Federal prosecutors at the Department of Justice may be looking for more evidence against James Comey, as legal analysts warn the case accusing the former FBI director of lying to Congress is too fragile to guarantee a conviction.
Mike Davis, who previously served as chief counsel to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and is a Trump ally, told The Post on Friday that he expects prosecutors to expand the charges. Comey was indicted Thursday on counts of making false statements to Congress and obstruction of justice.
“I imagine there will be a superseding indictment on this case, and I’m pushing very hard for the Crossfire Hurricane investigation to get moving,” Davis said.
The indictment was filed just before the five-year statute of limitations expired for Comey’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020.
The charges, brought by acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, center on testimony from Comey’s former deputy Andrew McCabe. McCabe told the Justice Department inspector general that Comey said it was “good” that he had passed information to The Wall Street Journal for an October 30, 2016 story about the Clinton Foundation probe.
“The case was strong enough for the grand jury to indict,” said Davis, who worked at DOJ during the George W. Bush years.
“Comey clearly lied twice. He lied in 2017 to Grassley. He lied again in 2020 to Ted Cruz, and this is just the beginning of Comey’s legal troubles.”
Still, Davis conceded the prosecution faces an uphill battle in Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, where Biden-appointed Judge Michael Nachmanoff is presiding.
Skeptics argue that while evidence may exist showing Comey misled lawmakers, the case has serious weaknesses. Among them is a memo written by former U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert opposing charges against Comey, which could be introduced to support claims of political or vindictive prosecution, especially when paired with Trump’s repeated criticisms of the ex-FBI chief.
McCabe also testified that Comey approved the leak only after the fact, rather than authorizing it beforehand. McCabe himself was fired in 2018 by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions after an inspector general report concluded he “lacked candor” with both Comey and other senior officials.
“Andrew McCabe, if it goes to trial and he testifies for the government, he will be eviscerated,” said Gene Rossi, a longtime federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia.
“If they go to trial — if it gets that far and it’s not killed or dismissed because of vindictive and selective prosecution, facts for which are abundant — they have got a proof problem at trial,” Rossi added. Rossi worked alongside Comey in Virginia between 1996 and 2001.
Former prosecutor Neama Rahmani predicted a similar outcome: “I think they lose this case,” he said of the Trump DOJ’s effort, noting, “If the DOJ cared about this leak, they would have prosecuted it during the first Trump administration.”
Comey testified to Congress in 2017 that he “never” served as an anonymous source about investigations into President Trump or Hillary Clinton and that “no,” he had not allowed subordinates to act as anonymous sources for reporters on those matters.
At a September 2020 Judiciary Committee hearing, Comey reaffirmed his earlier testimony, telling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), “I stand by the [2017] testimony.” That reaffirmation extended the five-year statute of limitations, setting September 30, 2025, as the deadline for possible charges.
McCabe, however, told investigators in 2018 that he “did not recall discussing the disclosure with Comey in advance of authorizing it, although it was possible that he did.” Comey, on the other hand, told the inspector general that McCabe “definitely” had not informed him of the leak.
“The director and the deputy director of the FBI are the only two FBI officials who have the authority and the responsibility to authorize the release of information to the media,” McCabe later testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in November 2020.
{Matzav.com
Thousands of travelers returning from Uman after spending Rosh Hashanah there are facing a chaotic ordeal, with many forced to spend Shabbos in makeshift tents across Romania.
Passengers who had hoped to be back in Israel in time for the weekend were instead stranded due to widespread delays at border crossings and airports, leaving them with no option but to rely on emergency accommodations.
Travel agencies announced that buses would pick up stranded passengers from Tulcea Airport, the waiting hall near the Orlivka border, and from Iasi, transporting them to temporary lodging sites prepared for Shabbos. Organizers promised that Shabbos meals would also be provided at these locations.
Many accused the chareidi Knesset representatives of neglecting the plight of Breslover chassidim, saying: “לחברי הכנסת החרדים לא איכפת כי זה חסידי ברסלב — The chareidi MKs don’t care because we’re Breslov.”
Since Rosh Hashanah, heavy congestion at Ukraine’s borders has caused significant hold-ups, leading to missed flights and confusion at airports across Europe. Countless passengers reported distressing experiences and blamed their representatives for failing to intervene.
The chaos resulted in the cancellation of four flights from Tulcea and Iasi after airline crews exceeded their permitted working hours under international aviation regulations, making it impossible for them to fly.
Two major agencies, Nativim Tours and Derech Tzaddikim, said they had tried to add extra flights immediately but were unable to do so. “In the meantime, we have been working since this afternoon to arrange sleeping areas and Shabbos meals for our clients who are stuck in Romania,” the agencies said. “Our buses will transport passengers from Tulcea Airport (including the waiting hall), from Orlivka, and from Iasi, and bring them to the designated lodging points, where we will provide Shabbos meals. Passengers making their own Shabbos arrangements should follow our updates regarding the new flights we have secured.”
Those left in Romania will be flown home on special flights organized for Motzoei Shabbos and Sunday morning, departing from several airports simultaneously.
Earlier reports described the return journey from Uman as a grueling and drawn-out saga. With long backups at crossings between Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Moldova, many travelers attempted to find alternate routes to Israel. Some, however, chose to remain in place until after Shabbos to avoid being stranded on the road without a safe place to stay.
{Matzav.com}Federal prosecutors are moving ahead with charges against James Comey, who led the FBI during President Donald Trump’s first term, but the case lacks real strength, according to retired Judge Andrew Napolitano. Speaking Friday on Newsmax, Napolitano said the government is essentially “striking back” at Comey over his actions involving Trump.
Napolitano, who serves as Newsmax’s chief judicial analyst, said on National Report that Comey’s treatment of Trump while he was in office was “illegal, reprehensible, and politically motivated,” but added, “It’s too late to prosecute him for that.”
“Many of the things he did in the first term, and then he was fired in the beginning of the first term,” said Napolitano. “Many of the things he did in the tail end of President [Barack] Obama’s presidency could have formed the basis for criminal prosecutions in the first Trump term. They didn’t do that. The statute of limitations has expired.”
Comey had overseen high-profile inquiries into Trump and his circle — cases the president has frequently slammed as “lawfare.” These included the investigations into alleged Russian election interference, questions about campaign contacts with Moscow, and surveillance matters tied to Trump associates. Most of these probes ultimately collapsed without convictions.
Napolitano noted that prosecutors are now on their third attempt to bring charges against Comey after two earlier grand juries rejected indictments. The current case involves two separate counts.
The first charge claims Comey gave false testimony when Senator Ted Cruz asked him if he had authorized another FBI official to disclose details of the Trump-Russia probe to the media. Comey replied simply, “No.” But former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has testified that Comey did, in fact, give that go-ahead.
Comey is “being prosecuted for this one-word answer as a way of striking back at him for the other things that he did,” Napolitano explained. “That’s not really permissible under the law, but prosecutors do it.”
He pointed out that the evidence is shaky, essentially boiling down to conflicting statements. The Justice Department’s inspector general had previously determined that McCabe was dishonest while Comey had told the truth. That conclusion, Napolitano said, is why past prosecutors and grand juries declined to pursue charges.
The second count stems from the first, accusing Comey of obstructing justice by hindering Congress’ investigation through his supposed false statement.
Napolitano cast doubt on that allegation too, saying, “If he’s found not guilty on the lie, or if the lie part is dismissed by a federal judge, then the obstruction of justice part goes away as well.”
He underscored that the government faces an uphill battle. “I think it’s a very weak case, and I think it’s a very difficult one to prove,” Napolitano said, noting that McCabe presents a serious hurdle. “He’s Jim Comey’s friend and former colleague who does not want to see him convicted. I don’t think the government is going to get out of him what they want, other than what he already told Congress.”
In the end, Napolitano said, jurors will have to wrestle with one basic issue: “Did he or didn’t he lie?”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu sat down with New York City Mayor Eric Adams following Netanyahu’s address at the United Nations General Assembly.
“For decades, world leaders have convened in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly to pursue diplomacy and peace,” Adams says in a statement. “Allowing everyone to speak freely is who we are as a city and as a nation — and while many may try to reject that notion today, I will continue to embrace it.”
“That is why, of all the world leaders we have greeted this week, I was particularly proud to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his address to the United Nations, to thank him for defending the Western world and our way of life,” Adams says. “Prime Minister Netanyahu laid out a clear case that those who call for the death of Jews across the globe are also calling for the death of Americans.”
“At a time when much of the world is turning its back on the Jewish State of Israel, the mayor of the largest Jewish community outside of Israel must remain steadfast in our support for Israel, its right to defend itself, eliminate Hamas, and bring every single one of their hostages home,” Adams says.
Adams, who has long aligned himself with pro-Israel causes, is also in the middle of his reelection campaign with the mayoral vote approaching in November.
Current polling shows Adams holding third place in the race, trailing Zohran Mamdani, the far-left candidate who is sharply critical of Israel, and Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who has backed Israel while also expressing some disapproval of the military campaign in Gaza in recent weeks.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu began his United Nations General Assembly speech on Friday with a distinctive pin clipped to his jacket. The pin, worn not only by Netanyahu but also by members of the Israeli delegation, carried a QR code leading viewers to a website showcasing the atrocities carried out by Hamas on October 7, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The scannable pin was part of a much larger Israeli information campaign launched in New York this week. A fleet of mobile billboards and numerous digital screens in the vicinity of UN headquarters and Times Square were emblazoned with the words “Remember October 7,” each paired with a QR code leading to the same site. Several reports pointed out that the link only works outside Israel, a restriction Israel has implemented before when focusing on international messaging.
The effort was designed to keep global attention fixed on the Hamas assault as world leaders gathered in New York. The trucks and digital displays mirrored the very same emblem Netanyahu wore onstage, urging pedestrians to scan and access curated material documenting the killings and kidnappings.
Fox News and other outlets also covered the large-scale presence of the “Remember October 7” campaign, confirming that the QR codes led users abroad to a site with graphic evidence from the attacks.
Israel has already created an official English-language platform presenting detailed accounts of the October 7 massacre, part of its strategy to consolidate and verify materials used in advocacy around the world.
According to the PMO, both the pin and the widespread signage were aimed at keeping the issue of the hostages and the October 7 massacre at the forefront as Netanyahu delivered his remarks. The imagery rolled out across midtown Manhattan in the hours before he took the podium.
{Matzav.com}The Prime Minister’s Office rejected accusations that setting up loudspeakers to broadcast Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly poses a threat to Israeli troops operating in Gaza.
“As part of the public diplomacy effort, the Prime Minister’s Office has directed civilian elements, in cooperation with the IDF, to place loudspeakers on the backs of trucks on the Israeli side of the Gaza border so that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s historic UN General Assembly speech will be heard in the Gaza Strip,” the PMO said in a statement.
The office also stressed that Netanyahu personally instructed that no action be taken which could put soldiers’ safety at risk.
The IDF also responded, explaining: “The loudspeaker mission in Gaza is, from our perspective, a legitimate mission intended to apply pressure on Hamas and influence the population of the Strip.”
WATCH:
According to military details, the loudspeakers were positioned in protected areas and fixed onto trucks. Four were placed inside Israel, and another four in advanced positions within Gaza — among them the Sabra area in the north, the Netzarim Corridor sewage treatment site, a coastal point in Rafah, and other strategic spots.
Despite these assurances, parents of many soldiers currently deployed in Gaza sent a formal letter to the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff, demanding that the initiative be canceled. Their concern centers on the risk that the placement of the sound equipment exposes their sons to unnecessary danger.
The letter was issued after reports surfaced that Netanyahu had asked for the loudspeakers to be set up in Gaza itself for his speech to be heard. Parents argue that the plan is reckless and should be halted immediately.
They contend in the letter that carrying out such a task will inevitably require interaction with Gazan civilians and put soldiers directly in harm’s way. The families are calling on top defense officials to stop any efforts involving equipment that brings forces closer to the local population.
“This is an action that requires friction with the population and clearly endangers the lives of our fighting children. Never in the history of the State of Israel has there been such disregard for the lives of fighters. The war that is taking place in Gaza must end and has no justification,” the parents wrote. They appealed to military commanders to act swiftly to prevent exposing soldiers to further risks.
Along with the letter, the families also announced they will be organizing a march on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. The protest will begin at Rabin Gate outside IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv and continue to Metzudat Ze’ev, Likud’s central offices. Parents added that more families are joining their campaign to bring the soldiers home and to stop what they describe as a dangerous and unnecessary operation.
{Matzav.com Israel}The New York City Council gave strong backing on Thursday to new regulations for installing gas-powered appliances, though opponents warned the move would drive up costs for property owners and ultimately renters.
The measure, which passed in a 47-1 vote, would require New Yorkers to use licensed master plumbers or specially certified workers for the installation of gas stoves, dryers, and other similar appliances.
Dissenters cautioned that the rule could tack on as much as $500 to each installation for homeowners or landlords, with those expenses likely to be passed down to tenants.
Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez of the Bronx, who authored the legislation, said the need for the bill stems from the deadly East Village gas explosion in 2015, an incident that killed two people and destroyed three buildings. The disaster was linked to an illegal gas hookup.
“Y’all, public, in the city of New York, should not be installing a gas range yourself,” Sanchez said before the council vote. “It’s not safe.”
The New York Apartment Association, which advocates for landlords in rent-regulated housing, said the council’s action was unnecessary.
Kenny Burgos, head of the group, argued that specialized plumbers could demand up to $500 per installation.
“The law will add hundreds of dollars to every installation because it will require licensed master plumbers to perform a job [that] store technicians, building supers, contractors and handy homeowners have been doing safely for decades,” he wrote this week in a Post op-ed.
Burgos further raised concerns about whether there would be enough qualified plumbers available to keep up with demand.
“But on top of that, there’s a real logistics problem when you have a small number of master plumbers and so many appliances that are being teased out on a regular basis just around here city,” Burgos told Fox News Business.
Sanchez pushed back, arguing that the change would not create a financial burden since such practices were already in place.
“Anyone who is making complaints with respect to that change, it’s not really a change, it’s just a clarification,” she said.
Sanchez, who leads the Housing and Buildings Committee, acknowledged, however, that the legislation could increase demand for master plumbers. A Fox Business report estimated there are only about 1,100 such licensed professionals.
“In terms of the shortage of master plumbers and anyone else who is certified to do this work, that’s a conversation that I certainly want to have as chair of housing and buildings, is, how do we get more folks into the trades?” Sanchez said. “And is there a conversation about other individuals who could be certified to do this work safely?”
The only member to oppose the bill was Bronx Councilman Kevin Riley. He did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mayor Eric Adams’ office stopped short of endorsing the bill outright.
“Every step the City Council takes must be guided by the same lens we use: how to make this more affordable for working-class New Yorkers,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “As with all legislation the council votes on, we are reviewing this bill.”
If Adams signs the measure, it would take effect in 120 days.
{Matzav.com}
‘America’s Newsroom’ panelists Trey Yingst, Jennifer Griffin, Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.), and John Roberts discuss Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
WATCH:
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly with a warning that Iran remains the gravest danger to Israel and to the world. “Iran was rapidly developing a missile program, intended to destroy Israel, the US and blackmail nations everywhere,” he said. “Sinwar sent terrorists to invade Israel and commit atrocities, while thousands of missiles were fired at our country. In Yemen Houthis fired missiles.”
He declared that the situation has drastically changed over the past year. “So what’s happened since last year, we have mostly overcome all those threats – Houthis, Hezbollah and thousands of terrorists were killed, mainly we devastated Iran’s nuclear program,” he explained.
WATCH IN FULL:
Netanyahu listed the setbacks suffered by Tehran’s network of proxies. “So here’s where things stand today. Half the Houthi leadership gone. Hezbollah, gone. Millitias in Iraq, gone. Iran’s top military commanders, gone too,” he said.
He reminded the world of Israel’s most recent military campaign. “Israel’s 12 day war with Iran has gone down in history. Between Israeli and US pilots, we have taken Iran down. I would like to thank President Trump for our cooperation on this. We made a promise, and delivered on this promise. We lifted a dark cloud that risked millions and millions of lives. But we must not allow Iran to rebuild its capabilities.”
The prime minister praised Israel’s resilience. “Thanks to the resolve of our people, the resolve of our soldiers, Israel experienced one of the most stunning comebacks in history. But we’re not done yet. The final remnants of Hamas still hide in Gaza City and vow to repeat October 7th, which much of the world does not remember. But we remember that day!”
He recounted the horrific events of that day. “On October 7th Hamas carried out the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, including US citizens. They beheaded men, burned babies alive in front of their parents. They took hostages, which include grandparents and grandchildren, brothers – deprived of daylight, deprived of humanity.”
Netanyahu sent a message of encouragement to the captives. Speaking into giant loudspeakers placed outside Gaza, he said, “Our brave heroes, this is PM Netanyahu, speaking from the UN. We have not forgotten you. We will not rest until we have brought all of you home.”
He issued an ultimatum to Hamas. “I call on Hamas: lay down your weapons. Free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you don’t Israel will hunt you down. If Hamas puts down their weapons and releases the hostages, the war will be over now. The war in Gaza has affected every Israeli. I am sure that people around the world are wondering what this has got to do with them – it has got to do with each and everyone of you.”
He explained why the conflict matters globally. “My point is that our enemies hate all of us, with equal venom. I think that all of you know that Israel is fighting your fight. So I’ll tell you a secret – all of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us for saving countless lives.”
He said that world leaders know the truth even if they don’t admit it openly. “The Chancellor of Germany admitted that Israel is doing the dirty work for all of us. Regrettably many leaders who are represented in this hall send a different message. Many supported Israel in the past, but things have changed. And that is that we fought back. Imagine a terrorist regime that invades the US, murders tens of thousands of American citizens and takes thousands hostage. Would the US sit back and accept this? Never. We are doing what every self-respecting government would do.”
Netanyahu criticized governments that have shifted under pressure. “Many world leaders have buckled under the pressure of political pressure, media pressure and more. The saying says that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.’ And that is what Israel is doing. As we fight the terrorists who murdered many of your citizens, you wage war against us. This is not an indictment of Israel; this is an indictment of you. When will you learn that you have to stand with Israel, but that is not what you are doing. You have turned good into evil, and evil into good.”
He defended Israel’s military conduct. “It has been proven that Israel is taking extreme measures to prevent civilian casualties, more than any other country, especially considering the density of the Gaza population. We have repeatedly warned Gaza civilians to leave areas before Israel attacks, but Hamas has threatened them, some at gun point, not to leave. Hamas uses civilians as human shields.”
He rejected accusations of genocide. “Would a country committing genocide plead with a population to get out of harm’s way? Did the Nazis ask the Jews to leave before they annihilated them? Of course not. So the truth has been turned on its head. Hamas’ charter calls for the murder of all Jews on the planet, while Israel does the opposite, and we are put in the dark.”
He also denied charges of deliberately starving the population. “Israel is accused of deliberately starving the population of Gaza, but we have sent tons of food to Gaza, enough for each citizen. The reason that they are not getting the food is that Hamas has been looting it – 85% of the trucks. That is why there is deprivation.”
Netanyahu then turned to the rise in antisemitic violence. “In recent months Jews have been assaulted in many countries around the world. An elderly Holocaust survivor was burned here in the US, a young Jewish couple was gunned down outside the Holocaust museum. Instead of condemning these acts, many give them rewards – recognizing a Palestinian state. Nearly 90% of Palestinians supported the October 7th attack, they celebrated, they threw candies, just the way they celebrated another horror – 9/11. And the message they get is ‘murdering Jews pays off.'”
He blasted governments moving toward recognition of a Palestinian state. “So I have a message – when you support their actions – this is a mark of shame on all of you. You support a Palestinian state next to Israel, but the problem is that they don’t agree with that – they want a Palestinian state instead of Israel. Every time they were offered a state, they only attacked us again.”
He condemned the Palestinian Authority as well. “I don’t understand how the world does not see this, even though it is repeated again and again. You should know that the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists to slay Jews – it names its public buildings, its schools after the mass murderers of both Jews and Christians.”
He said their promises of reform are meaningless. “Many world leaders say that the PA promised it would reform, but we have heard these promises for decades. They use the same text books as Hamas, they teach their children to murder Jews. When Bethlehem was under Israeli control 80% were Christians, a number that has dwindled to 20%. Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York.”
Netanyahu made Israel’s position clear. “We will not allow the establishment of a terrorist state just because you don’t have the guts to recognize this situation. I say, on behalf of myself and all the residents of the State of Israel, that over 90% voted against a Palestinian state.”
He emphasized that Israel stands firm even if others do not. “Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure, but Israel won’t. Israel’s victories over the terror axis, have opened opportunities in the area. We have opened negotiations with Syria that we believe will protect minorities in the region.”
He added that peace with Lebanon could also be within reach. “Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well. I call on the leadership of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and I am sure that we can achieve a sustainable peace. But until that happens we will take whatever measures are needed to protect ourselves. I’m sure that if the Lebanese government persists in this goal, peace will come between the two countries.”
He pointed to future cooperation with Arab states. “Forward looking Arabs and leaders know that cooperation with Israel will lead to many good outcomes, in medicine, agriculture, and more. Many of those who waged war on Israel today, will be gone tomorrow. The long suffering Iranian people will once again be great and we will restore a friendship that will benefit the entire world.”
He concluded by recalling Jewish history and the resilience of Israel. “The horrors that happened on one dark day, October 7th, have happened many times over the generations, but then we had to beg others to defend us. Now Israel is fighting back itself. Our sons and daughters fought like lions, fulfilling the dream of generations who came before them; the dream of having an army to defend us. Today the resolve of Israel burns brighter than before, leading to prosperity and peace.”
{Matzav.com}
President Trump erupted on Friday over the indictment of James Comey, blasting the case assignment to what he called a “Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge” and vowing that the “dirty cop” and ex-FBI chief would pay “a very big price.”
Comey, 64, was charged Thursday by a federal grand jury for allegedly lying to Congress about the long-running Russiagate inquiry. His case was given to District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who was appointed by Biden.
“Whether you like Corrupt James Comey or not, and I can’t imagine too many people liking him, HE LIED! It is not a complex lie, it’s a very simple, but IMPORTANT one,” Trump wrote in a fiery Truth Social post early Friday morning.
“There is no way he can explain his way out of it. He is a Dirty Cop, and always has been, but he was just assigned a Crooked Joe Biden-appointed Judge, so he’s off to a very good start,” Trump continued.
The charges stem from Comey’s testimony before Congress on September 30, 2020, during the Trump-Russia investigation, when he allegedly gave false statements. Trump declared that Comey would not escape responsibility.
“He left himself ZERO margin of error on a big and important answer to a question. He just got unexpectedly caught. James ‘Dirty Cop’ Comey was a destroyer of lives,” Trump said.
“He knew exactly what he was saying, and that it was a very serious and far-reaching lie for which a very big price must be paid!” Trump added.
The indictment centers on an exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in which Comey denied having approved media leaks connected to the probe.
Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 until Trump dismissed him in 2017, was set to turn himself in on Friday morning.
FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back at critics who charged that the Justice Department had become politicized, saying Comey’s indictment wasn’t about vendettas but about evidence.
“Career FBI agents, intel analysts, and staff led the investigation into Comey and others. They called the balls and strikes and will continue to do so,” Patel said in a post on X.
“The wildly false accusations attacking this FBI for the politicization of law enforcement comes from the same bankrupt media that sold the world on Russia Gate – it’s hypocrisy on steroids. Their baseless objections tell us now, more than ever, that we are precisely over the target and will remain on mission until completion.”
In response to the indictment, Comey said he felt deep sorrow for the Justice Department but maintained his innocence.
“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way,” Comey said in a video message.
“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.”
“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith,” he concluded.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that an agreement may soon be reached to halt the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of captives. “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza. I think it’s a deal that gets the hostages back, it’s going to be a deal that ends the war,” Trump told reporters before leaving the White House to head to the Ryder Cup golf event in New York. He did not provide any additional specifics.
At the same time that world leaders were in New York for the United Nations meetings, the United States introduced a 21-step peace framework for the Middle East, focused on bringing an end to the nearly two-year-long fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
The plan was shared on Tuesday with representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, according to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump, who has consistently stood by Israel on the international stage, said that on Thursday he spoke with officials from several Middle Eastern countries as well as with Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu.
{Matzav.com}
Democratic mayoral contender Zohran Mamdani has opened up a significant advantage in the race for New York City mayor, leading Andrew Cuomo by 20 points in a Suffolk University CityView poll released this week.
Among likely voters surveyed for November’s general election, Mamdani received 45 percent support. Cuomo followed with 25 percent, while Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa polled at 9 percent and current Mayor Eric Adams registered 8 percent. Both Cuomo and Adams are on the ballot as independents.
The poll also included three other candidates: Conservative Party nominee Irene Estrada, independent Joseph Hernandez, and independent Jim Walden. Together, they accounted for just 1 percent of voter support.
Nine percent of respondents said they were still undecided, and 3 percent declined to share their preference.
When asked to identify the most pressing issue in the campaign, 21 percent of voters pointed to affordability, 20 percent cited crime, and 14 percent named the economy and jobs. Housing came in at 9 percent, while 8 percent highlighted the “local response to [President] Trump initiatives.” Another 7 percent said racism, justice and equality, and 6 percent mentioned schools and education. Other topics received less than 4 percent.
Just over half of those polled, 51 percent, said life in New York City is “somewhat or very unaffordable.” A majority of 58 percent said the economy has worsened under President Trump, while 23 percent said it was worse under former President Biden.
In addition, 56 percent of respondents said they do not believe accusations that Mamdani is antisemitic.
“This poll shows that the issues New Yorkers really care about in this election are affordability, crime, and the economy,” Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos said in a statement.
The Suffolk poll’s results mirror other recent surveys showing Mamdani ahead by a wide margin. A New York Times/Siena University poll conducted earlier this month gave him 46 percent, with Cuomo at 24 percent, Sliwa at 15 percent, and Adams at 9 percent.
Another poll, from Emerson College/PIX11/The Hill earlier in September, had Mamdani at 43 percent and Cuomo trailing at 28 percent, with Sliwa at 10 percent and Adams at 7 percent.
The Suffolk University survey was carried out between September 16 and 18, sampling 500 likely voters in New York City. The poll’s margin of error is 4.4 percentage points.
{Matzav.com}
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz blasted the series of mishaps that occurred during President Donald Trump’s address at the U.N., calling them “unacceptable” and pledging to hold back American funding until major reforms are implemented.
Waltz joined FOX Business’ “Kudlow,” where host Larry Kudlow asked him about the glitches that some viewed as attempts to undermine the president during his appearance.
Kudlow pointed out that the escalator malfunctioned as Trump and First Lady Melania Trump entered, then the teleprompter went down mid-speech, and finally the auditorium’s sound system cut out.
Waltz noted another disruption, saying the broadcast audio suddenly shifted into Portuguese during Trump’s remarks before it switched back to English.
“The whole thing is unacceptable. The whole thing stinks,” Waltz said. “There’s 150 world leaders there and this only happens to him, not once, not twice, but three times.”
According to Waltz, the U.S. Secret Service is investigating the incidents, and the U.N. Secretary General has promised full cooperation.
“As the ambassador, I said, you’ve got to open your doors, and some people were kind of shoulder shrugging at this,” Waltz explained. “This could have been incredibly serious. It’s insulting, and it’s right here on American soil.”
Waltz went on to slam the U.N.’s size and inefficiency, pointing out that seven separate agencies are dedicated solely to climate issues. He said the institution must be drastically overhauled before it receives further U.S. contributions.
He confirmed that America has already withheld its payment to the organization this year.
“We’ve withheld this year,” Waltz said. “We haven’t paid any and my first meeting with the Secretary General was, here are the reforms that we need to see before you start talking about taxpayer dollars.”
Waltz compared the current standoff to Sen. Jesse Helms’ 1999 campaign to force the U.N. to reform before unlocking U.S. funds, stressing that the same principles still apply.
“We have every obligation to make sure it’s transparent,” he said.
{Matzav.com}