Alabama Man Indicted For Allegedly Threatening Fani Willis
INSIDE: Jack Smith ... Mike Johnson ... Donald Trump
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.
‘Watch Everywhere That You’re Going’
A federal grand jury in Atlanta has returned an indictment against Arthur Ray Hanson II, of Huntsville, Alabama, accusing him of transmitting interstate threats to injure Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Sheriff Patrick Labat in retaliation for the prosecution of Donald Trump. Hanson left two threatening voicemails after calling the Fulton County Government customer services line, prosecutors alleged.
According to the Justice Department, Hanson’s threats against Willis in one voicemail included:
“watch it when you’re going to the car at night, when you’re going into your house, watch everywhere that you’re going”
“I would be very afraid if I were you because you can’t be around people all the time that are going to protect you”
“there’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable”
“when you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder”
“what you put out there, [expletive], comes back at you ten times harder, and don’t ever forget it.”
Jan. 6 Defendant Loses His Shit In Courtroom Outburst
CBS News’ Scott MacFarlane was in the courtroom:
A physical altercation broke out during a hearing on Monday in the case of Vitali GossJankowski, a defendant convicted of several charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, resulting in toppled tables and multiple federal agents subduing the defendant on the ground.
Disqualification Clause Trial Gets Underway
The Colorado evidentiary hearing to determine whether Donald Trump is ineligible for the presidency under the Constitution’s Disqualification Clause got underway Monday with testimony from a member of Congress and a DC police officer:
Law&Crime: Trial to kick Trump off ballot in Colorado for Jan. 6 starts with harrowing police testimony
NYT: Colorado Trial Considers Whether the 14th Amendment Disqualifies Trump
Colorado Public Radio did a liveblog for an in-depth review of Day 1.
ICYMI
CNN:
Special counsel Jack Smith withdrew a subpoena seeking information from former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign this week, a source familiar told CNN.
This is the second withdrawn subpoena related to Smith’s investigation into fundraising practices following the 2020 election. Earlier this month, Smith withdrew a subpoena seeking records from Save America, a Trump-controlled political action committee, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Nevada Man Charged With Alleged Anti-Semitic Threats To Jewish Senator
John Anthony Miller of Las Vegas faces federal charges in Nevada for allegedly leaving threatening, anti-Semitic voicemails for Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who is Jewish. Among the threats Miller allegedly made in the voicemails, according to the criminal complaint:
“All these fucking lies is in your fucking hands, you fucking bitch, and I’m gonna fucking see you soon, you fucking sellout fucking faggot bitch.”
“You just fucking woken up a motherfucking monster, you fucking piece of shit unhuman, subhuman, you’re vermin, bitch, you are vermin, bitch, and we’re gonna finish what Hitler started you fucking slut.”
“You done picked your side bitch and you done chose evil. I don’t give a fuck if you
were born into it or not, bitch, you are fucking evil, bitch and we’re gonna exterminate you, fuck.”
Good Read On Mike Johnson
There is no contradiction in observing that Mike Johnson is both a mild-mannered, courteous, conservative evangelical Christian and a politically extreme ideologue. He has surrounded himself with some of the most dangerous, anti-democratic Christian leaders in the country—the same people who theologized the January 6th insurrection—and offered them his public support and praise. Is there any doubt about the flock to which he belongs?
Israel-Gaza Watch
NYT: Under Shroud of Secrecy, Israel Invasion of Gaza Has Begun
WaPo: House GOP demands IRS budget cuts along with Israel aid
Politico: Israel aid drives wedge within Congress
WSJ: Israel Hits Hamas Tunnels as Ground Offensive Intensifies
NYT: U.N. Officials Describe Catastrophic Conditions in Gaza as Israel Advances
‘If You Spill A Drop Of American Blood, We Will Spill A Gallon Of Yours’
Senate Dems Plan Vote To Subpoena Clarence Thomas Benefactors
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats are planning to vote on subpoenas for two key figures in the ethics scandals surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas: Harlan Crowe and Leonard Leo.
2024 Ephemera
Politico: 3 Expert Shoemakers Say Ron DeSantis Is Probably Wearing Height Boosters
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who has served in Congress since 1996, will not seek re-election in 2024.
Acapulco Death Toll Climbs To 45
In the slow, painful recovery from last week’s Category 5 Hurricane Otis, Acapulco reports a death toll of 45 people, with dozens still missing.
Truer Words Never Spoken
Thanks for reading today’s Morning Memo. If you haven’t yet, I hope you will become a TPM member! You can find the TPM members’ commenting section here.
Superb summary as always. Thank you for including the Bulwark piece on religious terrorist Mike Johnson. Greg Olear did a superb piece today that provides great historical and biblical context (that I need to reread many times over it’s that good).
Thank you David for another great morning read. And kudos for Bulwark piece on
Johnson.