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California efforts vs. Trump costing state taxpayers millions: report

By Bradford Betz | Fox News

3-4 minutes

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The ongoing war between California state officials and the Trump administration is costing the state's taxpayers millions of dollars, data from the California Department of Justice indicates.
Since President Trump took office in January 2017, California has filed 44 lawsuits against the administration, while the federal government has filed three against California. For the 2017-18 fiscal year, the state's tab for legal fees has been more than $9 million – up from nearly $3 million the previous year, the Sacramento Bee reported.
State Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, has downplayed the costs involved in the California vs. Trump war, pointing out that it amounts to less than 1 percent of the state Department of Justice’s $894 million annual budget. He said the costs were a small price to pay to fight federal overreach.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SUES CALIFORNIA OVER FEDERAL LAND SALES
“When you put into perspective that less than one percent of our budget is going to defend our people, our values and our resources, I think most people would say ‘Don’t stop,’” Becerra said. “[A]ny one of those items … would dwarf what we’d have to spend for all the litigation efforts that we’ve undertaken to defend the state of California against the federal government’s intrusion.

“Just because California and its Democratic leaders disagree with something the president or his administration does, that doesn’t mean the courts are the place to have that disagreement.”
— Harmeet Dhillon, Republican National Committee

By not fighting back against Trump, Becerra said, California risks losing billions per year in externalities. But Republicans have accused Democratic leaders of wasting taxpayer money.
“Just because California and its Democratic leaders disagree with something the president or his administration does, that doesn’t mean the courts are the place to have that disagreement,” said Harmeet Dhillon, an attorney for the Republican National Committee. “Xavier Becerra is misusing the courts to score political points.”
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said the ongoing lawsuits amount to “little more than political posturing by California politicians.”
“Compared to the $120 billion state general fund, it may not seem like much, but it’s symbolic of an attitude of waste and foolish pursuits by our state government officials,” Coupal said.
Of the 44 lawsuits filed in the last 21 months against the Trump administration, the majority are still pending, the Bee reported.

Capitol police probe additional doxxing incidents targeting senators, including Rand Paul

Capitol Hill police on Wednesday were investigating two additional doxxing incidents after a former Democratic congressional intern was accused of posting the personal information of at least three Republican senators during last week's Judicial Committee hearing, sources said.
Fox News has learned that the latest alleged doxxing incidents involve at least two more senators, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
The probe comes amid the arrest of Jackson Cosko, 27, a democratic congressional intern, who earlier Wednesday was arrested for allegedly publishing the private information of at least three Republican senators during last week’s hearing about sexual assault claims against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, authorities said. Paul called for an investigation at the time.
It was not clear whether Cosko was connected to the most recent doxxing probe involving Paul.
Personal information of Sens. Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch were posted on their respective Wikipedia pages Thursday. All three have professed their belief that Kavanaugh is innocent of the claims brought against him by Ford, with Graham telling the federal judge "you've got nothing to apologize for" amid a fiery rant denouncing Democrats' handling of the allegations.
The intentional publication of the information was first caught by a Twitter bot that automatically tracks any changes made to Wikipedia entries from anyone located in the U.S. Congress and publicizes them on the social media site. The bot account later deleted the tweets because the edits contained personal information. According to the bot, whoever posted the information did so from a computer in the House of Representatives.
The home addresses of the senators appeared to be correct, though the phone numbers didn't appear to be entirely accurate. A "home" phone number listed for Graham appeared to direct callers to the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), a Washington D.C.-based advocacy group.
Cosko was most recently working as an unpaid intern for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, senior congressional sources told Fox News. In the past, Coscko has worked with other democratic lawmakers including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and former Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California.
Cosko was charged with burglarly, threats in interstate communication, unauthorized access of a government computer, indentity theft, second-degree burglary and unlawful entry.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram, Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report.

Ford's lawyers slam FBI investigation after McConnell signals Kavanaugh vote later this week

Attorneys for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford late Wednesday slammed the FBI background investigation into President Trump's Supreme Court pick, Brett Kavanaugh, after it was revealed that the agency's probe appears to be over.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier filed for cloture to end debate on the nomination, setting up a key procedural vote for Friday -- and a possible confirmation vote as early as Saturday. McConnell also revealed that the Senate would receive the FBI's supplemental background investigation into Kavanaugh Wednesday night.
"An FBI supplemental background investigation that did not include an interview of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford-- nor the witnesses who corroborate her testimony-- cannot be called an investigation," the statement read. "We are profoundly disappointed that after the tremendous sacrifice she made in coming forward, those directing the FBI investigation were not interested in seeking the truth."
Two senators, both of whom are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News that they've been instructed to plan for a vote on Sunday.
Sources previously told Fox News that Senators and some aides would be able to start looking at the FBI’s background investigation on Thursday morning and that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and committee member Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would be given the first chance to look at the report.
The bureau's investigation, ordered last week by President Trump, was designed to look into allegations of sexual misconduct leveled at Kavanaugh, who has been accused by three women of separate alleged incidents. Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to come foward, testified before the Senate Judiciary last week about her claims. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations against him.
Amid McConnell's remarks Wednesday night, Trump tweeted that there was "such enthusiasm and energy for Judge Brett Kavanaugh."
"Look at the Energy, look at the Polls. Something very big is happening," the tweet said. "He is a fine man and great intellect. The country is with him all the way!"
Two senior Senate sources told Fox News earlier that the report isn’t expected to be released publicly. Instead, the FBI is expected to send a single copy of the supplemental report on Kavanaugh to the Hill, where it will be kept in a safe in the Senate Judiciary Committee. All 100 senators and nine staffers will be authorized to read it.
Earlier Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell denied a request made by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to approve a briefing by FBI agents on the bureau’s background investigation (BI).
In a letter to Schumer, McConnell said a briefing "would be unprecedented and irregular" and suggested that such a maneuver would be a tactic intended to stall a vote on Kavanaugh's nomination.
“And, in all candor, I believe it would be used to further delay this nomination—a goal about which you and your Democratic colleagues have been abundantly clear and single-minded in pursuing,” McConnell wrote.
Fox News' Chad Pergram, Edmund DeMarche, Shannon Bream and Alex Pappas contributed to this report.

White House receives FBI report on Kavanaugh, 'fully confident' he'll be confirmed

The White House on Thursday announced that it has received the FBI's supplemental background investigation into President Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, and is "fully confident" that he will eventually be confirmed to the Supreme Court.
The FBI was tasked by Trump last week to look into allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against Kavanaugh by three women. The investigation commenced after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford -- the first woman to come forward -- testified before the Senate Judiciary last week about her claims against the federal judge.
Raj Shah, the principal deputy press secretary for the White House, said the FBI report is currently "being transmitted to the Senate."
FORD'S LEGAL TEAM CRITICIZES PROBE 
"With [Senate Majority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell’s cloture filing, Senators have been given ample time to review this seventh background investigation," Shah said in a statement posted to Twitter. “This is the last addition to the most comprehensive review of a Supreme Court nominee in history, which includes extensive hearings, multiple committee interviews, over 1,200 questions for the record and over a half million pages of documents.”
Shah said the “White House is fully confident” Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the Supreme Court in the Senate vote.
The Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday, citing unnamed sources, that the White House had reviewed interview reports from the FBI’s probe into Kavanaugh and found no corroboration of the allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Journal pointed out that the FBI report may do little to provide clarity and essentially leaves senators in the same position as they were in last week: two witnesses giving different accounts on what occurred.
Attorneys for Ford slammed the FBI background investigation.
"An FBI supplemental background investigation that did not include an interview of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford -- nor the witnesses who corroborate her testimony -- cannot be called an investigation," the statement read. "We are profoundly disappointed that after the tremendous sacrifice she made in coming forward, those directing the FBI investigation were not interested in seeking the truth."
Ford told the committee that she was "100 percent" certain that Kavanaugh was her attacker. Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the allegations.
The announcement comes as senior congressional sources tell Fox News that the Senate Judiciary Committee has not received the FBI's report on Kavanaugh. Senators will be able to view the report Thursday in a secure area off the Senate subway.
McConnell on Wednesday filed for cloture to end debate on the nomination, setting up a key procedural vote for Friday -- and a possible confirmation vote as early as Saturday.
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and committee member Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would be given the first chance to look at the report.
Kavanaugh’s fate boils down to three Republican Senators: Jeff Flake, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV., who is facing a re-election battle, has said he will make his decision after the FBI probe.
Republicans outnumber Democrats in the Senate 51-49, and – in the event of a tie – Vice President Mike Pence would be the deciding vote.
Rachel Mitchell, the sex-crimes prosecutor hired by the Senate Judiciary Committee to assist Republicans who questioned Ford last week, wrote in a memo released late Sunday that there seemed to be inconsistencies in her testimony and that she would not bring criminal charges against Kavanaugh.
Fox News' Chad Pergram and Elizabeth Zwirz contributed to this report

Christine Blasey Ford Cartoons

Vandalism suspect says he's 'happy' about damage outside local Republican Party headquarters

The Winnebago County Republican headquarters in Rockford, Ill., was vandalized last weekend. The words "rape" and "shame" were painted on the building's façade. (State Rep. John Cabello)

A suspect linked to vandalism outside a local Republican Party office in Illinois -- where the words "rape" and "shame" were painted -- boasted of his alleged crimes in a TV interview just hours later, saying he thinks the vandalism was "great" and he's "happy" someone did it.
Timothy Damm, 42, was detained Sunday and taken into custody Monday after police found him carrying cans of spray paint in a shopping bag, according to reports. He was charged with criminal defacement to property and resisting a police officer after he danced on a table in the police interview room, stripped down to his underwear and refused to sit in the holding room, which forced the police to restrain him in handcuffs, WTVO-TV reported. He's facing up to three years in prison if convicted.
But before his arrest and as the police were beginning the investigation, Damm did an interview with the local TV station about the act of vandalism, presenting himself as a neighbor who was troubled by last week's hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
"I think it's great," Damm said during an interview. "I haven't been great with the Republicans right in my neighborhood, but somebody labeled them for what they are. I'm happy about that."
"I'm an artist myself. It's hard to not focus on the beauty [of the vandalism.] It's not about that," he continued, adding that the vandal had gotten their message across to the Republicans. "I think they did... Republican equals rape. That they support rape, they encourage rape, and if you rape someone, they will defend you."

"I haven't been great with the Republicans right in my neighborhood, but somebody labeled them for what they are. I'm happy about that."
— Timothy Damm, the suspect behind the vandalism

Damm is accused of spray painting word "rape and "shape" on multiple sides of the Winnebago County Republican Headquarters’ facade with multiple colors. The date 9/27/18 was also painted on the building, in reference to the date Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning her allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh.
At a news conference Tuesday, Winnebago State's Attorney Joe Bruscato said "It is inexcusable to use senseless criminal actions to advance a debate."
Republicans condemned the act of vandalism. "We can have our differences. We can have good spirited debate. I hope whoever is responsible for this will be brought to justice," state Rep. John Cabello, a Republican, said in a Facebook post. "You are a coward for doing it unless you come forward!"

"We can have our differences. We can have good spirited debate. I hope whoever is responsible for this will be brought to justice. You are a coward for doing it unless you come forward!"
— Republican state Rep. John Cabello

Republican state Sen. Dave Syverson said the vandalism “falls under the realm of a hate crime,” although he acknowledged it fell outside the scope of the legal definition. He also speculated that “with the amount of damage around [the] entire building, it’s clear this was not done by one person [but] was planned and organized.”
The Winnebago County Republican Party also issued a statement Sunday, blaming Democrats for inciting hate against the party and urging to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.
"Hate has no place in the political process. Violence has no place in the political process. Our party is the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, not the party that spawned the Klu Klux Klan or enforced segregation. We do not seek to capitalize on victims' lives or memories to advance a purely political agenda, as seen in the past month by Sen. Feinstein and our own Sen. Durbin," the party's statement read.
"The Winnebago County Republican Central Committee Headquarters is located in the building in which seven women work each day. It’s the place in which over two dozen female precinct committeeman meet to fulfill their commitment to our community. They should not have to be afraid because some people could not control their hate," it continued.

"When you cannot succeed on facts or issues, you degrade to insults and violence. Is it any wonder, after months of attack ads in this state and the move toward 'guilty until proven innocent' in the U.S. Senate, that this type of violence has found its way to Rockford?"
— The Winnebago County Republican Party

"There were no similar actions taken against any Democratic headquarter when Bill Clinton was accused of rape and sexual assault. … When you cannot succeed on facts or issues, you degrade to insults and violence. Is it any wonder, after months of attack ads in this state and the move toward 'guilty until proven innocent' in the U.S. Senate, that this type of violence has found its way to Rockford?
“We call on Republicans and conservatives to take a look at these walls, and make sure to go to the polls this fall.”
Fox News' Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed to this report.

Trump-Mueller interview negotiations stall as 2 more prosecutors leave Russia probe

Sources tell Fox News that President Trump's outside legal counsel is 'pleased with the progress' in talks with Robert Mueller's office about a possible interview with the president; chief White House correspondent John Roberts reports.

Discussions between Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office and President Trump's legal team over the conditions of a possible presidential interview are ongoing, but have "not terribly advanced" from where they were a couple of weeks ago, a source familiar with the talks told Fox News Tuesday.
Also, The Associated Press reported that two prosecutors detailed to the Russia investigation for the past year are returning to their duties in other parts of the Justice Department. They join two other attorneys who left the team, assigned to investigate potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, over the summer.
Fox News' source said negotiations hit a snag when The New York Times reported on Sept. 21 that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had discussed secretly recording Trump and enlisting Cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. Rosenstein has called the Times report "inaccurate and factually incorrect" and at least one source has told Fox News that Rosenstein intended his comment about recording Trump to be sarcastic.
"This Rosenstein thing really threw them for a loop," the source said in discussing the report's effect on the talks. Trump is tentatively scheduled to meet with Rosenstein at the White House later this week to discuss the report.
Trump's legal team previously proposed to Mueller that any presidential interview be limited to written questions and answers about allegations of Russian collusion with members of the Trump campaign. They also signaled opposition to questions about potential obstruction of justice, though the source told Fox News the president's attorneys now have left open the possibility of entertaining such questions "as long as they can be answered without jeopardy."
Mueller spokesman Peter Carr told the AP that prosecutor Brandon Van Grack already has returned to the Justice Department's national security division but will continue to be involved in cases to which he was assigned. That would include the investigation into former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn, who is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
Prosecutor Kyle Freeny will end her detail to the special counsel later this month and will return to her position in the Justice Department's money laundering section, Carr said.
Van Grack and Freeny were on the teams prosecuting Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
The departures are the latest indication that Mueller's team is wrapping up parts of the investigation and focusing its efforts on critical remaining strands, including an active grand-jury probe of longtime Trump associate Roger Stone.
Elements of the Mueller investigation remain active, but other parts of the investigation have been referred to other offices of the Justice Department or largely taken over by them.
Prosecutors in Manhattan, for instance, secured a guilty plea in August from Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, while prosecutors with the U.S. attorney's office in Washington have been assigned to the special counsel's case against 13 Russians charged in a hidden but powerful social media effort to sway American public opinion.
The U.S. Attorney's office in the District of Columbia also prosecuted W. Samuel Patten, who pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent in a case referred by Mueller's office.
Other lawyers who left the Mueller team earlier this year included computer crimes prosecutor Ryan Dickey, who worked cases against a Russian social media troll farm and 12 Russian intelligence officers accused of hacking Democratic groups during the campaign, and Brian Richardson.
Richardson was part of a team that prosecuted former Skadden Arps attorney Alex van der Zwaan for lying to the FBI while the team was investigating Manafort and others involved in his Ukrainian work. Van der Zwaan was sentenced to 30 days behind bars.
Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.