Another GOP Rep. Announces Retirement Amid Wave of Retirements From Congress

Another Republican Representative has announced retirement.

GOP Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO) announced he will leave Congress at the end of this term.

RINO Rep. Luetkemeyer has served as a congressman for Missouri’s 3rd district since 2009.

“As I finish up my last term, I look forward to continuing to work with all my constituents on their myriad of issues as well as work on the many difficult and serious problems confronting our great country,” Luetkemeyer said in a statement on Thursday. “There is still a lot to do.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/01/another-gop-rep-announces-retirement-amid-wave-retirements/

Pedo island: The corrupt system that created Jeffrey Epstein survives his downfall

New court papers have been released in the sex trafficking saga – but the people named in them are likely to escape unscathed

An American court this week released over 900 documents relating to the sordid and seemingly never-ending Jeffrey Epstein saga.

Epstein was the very well-connected billionaire financial adviser – with a fondness for being “massaged” by teenage girls from Miami trailer parks – who committed suicide (so it is said) in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The Western media had, of course, conferred celebrity status on Epstein – in tandem with his lover and partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, long before his controversial and opportune death. Maxwell, no stranger to scandal in her own right, is the daughter of disgraced billionaire publisher Robert Maxwell - who committed suicide in 1991 on the eve of being exposed for having stolen hundreds of millions of pounds from his companies’ pension funds.

Epstein was one of Robert Maxwell’s financial advisers, and when Ghislaine moved to New York after her father’s death, they became romantically involved. She needed and valued his financial advice, and he was impressed with her wide range of social connections within elite circles globally – that extended even to the British royal family.

Maxwell herself is now residing in an American jail cell – having been convicted of sex trafficking and procuring young girls for Epstein in 2021, and receiving a twenty-year sentence.

Ironically, Epstein and Maxwell were brought down by one of the young girls that they exploited sexually – an Australian, Virginia Giuffre, who pursued them both relentlessly through the American legal system. Giuffre also took legal proceedings against the hapless Prince Andrew – a close friend of Epstein and Maxwell with whom she says she was forced to have sex on numerous occasions – that resulted in a multi-million dollar out-of-court settlement and the Prince’s banishment from public life two years ago.

The inherently salacious nature of the long-running Epstein tale and its #MeToo subtext no doubt account for the Western media’s ongoing fascination with Epstein and Maxwell. But there is also another factor at work – a desire to expose and bring down those individual members of the global elites who associated with Epstein and were beneficiaries of his hospitality and largesse.

There is, however, an element of political naivety in this – after all, haven’t Western elites always sexually exploited young girls from the lower orders? More importantly, surely the widespread fraudulent financial activities of these powerful individuals and the corporations they govern are more deserving of exposure?

It should come as no surprise that a clever and ambitious spiv like Epstein (who did not come from a privileged background and was a teacher before becoming a financial adviser to the global elites) should also regularly supply his clients with young working-class women at his private residences.

Media coverage of this week’s document release – and there are more releases to come – has therefore focused on the identity of those prominent individuals who are named in the pleadings, depositions, and exhibits that have now been disclosed.

https://www.rt.com/news/590147-epstein-elites-system-court/

Geopolitics: "US involvement in this [Gaza] crisis is a disaster"- John Mearsheimer

"The Ukraine War is The Democrats War"

On 30 November 2023, John Mearsheimer did an interview with “Dialogue,” a popular show on CGTN. They just posted it as part of their end-of-the-year review of the geopolitical landscape. Mearsheimer comes down on the ”side” of Israel overstepping their bounds in Gaza. He has been proven mostly correct on his previous handicapping of the Russians would win the Ukraine war.

Despite the talk of staying the course by Western officials over the Ukraine conflict, there are signs of growing fatigue and frustration, hesitation and even a possible decrease in political and financial support for Kyiv. Could this mean peace talks in the near future? How long will the deadlock continue?

Meanwhile, how will the U.S.'s unconditional support for Israel in the Gaza conflict impact its global posturing? And after the summit between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden in early November in San Francisco, could we finally begin to see an improvement in China-U.S. ties? In this edition of Dialogue to break down these major geo-political issues this year, we had an exclusive interview with political science professor John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2024-01-04/geopolitics-us-involvement-gaza-crisis-disaster-john-mearsheimer

Far Left Group Creates ‘Database of Election Deniers’ in Public Intimidation Attempt.

Public Wise, a left-wing “voting rights” organization, has created a database that tracks Arizona officials that the group claims are “election deniers” in a clear attempt to intimidate citizens from questioning election inconsistencies or voter fraud. Dubbed the “Election Threat Index,” it claims 50 percent of Arizona residents are represented by state legislators who Public Wise brand election deniers. The group says it plans to expand its communist-style lists into other states in the coming months, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

“The Election Threat Index is designed to identify local and state level officials, examine how their actions in office impact democracy, and work with grassroots partners to hold these individuals accountable, combat their attempts at voter suppression and elect pro-democracy candidates,” Public Wise said in a press release on Friday. This is the group’s second project, designed to publicly target ideological opponents. Public Wise previously launched the “Insurrection Index,” which the group says is “an online database identifying all individuals and organizations in a position of public trust who participated, planned or promoted January 6th.” “Our democracy doesn’t begin or end in Congress or in the White House; its fate will be determined in our communities, by our school boards, our state representatives, our sheriffs.

The Election Threat Index is designed to identify these officials and understand the impact election deniers have on our right to vote and the future of our democracy. The next phase of the election denier movement is here and we’re fighting back to protect our democracy and our fundamental freedoms,”Public Wise Executive Director Christina Baal-Owenssaid in a statement.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/01/05/far-left-group-creates-database-of-election-deniers-in-public-intimidation-attempt/

Ballot Cleansing: Democrats Are Moving To Bar Republicans From Ballots Nationwide

Dozens of Democratic members have already called for the disqualification of up to 126 Republican colleagues under the same sweeping theory.

These efforts show how this theory could place this country on a slippery slope to political chaos if not clearly and finally rejected by the Supreme Court.

Here is the column:

As the decisions disqualifying former President Donald Trump from the 2024 election work their way through the courts, a new filing in Pennsylvania seeks the same “ballot cleansing” by barring Republican Rep. Scott Perry.

It’s only the latest effort targeting congressional candidates as Democrats seek to bar opponents as “insurrectionists” for questioning the election of President Biden.

We have become a nation of Madame Defarges — eagerly knitting names of those to be subject to arbitrary justice.

Former congressional candidate Gene Stilp, who’s previously made headlines by burning MAGA flags with swastikas outside courthouses, filed the challenge.

Using the 14th Amendment to disqualify candidates like Perry is consistent with Stilp’s signature flag-burning stunts.

But what’s chilling is how many support such efforts, including Democratic officeholders from Maine’s Secretary of State to dozens of members of Congress.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) sought to bar 126 members of Congress under the same theory for challenging the election before Jan. 6, 2021.

Similar legislation from Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) to disqualify members got 63 co-sponsors, all Democrats, including New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman and Ritchie Torres and “Squad” members Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.

When Maine’s secretary of state disqualified Trump, three in the state’s congressional delegation — Sens. Angus King (I) and Susan Collins (R) and Rep. Jared Golden (D) — condemned the decision. But others supported the antidemocratic action.

The grounds were virtually identical to those of Stilp. He accuses Perry of supporting challenges to Biden’s election and opposing its certification.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ballot-cleansing-democrats-are-moving-bar-republicans-ballots-nationwide

Israel seeking ‘fundamental change’ to Lebanon border – Netanyahu

PM Benjamin Netanyahu told a US envoy that his country is more ‘determined’ and ‘daring’ than ever before

Israel is committed to seeking a “fundamental change” to the security situation on its northern border with Lebanon as it aims to reduce attacks from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, PM Benjamin Netanyahu told a US envoy on Thursday.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have increased since Hamas’ cross-border assault on Israel on October 7, as the Hezbollah militant group continues to mount a series of attacks on Israeli territory. Hezbollah, like Hamas, is considered to be a terrorist organization by Israel.

In a meeting with US Special Presidential Envoy Amos Hochstein in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Netanyahu said that security measures must be strengthened in Israel’s north so that approximately 100,000 evacuated residents can “return to their homes and live in safety and security.”

“We will not stop until this goal has been achieved, whether diplomatically, which Israel prefers, or in some other way,” the Israeli leader added, according to the Times of Israel. Netanyahu did not give specifics on the nature of the plans.

He also told Hochstein, according to the outlet, that “following the murderous assault of October 7, Israel is more determined, daring, and united than ever.” Hochstein had been dispatched to the region by US President Joe Biden in a bid to reduce tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

A message posted to Netanyahu’s X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday following his meeting with Hochstein reiterated that Israel “is committed to bring about a fundamental change on its border with Lebanon.”

In addition to its ground and air bombardment of Gaza, which has killed some 22,000 Palestinians so far, Israel has also deployed troops towards its border with Lebanon as it seeks to prevent the possibility of a Hezbollah incursion similar to that of Hamas’ cross-border attack in October.

Earlier this week, Hamas’ influential deputy leader, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in a drone attack in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. While Israel, which rarely comments on military operations, has not admitted responsibility for the bombing, Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah has vowed revenge against its southern neighbor.

“We are not afraid of war,” Nasrallah said this week in a televised address, adding that “there will be no ceilings, no rules” to Hezbollah’s response.

So far, Hezbollah has avoided major escalations at the border, saying earlier that its actions are aimed at tying up the IDF’s forces to prevent their deployment to Gaza.

The attack that killed al-Arouri was the first in Beirut following months of exchanges of fire. Until then, the skirmishes had mainly been limited to areas around Lebanon’s southern border.

https://www.rt.com/news/590166-israel-lebanon-netanyahu-border/

Epstein Fixer Office Burglarized, Computer Servers Stolen Hours Before Document Dump

Epstein fixer Michael Sitrick told Los Angeles Magazine thieves broke into his Brentwood office over the New Year’s holiday and stole his computer servers just hours before a tranche of Epstein documents were unsealed and released to the public.

Judge Loretta Preska on Wednesday unsealed the first cache of documents from lawsuits related to Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse which potentially included names of over 150 people.

The first set of documents detailed Ghislaine Maxwell’s recruiting techniques, Prince Andrew’s abuse of the trafficked victims, and Bill Clinton’s fondness for “young” girls.

A second cache of Epstein docs was unsealed on Thursday.

According to the second tranche of documents obtained by The Gateway Pundit and reviewed by this reporter, one Epstein victim, a minor teen dubbed “Jane Doe 3,” said she was trafficked to “prominent American politicians” to “obtain potential blackmail information.”

“Epstein also sexually trafficked the then-minor Jane Doe, making her available for sex to politically-connected and financially-powerful people. Epstein’s purposes in “lending” Jane Doe (along with other young girls) to such powerful people were to ingratiate himself with them for business, personal, political, and financial gain, as well as to obtain potential blackmail information.” – the document described of Jane Doe #3.

According to Los Angeles Magazine, one of Epstein’s fixers, Michael Sitrick, was burglarized shortly before the first cache of documents was released earlier this week.

Los Angeles Magazine reported that Jeffrey Epstein previously paid Michael Sitrick $30,000 a month to help him with crisis management after the New York Post dropped a hit piece on Prince Andrew and Epstein.

Sitrick told Los Angeles Magazine that if he still had any documents related to Epstein they were not on the servers that were stolen.

“If Epstein documents still existed [at his firm] they wouldn’t be on anything that was taken,” Sitrick told Los Angeles Magazine.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/01/breaking-epstein-fixer-office-burglarized-computer-servers-stolen/?utm_source=rss

White House Slams South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel

If Israel is found guilty of genocide at the ICJ, it would implicate the US

The White House on Wednesday slammed South Africa’s genocide case against Israel that was filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), one of the UN’s top courts based in The Hague.

When asked about the 84-page lawsuit South Africa has filed against Israel, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, “We find this submission meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever.”

If Israel is found guilty of genocide by the ICJ, it would implicate the US as it’s providing weapons and political cover for Israel’s operations in Gaza with no conditions or red lines. The US has also justified Israel’s attacks on civilian areas and has shrugged off the massive civilian casualty rate as the price of the operation.

The case against Israel could take years, but South Africa is asking the ICJ to immediately declare Israel is committing acts that could be considered genocidal and issue an interim order to halt its military operations, according to Haaretz. Hearings on the interim order are scheduled for January 11 and 12, and Israel is preparing to defend itself, signaling it is worried about the case.

The ICJ has no power to enforce its order for Israel to halt military operations or to take action if it determines Israel is committing genocide. But the ruling would deal a major diplomatic blow to the US and Israel.

South Africa has a strong case against Israel since over 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed by Israel’s onslaught on Gaza in just less than three months. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been wounded, and nearly 90% have been displaced internally.

Genocide is defined by Article II of the UN’s Genocide Convention as “a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part.” Intent to commit serious physical harm against a group needs to be shown to prove a state is guilty of genocide at the ICJ.

South Africa has included quotes from Israeli officials in its lawsuit that show Israel’s intent of “committing genocidal acts” or its failure to prevent them. When the onslaught first started, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a total siege on Gaza and said the Israeli military was fighting “human animals” in the enclave.

Another quote included in South Africa’s lawsuit is one from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, saying there are no innocent civilians in Gaza. “It’s an entire nation out there that is responsible. It’s not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved. It’s absolutely not true. … and we will fight until we break their backbone,” Herzog said.

https://news.antiwar.com/2024/01/04/white-house-slams-south-africas-genocide-case-against-israel/

>>20188778

Top model who jumped to her death from her Wall St. apartment building had flown on Epstein’s jet as a teen: court docs

A top model who jumped to her death from her Wall Street apartment building had previously been one of the teen girls flown to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, newly unsealed court documents show.

Ruslana Korshunova — who featured in ads for Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Vera Wang, and Nina Ricci perfume — was just 18 when she was a passenger on the since-deceased pedophile’s so-called Lolita Express on June 7, 2006, previously released flight logs show.

The trip to Epstein’s Little St. James was almost exactly two years before the Kazakh-Russian IMG model leaped to her death from her ninth-floor balcony.

Her ex-boyfriend told The Post at the time that the model had problems that she kept “bottled up.”

Korshunova’s trip to Epstein’s island was just weeks before the moneyman was arrested in 2006 and later convicted of sex with underage girls.

He was listed as being with her on the flight, along with three of his staffers — bodyguard Igor Zinoviev, personal chef Lance Calloway, and longtime assistant Sarah Kellen.

There was also a woman identified as Stephanie Tidwell — and an unidentified former UFC fighter.

https://nypost.com/2024/01/05/news/top-model-who-killed-herself-flew-on-epsteins-private-jet/

Former President Files Contempt Motion Against Special Counsel, Alleging Violations Of Court Stay Order

The motion alleges that Smith has consistently violated a stay order in his investigation into the 2020 election.

The case against Trump, who is currently the leading Republican candidate for the 2024 election, is temporarily on hold as his legal team appeals the case. They argue that presidential immunity shields him from prosecution. The trial was initially scheduled to commence on March 4.

"The Stay Order is clear, straightforward, and unambiguous," Trump's attorney, John Lauro, stated in the filing on Thursday. "All substantive proceedings in this Court are halted. Despite this clarity, the prosecutors began violating the Stay almost immediately."

https://www.blabber.buzz/conservative-news/1055087-former-president-files-contempt-motion-against-special-counsel-alleging-violations-of-court-stay-order?utm_source=alert-GI

Giuffre v. Maxwell (1:15-cv-07433)

District Court, S.D. New York

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4355835/giuffre-v-maxwell/?order_by=desc

TSA director arrested by US Customs and Border Protection

McManaman is charged with assisting in a forgery of documents transferring property from an elderly relative with dementia to herself and an accomplice

An official with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been arrested on an outstanding warrant, according to local reports.

TSA Assistant Federal Security Director Maxine McManaman was arrested in Atlanta by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Dec. 28.

McManaman had a warrant for her arrest posted by the St. Lucie County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, which claimed she and an alleged accomplice named Delroy Chambers Sr. exploited a relative suffering from dementia by falsifying documents in their name, according to Port St. Lucie Police.

The Florida authorities allege that the duo forged signatures on a quitclaim deed transferring ownership of a property in the relative's name over to themselves.

The relative whose property was transferred to McManaman and Chambers allegedly could not have signed the quitclaim deed, because the individual was found to have been in Atlanta on the date listed, according to police.

Chambers was previously arrested on Dec. 20 in Port St. Lucie, charged with two counts of exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, simple neglect and two counts of forgery. He eventually bonded out of jail.

McManaman is facing a third-degree felony charge of forgery.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/tsa-director-arrested-us-customs-border-protection-florida?intcmp=tw_fnc

House GOP moves to hold Hunter Biden in contempt

The move under Chairman James Comer sets up a high stakes showdown in the shadows of the 2024 election where Joe Biden is seeking re-election.

The committee’s move under Chairman James Comer sets up a high stakes showdown in the shadows of the 2024 election where Joe Biden is seeking re-election.

“Hunter Biden blatantly defied two lawful subpoenas when he did not appear for his December deposition,” the committee announced on the social media platform.

"Next week, we will consider a resolution and accompanying report to hold him in contempt of Congress for violating federal law. @JudiciaryGOP will also hold a markup,” it added.

https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/house-gop-moves-hold-hunter-biden-contempt-kl

PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT

‘They’d Have To Cancel The Election’: Mark Epstein Claims Brother Jeffrey Had Dirt On Both 2016 Candidates

Mark Epstein claimed on Wednesday that his late brother, convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, once bragged to him about having enough dirt on both major candidates to derail the 2016 presidential election.

Epstein, a property developer, told the New York Post that his brother had claimed to have compromising information on both the Republican candidate — now former President Donald Trump, and the Democratic candidate — former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“Here’s a direct quote: ‘If I said what I know about both candidates, they’d have to cancel the election.’ That’s what Jeffrey told me in 2016,” Mark said. He did not offer any details, however, and instead told the Post that his brother had never revealed exactly what he knew.

It is already public knowledge that Trump had associated with Epstein — although he has denied any participation in or knowledge of the convicted pedophile’s crimes. He reportedly flew on the financier’s private plane at least 7 times during the 1990s — primarily between New York and Palm Beach, and occasionally with some of his family members in tow.

Clinton’s connection to Epstein is a bit more tenuous and, based on what is known publicly, primarily through her husband, former President Bill Clinton. While Hillary is not known to have had much interaction with Epstein, he did visit the White House more than a dozen times — 17, to be exact — during Clinton’s presidency.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/theyd-have-to-cancel-the-election-mark-epstein-claims-brother-jeffrey-had-dirt-on-both-2016-candidates

42 MASSIVE STRIKES HIT UKRAINIAN MILITARY FACILITIES OVER PAST WEEK

On January 5, the Russian Ministry of Defense summed up the results of military operations in Ukraine over the past week. The end of 2023 and the first days of 2024 were marked by a number of large-scale strikes against Ukrainian troops and military facilities throughout the country.

From December 30, 2023 to January 5, 2024, the Russian Air Force carried out 41 group and 1 precision strikes on military facilities in Ukraine. The targets included decision-making centers, military-industrial enterprises, airfields, arsenals, fuel bases of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, places of deployment of Ukrainian military units.

Strikes over the past week have destroyed many military and industrial facilities in different regions of Ukraine, including in the capital. Footage of the strikes in Kiev and several other major cities made headlines in the media, and many videos were widely shared online. That’s why it seems that the Russian military has significantly increased the number of daily strikes in the recent days. However, compared to the figures presented in the official reports of the Russian Ministry of Defense weeks earlier, the intensity of Russian strikes remains virtually unchanged:

From December 23 to December 29, 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 50 group and one massive strike with precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles.

From December 16 to 22, 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 39 group strikes with precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The figures confirm that the Ukrainian military constantly suffers heavy losses, but Kiev hides the real damage. The Ukrainian authorities are hyping up around Russian precision strikes filmed by residents of large cities, crying about the fake destruction of civilian infrastructure as a result of Russian attacks.

https://southfront.press/42-massive-strikes-hit-ukrainian-military-facilities-over-past-week/

Biden just released his first ad of 2024. The main threat to this country? You…

https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1742910295813611627

"We corrupt in order to control."

Epstein Case Prompts the Question: Is Pedophilia Rampant in All Power Circles?

When your banking system is based on fraud, criminality and depravity are your allies.

https://thenewamerican.com/video/epstein-case-prompts-the-question-is-pedophilia-rampant-in-all-power-circles/

MacDonald's gestures of support for Israel has resulted in a boycott that has had a "meaningful impact"

Some Western brands in countries where pro-Palestinian sentiment has been traditionally strong have been battered with boycotts as consumers turn to local alternatives following Israel's large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip in late October.

McDonald's locations across the Middle East have been hit the hardest with boycotts since McDonald's Israel on X said it would give out 100,000 free meals.

"Boycott McDonalds. Let them feel the hurt," said one X user who responded to McDonald's Israel post in October.

Cairo resident Reham Hamed, who boycotted McDonald's, told Reuters in November:

"I feel that even if I know this will not have a massive impact on the war, then this is the least we can do as citizens of different nations so we don't feel like our hands are covered in blood."

Following the controversial McDonald's Israel X post, franchise groups in Kuwait, Pakistan, and other Middle East countries issued statements stating they disagreed with their Israeli counterparts.

Folks are still boycotting the fast-food chain.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/mcdonalds-ceo-says-global-boycott-fueled-misinformation-has-caused-meaningful-business

Mike Adams–Jeffrey Epstein, Israeli intelligence and honey pot traps that ensnare top officials in government, military, pharma and tech

Now that names are coming out from the Epstein court documents, it's also being revealed that another honey pot trap was targeting military leaders, government, Big Tech executives and Big Pharma owners in a "honey trap" operation across Boston and the D.C. area.

In essence, many of our country's most powerful men handed over all kinds of secrets because they were blackmailed after being caught in the honey traps. Israel's Mossad ran the Epstein honey trap, and it's believed that tens of thousands of hours of blackmail video exists there, to control and threaten powerful leaders across the world.

https://www.brighteon.com/87090dfd-f09a-4cba-b753-dcc48e4ce5d6

Karen Kingston- The FDA Knows that Pfizer's mRNA Injections are Gene Editing Technologies

By falsely referring to injectable gene editing technologies as 'vaccines', Pfizer, the FDA and the NIH knowingly lied to the American people and global civilians. Make no mistake, this is criminal.

https://karenkingston.substack.com/p/did-the-fda-know-that-pfizers-mrna