Feed aggregator

[Video below.] Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is based on more than a controversial Instagram post, emphasizing that prosecutors relied on a broader body of evidence gathered over nearly a year-long investigation.

Speaking on Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed Blanche about the basis for the charges, referencing the social media post at the center of the case.

Welker said, “A grand jury has indicted the former FBI director for this Instagram post. I want to put it up. I think a lot of folks have seen it at this point. 86 47 and sea seashells, which the indictment says, quote, a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the president of the United States. How does that image of seashells amount to a serious threat against the president’s life?”

Blanche responded that the investigation extended well beyond the post itself.

“Well, every case requires an investigation. And what you just showed is, is one part of that investigation. What you just showed is the Instagram post. Rest assured that the career assistant United States attorneys in North Carolina, the career FBI agents, the career Secret Service agents that investigated this case, didn’t just look at the Instagram post to walk away. That’s why you saw an indictment last week, not withstanding the fact that it was last May that the post was made. So I am not permitted to get into the details of what the grand jury heard or found, as you know. But rest assured that it’s not just the Instagram post that leads somebody to get indicted.”

Welker followed up by asking how prosecutors could establish intent given Comey’s own explanation.

“How do you prove intent, Mr. Blanche, when Mr. Comey himself said he didn’t understand that some people would look at that and think about violence?”

Blanche said that intent is demonstrated through multiple forms of evidence.

“You prove intent like you always prove intent. You prove intent with witnesses, you prove intent with documents, with materials. So again, this is not just about a single Instagram post. This is about a body of evidence that the grand jury collected over the series of about 11 months. That evidence was presented to the grand jury. And it’s not the government. It’s not the Department of Justice. It’s not Todd Blanche that returns an indictment against James Comey. It’s the grand jury.”

Welker then pressed whether additional facts exist beyond the social media post that establish a threat.

“Are there, are you in fact saying that there are facts beyond this Instagram post that clearly establish an intent to threaten the president’s life?”

Blanche reiterated that the length of the investigation itself indicates there is more to the case.

“I’ve said repeatedly this was an investigation that lasted 11 months.If the only facts that existed was the posting of the Instagram, obviously that wouldn’t have taken 11 months. And so when Mr. Turley talks about whether it’s facially unconstitutional absent unknown facts or circumstances, we will necessarily have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, at trial, every element of this crime — which we’re prepared to do.”

Welker asked whether those additional details would be made public.

“Can you and will you let the public know what any of those other facts are?”

Blanche said that information would come out during court proceedings.

“Absolutely. It’s called a trial. That’s what happens at every single case. We indict thousands of cases every year. Every one of those cases, there’s an indictment and then eventually there is a trial or some sort of disposition. At the trial, a public trial, that will be open to the public, everybody in this country will know exactly what evidence the government has against Mr. Comey.”

Welker also raised the issue of similar phrases being widely available online.

“It is worth noting that on Amazon.com — we looked this up — there are dozens of products with the same terminology, we’re showing it right here, 86 47 being sold and purchased right now. Should individuals selling or buying ’86 47′ merchandise be concerned that they’re going to be prosecuted by the DOJ?”

Blanche said the case is not about a single phrase in isolation, but about context and supporting evidence.

“This isn’t about a single incident, OK. I mean, of course not. That’s posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly. There are constantly men and women who choose to make threatening statements against President Trump. Every one of those statements do not result in indictments, of course. There are facts, there are circumstances, there are investigations that have to take place. And we have charged dozens and dozens of men and women this year with threatening President Trump and others. So this isn’t a new charge we’re bringing.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a forceful public statement following news that Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized in critical condition, praising his longtime ally and sharply criticizing political opponents.

In a post shared Sunday evening, Trump described Giuliani as “a True Warrior” and “the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR,” while expressing concern over his condition after being hospitalized.

“Our fabulous Rudy Giuliani, a True Warrior, and the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR, has been hospitalized, and is in critical condition,” Trump wrote. “What a tragedy that he was treated so badly by the Radical Left Lunatics, Democrats ALL — AND HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!”

Trump went on to accuse political opponents of misconduct, tying those claims to Giuliani’s situation.

“They cheated on the Elections, fabricated hundreds of stories, did anything possible to destroy our Nation, and now, look at Rudy. So sad!” he added.

Giuliani, 81, is currently hospitalized in critical but stable condition, according to a statement released earlier by his spokesman. No details have been provided regarding the cause of his hospitalization.

{Matzav.com}

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a noted oheiv Yisroel and staunch supporter of Israel, has been admitted to the hospital and is in critical condition, according to a statement released Sunday by his spokesman.

Ted Goodman said the 81-year-old is currently listed as critical but stable. No details were provided regarding the cause of his hospitalization.

“Mayor Rudy Giuliani is currently in the hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition,” the statement said. “Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he’s fighting with that same level of strength as we speak. We do ask that you join us in prayer for America’s Mayor – Rudy Giuliani.”

Giuliani served as mayor of New York City from 1994 through 2001.

Spirit Airlines said Sunday that it has nearly finished issuing refunds to passengers and returning flight crews to their home bases after its abrupt decision to halt operations over the weekend.

The airline canceled flights without warning on Shabbos, leaving travelers and staff stranded across the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The shutdown followed mounting financial strain, including a sharp spike in fuel expenses tied to the war involving Iran.

According to figures from Cirium, the carrier had scheduled more than 4,000 domestic flights through May 15 before ceasing service.

The company reported that most passengers who purchased tickets using credit or debit cards had received refunds by Motzoei Shabbos, with only a small portion still awaiting processing.

Spirit also said that roughly 1,500 remaining crew members were reassigned back to their home bases over the course of the weekend.

In response to the disruption, several other airlines stepped in to offer reduced “rescue fares” to assist stranded travelers.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Prosecutor Amit Eisman indicated early Monday that they are prepared to explore the possibility of a plea agreement in the legal cases involving Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, responding favorably to a request from President Isaac Herzog.

In her response, the Attorney General noted that the State values the President’s efforts to help bring the cases toward resolution through a negotiated agreement, and said she is willing to enter into meaningful discussions with Netanyahu’s defense team to assess whether such an arrangement is viable.

The letter stated that any talks aimed at reaching a plea deal would proceed without preconditions on either side. It also stressed that these discussions would take place “in parallel” with the ongoing trial and would not interfere with or delay court proceedings.

At this point, officials are avoiding discussion of the logistical and substantive aspects of the potential negotiations, including how the meetings will be structured, who will participate, where they will be held, and which legal issues will be addressed.

The development follows outreach last week by the President’s legal adviser, Michal Tsuk-Shafir, who contacted both the prosecution and defense in Netanyahu’s cases and invited them to engage in “contacts aimed at reaching agreements.”

A statement from the President’s Residence explained that “this process is intended to examine the possibility of advancing understandings and agreements, and constitutes only a preliminary stage before the President holds a discussion on the pardon request itself. The sides were asked to come promptly, in good faith and with proper intentions. It was made clear to the parties that agreeing to the invitation does not imply any consent or approval on their part regarding any disputed matter in court.”

In her communication to the parties, Tsuk-Shafir wrote: “The President of the State, after consulting with me, believes that before considering the exercise of his authority regarding the request submitted in the matter of the Prime Minister, the possibility of holding contacts between the sides in order to reach agreements should be exhausted.”

She added, “It seems there is no dispute over the value of holding a conciliatory dialogue that ends in an agreement. This procedure is considered proper and efficient in the eyes of the courts as well, all the more so in matters at the heart of public debate in Israel. The President has repeatedly expressed his support for dialogue directed at reaching agreements between the parties.”

Tsuk-Shafir invited representatives of both sides to meet at the President’s Residence “in good faith and with proper intentions,” emphasizing that each side “enters the room free of any commitments or preconditions.”

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States will begin assisting neutral vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, pledging to “guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways” as tensions continue to rise in the region.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said governments “from all over the World” have turned to Washington for help in freeing ships “which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz” even though they have “absolutely nothing to do” with the conflict.

He described the ships as “merely neutral and innocent bystanders.”

“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States,” Trump wrote, “we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out … so that they can freely and ably get on with their business.”

Trump said the initiative, which he called “Project Freedom,” is set to begin Monday morning Middle East time, adding that the United States will “use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait.”

The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments accounting for roughly one-fifth of the world’s supply, has become increasingly unstable in recent weeks. Escalating tensions involving Iran have led to heightened security concerns, rising insurance premiums, and delays in shipping, with some vessels waiting near the strait or avoiding passage entirely.

Industry sources say a number of ships have been left stranded or slowed, holding out for safer conditions or escort arrangements. Trump said conditions on board are worsening, warning that “many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner.”

He framed the operation as primarily humanitarian, calling it “a Humanitarian gesture” intended to assist “people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance.”

Trump also noted that U.S. officials are engaged in “very positive discussions with the Country of Iran,” hinting at the possibility of broader diplomatic progress.

At the same time, he cautioned that any disruption of the effort would be met with a firm response. “If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will … have to be dealt with forcefully.”

He added that countries participating in the effort have indicated their vessels “will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting Sunday evening that lasted more than four hours, as Israel closely monitors escalating tensions surrounding Iran and ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

Members of the restricted security cabinet and senior defense officials have been in continuous consultations since around 6 p.m., conducting a multi-front assessment of the situation. A full meeting of the diplomatic-security cabinet is scheduled for Monday at 6:00 p.m.

Earlier in the day, during the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu instructed ministers to refrain from making public comments about Iran, warning that “this is a sensitive period and words must be chosen carefully,” according to a report by Ynet.

The developments come as Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran had received a response from the United States, via Pakistan, to its latest proposal aimed at ending the conflict, and that the proposal is currently under review. However, President Donald Trump said in an interview with Kan News that he rejected the offer. “I studied the new Iranian proposal, and it is not acceptable to me,” he said.

Israeli officials are tracking the negotiations but believe the chances of reaching an agreement remain slim, citing Iran’s refusal to meet Trump’s demand to relinquish enriched nuclear material at the outset of any deal.

In a separate statement posted overnight on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I will be reviewing the plan that Iran sent us soon, but I can’t imagine it will be acceptable considering they have not paid a heavy enough price for what they have done to humanity and the world over the last 47 years.” Asked earlier about the possibility of renewed military action against the Islamic Republic, he responded: “There is a chance that could happen.”

According to Israeli officials familiar with the matter and quoted by Ynet, the United States is not only pursuing diplomatic channels but is also preparing for the possibility that fighting could resume, including a significant military campaign that may involve extended ground operations.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security officials believe Hezbollah may attempt to launch rockets toward the Meron area during the Lag BaOmer hilula this week, raising concerns that even the already scaled-down bonfire events could be called off.

According to a report aired Sunday evening on Kan News, the assessment comes amid heightened tensions surrounding whether any events will take place at the site this year.

Despite the broader cancellation of the hilula, police are preparing for the possibility that extremist elements will still try to reach the area and clash with security forces. Authorities are concerned that confrontations could escalate and potentially involve the use of force, including tear gas.

As part of these preparations, police have contacted several bus companies and instructed them not to operate transportation to Meron, warning that vehicles will be stopped and access to the mountain and surrounding areas will be blocked.

At the same time, officials are considering canceling even the three limited bonfires that had been scheduled for Monday, due to severe weather conditions. Forecasts indicate winds could reach speeds of approximately 80 kilometers per hour in the evening, creating a significant safety risk.

Under the current plan, only three bonfires were set to take place, compared to the 19 typically held in a regular year, with participation restricted to about 200 people.

{Matzav.com}

Egyptian authorities have uncovered a massive ancient stone statue believed to represent Ramses II, a powerful ruler of ancient Egypt whom some researchers associate with the Pharaoh described in the Torah’s account of Yetzias Mitzrayim.

The discovery was announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which said the statue was found at the Tel el-Fara site in central Husseiniya, in the Sharqia Governorate of the Nile Delta, northeast of Cairo. Experts believe the statue portrays Ramses II, one of the most prominent and influential kings of ancient Egypt.

Officials described the artifact as having “impressive” dimensions, weighing between five and six tons and measuring over 2.1 meters in length. Despite its size, the statue is in relatively poor condition, with its legs and base missing. Following the discovery, it was transferred from the temple complex where it was unearthed to museum storage facilities in San el-Hagar for urgent conservation and restoration work under strict scientific standards.

Egyptian antiquities officials noted that the statue was likely relocated already in ancient times from the city of Pi-Ramesses to the Tel el-Fara site, formerly known as Imat, where it was repurposed as part of a religious complex. This reuse, they said, highlights the enduring religious and historical importance of the region across different periods.

Ramses II, who lived from 1303 BCE to 1213 BCE, is widely regarded as one of the dominant figures of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Many scholars identify him as a leading candidate for the Pharaoh described in Sefer Shemos, even though his name does not explicitly appear in the Torah’s text. The Torah tells us that that Pharaoh refused Moshe’s demands to release the Jewish people, leading to the ten makkos.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the find is among the most significant archaeological discoveries contributing to the understanding of royal and religious activity in the eastern Nile Delta. It joins a series of recent finds in Egypt, including eight rare papyrus scrolls dating back approximately 3,000 years whose contents have yet to be deciphered, as well as remains of an ancient religious complex in northern Sinai believed to be connected to a biblical city.

Seven long-serving reserve judges in the military court system in Judea and Samaria were elevated last week to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a formal ceremony led by the President of the Military Court of Appeals, Maj. Gen. Orly Markman.

One of those promoted was Lt. Col. (res.) Uriel Dreyfus, who traces his lineage to Alfred Dreyfus, the Jewish French army officer whose wrongful conviction for treason became one of the most infamous antisemitic episodes in European history.

The Dreyfus Affair began in 1894, when Alfred Dreyfus, an artillery officer in the French army, was accused of leaking military secrets to Germany. Although the case lacked credible evidence, he was convicted in a widely publicized trial fueled by antisemitism. In a degrading ceremony in Paris, his rank was stripped and his sword shattered. He was then sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony off the coast of French Guiana. Years later, evidence surfaced proving his innocence, and after prolonged legal and public battles, he was cleared of all charges and reinstated.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lt. Col. (res.) Uriel Dreyfus reflected on the personal and national significance of the moment. “I stand here today with the weight of two histories meeting in a single moment. One is my family history-the name ‘Dreyfus,’ which for generations symbolized injustice, antisemitism, and the attempt to break the spirit of a Jewish officer. The second is the history we have written and continue to write since October 7.”

He continued, “More than 130 years ago, in a square in Paris, the ranks were torn from the uniform of Captain Alfred Dreyfus. In a humiliating ceremony before crowds, his sword was broken. He was accused of treason he did not commit, solely because he was Jewish. He was sent to Devil’s Island, a place where hope was meant to die. But he did not break. He continued to cry out his innocence.”

“When I entered the IDF induction center as a young soldier, I carried this memory with me,” he said. “I understood that every rank I would receive, every step I would take in the army, would represent a form of historical correction. Today, as I receive the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, I feel that the ranks torn away in disgrace are now being sewn back with pride onto the olive uniforms of the Israel Defense Forces, within a system entrusted with administering justice in the sovereign Jewish state.”

Dreyfus drew a connection between the past and present, stating: “Alfred Dreyfus stood alone against a well-oiled system of lies. Today, the State of Israel stands on multiple fronts, facing threats of missiles, terrorism, and falsehoods in the international arena. The ranks we, the judges, receive today are the answer and the proof that we no longer stand alone. We are not defenseless.”

He also reflected on the toll of recent years. “The past years have been among the most difficult of our lives. We have lost friends, subordinates, and commanders. Within this pain, we must remember the determination of those who came before us. We will endure and prevail because we have no other country and no other army.”

Highlighting the importance of the military judiciary, he said: “Our role in the court system is often invisible to the public eye, yet it forms the backbone of Israeli democracy. My colleagues and I protect a place where words are stronger than bullets, and where truth is the highest authority. This is our professional duty and our moral mission.”

{Matzav.com}

An emergency gathering of leading rabbonim and roshei yeshiva took place Sunday evening in southern Israel, where gedolei Yisroel spoke out forcefully against Israeli military recruitment programs aimed at chareidi young men, warning that they are deceptive and spiritually dangerous.

The event, organized by the Ezram U’Maginam organization, came in response to increased efforts by military officials and program operators to promote tracks such as “Kodkod” and “Ma’alot Tzur” within the chareidi community. Organizers said these programs attempt to attract bnei Torah through financial incentives and other inducements, while concealing their true nature as full military enlistment.

Participating in the gathering were senior rabbinic leaders, including members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, along with rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from Be’er Sheva, Ofakim, Netivot, Yerucham, Tifrach, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Arad, and Dimona. Among those present were Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tushiya in Tifrach; Rav Aryeh Levi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Sechar Sochir; Rav Shmuel Betzalel, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef; and Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, rosh yeshiva of Yad Aharon.

Ahead of the event, sharply worded letters from gedolei Yisroel were circulated, strongly opposing these recruitment tracks.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch wrote: “All of these tracks are an integral part of the army, and one who goes there places himself under the authority and control of the military government and becomes a full-fledged soldier, and there is absolutely no basis for leniency.”

av Dov Landau added in his own handwriting: “Beyond the disaster he brings upon himself and his household, others may be drawn after him, and his sin is too great to bear.”

In a separate letter, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman wrote: “The protective wall has been breached by those whose inclination has overtaken them, who come in disguise and through deception to establish special tracks such as Kodkod and the like, luring people with respectable livelihoods and similar promises, blinding their eyes, for through this they become subjugated to the authority of the army.”

Rav Chaim Feinstein also warned: “One who goes there places himself under the authority and control of the military government, whose purpose is the uprooting of religion, and he accepts upon himself a yoke that is the opposite of the yoke of Heaven. In doing so, he removes from himself the yoke of Heaven and places himself in clear danger of casting off the yoke of Torah and mitzvos in the gravest ways.”

Speakers at the gathering warned that these programs pose a serious threat to the integrity of the chareidi community and urged bnei Torah and their families to avoid them, describing the initiatives as misleading attempts to draw them into military frameworks under the guise of opportunity.