDEO]

    Unsubstantiated reports of a shooting at Jefferson High School on Monday afternoon led officers to lock down campus and investigate. It also briefly turned into a brawl between some parents and police – with one man now in the hospital.

    The video was shown on SanAntiono media showing parents brawling, screaming videotaping on their phone while police scrambled to maintain control.

    A parent at the scene was asked, “So, what’s going through your mind right now?”

    “Uvalde,” they said.

    Less than four months after the mass shooting that happened less than 70 miles from San Antonio: Uvalde still on the top of everyone’s mind.

    Parents gathered outside Jefferson High School demanding information and for their children be released; fearful that another Uvalde situation happening: this time to their kids.

    “We put together several strike teams that then entered the campus and did a sweep room by room,” Reyes said.

    Meanwhile, parents are outside not knowing if or when they will see their children again.

    “I’m just worried about the children, my daughter, my two daughters Katlyn and Sarah Estrada,” Estrada said. “I love you… your dad loves you Just don’t be in fear, you’re going to come out of their fine.”

    After a while, police said there was no evidence of a shooting and no guns found on campus.

    Parents demanded their children be released.

    Eventually, reaching a boiling point where a man broke a window with a nearly one-foot-long knife. He cut his wrist badly. And then this happened:

    Which erupted the scene into chaos.

    Despite the madness, superintendent Jaime Aquino says his police response was executed flawlessly.

    “Our kids were safe,” Aquino said. “We followed our protocol and our process. And we practiced for this, so I am proud that we were able to do that. I know we are living in very difficult times. But you need to trust us.”

    But today showed a large gap in trust between parents and school law enforcement.

    “I’m worried. I am, I’m worried.”

    We are told the man who was sent to the hospital is okay. He will not be charged with any crime.

    ORIGINAL STORY

    A fight between students turned into an active shooter lockdown Tuesday afternoon at Jefferson High School, which caused many concerned parents to rush to the campus.

    “I am from Uvalde, and I understand those patents, school and police need to Somehow give more information at the moment to parents, I know they gave their Procedures to follow but communication is key in this situations, we want to trust, but at the moment is very difficult to do so,” Silvia Alvear wrote in response to the shocking video.

    San Antonio ISD board member Ed Garza confirmed there was an altercation between students. At some point, a comment was made about someone having a weapon and that kicked in the active shooter lockdown.

    San Antonio ISD Police immediately began an investigation and kept the kids safe inside their classrooms. During their investigation, school officials learned that there was no truth to the weapon allegation, but police are still adhering to safety protocols and doing a complete search of the campus for any weapons.

    District officials say there is currently no evidence of an active shooter or of a weapon being on campus at all.

    When parents arrived, they were forced to wait outside. No one can get in and no one can get out. One of the parents said he passed by the school and saw ambulances and cops on the campus and turned around to see what was going on. He said the first thing that popped out of his head was Uvalde.

    One parent was seen attempting to break the window trying to get in. A cop tackled him down and soon after that, a brawl breaks out at Jefferson High. However, police say that the man was trying to break the glass with a knife.

    Parents who arrived at school were kept informed of the situation. As soon as the search of the campus was made, parents were able to pick up their kids.

    According to the San Antonio Police Department, the school has been cleared and is deemed safe.

  • Couy Griffin Appeals Historical Use Of 14th Amendment To Remove Him From Office Over Jan. 6th

    Couy Griffin Appeals Historical Use Of 14th Amendment To Remove Him From Office Over Jan. 6th

    County Griffin, a New Mexico politician and founder of Cowboys for Trump, who was removed and barred from elected office for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 a few weeks ago, filed an appeal on Tuesday after being removed from office leaving his constituents without representation.

    “I’m just on the road thinking about it.  Just filed this appeal with the NM Supreme Court on the district court ruling that removed me from office,” Griffin texted us with a screenshot after talking about the need for an appeal the day before.

    “I am the first person in 150 years to be removed from office using the 14th amendment,” Griffin said.

    Griffin was removed from office a few weeks ago.

    “The ruling against Griffin this month from a Santa Fe-based District Court was the first to remove or bar an elected official from office in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol building that disrupted Congress as it was trying to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory,” MSNBC reported.

    Griffin was previously convicted in federal court of a misdemeanor for entering the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, without going inside the building.

    Griffen told Santilli media that he still thinks the government needs to make their case that he could have known the area was he was- had been restricted at the time.

    “The government failed to make it’s case there was no signage there that the area was closed; we were like sheep led to the slaughter. They presented no factual evidence, the government only provided social media posts, which is not proof that that I knew the area was restricted,” Griffen said.

    From NBC News about Girffin’s case:

    Griffin has invoked free speech guarantees in his defense and says his banishment from public office disenfranchises his political constituents in Otero County.

    He was barred from office under provisions of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which holds that anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution can be barred from office for engaging in insurrection or rebellion. The provisions were put in place shortly after the Civil War.

    A flurry of similar lawsuits around the country are seeking to use the provision to punish politicians who took part in Jan. 6.

    Griffin says he continues to act as his own legal counsel in the case.

    “Honestly I have felt very abandoned by many,” Griffin said.

    Conservative activists aligned with Griffin have urged supporters to file disciplinary complaints against the judge who barred Griffin from off

    Griffin, a 48-year-old former rodeo rider and former pastor, helped found Cowboys for Trump in 2019. The promotional group staged horseback parades to spread President Donald Trump’s conservative message about gun rights, immigration controls and abortion restrictions.

    This year, Griffin voted twice as a county commissioner against certifying New Mexico’s June 7 primary election, in a standoff over election integrity fueled by conspiracy theories about the security of voting equipment in the Republican-dominated county.

  • Mike Pence Talks About Running For POTUS To A Small Quiet Crowd

    Mike Pence Talks About Running For POTUS To A Small Quiet Crowd

    Mike Pence is making a lot of noise that he plans on running for POTUS at some point, openly flirting with the idea, so it is notable when he shows up someplace, and the crowd is smaller than most anyone else in politics would gather.

    During a recent speech, Pence was asked if he was running for POTUS, the StandardNet reported on the details.

    “After a 30-minute speech peppered with applause breaks, laugh lines, and policy perspectives, students, attending former Vice President Mike Pence’s speech at Utah Valley University on Tuesday, were given an opportunity to ask a question.

    With a preamble about Pence’s career, Cade Bloomer, a UVU student and intern for the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy, asked the most straightforward question of the morning — “Are you running as a candidate in the 2024 presidential election?”

    As soon as the laughter died down, Pence was just as direct in his answer. “Cade, I’ll keep you posted.”

    “Pence spoke at UVU as the first guest of the Herbert Institute. A former member of the U.S. House of Representative and governor of Indiana, Pence became the 48th vice president of the United States as the running mate of former President Donald Trump,” SanAntino news reported, adding, “Speaking to a crowd of students, community members, and plenty of elected officials, Pence outlined his vision for the country’s future with commentary on the political and social presence.”

    Even Joe Biden could attract more people than Pence; it looks like.

    Check out the rest of this article from local San Antonio news, which covered Pence at that Utah event, and showed a smattering of interested people.


    A handful of protesters gathered outside a Gary R. Herbert for Public Policy event at Utah Valley University, which was hosting former Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 20, 2022. (Photo: Arielle Harrison, KUTV)

    A handful of protesters gathered outside a Gary R. Herbert for Public Policy event at Utah Valley University, which was hosting former Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 20, 2022. (Photo: Arielle Harrison, KUTV)

    San Antonio reported:

    “A handful of protesters gathered outside a Gary R. Herbert for Public Policy event at Utah Valley University, which was hosting former Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 20, 2022.

    Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke Tuesday at an event hosted by Utah Valley University while a handful of protestors gathered outside.

    He addressed an audience of 700 students and community members at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts.”

    But truthfully, 700 seems to be inflated from the photos.

    “The American people are proud of our traditional American culture and want to see it strengthened and preserved,” Pence said during his speech.

    The institute’s mission is to “develop future policy leaders, gather the community and build trust in civic institutions that are the foundation of our democratic republic and the principles of the United States of America,” according to information provided by UVU.

    Pence didn’t go out of his way to remind people that the United States is a Republic.

    The outlet went on:

    Hosting public policy leaders such as Vice President Pence exposes students to a diverse spectrum of thought and is why the Institute was established,” according to the university’s statement. “The Gary R. Herbert Institute has already presented a range of speakers, including Dr. Tim Shriver, Ph.D., Chair, Special Olympics, Dr. Art Laffer, and other legislative and community leaders.”

    Ahead of the speech, a handful of protesters supporting health care and abortion rights lined up with signs reading “Save My Care” and “Hey Pence, Abortion Is Health Care,” as well as signs critical of the institute’s choice to have Pence speak, and one sign that read, “Pray the Pence Away.”

    The entire MAGA movement would join them.

  • NY AG Letitia James Lawsuit Seeks to Make Trump Pay $250 Million, Ban Trumps From Running NY Businesses, Buying Real Estate – Makes Criminal Referral to DOJ

    NY AG Letitia James Lawsuit Seeks to Make Trump Pay $250 Million, Ban Trumps From Running NY Businesses, Buying Real Estate – Makes Criminal Referral to DOJ

    NY AG Letitia James Lawsuit Seeks to Make Trump Pay $250 Million, Ban Trumps From Running NY Businesses, Buying Real Estate – Makes Criminal Referral to DOJ

     

    “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime.”

    New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday announced a new lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and his family.

    AG James has been investigating whether the Trump Organization inflated values of some of its properties.

    “Today, I filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for engaging in years of financial fraud to enrich himself, his family, and the Trump Organization.” Letitia James said.

    TRENDING: EXCLUSIVE: Unhinged East Bay Doctor Calls and Leaves Harassing Message with Stewart Rhodes’ Attorneys – Says He Wants Rhodes Exterminated – Then Confirms the Call to Gateway Pundit (AUDIO)

    “There aren’t two sets of laws for people in this nation: former presidents must be held to the same standards as everyday Americans.” she added.

    Letitia James said her office is seeking to:

    • Make Trump pay $250 million.
    • Ban the Trumps from running NY businesses for good.
    • Ban Trump and Trump Org from buying commercial real estate in NY for 5 yrs.
    • We’re making a criminal referral to the US Department of Justice

    “With the help of Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and other defendants, Trump variously unlawfully inflated and deflated his net worth by billions to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes. In short, he lied to gain massive financial benefits for himself,” Letitia James said on Wednesday.

    “We found that Trump, his family, and the Trump Org used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations over 200 times in 10 years on his annual financial statements. These statements were then used to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and insurance coverage,’ she added.

    VIDEO:

     

      

    Letitia James has been harassing Trump and his family…just as she promised.

    In November 2018 after her election, Letitia James immediately began cursing and threatening President Donald Trump.

    WATCH:

     

     

    via The Gateway Pundit

    September 21, 2022 at 05:08PM

  • CCP Sanctions American Defense Contractors In Their Grab Of Taiwan

    CCP Sanctions American Defense Contractors In Their Grab Of Taiwan

    There is a Communist crackdown on Taiwan – as we can plainly see by indicators reported in the media, including recent reports about sanctions on American defense suppliers.

    At the same time the CCP is persecuting people in Hong Kong, another free country they believe they own.

    For some great background: There is a great new documentary called The Hong Kongers that explains the history of the CCP power grab on the island as people there try to adjust to the political imprisonment of leader Jimmy Lai. Taiwan is experiencing the same sort of power grab by the Communists as the corrupt regime asserts itself throughout the globe.

    We know that the CCP is threatening Hong Kong and the freedom movement that is established. We also know that the CCP are also gunning for control of Taiwan because of recent reports.

    Miles Gu talked about the connections between all the countries recently on his social media, including his predictions for US involvement.

    However, the White House is setting out all sorts of conflicting messages.

    On the heels of very confusing statements by Democrat Joe Biden this week, the topic of the Communist interference in Taiwan and also the US reaction and involvement there is confusing and, therefore, necessary to understand for all Americans.

    Expert on the CCP, Gordon Chang, posted a story about Biden’s confusing actions and the reaction from the White House about it all:

    And now, this confusing situation has come to the shores of the United States and it impacts America’s plans to help defend Taiwan.

    “China announced sanctions on Friday against the chief executives of American defense contractors Raytheon and Boeing Defense over a major U.S. arms sale to rival Taiwan,” reported Defense News.

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning did not specify what the sanctions would be against Gregory Hayes, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Technologies, and Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security.

    According to their report:

    “It wasn’t immediately clear what impact they would have on the executives or their companies, but such sanctions are often mainly symbolic in nature.

    The U.S. announced a $1.09 billion arms sale to Taiwan last week, including $355 million for Boeing’s Harpoon missiles and $85 million for Raytheon’s Sidewinder missiles.

    “We once again urge the U.S. government and relevant parties to … stop arms sales to Taiwan and military contact with Taiwan, and stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” Mao said at a daily briefing.

    China claims Taiwan, a self-governing island of 23 million people off its east coast, as its territory and says it must eventually come under its control. Taiwan and China split in 1949 during a civil war that brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.

    The U.S. does not formally recognize Taiwan under its one-China policy but is the island’s main supplier of military equipment and is bound by its own laws to ensure Taiwan can defend itself.

    Mao also expressed China’s opposition to an upcoming Taiwan trip by Czech lawmakers. A 14-member delegation is to arrive Sunday for a six-day visit, according to Taiwan media reports.

    “China is firmly opposed to any form of official contact between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations with China,” Mao said.

    She called on the Czech lawmakers “to refrain from sending the wrong signals to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence and to stop undermining … bilateral relations.”

    In February, China announced sanctions on Raytheon and Lockheed Martin over a $100 million deal for maintenance of Taiwan’s missile defense systems by the two companies.

    China also protested a bill that was approved by a U.S. Senate committee this week that could significantly increase American military support for Taiwan.”

    “It’s (the FBI’s) opened domestic terrorism investigations all over the country, most of them against innocent people. Now, we have proof that many of these investigations are entirely fraudulent, they’e political. This is so wrong. This should not be happening,” he explained.

    Mr Carlson’s words came in the wake of an alleged FBI whistleblower who, according to right wing congressman Jim Jordan, accused the federal bureau of creating a “false and misleading” narrative around the threat of domestic violence facing the US as a result of the agency pursuing multiple cases tied to January 6.

    “Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio sent a letter to the FBI director, Christopher Wray – who should be ashamed of himself – outlining the evidence. The evidence comes from a whistleblower within the FBI,” Mr Carlson told viewers, before adding that “the FBI is breaking its own procedures to create the illusion that new domestic extremism cases are popping up all over the United States.”

    He continued: “In reality, virtually all of these cases are about Jan. 6, which was a nonviolent election justice protest and covered, of course, by the Constitution of the United States, excluding the people who committed vandalism. You have a right to assemble if you want.”

  • Ukraine war: Putin’s nuclear threat to the West

    Ukraine war: Putin’s nuclear threat to the West

    Putin announces ‘partial’ military mobilisation in Russia

    Putin’s NUCLEAR threat to the West: Vladimir warns Ukraine’s allies he will use ‘weapons of destruction’, announces mobilisation of another 300,000 troops and declares ‘I am NOT bluffing’

    • Vladimir Putin has threatened the West with nuclear weapons over Ukraine, telling leaders: ‘I’m not bluffing’
    • Desperate despot also announced mobilisation of 300,000 reservists, first Russian mobilisation since WW2
    • Occupied Ukrainian territories will be annexed to Russia, he said, and ‘all means’ will be used to defend them
    • Ukraine dismissed the threat, saying it is ‘predictable’ and shows the war is not going as Putin had planned
    • Scroll down to read Putin’s address in full 

    By Chris Pleasance and Will Stewart for MailOnline

    Vladimir Putin today issued a chilling new threat to use nuclear weapons against the West, telling world leaders to back off Ukraine while warning: ‘I’m not bluffing’.

    The desperate despot also ordered the mobilisation of 300,000 military reserves – a first in Russia since the Second World War – and gave the go-ahead for referendums to be held in occupied areas of Ukraine that would make them a part of Russia, in the Kremlin’s eyes at least.

    He vowed to use ‘all means’ to defend the regions, saying: ‘If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all available means to protect Russia and our people – this is not a bluff… I shall stress – by all means available to us. Those trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tables can turn on them.’

    Putin’s gambit comes after Ukraine routed a large part of the Russian army last week, leaving him backed into a corner of his own making and facing the possible collapse of his so-called ‘special military operation’.

    But rather than back down, the Russian leader has instead chosen to double down and hold the free world to ransom – putting Russia and its huge nuclear arsenal on direct collision course with Ukraine and its allies, who have already vowed not to accept the results of ‘sham’ referendums or to stop liberating occupied territory.

    Speaking ahead of Putin’s speech last night, President Zelensky dismissed ‘noise’ from Russia and said it will not alter Ukraine’s resolve. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba likewise vowed: ‘The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything. Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say.’

    Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodrymyr Zelensky, spoke out this morning after Putin’s announcement – calling it ‘predictable’ and saying it show the war is not going to plan. President Joe Biden is expected to give a speech to the UN later today when he will rally Ukraine’s allies to stay the course.

    Vladimir Putin has today threatened to nuke the West over Ukraine, as he announced plans to annex occupied parts of its territory to the Russian mainland

     Putin vowed that he will use ‘all available means’ to defend what he sees as Russian territory, adding: ‘I’m not bluffing’ (pictured, a Russian nuclear test)

    Russia has announced plans for referendums to take place in four regions of Ukraine it either fully or partially occupied – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson

    Screaming former Putin advisor warns despot is ready to NUKE Britain

    A former Russian MP and Putin advisor declared that British cities will be targeted by Putin’s nukes in a bare-faced tirade this morning on the Today programme.

    Sergei Markov had barely exchanged pleasantries with BBC Radio 4 host Justin Webb when he launched into a series of threats about nuclear war.

    ‘It’s not a good morning for everybody. In Russia there’s partial mobilisation and for your British listeners Vladimir Putin told you that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons against Western countries… including against Great Britain.

    ‘Your cities will be targeted.’

    Markov, who was elected to Russia’s State Duma in 2007 representing Putin’s United Russia party, is now a professor of international relations at a Moscow university and has a history of spouting Putin’s rhetoric in Western media.

    ‘If Great Britain will continue to be aggressor against Russia… if Prime Minister of Great Britain Liz Truss still has a plan to destroy Russia, people in London should understand the threat [of nuclear weapons],’ he said.

    Markov’s unhinged comments today came moments after the Russian president announced partial mobilisation to reinforce his faltering war in Ukraine and delivered his most pronounced nuclear threat yet towards the West.

    Markov from the get-go set about decrying Western involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and accused the West of using Ukrainian soldiers as ‘slaves’ to deplete the Russian army.

    ‘It was absolutely clear that Russia has no war against Ukraine…there’s no reason to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukrainians,’ he said.

    ‘But Ukraine is occupied by Western countries… it’s Western countries fighting against Russian army, using Ukrainian soldiers as their slaves. This was the main idea of Vladimir Putin.’

    Bemused host Justin Webb allowed Markov to reach a conclusion before calmly asking whether the ex-Putin aide and the Russian people believed there could be a winner in a nuclear war.

    ‘Everybody in the world is now thinking about nuclear war… which could be the result of crazy behaviour of US president Joe Biden and prime ministers of Great Britain Boris Johnson and [Liz] Truss,’ Markov retorted.

    Podolyak said mobilisation will prove extremely unpopular within Russia, and accused Putin of trying to shift the blame for starting an ‘unprovoked war’ and crashing the economy on to the West.

    It is thought the mobilisation will press around 300,000 people into the Russian army – around twice the size of the force that Putin invaded with.

    But it is unclear when exactly these men will become available, and the move will do nothing to solve Russia’s chronic lack of equipment, supplies and other logistical issues that have spelled disaster for its invasion so-far.

    Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu both stressed that the mobilisation is only partial, and will not affect ordinary citizens, conscripts or students.

    Those called up to service – a move that will start today – will be those with experience of service and combat, they insisted.

    However, the move spooked ordinary Russians with a spike in searches for plane tickets shortly after the announcement as the cost of one-way flights soared to tens of thousands of dollars each.

    Putin had resisted declaring any kind of mobilistion until now, apparently fearing backlash from Russians who may have been supporting his ‘special military operation’ only because they had nothing to lose.

    But the Russian leader dramatically changed tack under pressure from allies, propagandists and hardliners after another humiliating military defeat near Kharkiv last week which had sparked calls for him to resign.

    Shoigu also gave a rare update on Russian casualty figures in his speech, preposterously claiming that only 6,000 Kremlin troops had been killed.

    Ukrainian losses, he said, were ten times that: 61,000 dead and 49,000 wounded.

    In a speech delayed for 13 hours overnight – triggering wishful rumours of a coup inside the Kremlin – Putin delivered his twisted interpretation of the war to date.

    He attempted to rewrite history to paint the West and NATO as the aggressor – saying they had pushed Ukraine into a war with Russia, despite ordering an invasion of the country himself just seven months ago.

    Ukraine began the war back in 2014, he said – referring to the date of Russia’s last invasion – when the ‘Nazi’ regime in Kyiv had turned the military on its own civilians in an attempted genocide following what he called a ‘coup’ to oust the country’s last pro-Kremlin leader.

    In Putin’s retelling, the West ‘refused a peaceful solution’ and instead began rearming Ukraine for an attack on the Donbas – leaving him with no choice but to launch a pre-emptive war to protect people.

    He falsely claimed that peace negotiations with Ukraine were deliberately undermined by Kyiv’s bloody-minded Western allies, who then began training and equipping its armed forces with the goal of destroying Russia.

    Attacks on schools and hospitals are not the work of the Russian army, as reams of evidence suggests, but are in fact the work of Ukrainian Nazis and nationalists, he said.

    Facing these threats, Putin said he has no choice but to accept the requests of his puppet leaders in occupied Ukraine to hold referendums on joining Russia, and no choice but to call up his military reserves.

    He added: ‘In its aggressive anti-Russian policies, the West has crossed all lines… There are plans in Washington and Brussels to move the military action on to Russian territory.

    ‘Doctors called after Putin suffered coughing fit amid chaotic scenes behind TV address’

    Doctors were called to Putin‘s aid amid behind the scenes chaos as he prepared to issue his doomsday nuclear threats, Kremlin rumours have claimed.

    The Russian tyrant allegedly suffered coughing fits and chest pains in the lead-up to his TV address, which was delayed for 13 hours.

    The General SVR Telegram channel, believed to be run by a former Kremlin insider which had predicted the mobilisation move, said Putin’s speech had to be re-recorded multiple times because of his ill health.

    They also claimed that three key figures threatened to resign over the president’s dramatic escalation, including the respected Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Russian central bank who has kept the economy afloat amid Western sanctions.

    The Telegram channel said: ‘Several attempts to start recording an appeal were frustrated due to coughing.

    ‘After the fourth unsuccessful attempt to record an appeal, doctors were called to the president, to whom Putin also complained of chest pains.’

    ‘They are not just talking about Russia being destroyed on the battlefield, they are talking about political, cultural, and all other types of sovereignty with complete pillage. Now they’re talking about nuclear blackmail.

    ‘Those who make such statements will be reminded that our country also has various weapons of destruction and with regard to certain components they are even more modern than the NATO ones.

    ‘If there is any threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to protect our people we will certainly use all means available to us. I’m not bluffing.

    ‘Russia citizens can be certain that the territorial integrity of our motherland, our independence and security will be assured. I shall stress – by all means available to us

    ‘And those trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tables can turn on them

    ‘In our historic tradition our people had it in their destiny to stop those how are trying to subjugate our motherland and it will happen now.’

    The allegations are an almost exact inversion of everything Russia has been accused of doing, and is a common trope of Kremlin propaganda.

    Referendums will begin this week into next week, according to Russia occupation authorities, with the results expected to be announced shortly after.

    Police and officials will go door-to-door to ensure people cast their votes, they said, leaving few doubts about which way they will be voting.

    Ballot boxes will also be set up inside Russia itself, ostensibly to allow those who have already fled those regions a chance to cast a vote – but in all likelihood will be stuffed with fake ballots.

    Early ‘polling’ released by Russian state media last night showed – unsurprisingly – that more than 80 per cent of people in the four regions want to join Russia.

    In Donetsk and Luhansk – the focus of Putin’s war effort – the reported figure was over 90 per cent.

    Russians gather in front of a billboard in St Petersburg displaying a picture of a Russian soldier along with the slogan ‘Glory to the heroes of Russia’, after Putin announced he will start conscripting men into the army

    Putin attempted to revise history in his address, claiming the West was using Ukrainians as cannon fodder despite his military striking civilian targets (pictured)

    Russia will also carry out a partial military mobilisation, Putin said, with veterans and reservists with combat or service experience called up (pictured, Russian marines in training)

    West vows never to recognise results of ‘sham’ referendums

    Western leaders last night vowed never to respect the results of ‘sham’ referendums annexing parts of Ukraine to Russia, speaking hours before Putin issued his new nuclear threat.

    White House spokesman Jake Sullivan described the votes as a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty which carry ‘no legitimacy’.

    Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the UN where heads of state are gathered for a general assembly, said that if Moscow’s plan ‘wasn’t so tragic it would be funny.’

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Putin will only give up his ‘imperial ambitions’ that risk destroying Ukraine and Russia if he recognises he cannot win the war.

    ‘This is why we will not accept any peace dictated by Russia and this is why Ukraine must be able to fend off Russia’s attack,’ Scholz said.

    Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the assembly the U.N.’s credibility was in danger because of the invasion by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, and reforms of the council were needed.

    ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a conduct that tramples the philosophy and principles of the U.N. charter … It should never be tolerated,’ Kishida said.

    Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba vowed that: ‘The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything.

    ‘Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say.’

    If the referendum plan ‘wasn’t so tragic it would be funny,’ French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters ahead of the U.N. assembly in New York.

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Putin will only give up his ‘imperial ambitions’ that risk destroying Ukraine and Russia if he recognises he cannot win the war.

    ‘This is why we will not accept any peace dictated by Russia and this is why Ukraine must be able to fend off Russia’s attack,’ Scholz said in his first address to the General Assembly.

    Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the assembly the U.N.’s credibility was in danger because of the invasion by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, and reforms of the council were needed.

    ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a conduct that tramples the philosophy and principles of the U.N. charter … It should never be tolerated,’ Kishida said.

    ‘The situation on at the front clearly indicates the initiative is with Ukraine,’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address released early on Wednesday.

    Ukraine’s position did not change because of ‘some noise’ from Russia, Zelensky added in a reference to the referendums.

    Russia is now almost seven months into what was intended to be a days-long war in Ukraine, and the situation for its troops is becoming increasingly desperate.

    Having been forced to retreat from Kyiv in the early months of fighting after its advance stalled, the Kremlin’s war machine instead focused its efforts on ‘liberating’ the eastern Donbas region.

    Months of grinding warfare saw Russia capture the whole of the Luhansk region, but only around half of neighbouring Donetsk – which make up the Donbas.

    As Russia’s advances slowed and then stopped, Ukraine went on the counter-attack – launching an offensive on the southern city of Kherson.

    Russia moved forces from other areas of the country to help defend the city, at which point Ukraine launched a second counter-attack east out of Kharkiv – in the north.

    That move caught the Kremlin’s commanders completely off guard, triggering a rout that handed 3,000 square miles of territory that Russia had spent months capturing back to Ukraine in just a few days.

    And Kyiv has continued to press the attack, regaining a foothold in the Luhansk region and threatening to push further across the province.

    Faced with war on two fronts and not enough men to hold the territory he has already captured, Putin was left with few options but to begin conscripting men.

    However, experts and analysts say it will do little to turn the tide of the war in his favour.

    It will take at least weeks, possibly months, to gather, equip, train and transport hundreds of thousands more men to the frontlines – time that Russia does not have.

    By the time reinforcements arrive winter will be setting in when combat operations will be considerably harder, compounding the issues that Russia’s military already faces.

    And mobilising more men will do nothing to solve the chronic lack of equipment and supplies among Russia’s ranks, or fix the logistical issues which have hampered its attacks.

    Some drew comparisons with the disastrous Winter War that the Soviet Union fought against Finland, which ended with hundreds of thousands of Red Army troops dead or wounded to around 25,000 Finnish.

    Western leaders had pre-empted Putin’s remarks at the UN last night, saying they would not recognise the results of any ‘sham’ referendums in Ukraine.

    ‘The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything,’ Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday as world leaders were arriving for the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

    He later doubled down on the issue, tweeting: ‘Sham ‘referendums’ will not change anything. Neither will any hybrid ‘mobilization.’

    ‘Russia has been and remains an aggressor illegally occupying parts of Ukrainian land. Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say.’

    French President Emmanuel Macron said that if the referendum plan ‘wasn’t so tragic it would be funny.’

    He described Russia’s invasion as ‘a return to a new age of imperialism and colonies’ and warned that inaction risked ‘tearing down the global order without which peace is not possible.’

    ‘It’s not a matter of choosing one side between East and West, or North or South. It’s a matter of responsibility’ to the UN Charter, he said.

    Putin lashed out at the free world after his military suffered a humiliating rout near Kharkiv last week that handed a swathe of territory back to Ukraine (pictured, destroyed Russian tanks)

    Russia is increasingly resorting to desperate moves to hold on to the territory it has seized in Ukraine, including the apparent use of incendiary weapons (pictured)

    Russian markets dive and searches for plane tickets spike as Putin escalates Ukraine war

    The rouble tumbled against the dollar on Wednesday and Russian stock markets dived around 10 per cent after Putin ordered Russia’s first military mobilisation since World War Two.

    Google data also showed a spike in searches for flights out of the country amid claims the cost of one-way tickets had soared, suggesting spooked citizens were looking for ways to flee the draft.

    Putin said he had signed a decree on partial mobilisation, significantly escalating what Russia calls its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, and warned that Moscow would respond with the might of all its vast arsenal if the West continued with what he called its ‘nuclear blackmail’.

    Shortly after 7am in London, the rouble had slumped 2.6 per cent against the dollar, having earlier dipped to its weakest point since July 7.

    Russian stock indexes were plunging, with energy giants Rosneft and Gazprom at one point losing around 12 per cent.

    The benchmark rouble-based MOEX index hit its lowest point since Feb. 24, the day Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

    The index was down 5.5% at 2,094.5 points, earlier reaching a low of 2,002.73 points. The dollar-denominated RTS index was down 8% to 1,061.9 points, its lowest point since April 27.

    Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world was ‘facing a new fragmentation’ after years of hope following the end of the Cold War and his own nation’s reunification.

    Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world was ‘facing a new fragmentation’ after years of hope following the end of the Cold War and his own nation’s reunification.

    Scholz said that President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in February, will ‘only give up his war and his imperialist ambitions if he realizes he cannot win.’

    ‘We stand firmly at the side of those under attack — for the protection of the lives and the freedom of the Ukrainians, and for the protection of our international order,’ he said.

    And Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the assembly the U.N.’s credibility was in danger because of the invasion by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council.

    ‘Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a conduct that tramples the philosophy and principles of the U.N. charter … It should never be tolerated,’ Kishida said.

    President Joe Biden will make an address to the UN today in which he will argue that Russia’s ‘naked aggression’ in Ukraine is an affront to the heart of what the international body stands for.

    White House officials said the focus of his time at the general assembly will be rallying Ukraine allies to stay the course against Russia, and remain united in the face of Putin’s threats.

    ‘He’ll offer a firm rebuke of Russia’s unjust war in Ukraine and make a call to the world to continue to stand against the naked aggression that we’ve seen these past several months,’ White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in previewing the president’s address.

    ‘He will underscore the importance of strengthening the United Nations and reaffirm core tenets of its charter at a time when a permanent member of the Security Council has struck at the very heart of the charter by challenging the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty.’

    In his nightly address Zelenskyy said there were lots of questions surrounding the announcements but stressed that they would not change Ukraine’s commitment to retake areas occupied by Russian forces.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed world leaders at the UN last night, thanking Western leaders for condemning Russia’s plans to break away parts of his country

    Emmanuel Macron was among leaders to address the UN on Ukraine last night, accusing Putin of trying to ‘return to an age of imperialism and colonies’

    ‘The situation on the front line clearly indicates that the initiative belongs to Ukraine,’ he said. ‘Our positions do not change because of the noise or any announcements somewhere. And we enjoy the full support of our partners in this.

    ‘I thank all friends and partners of Ukraine for today’s mass principled firm condemnation of Russia’s attempts to stage new sham referenda,’ Zelensky said.

    In another signal that Russia is digging in for a protracted and ramped-up conflict, the Kremlin-controlled lower of house of parliament voted Tuesday to toughen laws against desertion, surrender and looting by Russian troops.

    Lawmakers also voted to introduce possible 10-year prison terms for soldiers refusing to fight.

    If approved, as expected, by the upper house and then signed by Putin, the legislation would strengthen commanders’ hands against failing morale reported among soldiers.

    In the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, shelling continued around Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.

    Ukrainian energy operator Energoatom said Russian shelling again damaged infrastructure at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and briefly forced workers to start two diesel generators for emergency power to reactor cooling pumps.

    Such pumps are essential for avoiding a meltdown at a nuclear facility even though all six of the plant’s reactors have been shut down. Energoatom said the generators were later switched off as main power weas restored.

    The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been a focus for concern for months because of fears that shelling could lead to a radiation leak. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the shelling.

    IN FULL: Putin’s address to the nation

    Russian President Putin gave his first address to the Russian nation since the start of his war in Ukraine this morning – mobilising his military reserves and issuing a fresh nuclear threat to the West.

    The despot gave his own twisted version of the war to date, painting NATO as the aggressors, saying the Ukrainians are torturing their own civilians, and that Western leaders are plotting the destruction of Russia itself.

    Here is his speech in full:

    Citizens of Donetsk and Luhansk, the People’s republics of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and other people free from the Nazi regime.

    We will be talking about steps of protecting our sovereignty, the will and desire of our citizens to determine their own future, and about the aggressive bloc of Western countries that are trying to keep their supremacy at all costs – that are trying to block and suppress any independent centers of development in order to force their will in brutal ways on others.

    The aim of the West is to weaken, and destroy. They are openly saying that in ’91 they managed to split the Soviet Union and now is the time for Russia itself.

    Russia will be split into many regions and areas which are fighting each-other to the death.

    They had these plans for a long time. They supported bands of international terrorists in the Caucasus. They are encouraging NATO to come to our borders. There is total Russophobia and many years of total hate for Russia.

    First and foremost this is in Urkaine. They made the Ukrainian people cannon fodder and pushed Ukraine into a war with our country

    They started the war already in 2014, using the army against the civilian population, and organising genocide, a blockade and terror against people who refused to acknowledge Ukrainian power as a result of a military coup.

    As usual, they refused a peaceful solution of the Donbas issue and started claiming the right to use nuclear weapons. It became clear as before, a second large offensive in Donbas is inevitable and the decision of a pre-emptive military operation was the only decision and absolutely necessary.

    The main aim of freeing the whole of the Donbas remains without change.

    The Luhansk People’s Republic is fully cleared of the Nazis. The fight in the Donetsk People’s Republic continues.

    The occupation regime has made deep line of defence and therefore the part of our army and Donbas military units are using technology and people, and are freeing the Donetsk People’s Republic step but step, village by village, and helping people turned into hostages by the criminal regime

    As you know, the professional army is taking part in the special military operation, however volunteer units are fighting alongside them.

    They have different nationalities, professions and ages. They are true patriots, protecting Russia and Donbas through the call of their hearts.

    The Ministry of Defence was instructed by me to determine as soon as possible the legal status of these areas and also the status of the units of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics.

    They have to be the same as the professional military of the Russian army, including social guarantees, medical and financial supplies.

    We need to pay special attention to the procurement of the units of the Donbas using technology and munitions.

    Our army, based on the decisions of the Ministry of Defence and the general command, have freed from the neo-Nazis the considerable territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

    As a result, there is a long line of military contact – over 1,000km.

    At the Istanbul [peace negotiations with Ukraine] there was a very positive reaction to our proposals concerning ensuring the security of Russia

    But it was obvious the West was not happy with a peaceful decision, so after reaching certain compromises Ukraine was effectively given the direct order to undermine the negotiations.

    The Kyiv regime started using new bands of foreign mercenaries and nationalists, and the army was trained by NATO standards and actually commanded by western commanders.

    The repression regime intensified across the whole of Ukraine by its military who, in 2014,used  the politics of terror and intimidation. It becomes more and more barbaric and terrible.

    The territories freed from the neo-Nazis and freed from the war, they are the Novorossiya lands we are talking about – Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporzhizhia regions – you have seen the barbarities of the neo-Nazis in the regions captured by them.

    The Banderas [supporters of a far-right Ukrainian leader] and the Nazi mercenaries are torturing the peaceful citizens.

    In the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson over 7.5million people lived before the start of the operation.

    Many were forced to become refugees, those who remained are constantly bombarded by rockets and artillery on the part of the neo-Nazis who attack hospitals, schools and create acts of terror against peaceful citizens

    We have a moral right to give people that are dear to us, who are being tortured, we need to give them a chance to determine their own fate.

    The parliament of the LPR, and the DPR, and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions have decided to hold referendums on joining Russia and have asked Russia to support such a step.

    I stress that we will do all that we can to create safe conditions to hold the referendums, so people can express their will and decision about the future. They will be supported by us.

    Dear friends, today our army is directing at the frontline exceeding 1000km, and they are facing not just the neo-Nazis but the collective military machine of the whole of the West.

    In this situation, I deem it is necessary to make the following decision which is appropriate to the threat we are facing.

    In defence of our motherland, to ensure its safety, territorial integrity, security of our people and in the free territories I deem it necessary to support the decision of the Ministry of Defence and the general command for a partial mobilisation held in the Russian Federation.

    I stress that it is partial mobilisation. Only those who are currently in reserve will be conscripted, and also those who served in the army and have certain military skills. They will be given additional military training, taking into account the special military operation.

    The decree has been signed, officially the chambers of the federal assembly and Duma will be informed.

    The mobilisation will start today on 21st September, I task the heads of regions to provide all necessary assistance to military commissioners. I stress that Russian citizens called up as part of mobilisation will be given all the guarantees, all the benefits of those serving under contract

    The decree of partial mobilisation includes additional measures to safeguard the state procurement for the defence concerning military technology, and additional capacities for its production.

    All the financial matters for supplying defence factories shall be resolved without delay.

    In its aggressive anti-Russian policies, the West has crossed all lines.

    We constantly hear threats against our people and some irresponsible politicians in the West are talking about not just providing Ukraine with long-range military systems that will be able to hit Russia – that is already happening, we’re talking about the border regions, in Belgorod and systems using strategic drones, planes, doing reconnaissance across the south.

    There are plans in Washington and Brussels to move the military action on to Russian territory.

    There are not just talking about Russia being destroyed on the battlefield, they are talking about political, cultural, and all other types of sovereignty with complete pillage. Now they’re talking about nuclear blackmail.

    The Zaporzhzhia nuclear power plant was shelled. Also the high representative of leading NATO states were saying that it might be permissible to use nuclear weapons against Russia.

    Those who make such statements will be reminded that our country also has various weapons of destruction and with regard to certain components they are even more modern than the NATO ones.

    If there is any threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to protect our people we will certainly use all means available to us. I’m not bluffing.

    Russia citizens can be certain that the territorial integrity of our motherland, our independence and security will be assured. I shall stress – by all means available to us

    And those trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tables can turn on them

    In our historic tradition our people had it in their destiny to stop those how are trying to subjugate our motherland and it will happen now.

    I believe in your support.

    via Mail Online

    September 21, 2022 at 06:38AM

  • Trump Lawyers Decline Special Master Requests on Document Declassification Details

    Trump Lawyers Decline Special Master Requests on Document Declassification Details

    Trump Lawyers Decline Special Master Requests on Document Declassification Details

    Former President Donald Trump’s legal team has rejected a request to disclose details about his claims of having declassified the documents seized by the FBI from his Mar-a-Lago residence in the upcoming proceedings.

    In a court filing (pdf) on Sept. 19, Trump’s legal team told Judge Raymond Dearie—a Brooklyn-based senior judge serving as an independent arbiter to review the documents—that making such a disclosure was not a requirement of District Court Judge Aileen Cannon’s order when appointing Dearie as special master and could disadvantage the plaintiff.

    “[T]he Special Master process will have forced the Plaintiff to fully and specifically disclose a defense to the merits of any subsequent indictment without such a requirement being evident in the District Court’s order,” the court filing says.

    Trump’s legal team made the statement in reference to a “draft case management plan” that Dearie circulated among the two parties ahead of the Mar-a-Lago review. Dearie will hold a “preliminary conference” for the parties at his Brooklyn courthouse at 2 p.m. local time on Sept. 20.

    The draft case management plan, according to the court filing, “requires that the Plaintiff disclose specific information regarding declassification to the Court and to the Government.”

    Trump’s attorneys argued that their client would do better to make the disclosure together with a motion seeking the recovery of property.

    “We respectfully submit that the time and place for affidavits or declarations would be in connection with a Rule 41 motion that specifically alleges declassification as a component of its argument for return of property,” the court filing says.

    The FBI raid on Aug. 8 ended with FBI agents seizing a total of 11,179 documents and other materials that weren’t marked classified, along with 103 documents marked classified, including some marked as top secret, according to an inventory released earlier this month.

    Trump has publicly claimed that he had declassified the documents found at Mar-a-Lago that were marked as classified. Meanwhile, his lawyers said some of the documents fall under attorney-client privilege.

    Trump’s lawyer also asked to revise Dearie’s draft plan of shortening the special master review period, contending that the proposed calendar “compresses the entirety of the inspection and labeling process to be completed by October 7, 2022.”

    Cannon had ordered the review process to be completed by Nov. 30.

    “[T]he Plaintiff has every interest in expeditiously moving forward on the document review, characterizations, and any ensuing litigation,” the court filing says. “With the Government’s help, in terms of access to the materials and clearance for Plaintiff’s attorneys, we believe the parties can meet the expected deadline of November 30.”

    In a separate court filing (pdf) on Sept. 19, the Department of Justice (DOJ) proposed that the documents be uploaded to an online platform hosted by a “third-party vendor” so that Dearie could review the documents in an “efficient and timely fashion,” while allowing both Trump’s legal team and prosecutors to evaluate them at the same time.

    “The government proposes that the document-review vendor ‘batch out’ documents on a rolling basis as they are scanned so that the Parties can begin reviewing them promptly,” DOJ said.

    The DOJ also proposed that about 500 documents be reviewed each business day.

    Trump, who was in New York City when the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, has returned to his Florida residence. Writing on his Truth Social account on Monday, he said the residence “was ransacked” and in “far different condition than the way I left it.”

    “I guess they don’t think there is a Fourth Amendment anymore, and to them, there isn’t. In any event, after what they have done, the place will never be the same,” Trump wrote.

    via www.theepochtimes.com

    September 20, 2022 at 05:09PM