Multiple FBI investigations are underway involving potential corruption charges against the Clinton Foundation, according to a former senior law enforcement official.
VIDEO: FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER HASTERT INDICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES
The investigation centers on New York City where the Clinton Foundation has its main offices, according to the former official who has direct knowledge of the activities.
Prosecutorial support will come from various U.S. Attorneys Offices — a major departure from other centralized FBI investigations.
The New York-based probe is being led by Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. Bharara’s prosecutorial aggressiveness has resulted in a large number of convictions of banks, hedge funds and Wall Street insiders.
The official said involvement of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York “would be seen by agents as a positive development as prosecutors there are generally thought to be more aggressive than the career lawyers within the DOJ.”
The Reuters news service has poured cold water on CNN’s overheated claim that the Secret Service warned Donald Trump’s campaign that his gun rights rhetoric seemed to threaten the safety of Hillary Clinton.
Reuters reported that “a federal official on Wednesday said the U.S. Secret Service had not formally spoken with Republican Donald Trump’s presidential campaign regarding his suggestion a day earlier that gun rights activists could stop Democratic rival Hillary Clinton from curtailing their access to firearms.”
Trump gleefully broadcast Reuters’ refutation of the CNN article.
A BITTER GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN BEGINS
On Tuesday, Democrats, and many parts ofthe established media, claimed that Trump had casually threatened Hillary Clinton during an off-the-cuff campaign speech. This media-magnified claim — just like other claims, whether true or not — helps the Democrats’ push their narrative that Trump is too unstable to risk putting in the White House.
Here are Trump’s comments that Democrats used to create the media furor;
Hillary wants to abolish — essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, if she gets to pick, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know. But I tell you what, that will be a horrible day, if Hillary gets to put her judges in, right now we’re tied.
CNN kept the controversy going Wednesday evening with a claim that Secret Service officials warned Trump’s campaign about the remarks. In an updated version of the article published at 8.30 pm, CNN claimed:
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A US Secret Service official confirms to CNN that the USSS has spoken to the Trump campaign regarding his Second Amendment comments.
“There has been more than one conversation” on the topic, the official told CNN.
However, CNN also undermined its own 8.30 pm article by saying that “it’s unclear at what level in the campaign structure the conversations occurred.”
The Reuters article was published 8.57 pm, or almost 30 minutes later. Headlined, “Official: No formal Secret Service discussions with Trump camp on remark,” the Reuters article said:
A federal official on Wednesday said the U.S. Secret Service had not formally spoken with Republican Donald Trump’s presidential campaign regarding his suggestion a day earlier that gun rights activists could stop Democratic rival Hillary Clinton from curtailing their access to firearms.
… Earlier CNN had reported that there had been multiple conversations between the campaign and the agency.
In the late afternoon, Trump had scoffed at the CNN’s claim of Secret Service concern.
According to pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, footage of Hillary Clinton exhibiting bizarre behavior is proof that the presidential candidate is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Citing his “15 year background in drug discovery and pharmaceuticals,” Shkreli asserts that the videos of Hillary’s strange facial movements and her difficulties with walking are “pretty unmistakable signs of Parkinson’s disease.”
Explaining that a stroke or a concussion wouldn’t explain the symptoms, Shkreli says that Hillary’s walking difficulties are a “cardinal symptom of Parkinson’s disease” and what is known as “freezing gait”. Shkreli adds that he helped develop a drug to treat the problem.
Hillary’s “on-off episodes” are a result of dopamine depletion, according to Shkreli, which is impacting Hillary’s movement.
“We’ve all seen the videos of her kind of making these perplexed facial movements,” says Shkreli, noting that Hillary’s over-reaction to balloons at the DNC was “unusual” because it betrayed an “inability to control her facial movements”.
However, Hillary’s seizure-like behavior in response to reporters asking questions in another clip was even more odd because she “made this involuntary movement for about ten seconds which was truly unusual,” states Shkreli, identifying the condition as a form of Parkinson’s-induced dyskinesia.
“This ia classic symptom….if you showed someone that symptom and said ‘name the disorder’ it’s not a seizure….that is simply involuntary movement, it’s PD-LID, no doubt about it in my mind,” adds Shkreli, concluding that when matched with Hillary’s “freezing gait,” it “explains everything.”
Shkreli emphasizes the fact the he is non-partisan and has given more money to Democrats than Republicans.
Despite his controversial background (Shkreli was once labeled the “most hated man in America” for raising the price of the drug Daraprim by 5556 per cent), his voice adds to the innumerable health experts and doctors who have been asking serious questions about Hillary’s ill health.
We highlighted Hillary’s bizarre behavior and her health problems in a video last week that has since gone viral and received well over a million views.
Suspicions over Hillary’s health have raged in recent days, with the Drudge Report running a series of headlines highlighting her numerous falls and difficulties walking.
In response, media outlets are beginning to characterize questions about Hillary’s health as little more than ‘right-wing conspiracy theories,’ although assertions by leftists that Donald Trump is mentally ill have not received similar treatment.
Other questions continue to swirl, including claims that one of Hillary’ “handlers,” who calmed her during the recent interruption of one of her speeches, carries around a an auto-injector syringe for the administration of the anti-seizure drug Diazepam.
According to Shkreli, the syringe “may be an Apokyn pen, used to treat Parkinson’s,” noting that it was the same color.
“Knowing what we know now, and looking at the above video, it looks like after Hillary seized up like a deer in headlights, the medic tries to calm her down, but was having problems because the Secret Service members on stage were freaking her out,” according to the Ralph Retort.
“The medic must have realized he wasn’t going to calm her down until Secret Service got off stage, so he went up to each of them individually, telling them to go away.”
Twitter users are now calling for Hillary to be given a mental and physical health screening under the hashtag #Hillary’sHealth
Hillary Clinton needed to be physically helped up a moderate flight of stairs by her team of staffers and handlers, according to campaign-trail photos that made the rounds on the Internet Sunday.
Reuters and Getty photographs captured Hillary Clinton, 68, struggling to make it up the stairs, either as a result of her fragile body or perhaps because her well-documented brain injuries make it harder for her to transport herself through daily life activities. The photos gained wide circulation on the Internet Sunday. The photos were taken in February as Clinton was campaigning in South Carolina.
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VIDEO: CLINTON SAYS SORRY, PRIVATE EMAIL WAS A MISTAKE
Breitbart News has extensively reported on Clinton’s various health problems, including what could be a lingering brain conditionthat appeared after she suffered a blood cot.
Donald Trump is hammering Clinton for “short-circuiting” when she had to answer questions about her private email scandal, which she clearly did not answer truthfully.
Clinton’s disappearance from the debate stage last month left people speculating that the former First Lady took a long bathroom break, but now a law-enforcement source with inside connections is alleging that Clinton was missing from the stage due to health issues stemming from a previous brain injury.
These long-lasting symptoms stemming from a concussion and blood clot, according to a neurologist, suggest Clinton is suffering from post-concussion syndrome, which can severely impact her cognitive abilities.
All that said, however, Clinton’s campaign maintained to Breitbart News that she is in good health and can serve as President of the United States.
Clinton previously fell on the stairs in 2011:
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She also fell in 2009 when she was going to President Obama’s White House, necessitating surgery.
I have a new bunch of docs from the DNC server for you.
It includes the DNC action plan during the Republican National Convention, Surrogate Report, POTUS briefing, financial reports, etc.
This pack was announced two days ago but I had to keep you waiting for some security reasons. I suffered two attacks on my wp account.
You might be aware of the rumors about Marcel Lazar aka Guccifer. Those are a.c. fake stories, but who knows. Please keep me updated if there is any news.
Its real alright. We called the phone numbers listed and questioned them on this and the response was priceless. We will air this on 7AUG16 on SmythRadio.com at 5-8pm est (UTC -5)
Guccifer 2.0,
Thank you for sharing the information you uncover so we can know the truth about our government. Seeing as the msm is serving up propaganda as “news” nowadays, I’ve been wondering if there’s any way to hack into the corporate media systems to shut down what’s loaded to be broadcasted and replace those programs with real stories that need to reach the people that are still in the dark about what’s really going on. I don’t know the first thing about computers/ technology so forgive me if my question is a ridiculous one. Thanks again.
Reblogged this on aRT for a Gloomy Day and commented:
Wow. Reading through these documents makes me sick. RNC, DNC what’s the difference? Not much. Yeah. The “social issues.” And how long do we really believe that will last? As long as the DNC’s nominee accepts money from human rights violators, not long is my guess. Remember, Republicans weren’t always as unreasonable as they are now. It’s only a matter of time until the Democrats join them.
Reblogged this on and commented:
Wow. Reading through these documents makes me sick. RNC, DNC what’s the difference? Not much. Yeah. The “social issues.” And how long do we really believe that will last? As long as the DNC’s nominee accepts money from human rights violators, not long is my guess. Remember, Republicans weren’t always as unreasonable as they are now. It’s only a matter of time until the Democrats join them.
Thank you for all of the information you have posted. I am 66 and have never participated in the political process until now. I can`t imagine my country electing someone that the FBI showed is nothing but a criminal and a thug. Hopefully you can post things from her private server that will destroy her campaign.
Please accept my sincere appreciation for all that you do for us who know that our government is betraying us left and right. You work and info is not only helpful but informative for each one of us to counter their treasonous actions.
Thanks my friend and keep it coming!
1) you haven’t read or researched anything about him. His compulsive dishonesty is well known. You think he is “self made”? His father was one of the richest men in America. He grew up far far wealthier than Hillary did lol.
2) You are a Russian shill.
Sorry but it is hard to believe you are stupid enough to think Trump is “Honest”. When you say that it removes all your credibility. It seems clear to me that Putin is helping Trump out by posting internal and embarrassing DNC material. Trump in turn has changed the republican platform to be more russian friendly. Two of trumps advisors have direct ties to Russia – one advisor used to work for Putin-supported Ukrainian president. The other has ties to Russian Oil – and recently spoke in Russia.
Hey wanker,Trump is 1000 times more honest then Hitlery.Get your head out of your ass.She’s been in power ever since her perverted husband was in the White house and she has more fuck ups then good ye retards like you think she’d be great for the White House.Manning made public a video showing how unarmed people were killed by the US airforce and he’s facing over 30 years in prison.Hillary intentionally moved her email server where she was receiving TOP SECRET information that got out to China and Russia and nothing happens to her.She’s fucking incompetent and a traitor yet here you are either defending her so i have to ask….are you blind,illiterate or fucking retarded?
EVEN IF Trump was dishonest that doesn’t take anything away from what Hillary did.
You’re a member of the Democratic Party. Your party is spreading lies that the hack is on Trump’s behalf when the FBI notified the DNC TWO YEARS AGO of it. Stop lying for once in your pathetic life.
Just face a few acts, asshat:
1) You Democrats can’t secure your email servers if your lives depended on it. Hillary just got out of federal charges because of her connections and nothing else.
2) Trump did not get Russia to hack emails at his request starting ONE YEAR before he announced his candidacy. You’re desperate and reaching.
3) The contents of your DNC emails wouldn’t matter if you all weren’t so fucking corrupt and racist.
4) You spout off false moral outrage while tonight (7/26/16) on the stage at the DNC is the parents of attempted cop killer Michael Brown, held up as victims and martyrs.
5) You Democrats are filthy from the top down and have no ability to be honest to get what you want.
6) The Trump/Russia connection is concocted to deflect from the horrible contents of the DNC emails so you don’t have to actually address them.
So go fuck yourself.
Guccifer, keep up the good work. I bet there’s even worse out there to yet find.
I’m sorry, but your obsession with Clinton is very suspect and very one sided. The country is run by big corporate interests and money. Nothing is going to change. The political parties are just pawns in the game.
Jane Mayer – ” Dark Money”
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China’s top internet regulator ordered major online companies including Sina Corp. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. to stop original news reporting, the latest effort by the government to tighten its grip over the country’s web and information industries.
The Cyberspace Administration of China imposed the ban on several major news portals, including Sohu.com Inc. and NetEase Inc., Chinese media reported in identically worded articles citing an unidentified official from the agency’s Beijing office. The companies have “seriously violated” internet regulations by carrying plenty of news content obtained through original reporting, causing “huge negative effects,” according to a report that appeared in The Paper on Sunday.
The agency instructed the operators of mobile and online news services to dismantle “current-affairs news” operations on Friday, after earlier calling a halt to such activity at Tencent, according to people familiar with the situation. Like its peers, Asia’s largest internet company had developed a news operation and grown its team. Henceforth, they and other services can only carry reports provided by government-controlled print or online media, the people said, asking not to be identified because the issue is politically sensitive.
The sweeping ban gives authorities near-absolute control over online news and political discourse, in keeping with a broader crackdown on information increasingly distributed over the web and mobile devices. President Xi Jinping has stressed that Chinese media must serve the interests of the ruling Communist Party.
The party has long been sensitive to the potential for negative reporting to stir up unrest, the greatest threat to its decades-old hold on power. Regulations forbidding enterprise reporting have been in place for years without consistent enforcement, but the latest ordinance suggests “they really mean business,” said Willy Lam, an adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Center for China Studies.
Xi’s ‘Crusade’
Xi is cementing his power base and silencing dissenters ahead of a twice-a-decade reshuffle at next year’s party congress. Lam said that he "is really tightening up his crusade to silence opponents in the media."
The regulator will slap financial penalties on sites found in violation of the regulations, the Paper cited the official as saying. A representative of Sohu declined to comment on the report. Tencent, Sina and NetEase didn’t respond to messages and phone calls seeking comment. The cyberspace administration has yet to respond to a faxed request for comment.
The government is now considering ways to exert a more direct form of influence over the country’s online media institutions. In recent months, Chinese authorities have held discussions with internet providers on a pilot project intended to pave the way for the government to start taking board seats and stakes of at least 1 percent in those companies. In return, they would get a license to provide news on a daily basis.
Gray Area
China’s online giants serve content, games and news to hundreds of millions of people across the country -- Tencent’s QQ and WeChat alone host more than a billion users, combined. Online news services however have always operated in a regulatory gray area. They’re not authorized to provide original content and technically aren’t allowed to hire reporters or editors. Still, outlets have recently published investigative stories on official corruption cases, and covered sensitive social issues from demonstrations to human rights. For instance, NetEase ran a feature in April after the party announced an investigation into a senior Hebei provincial official, Zhang Yue. The story was later removed from the internet.
For a Bloomberg Intelligence analysis of the latest media crackdown, click here.
“Current-affairs news” is a broad term in China and encompasses all news and commentary related to politics, economics, military, foreign affairs and social issues, according to the draft version of China’s online information law. The amended draft of the regulation is currently seeking public feedback on the CAC’s official website.
The change in the guidelines on original reporting also comes weeks after China replaced its chief internet regulator. Xu Lin, a former Shanghai propaganda chief who worked briefly with Xi during his half-year stint as Shanghai party boss in 2007, succeeded Lu Wei in June as head of the cyberspace administration.
The regulator has since tightened its grip on online news reports, such as bywarning news or social network websites against publishing news without proper verification. In another sign that the government is exerting influence over information, the publishers of a private purchasing managers index suspended that popular gauge without explanation.
— With assistance by Keith Zhai
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Some audience members booed and chanted Bernie Sanders's name when Hillary Clinton was mentioned during the opening invocation at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia July 25. (The Washington Post)
It's common for presidential candidates to get a bump from their conventions, and two new polls Monday suggest Donald Trump did indeed get that.
But the new polls don't just show Trump's stock rising (however temporarily that may be); they also have some very bad news for Hillary Clinton and her already-declining personal image. Indeed, politically, she's doing as bad as she ever has — if not worse.
A caveat at the outset: The GOP convention was, as was to be expected, very anti-Clinton. There were chants of "lock her up" and plenty of accusations lodged against Clinton. So it's perhaps not surprising to see Clinton's numbers take a hit. But they have been steadily getting worse for months and are now basically worse than ever before.
Below, four key points:
1) 68 percent say Clinton isn't honest and trustworthy
That's according to the CNN poll, and it's her worst number on-record. It's also up from 65 percent earlier this month and 59 percent in May. The 30 percent who see Clinton as honest and trustworthy is now well shy of the number who say the same of Trump: 43 percent.
You heard that right: Trump — he of the many, many Pinocchios — now has a large lead on Clinton when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness.
The CBS poll, for what it's worth, has a similar number saying Clinton is dishonest: 67 percent.
In the CNN poll, the 39 percent who say they have a favorable view of Clinton is lower than at any point in CNN's regular polling since April 1992 — when she wasn't even first lady yet. Of course, back then, the reason just 38 percent of people liked her was because many were unfamiliar with her. At the time, 39 percent were unfavorable and 23 percent had no opinion.
Clinton's favorable rating in the CNN poll is currently 16 points net-negative. That's unprecedented in the dozens of CNN polls on her since 1992.
The CNN poll, in fact, shows 45 percent of those who voted in Democratic primaries still say they wish it was Sanders. Just 49 percent say they prefer Clinton — down from 55 percent a month ago.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton greets supporters at her primary night victory party on June 7 in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
Trump's convention pledge to nation: Safety will be restored
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EW4hNlL9qdA
www.bigstory.ap.org
CLEVELAND (AP) — Donald Trump will pledge to Americans Thursday night that "safety will be restored" and the middle class will experience "profound relief" if he becomes president, using his acceptance speech at the Republican convention to paint an optimistic vision of the nation's future.
"I have a message for all of you: The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end," Trump says, according to excerpts released ahead of his address.
Trump casts Democrat Hillary Clinton as the direct cause of "many of the disasters unfolding today." Appealing to Americans deeply frustrated with the political status quo, Trump says those troubles will persist if his rival wins the White House.
"As long as we are led by politicians who will not put 'America First,' then we can be assured that other nations will not treat America with respect," Trump says in the excerpts.
Trump takes the stage in Cleveland facing a daunting array of challenges, many of his own making. At the top of the list: Unifying a fractured party and quieting Americans' concerns about his preparedness for the presidency.
Overseas U.S. allies as well as voters at home will be closely watching his address, which comes the day after his suggestion that he might not defend America's NATO partners as president.
His comments only added to the chaotic nature of Trump's nominating event, which has been consumed by a plagiarism charge, unusually harsh criticism of Democrat Hillary Clinton, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's dramatic refusal to endorse the GOP nominee from the convention stage.
Trump's wife, Melania, foreshadowed it all on opening night, noting, "It would not be a Trump contest without excitement and drama."
His team hopes to close the convention on a more traditional note, with the businessman delivering a scripted speech to the convention crowd and millions of Americans watching on television. Balloons will drop from the ceiling, and the stage will be filled with Trump family members and supporters.
Trump is to be introduced by his eldest daughter, Ivanka, one of his most polished and effective advocates.
Father and daughter took the stage together in the afternoon for an extensive walkthrough, taking turns standing at the podium and staring out into an arena that will be filled with jubilant delegates by evening.
"I love the media," Trump said with a smile as he tested the microphone.
By night's end, Trump's campaign hopes voters see the real estate mogul as a candidate who, despite his unorthodox political temperament, is prepared to lead the nation.
"I think he needs to lay out some clear policy views," Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said. "There are still a lot of people at the convention and within the party who are not sure where he's going to stand."
On the eve of his address, Trump suggested a new course for U.S. foreign policy, saying he would set different conditions before coming to the defense of NATO allies. The remarks, in an interview published online Wednesday by The New York Times, deviate from decades of American doctrine and seem to reject the 67-year-old alliance's bedrock principle of collective defense
As president, Trump said he would defend allies against Russian aggression only after first ensuring they had met their financial commitments. "If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes," he said.
Democrats, Republicans and international partners warned of the risks of backing away from NATO obligations.
"Two world wars have shown that peace in Europe is also important for the security of the United States," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
Democrat Clinton's top policy adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Trump's proposal showed he was "temperamentally unfit and fundamentally ill-prepared to be our commander in chief."
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a reluctant Trump backer, praised NATO's role in the world and said he hoped the comments were only "a rookie mistake."
Trump had hoped the four-day Republican convention would bolster his support among GOP leaders and win over skeptics. But that goal seemed guaranteed to go unfulfilled following Cruz's stubborn defiance on the convention stage.
The Texas senator refused to endorse Trump during his Wednesday speech, even as delegates loudly jeered him from the convention floor. It was a surreal moment given how carefully scripted political conventions normally are, and served as a fresh reminder that Trump events rarely go by the rules.
Trump's advisers say they saw Cruz's remarks in advance and had not expected an endorsement. However, a Cruz aide said Thursday that one of Trump's advisers had reached out to the senator's team shortly before the speech in hopes of getting a last-minute commitment.
Trump supporters were furious at Cruz, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who called the senator "totally selfish."
Speaking to members of the Texas delegation, Cruz held his ground. He moved no closer to an endorsement, saying only that he, too, would be watching and listening Thursday night. He insisted he would not be a "servile puppy dog," especially after Trump's criticism of his wife and father.
Steve Lonegan, who ran Cruz's New Jersey presidential campaign, defended the Texan's refusal to back the nominee.
"There was a time in American history when a real man would have called the other guy out to a duel" for disparagement of his wife, Heidi, Lonegan said. "Every woman in this country should wish they had a man like that."
Trump brushed aside the controversy, insisting Cruz was an outlier in an otherwise unified party.
"Other than a small group of people who have suffered massive and embarrassing losses, the party is VERY united. Great love in the arena!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
___
AP writers Kathleen Hennessey, Alan Fram and Thomas Beaumont in Cleveland, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.
CLEVELAND - Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tried to link arms with Republicans at the party's national convention on Wednesday, but was booed lustily by delegates when he ended his speech without offering Donald Trump his endorsement — or even saying he would vote for the New York billionaire.
As he appeared on stage, Cruz basked in a minute-long standing ovation. Cruz finished second to Trump in the crowded Republican primary campaign and congratulated the GOP nominee on his victory.
But as close as Cruz came to saying he wanted Trump to win the White House came when he said, "I want to see the principles that our party believes in prevail in November."
Cruz didn't tell the convention crowd that he plans to vote for Trump. Nor did he ask his supporters, hundreds of whom encouraged him to run for president in four years at an event on Wednesday afternoon, to vote for the newly minted Republican nominee.
Interrupted by chants of "Trump, Trump, Trump," Cruz paused and said with a smile, "I appreciate the enthusiasm of the New York delegation."
But as Cruz closed his remarks, and as the crowd of more than 2,000 delegates at the Quicken Loans Arena waited for Cruz to say something — anything — kind about Trump, he demurred.
"And to those listening, please, don't stay home in November," Cruz said. "Stand and speak, and vote your conscience. Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution."
The delegates responded with angry boos, and Cruz backer and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli escorted Heidi Cruz off the convention floor as she was heckled by Trump delegates.
"He's a chicken," said Eugene Delgaudio, a delegate from Sterling, Virginia, who clucked like a chicken when asked about Cruz's decision. "He needed to toughen up like every other Republican loser of any nomination battle in the last 100 years since Abraham Lincoln and just suck it up, be a man and back the nominee that he was beaten by, fair and square."
The crowd's boos quickly switched to cheers when Trump entered the arena at that moment. His daughter Ivanka and other members of the Trump party turned their backs on Cruz to stand and applaud Trump, who sat down in the front row of his VIP box to watch his son Eric deliver the next speech.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called Cruz's decision "totally selfish." The outspoken Trump backer, like Cruz bested by the real estate mogul in the GOP primaries, said the voters made clear that Trump is their choice.
"If we're not going to do that, why do we have elections? Because Ted Cruz has decided that he knows better? Than all of the people who voted in the elections?" he said.
The booing was so intense the Trump campaign encouraged its many staffers on the convention floor to try to calm the delegates down, said a Trump aide speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal campaign discussions.
Cruz halted his campaign two months ago, having outlasted all but Trump in a field that once numbered 17 candidates. He finished a distant second in the delegate accumulation during the Republican nominating campaign.
The reaction to Cruz's refusal to endorse Trump, who branded the Texas senator "Lyin' Ted" during the GOP primaries, stood in stark contrast to his reception earlier Wednesday among a crowd of the convention's most conservative delegates.
Many of Cruz's supporters from around the country came to thank him, shake his hand and pose for photographs. They crowded around him 10 people deep in the sun on an outdoor restaurant deck after his 20-minute speech, chanting "2020, 2020, 2020!"
Donna Metz, Cruz's 2016 Kansas state co-chairwoman, wore a sparkling red, white and blue hat and was jostled in the crowd as she made her way toward Cruz. "Oh, my gosh, I hope he runs again," said Metz, of Eudora, Kansas. "He's by far the best candidate."
As he would during his convention speech, the freshman lawmaker with a Texas-sized political ambition steered clear of a recommendation to back Trump at the afternoon event. Instead, Cruz talked about conservative ideals that could form the backbone of a future campaign.
"There is a better vision for our future: A return to freedom," he said.
Cruz is eager to be seen as the face of the modern conservative movement should there be an open GOP field in four years, and he said Wednesday afternoon he was unsure what the future would bring.
But he urged the group to "follow our conscience," ''unite behind liberty" and "empower the grassroots," all signals to the deep organization Cruz assembled in finishing second to Trump to be ready to jump back into action in four years.
And for all the boos Cruz got later from the Trump backers inside the convention hall, supporters of the Texas senator said his refusal to back the billionaire was "true leadership."
"I support it 100 per cent," said Dalton Glasscock, a Cruz delegate from Wichita. "If someone feels they can vote for Trump, great. If they can't, vote for someone they can believe in. He left the door open to more."
___
Follow Thomas Beaumont and Steve Peoples on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/tombeaumont and http://twitter.com/sppeoples
Welcome to Breitbart News’s live updates of Tuesday’s evening session of the 2016 Republican National Convention. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) will place Donald Trump’s name into nomination. Ted Cruz’s allies may try to disrupt the convention–and get their fair share of publicity–once again.
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***LISTEN TO/WATCH BREITBART NEWS’S LIVE COVERAGE OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION HERE.*** Call in: 713-955-0782.
VIDEO: TRUMP TAKES ON GOP OVER 'RIGGED' SYSTEM
Tonight’s theme is “Make America Work Again,” and featured speakers will include UFC President Dana White, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), the NRA’s Chris Cox, LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis, Dr. Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, actress Kimberlin Brown, Donald Trump Jr., and Tiffany Trump. House Majority Leader Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will also speak. View the full convention schedule here.
All times eastern.
—
7:45: Trump will address the convention via satellite later tonight:
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7:35:
7:32: Never Trump agitators not trying to pull shenanigans on the floor to get attention.
7:25:
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It’s official. Donald J. Trump Wins GOP Presidential Nomination.
7:11: Donald Trump Jr. vows that his dad will put New York in play in the general election. He says his it is his honor to put Trump over the top with 89 of the state’s delegates. He says his dad gave average Americans a voice this election cycle.
“Congratulations Dad! We love you,” he says.
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7:02: New York passes so the Empire State can put Trump over the top.
6:59: Lo and behold, Gov. Susana Martinez helps New Mexico cast its 24 votes for Donald Trump.
6:47: Michigan passes so that New York can put Trump over the top.
6:45: Trump getting close to the 1,237 delegates need to clinch nomination. He’s over 800 after Maryland.
6:28: Florida delegate booed when he says Florida is the state that gave LeBron James his first two champions. All 99 of the state’s votes to Trump.
6:22: Ecstatic California Delegation (172 delegates for Trump!):
6:12: Roll call of the states has begun.
6:05: Outside the convention halls:
From Andy Badolato:
Iraq war diplomatic security style tail gunners, AKA Trunk Monkeys with M4 battle rifle variants. They look like Federal or local law enforcement CAT (counter assault team) teams.
6:03: Henry McMaster of South Carolina says he was the first elected official in the country to endorse Trump. He says it was lonely for a bit but “no more.” He says the “sleeping giant of the American spirit has been awakened.” He says Trump is a remarkable man of “uncommon strength, uncommon determination, accomplishment, and vision.” McMaster says “there’s something happening here. What it is precisely here. We are going to make America great again with Donald Trump. Thank you and God bless you.”
5:59: Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) thanks Sessions for standing with him in support of Trump. He says Western New York has been devastated by “unfair trade deals” that have allowed Mexico and China to “steal our jobs.” He says we have been losing under Barack Obama. Collins says the federal government is trampling on our rights while our country has no borders. “Enough is enough,” he says. “It’s time to take back our country. The great United States of America.” He says Trump is not just a candidate but a “movement.”
5:58: Sessions says it is his distinct honor and great pleasure to nominate Donald Trump for the office of the presidency of the United States of America.
5:53: Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) says Americans love our country “like no other people on earth. But we have gotten off course. And the American people know it. Our political system is not working.” He says good Americans want the political games to end. Sessions slams Obama for blaming the police while crime is rising. He blasts the political, corporate, and media establishments for being politically correct. He says Trump was not intimidated and “he would not be silenced. He spoke the truth. He gave voice to the people’s concerns.” He mentions Trump’s opposition to bad trade deals and support for law and order and police officers. Sessions says voters reward Trump’s courage. He says Trump is positive by nature and has “tremendous energy and strength.” He calls trump a “warrior” and “winner” who loves his country and is determined to see it become a “winner” again. He says he believes Trump is the singular leader who can get the country back on track.
5:50: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) says it’s an honor to be at the convention. He is going over procedural rules.
5:45: Disgusting scene outside the convention:
5:43: RNC Chair Reince Priebus calls the convention back to order.
5:35: Big Ratings for First Night of GOP convention:
5:30: When the GOP convention resumes, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) will put Donald Trump’s name into nomination. Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Henry McMaster will give seconding speeches.
WESTFIELD, Indiana (AP) — Republican Donald Trump campaigned alongside Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Tuesday evening, the latest in a series of public auditions as the billionaire businessman mulls his vice presidential pick.
Walking onto the stage to cheers, Pence confidently introduced the presumptive GOP nominee and vigorously advocated for Trump as the best person to lead the country. The speech made clear that despite his mild-mannered reputation, the governor and former Congressman could serve the role of attack dog if Trump taps him as his running mate.
"Donald Trump hears the voice of the American people," Pence said, saying that the billionaire "understands" the country in a way no one has since Republican icon Ronald Reagan. His voice raised, Pence drew thunderous applause when he warned of dire consequences if Democrat Hillary Clinton is elected.
Pence would be a welcome pick among anxious Republican officials who are looking for a steady, disciplined counterpart to Trump's freewheeling style. GOP officials are already starting to gather in Cleveland ahead of next week's national convention.
Taking the stage after Pence's introduction, Trump surveyed the large crowd packed into a new arena in suburban Indianapolis. "Wow," he declared before calling Indiana, which delivered him the nomination after he won the primary here in May, "a special place."
Trump opened by reading prepared remarks about shootings that have dominated headlines in recent days. He said his comments come "right from the heart." He was speaking hours after a memorial service for police officers slain in Texas.
"Our whole nation grieves and mourns for the loss of five heroes in Dallas," he said. He again referred to himself as "the law and order candidate." And he said "hostility against the police must end." He also touched on the deaths of men in Louisiana and Minnesota at the hands of officers. Video footage of those incidents has riveted the nation.
"It was tough to watch," he said. "We have to figure it out."
He questioned whether inadequate officer training or "something else" was responsible.
Late in the rally, he again spoke about Pence, playfully saying, "I don't know if he's going to be your governor" or join the Trump ticket. Trump is expected to his running mate this week. He and Pence also appeared together at a fundraiser earlier Tuesday.
Many in the crowd said they were hopeful Pence would be chosen by Trump.
Christina Lewellen, of Indianapolis, said Pence would have a calming effect because he "doesn't get caught up in the drama like Donald does."
"I think he'll be a restraining device," Lewellen said. "He's almost like a white Ben Carson ... which is excellent. He's calm, cool and collected."
A Democrat who'd come for the spectacle also said Hoosiers would be delighted to see Pence move on.
Dan Gettelfinger, of Indianapolis, summed up his feelings in two words: "Good riddance."
Associated Press writers Brian Slodysko in Westfield and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.
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LINDA CRUMP
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton greets supporters at her primary night victory party on June 7 in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
