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Another organization handcuffed by DEI, makes one wonder if she can read after her statement
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo launches political comeback with a run for New York City mayor
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Anthony Izaguirre
Published Mar 01, 2025 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 5 minute read
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that he is running for mayor of New York City, relaunching his political career following a yearslong exile over a barrage of sexual harassment accusations.
In a 17-minute video, Cuomo pitched himself as an accomplished moderate who can save a city he described as threatening and “out of control,” and is capable of navigating the delicate balance between working with Republican President Donald Trump and fighting him, when necessary.
“I am not saying this is going to be easy. It won’t be easy, but I know we can turn the city around, and I believe I can help,” he said.
The Democrat is expected to mount a formidable campaign, despite entering the race deeply wounded by the scandal that forced his resignation as governor in 2021.
He takes on a large field of primary opponents with low name recognition plus an incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, who — for now _ remains under indictment on federal corruption charges and under scrutiny from critics who question his independence from Trump.
Cuomo brings fundraising prowess, a record of accomplishments over three terms as governor and potential support among moderate voters who helped propel Adams to office.
Yet it is unclear whether voters are willing to give Cuomo another chance following his remarkable downfall, when he went from being hailed for his leadership during the onslaught of COVID-19 to being castigated for his behaviour with women and questioned about his pandemic response.
In his campaign video, Cuomo acknowledged past “mistakes” but did not directly address the harassment allegations.
“Did I always do everything right in my years of government service? Of course not,“ he said. ”Would I do some things differently knowing what I know now — certainly. Did I make mistakes, some painfully? Definitely, and I believe I learned from them and that I am a better person for it, and I hope to show that every day.”
Adams, caught on a city street by a Politico reporter Saturday, welcomed Cuomo to the race.
“Come one, come all. Everybody should put their position forward,” Adams said. “I have a great record to run on. We look forward to the campaign.”
Plotting a comeback
Cuomo had been circling a return to politics for years while his lawyers and political consultants kept trying to discredit his accusers.
At least 11 women credibly accused him of harassment that included unwanted kissing and touching and remarks about their looks and sex lives, according to a report released by New York’s attorney general. One aide filed a criminal complaint accusing Cuomo of grabbing her breast when they were alone in the governor’s mansion.
Cuomo denied the sexual assault allegation, which a prosecutor ultimately dropped, citing a lack of enough proof to get a conviction.
Cuomo, 67, said he did not intentionally mistreat women and had simply fallen behind the times of what was considered appropriate workplace conduct.
Taxpayers spent millions of dollars defending him and his aides against lawsuits related to the allegations.
The first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo of harassment, Lindsey Boylan, wrote in an essay published in Vanity Fair on Saturday that New York “deserves better.”
She said that rather than repent and atone, Cuomo has waged a “vengeful” legal campaign against his accusers.
“While the women who worked for and with Cuomo may no longer be subject to inappropriate behaviour, misconduct, or sexual harassment, some of us remain the victims of what could be interpreted as an ongoing campaign that weaponizes the legal system as a tactic for retribution,” Boylan wrote.
She added that even though she never sued Cuomo, she has spent $1.5 million on lawyers to respond to subpoenas in his other cases.
A crowded Democratic primary
There are already several candidates vying to beat Adams in June.
Among them are city Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, who was a front-runner in the mayor’s race four years ago until a woman accused him of groping and kissing her without her consent 20 years earlier.
In a statement, Ramos called Cuomo a “corrupt bully” who “brings nothing to this race but baggage.”
Myrie said New York shouldn’t be forced to relive “the Andrew Cuomo show.”
“We deserve better than selfish leaders who spent decades in office putting their desire for power above New Yorkers’ needs,” Myrie said.
Adams is a vulnerable incumbent
The mayor is facing a tempest over the U.S. Justice Department’s extraordinary effort to end the criminal case against him over the objection of the prosecutors who brought the charges.
An indictment said Adams accepted luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from people who wanted to buy his influence, including a Turkish official and other foreign nationals.
After Trump took office, a top Justice Department official ordered prosecutors to dismiss the charges so Adams could focus on assisting the president’s immigration agenda, while leaving open the possibility that charges could be refiled after the election.
The dynamic led critics to claim that Adams struck a deal to help Trump’s immigration crackdown in exchange for legal salvation.
Adams has strongly denied such an arrangement, while resisting intense pressure to step down. Some of his top deputies announced plans to resign in protest.
Long rise to power, quick fall
Cuomo started in politics working for his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, and later became U.S. housing secretary under President Bill Clinton and New York attorney general before being elected governor in 2010.
His star power was highest during the pandemic, when his televised daily briefings attracted admirers who saw him as a steady hand during a frightening time. The briefings led to a more than $5 million book deal to write “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
But women began coming forward in late 2020 and early 2021 to accuse Cuomo of misconduct, and he faced a potential impeachment before stepping down. A state ethics panel concluded that he improperly used taxpayer resources to prepare and edit his book.
Questions about COVID-19 in nursing homes
Cuomo was further damaged by allegations that his administration unintentionally contributed to a wave of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by initially barring them from refusing to readmit virus patients discharged from hospitals.
The governor said the allegations were baseless, but his administration was found to have substantially undercounted nursing home deaths as it sought to deflect criticism.
Cuomo still has a significant campaign war chest that, technically, he could draw on. But the process of transferring state donations to a city committee would be complicated and require each donor to sign off, a potentially burdensome effort.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Anthony Izaguirre
Published Mar 01, 2025 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 5 minute read
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that he is running for mayor of New York City, relaunching his political career following a yearslong exile over a barrage of sexual harassment accusations.
In a 17-minute video, Cuomo pitched himself as an accomplished moderate who can save a city he described as threatening and “out of control,” and is capable of navigating the delicate balance between working with Republican President Donald Trump and fighting him, when necessary.
“I am not saying this is going to be easy. It won’t be easy, but I know we can turn the city around, and I believe I can help,” he said.
The Democrat is expected to mount a formidable campaign, despite entering the race deeply wounded by the scandal that forced his resignation as governor in 2021.
He takes on a large field of primary opponents with low name recognition plus an incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, who — for now _ remains under indictment on federal corruption charges and under scrutiny from critics who question his independence from Trump.
Cuomo brings fundraising prowess, a record of accomplishments over three terms as governor and potential support among moderate voters who helped propel Adams to office.
Yet it is unclear whether voters are willing to give Cuomo another chance following his remarkable downfall, when he went from being hailed for his leadership during the onslaught of COVID-19 to being castigated for his behaviour with women and questioned about his pandemic response.
In his campaign video, Cuomo acknowledged past “mistakes” but did not directly address the harassment allegations.
“Did I always do everything right in my years of government service? Of course not,“ he said. ”Would I do some things differently knowing what I know now — certainly. Did I make mistakes, some painfully? Definitely, and I believe I learned from them and that I am a better person for it, and I hope to show that every day.”
Adams, caught on a city street by a Politico reporter Saturday, welcomed Cuomo to the race.
“Come one, come all. Everybody should put their position forward,” Adams said. “I have a great record to run on. We look forward to the campaign.”
Plotting a comeback
Cuomo had been circling a return to politics for years while his lawyers and political consultants kept trying to discredit his accusers.
At least 11 women credibly accused him of harassment that included unwanted kissing and touching and remarks about their looks and sex lives, according to a report released by New York’s attorney general. One aide filed a criminal complaint accusing Cuomo of grabbing her breast when they were alone in the governor’s mansion.
Cuomo denied the sexual assault allegation, which a prosecutor ultimately dropped, citing a lack of enough proof to get a conviction.
Cuomo, 67, said he did not intentionally mistreat women and had simply fallen behind the times of what was considered appropriate workplace conduct.
Taxpayers spent millions of dollars defending him and his aides against lawsuits related to the allegations.
The first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo of harassment, Lindsey Boylan, wrote in an essay published in Vanity Fair on Saturday that New York “deserves better.”
She said that rather than repent and atone, Cuomo has waged a “vengeful” legal campaign against his accusers.
“While the women who worked for and with Cuomo may no longer be subject to inappropriate behaviour, misconduct, or sexual harassment, some of us remain the victims of what could be interpreted as an ongoing campaign that weaponizes the legal system as a tactic for retribution,” Boylan wrote.
She added that even though she never sued Cuomo, she has spent $1.5 million on lawyers to respond to subpoenas in his other cases.
A crowded Democratic primary
There are already several candidates vying to beat Adams in June.
Among them are city Comptroller Brad Lander, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, who was a front-runner in the mayor’s race four years ago until a woman accused him of groping and kissing her without her consent 20 years earlier.
In a statement, Ramos called Cuomo a “corrupt bully” who “brings nothing to this race but baggage.”
Myrie said New York shouldn’t be forced to relive “the Andrew Cuomo show.”
“We deserve better than selfish leaders who spent decades in office putting their desire for power above New Yorkers’ needs,” Myrie said.
Adams is a vulnerable incumbent
The mayor is facing a tempest over the U.S. Justice Department’s extraordinary effort to end the criminal case against him over the objection of the prosecutors who brought the charges.
An indictment said Adams accepted luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from people who wanted to buy his influence, including a Turkish official and other foreign nationals.
After Trump took office, a top Justice Department official ordered prosecutors to dismiss the charges so Adams could focus on assisting the president’s immigration agenda, while leaving open the possibility that charges could be refiled after the election.
The dynamic led critics to claim that Adams struck a deal to help Trump’s immigration crackdown in exchange for legal salvation.
Adams has strongly denied such an arrangement, while resisting intense pressure to step down. Some of his top deputies announced plans to resign in protest.
Long rise to power, quick fall
Cuomo started in politics working for his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, and later became U.S. housing secretary under President Bill Clinton and New York attorney general before being elected governor in 2010.
His star power was highest during the pandemic, when his televised daily briefings attracted admirers who saw him as a steady hand during a frightening time. The briefings led to a more than $5 million book deal to write “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
But women began coming forward in late 2020 and early 2021 to accuse Cuomo of misconduct, and he faced a potential impeachment before stepping down. A state ethics panel concluded that he improperly used taxpayer resources to prepare and edit his book.
Questions about COVID-19 in nursing homes
Cuomo was further damaged by allegations that his administration unintentionally contributed to a wave of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by initially barring them from refusing to readmit virus patients discharged from hospitals.
The governor said the allegations were baseless, but his administration was found to have substantially undercounted nursing home deaths as it sought to deflect criticism.
Cuomo still has a significant campaign war chest that, technically, he could draw on. But the process of transferring state donations to a city committee would be complicated and require each donor to sign off, a potentially burdensome effort.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo launches political comeback with a run for New York City mayor
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday that he is running for mayor of New York City.
Woke Boston mayor slammed for offering condolences to armed man killed by off-duty cop
Author of the article
enette Wilford
Published Mar 03, 2025 • 2 minute read
In the wake of an off-duty Boston police officer fatally shooting an armed man over the weekend, the city’s mayor and other officials have been criticized for their reaction to the deadly incident.
Mayor Michelle Wu offered her condolences to the family of the unidentified attacker who was gunned down by the cop at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant on Saturday.
Boston police said two people fearing for their life ran into the Copley Square location while being chased by a man wielding a knife shortly before 5:30 p.m. ET, WBTS reported.
The cop identified himself and ordered the suspect to drop his knife, but when the man refused to comply, the officer shot him.
The suspect was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the outlet.
No additional injuries were reported.
The first words out of Wu’s mouth at a news conference following the incident wasn’t about the officer involved but, rather, the death of the wannabe stabber.
“My condolences and all of our thoughts are with the family of the individual whose life has been lost,” the Democratic mayor told reporters.
Wu continued: “I am also thinking of all the people who were impacted here today in one of the busier parts of the city with this tragedy.
She added: “I’m glad the officer is safe and very grateful for a quick response from all of our first responders.”
Bostonians were shocked and in disbelief over the mayor’s priorities when it came to condolences.
“Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reacted by bizarrely giving condolences TO THE ATTACKER,” animator Paul A. Szypula wrote on X. “Democrat leaders treat criminals as victims.”
Another person noted: “It’s concerning when leaders focus on offering sympathy to criminals instead of prioritizing the safety and well-being of their communities.”
A third user pointed out: “Seriously?!?!?! Smfh! How about showing concern for the people who this individual tried to attack and were in fear for their lives! Maybe if this idiot DIDN’T TRY STABBING A BUNCH OF RANDOM PEOPLE he would still be alive!”
Wu was joined by other city officials who grieved the loss of the attacker including Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney Kevin Hayden — whose office is leading the investigation — offering “thoughts and prayers” to the deceased would-be assailant, according to the New York Post.
The D.A. said investigators have a large number of witnesses, but believe there may have been more people involved in what led up to the violence, WBTS reported.
“We ask them to step forward,” Hayden said of the active, ongoing investigation.
“We need the help of everybody that knows anything about what happened here if we’re to get to the bottom of it.”
nypost.com
nbcboston.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article
enette WilfordPublished Mar 03, 2025 • 2 minute read
In the wake of an off-duty Boston police officer fatally shooting an armed man over the weekend, the city’s mayor and other officials have been criticized for their reaction to the deadly incident.
Mayor Michelle Wu offered her condolences to the family of the unidentified attacker who was gunned down by the cop at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant on Saturday.
Boston police said two people fearing for their life ran into the Copley Square location while being chased by a man wielding a knife shortly before 5:30 p.m. ET, WBTS reported.
The cop identified himself and ordered the suspect to drop his knife, but when the man refused to comply, the officer shot him.
The suspect was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the outlet.
No additional injuries were reported.
The first words out of Wu’s mouth at a news conference following the incident wasn’t about the officer involved but, rather, the death of the wannabe stabber.
“My condolences and all of our thoughts are with the family of the individual whose life has been lost,” the Democratic mayor told reporters.
Wu continued: “I am also thinking of all the people who were impacted here today in one of the busier parts of the city with this tragedy.
She added: “I’m glad the officer is safe and very grateful for a quick response from all of our first responders.”
Bostonians were shocked and in disbelief over the mayor’s priorities when it came to condolences.
“Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reacted by bizarrely giving condolences TO THE ATTACKER,” animator Paul A. Szypula wrote on X. “Democrat leaders treat criminals as victims.”
Another person noted: “It’s concerning when leaders focus on offering sympathy to criminals instead of prioritizing the safety and well-being of their communities.”
A third user pointed out: “Seriously?!?!?! Smfh! How about showing concern for the people who this individual tried to attack and were in fear for their lives! Maybe if this idiot DIDN’T TRY STABBING A BUNCH OF RANDOM PEOPLE he would still be alive!”
Wu was joined by other city officials who grieved the loss of the attacker including Suffolk County, Mass., District Attorney Kevin Hayden — whose office is leading the investigation — offering “thoughts and prayers” to the deceased would-be assailant, according to the New York Post.
The D.A. said investigators have a large number of witnesses, but believe there may have been more people involved in what led up to the violence, WBTS reported.
“We ask them to step forward,” Hayden said of the active, ongoing investigation.
“We need the help of everybody that knows anything about what happened here if we’re to get to the bottom of it.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, other ‘woke’ city officials offer condolences to kin of armed maniac shot by off-duty cop at Chick-fil-A
The cop identified himself and ordered the suspect to drop his knife. When the armed maniac didn’t comply, the officer shot him.
nypost.com
Off-duty police officer shot and killed armed man at Back Bay Chick-fil-A, police say
An off-duty Boston police officer shot and killed an armed man at a Chick-fil-A in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood Saturday evening, according to Boston police.
nbcboston.com
Woke Boston mayor slammed for offering condolences to armed man killed by off-duty cop
Mayor Michelle Wu offered her condolences to the family of the unidentified attacker who was gunned down by a cop on Saturday.
Suspect arrested in arson that forced Pennsylvania governor, family to flee
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Marc Levy
Published Apr 13, 2025 • Last updated 6 hours ago • 4 minute read
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A man scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion where he set a fire that left significant damage and forced Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building, authorities said Sunday.
The man, captured later in the day, will face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, authorities said.
Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday. They fled and the fire was extinguished, officials said. No one was injured.
At a Sunday evening news conference in front of the badly damaged south wing of the governor’s residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the man in custody as Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg.
Shapiro says he’s unbowed
Paris emphasized that the investigation is continuing. Authorities did not disclose the man’s motive, but an emotional Shapiro — who is viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028 — said he is unbowed.
Shapiro said that if Balmer was trying to stop him from doing his job, then he’ll work harder, and he added that Balmer will not stop him from observing his faith.
“When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover” and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom, Shapiro said. “I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.”
Suspect hopped security fence, officials say
Authorities said the suspect hopped over a nearly 7-foot-high (2.1-metre-high) iron security fence surrounding the property, eluded officers who became aware of the breach and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire.
Lt.-Col. George Bivens said Balmer had a homemade incendiary device — he wouldn’t describe what kind — and appeared to have carefully planned the attack. He was inside the residence for about a minute before he escaped, Bivens said.
Bivens said Balmer was later arrested in the area.
Shapiro said the fire was set in the very room where the families celebrated Passover with a seder with members of Harrisburg’s Jewish community on Saturday night.
‘Have to be better than this’
“We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet,” Shapiro told the news conference. “But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
The fire badly damaged the inside of the large room that is often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. Large west- and south-facing windows were completely missing their glass panes, shattered glass littered the pathways and doors stood ajar amid signs of charring. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened and charred.
Inside, a charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-blackened doors.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was called to the residence and put out the fire at the Susquehanna Riverfront mansion. Shapiro and his family had been sleeping in a different part of the residence, police said.
Pledges of help from Justice Department, other agencies
Shapiro said he had received pledges of help from the Department of Justice, the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office, as well as numerous messages of support from fellow governors and others.
Yellow tape cordoned an alleyway on the residence’s south side, where investigators sawed off a section from the top of the security fence. They wrapped it in heavy black plastic and took it away in a vehicle.
Shapiro splits his time between the mansion that has housed governors since it was built in the 1960s and a home in Abington, about 160 km east. He posted a photograph on social media Saturday of the family’s Passover seder table at the residence.
“Thanks be to God that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed in this attack,” Vice-President JD Vance posted to X. “Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice.”
Former Pennsylvania governor Mark Schweiker, a Republican, called the attack a “despicable act of cowardice” and said he hoped Pennsylvanians joined he and his wife in keeping the Shapiros in their prayers.
Former governor Tom Ridge, also a Republican, said images of the damage to the residence where he lived for eight years with his family were “heartbreaking” and said the attack on the official residence was shocking.
“Whoever is responsible for this attack — to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth — must be held to account,” Ridge said.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Marc Levy
Published Apr 13, 2025 • Last updated 6 hours ago • 4 minute read
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A man scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion where he set a fire that left significant damage and forced Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building, authorities said Sunday.
The man, captured later in the day, will face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, authorities said.
Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday. They fled and the fire was extinguished, officials said. No one was injured.
At a Sunday evening news conference in front of the badly damaged south wing of the governor’s residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the man in custody as Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg.
Shapiro says he’s unbowed
Paris emphasized that the investigation is continuing. Authorities did not disclose the man’s motive, but an emotional Shapiro — who is viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028 — said he is unbowed.
Shapiro said that if Balmer was trying to stop him from doing his job, then he’ll work harder, and he added that Balmer will not stop him from observing his faith.
“When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover” and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom, Shapiro said. “I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.”
Suspect hopped security fence, officials say
Authorities said the suspect hopped over a nearly 7-foot-high (2.1-metre-high) iron security fence surrounding the property, eluded officers who became aware of the breach and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire.
Lt.-Col. George Bivens said Balmer had a homemade incendiary device — he wouldn’t describe what kind — and appeared to have carefully planned the attack. He was inside the residence for about a minute before he escaped, Bivens said.
Bivens said Balmer was later arrested in the area.
Shapiro said the fire was set in the very room where the families celebrated Passover with a seder with members of Harrisburg’s Jewish community on Saturday night.
‘Have to be better than this’
“We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet,” Shapiro told the news conference. “But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
The fire badly damaged the inside of the large room that is often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. Large west- and south-facing windows were completely missing their glass panes, shattered glass littered the pathways and doors stood ajar amid signs of charring. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened and charred.
Inside, a charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-blackened doors.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was called to the residence and put out the fire at the Susquehanna Riverfront mansion. Shapiro and his family had been sleeping in a different part of the residence, police said.
Pledges of help from Justice Department, other agencies
Shapiro said he had received pledges of help from the Department of Justice, the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office, as well as numerous messages of support from fellow governors and others.
Yellow tape cordoned an alleyway on the residence’s south side, where investigators sawed off a section from the top of the security fence. They wrapped it in heavy black plastic and took it away in a vehicle.
Shapiro splits his time between the mansion that has housed governors since it was built in the 1960s and a home in Abington, about 160 km east. He posted a photograph on social media Saturday of the family’s Passover seder table at the residence.
“Thanks be to God that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed in this attack,” Vice-President JD Vance posted to X. “Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice.”
Former Pennsylvania governor Mark Schweiker, a Republican, called the attack a “despicable act of cowardice” and said he hoped Pennsylvanians joined he and his wife in keeping the Shapiros in their prayers.
Former governor Tom Ridge, also a Republican, said images of the damage to the residence where he lived for eight years with his family were “heartbreaking” and said the attack on the official residence was shocking.
“Whoever is responsible for this attack — to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth — must be held to account,” Ridge said.
Suspect arrested in arson that forced Pennsylvania governor, family to flee
Police said officers evacuated Gov. Josh Shapiro and family from the official governor's residence after someone set fire to the building.
Man who blamed exposure to far-right content gets 3 years for threatening election officials
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Colleen Slevin
Published May 29, 2025 • 2 minute read
FILE - Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington.
FILE - Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington.
DENVER (AP) — A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for motivating his online threats to kill Democratic election officials Colorado and Arizona was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison.
Teak Ty Brockbank pleaded guilty in October to making threats between September 2021 and August 2022 against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now governor. He also threatened a Colorado judge and federal agents.
Federal prosecutors sought three years in prison for Brockbank. He asked for leniency, saying he made the posts when he was drinking heavily, socially isolated and spending his evenings consuming conspiracy theories online.
His attorney described Brockbank as a “keyboard warrior” with no intent to carry out the threats. Brockbank spent time on social media sites like Gab and Rumble, the alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing and promoting far-right extremism.
The sites delivered “the message that the country was under attack and that patriotic Americans had a duty to rise up and act,” said Brockbank attorney Tom Ward. Ward said Brockbank was drawn to the QAnon conspiracy theory and noted in a court filing that Michael Flynn and Roger Stone were prominent on Rumble.
Brockbank posted online that Colorado’s top election official should “Hang by the neck” and her former counterpart in Arizona should also be put to death.
Prosecutors said in a court filing that a prison sentence was warranted in part to deter others from threatening election officials.
“Threats to elections workers across the country are an ongoing and very serious problem,” wrote Jonathan Jacobsen, a Washington-based trial attorney for the Justice Department’s public integrity section.
Under the Biden administration, the department launched a task force in 2021 to combat the rise of threats targeting election officials. Brockbank’s conviction in the fall was one of over a dozen convictions won by the unit.
At the time, the longest sentences handed down was 3.5 years in prison in two separate cases involving election officials in Arizona. In one case, a man who advocated for “a mass shooting of poll workers,” posted threatening statements in November 2022 about two Maricopa County officials and their children, prosecutors said.
In the other, a Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to sending a bomb threat in February 2021 to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s office.
Brockbank, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2024, asked to be sentenced to time served plus three years supervised release and possibly six months in home detention or a halfway house.
Prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges against Brockbank for having firearms he was barred from possessing because of a previous conviction or for online threats he made later.
One such threat was against Griswold last year for her role in helping the prosecution of former Colorado clerk, Tina Peters. Prosecutors say he also threatened judges on the Colorado Supreme Court after they removed Donald Trump from the state’s ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court later restored Trump’s name to the ballot.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Colleen Slevin
Published May 29, 2025 • 2 minute read
FILE - Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington.
FILE - Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington.
DENVER (AP) — A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for motivating his online threats to kill Democratic election officials Colorado and Arizona was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison.
Teak Ty Brockbank pleaded guilty in October to making threats between September 2021 and August 2022 against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now governor. He also threatened a Colorado judge and federal agents.
Federal prosecutors sought three years in prison for Brockbank. He asked for leniency, saying he made the posts when he was drinking heavily, socially isolated and spending his evenings consuming conspiracy theories online.
His attorney described Brockbank as a “keyboard warrior” with no intent to carry out the threats. Brockbank spent time on social media sites like Gab and Rumble, the alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing and promoting far-right extremism.
The sites delivered “the message that the country was under attack and that patriotic Americans had a duty to rise up and act,” said Brockbank attorney Tom Ward. Ward said Brockbank was drawn to the QAnon conspiracy theory and noted in a court filing that Michael Flynn and Roger Stone were prominent on Rumble.
Brockbank posted online that Colorado’s top election official should “Hang by the neck” and her former counterpart in Arizona should also be put to death.
Prosecutors said in a court filing that a prison sentence was warranted in part to deter others from threatening election officials.
“Threats to elections workers across the country are an ongoing and very serious problem,” wrote Jonathan Jacobsen, a Washington-based trial attorney for the Justice Department’s public integrity section.
Under the Biden administration, the department launched a task force in 2021 to combat the rise of threats targeting election officials. Brockbank’s conviction in the fall was one of over a dozen convictions won by the unit.
At the time, the longest sentences handed down was 3.5 years in prison in two separate cases involving election officials in Arizona. In one case, a man who advocated for “a mass shooting of poll workers,” posted threatening statements in November 2022 about two Maricopa County officials and their children, prosecutors said.
In the other, a Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to sending a bomb threat in February 2021 to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s office.
Brockbank, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2024, asked to be sentenced to time served plus three years supervised release and possibly six months in home detention or a halfway house.
Prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges against Brockbank for having firearms he was barred from possessing because of a previous conviction or for online threats he made later.
One such threat was against Griswold last year for her role in helping the prosecution of former Colorado clerk, Tina Peters. Prosecutors say he also threatened judges on the Colorado Supreme Court after they removed Donald Trump from the state’s ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court later restored Trump’s name to the ballot.
Man who blamed exposure to far-right content gets 3 years for threatening election officials
He also threatened a Colorado judge and federal agents.
Texas governor asks court to remove House Democratic leader from office over walkout
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Jim Vertuno
Published Aug 05, 2025 • 3 minute read
AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the state’s highest court to remove the Democratic House leader from office, escalating efforts to end the holdout that is blocking redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President Donald Trump.
Bypassing lower courts, Abbott filed a rare emergency petition straight to the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court just three days into a walkout by Democrats. It hinges on a legal theory that even some Republicans have acknowledged is untested, arguing that absent legislators have effectively forfeited their seats by not returning to the Texas Capitol.
The move intensifies Republicans’ attempts to compel dozens of Democrats back to Texas, including signing civil arrest warrants and mobilizing state troopers. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI earlier Tuesday to help find and arrest Democrats, and Trump later told reporters that federal agents “may have to” get involved, though he did not elaborate.
“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences,” Abbott said.
The lawsuit from Abbott, a former state Supreme Court justice, seeks the removal of state House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Gene Wu, who is one of dozens of members of his caucus staying in Chicago. The governor asked the court to respond by Thursday.
Wu, a former prosecutor in Houston, said leaving Texas to halt the maps was not “an abandonment of my office” but a fulfillment of his oath.
“Unable to defend his corrupt agenda on its merits, Greg Abbott now desperately seeks to silence my dissent by removing a duly-elected official from office,” he said.
Texas leaders try turning up pressure
Republicans face barriers to following through on their threats — just as Democrats still have obstacles in the way of stopping Republicans from ultimately approving the map sought by Trump to shore up his party’s 2026 midterm prospects.
Legal experts and even Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton say it would be difficult to enforce consequences against the Democratic lawmakers while they are safely camped out in sympathetic Democratic-controlled states and effectively out of reach of Texas law enforcement looking to bring them home.
Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate against Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary, threw out some of the earliest calls for arrests. But even he has called enforcing the various threats “a challenge.”
“Until they show up themselves back in Texas, sometimes it’s hard to actually execute on that,” Paxton said in interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson.
By leaving Texas for Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, the Democrats prevented the 150-member state House of Representatives from reaching a quorum for a scheduled vote on the new U.S. House voting map. Trump hopes to pick up five Republican seats from Texas in 2026.
Republicans hold an 88-62 majority in the House, and the Texas Constitution requires at least 100 members be present to do business. With at least 51 Democrats absent, the House failed to reach a quorum Monday and again Tuesday.
The current special session ends Aug. 20 but Abbott can keep calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to pass the redistricting bill.
Texas Republicans sought changes after a previous walkout
Following a walkout by Texas Democrats in 2021, Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion that argued the state could sue the lawmakers to have their seats declared vacated. This week, Paxton said that could be a long process that would require individual lawsuits filed against each missing lawmaker, sometimes in district courts he said would not be friendly to Republicans.
Still, Paxton said Tuesday that he will press ahead with lawsuits if lawmakers don’t return by Friday.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Republican state Sen. Charles Perry said. “It’s a tall order to remove an elected official from the Legislature.”
Abbott also ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate possible bribery charges related to how the Democrats are paying for their quorum break, alleging anyone who financially helped them leave the state could be culpable.
State Rep. James Talarico, one of the Democrats who left, encouraged donations to support their effort.
“And that’s appropriate because this fight is for the people and it should be funded by the people,” he said.
David Froomkin, an assistant law professor at the University of Houston Law Center, said the removal effort and bribery charges would be on weak legal ground, and the threats of arrests and investigations are more likely meant to intimidate.
“It’s much more aggressive hardball than we have seen in battles over the quorum requirement,” Froomkin said. “In general in this country today, we’re seeing incumbents be much more inclined to make aggressive use of their power in order to try to maintain their power.”
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Jim Vertuno
Published Aug 05, 2025 • 3 minute read
AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the state’s highest court to remove the Democratic House leader from office, escalating efforts to end the holdout that is blocking redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President Donald Trump.
Bypassing lower courts, Abbott filed a rare emergency petition straight to the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court just three days into a walkout by Democrats. It hinges on a legal theory that even some Republicans have acknowledged is untested, arguing that absent legislators have effectively forfeited their seats by not returning to the Texas Capitol.
The move intensifies Republicans’ attempts to compel dozens of Democrats back to Texas, including signing civil arrest warrants and mobilizing state troopers. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI earlier Tuesday to help find and arrest Democrats, and Trump later told reporters that federal agents “may have to” get involved, though he did not elaborate.
“Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences,” Abbott said.
The lawsuit from Abbott, a former state Supreme Court justice, seeks the removal of state House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Gene Wu, who is one of dozens of members of his caucus staying in Chicago. The governor asked the court to respond by Thursday.
Wu, a former prosecutor in Houston, said leaving Texas to halt the maps was not “an abandonment of my office” but a fulfillment of his oath.
“Unable to defend his corrupt agenda on its merits, Greg Abbott now desperately seeks to silence my dissent by removing a duly-elected official from office,” he said.
Texas leaders try turning up pressure
Republicans face barriers to following through on their threats — just as Democrats still have obstacles in the way of stopping Republicans from ultimately approving the map sought by Trump to shore up his party’s 2026 midterm prospects.
Legal experts and even Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton say it would be difficult to enforce consequences against the Democratic lawmakers while they are safely camped out in sympathetic Democratic-controlled states and effectively out of reach of Texas law enforcement looking to bring them home.
Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate against Cornyn in the 2026 GOP primary, threw out some of the earliest calls for arrests. But even he has called enforcing the various threats “a challenge.”
“Until they show up themselves back in Texas, sometimes it’s hard to actually execute on that,” Paxton said in interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson.
By leaving Texas for Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, the Democrats prevented the 150-member state House of Representatives from reaching a quorum for a scheduled vote on the new U.S. House voting map. Trump hopes to pick up five Republican seats from Texas in 2026.
Republicans hold an 88-62 majority in the House, and the Texas Constitution requires at least 100 members be present to do business. With at least 51 Democrats absent, the House failed to reach a quorum Monday and again Tuesday.
The current special session ends Aug. 20 but Abbott can keep calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to pass the redistricting bill.
Texas Republicans sought changes after a previous walkout
Following a walkout by Texas Democrats in 2021, Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion that argued the state could sue the lawmakers to have their seats declared vacated. This week, Paxton said that could be a long process that would require individual lawsuits filed against each missing lawmaker, sometimes in district courts he said would not be friendly to Republicans.
Still, Paxton said Tuesday that he will press ahead with lawsuits if lawmakers don’t return by Friday.
“We’ll see where it goes,” Republican state Sen. Charles Perry said. “It’s a tall order to remove an elected official from the Legislature.”
Abbott also ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate possible bribery charges related to how the Democrats are paying for their quorum break, alleging anyone who financially helped them leave the state could be culpable.
State Rep. James Talarico, one of the Democrats who left, encouraged donations to support their effort.
“And that’s appropriate because this fight is for the people and it should be funded by the people,” he said.
David Froomkin, an assistant law professor at the University of Houston Law Center, said the removal effort and bribery charges would be on weak legal ground, and the threats of arrests and investigations are more likely meant to intimidate.
“It’s much more aggressive hardball than we have seen in battles over the quorum requirement,” Froomkin said. “In general in this country today, we’re seeing incumbents be much more inclined to make aggressive use of their power in order to try to maintain their power.”
Texas governor asks court to remove House Democratic leader from office over walkout
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked the state's highest court to remove the Democratic House leader from office.
Failed New Mexico candidate gets 80 years after shootings at officials’ homes
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Published Aug 13, 2025 • 2 minute read
FILE - Solomon Pena, center, a Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 14, is taken into custody by Albuquerque Police officers, Jan. 16, 2023, in southwest Albuquerque, N.M.
FILE - Solomon Pena, center, a Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 14, is taken into custody by Albuquerque Police officers, Jan. 16, 2023, in southwest Albuquerque, N.M. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales /AP
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A failed political candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison Wednesday for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
A jury convicted former Republican candidate Solomon Pena earlier this year of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials, including the current state House speaker.
Prosecutors, who had sought a 90-year sentence, said Pena has shown no remorse and had hoped to cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life.
Pena’s lawyers had sought a five-year sentence, saying their client maintains that he is innocent of the charges. They have said Pena was not involved in the shootings and that prosecutors were relying on the testimony of two men who bear responsibility and accepted plea agreements in exchange for leniency.
“Today was a necessary step toward Mr. Pena’s continued fight to prove his innocence,” said Nicholas Hart, one of Pena’s attorneys. “He looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.”
The attacks took place as threats and acts of intimidation against election workers and public officials surged across the country after President Donald Trump and his allies called into question the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Prosecutors said Pena resorted to violence in the belief that a “rigged” election had robbed him of victory in his bid to serve in the state Legislature.
The shootings targeted the homes of officials including two county commissioners after their certification of the 2022 election, in which Pena lost by nearly 50 percentage points. No one was injured, but in one case bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.
Two other men who had acknowledged helping Pena with the attacks had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and received yearslong prison sentences.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Published Aug 13, 2025 • 2 minute read
FILE - Solomon Pena, center, a Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 14, is taken into custody by Albuquerque Police officers, Jan. 16, 2023, in southwest Albuquerque, N.M.
FILE - Solomon Pena, center, a Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 14, is taken into custody by Albuquerque Police officers, Jan. 16, 2023, in southwest Albuquerque, N.M. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales /AP
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A failed political candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison Wednesday for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
A jury convicted former Republican candidate Solomon Pena earlier this year of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials, including the current state House speaker.
Prosecutors, who had sought a 90-year sentence, said Pena has shown no remorse and had hoped to cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life.
Pena’s lawyers had sought a five-year sentence, saying their client maintains that he is innocent of the charges. They have said Pena was not involved in the shootings and that prosecutors were relying on the testimony of two men who bear responsibility and accepted plea agreements in exchange for leniency.
“Today was a necessary step toward Mr. Pena’s continued fight to prove his innocence,” said Nicholas Hart, one of Pena’s attorneys. “He looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.”
The attacks took place as threats and acts of intimidation against election workers and public officials surged across the country after President Donald Trump and his allies called into question the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Prosecutors said Pena resorted to violence in the belief that a “rigged” election had robbed him of victory in his bid to serve in the state Legislature.
The shootings targeted the homes of officials including two county commissioners after their certification of the 2022 election, in which Pena lost by nearly 50 percentage points. No one was injured, but in one case bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.
Two other men who had acknowledged helping Pena with the attacks had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and received yearslong prison sentences.
Failed New Mexico candidate gets 80 years after shootings at officials’ homes
A failed political candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison Wednesday for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings.