Ringside Politics – January 18, 2021
Written by WGSO Producer on January 18, 2021
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Welcome to another edition of Ringside Politics with Jeff Crouere
Today’s Hot Topics:
1) A group of US-bound Central American migrants has been met with truncheons and tear gas in Guatemala, where security forces blocked their path.
Guatemalan police and soldiers launched tear gas and wielded batons and shields against a group of Honduran migrants that tried to push through their roadblock early Sunday.
A group of about 2,000 migrants had stopped short of the roadblock the night before. The roadblock was strategically placed at a choke point on the two-lane highway to Chiquimula in an area known as Vado Hondo. It’s flanked by a tall mountainside and a wall leaving the migrants with few options.
2) Giuliani, who has been leading the president’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl late Sunday that will not be part of Trump’s legal team for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial due to his involvement in the Jan. 6 Washington, D.C., rally that led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol building.
“Because I gave an earlier speech [at the rally], I am a witness and therefore unable to participate in court or in the Senate chamber,” Giuliani said.
3) President Trump is reportedly prepared to issue around 100 pardons and commutations on Tuesday, his final full day in office.
CNN first reported that the new batch of clemency actions will include white-collar criminals, high-profile rappers and others. It will likely include some pardons aimed at advocating for criminal justice reform, as well as controversial pardons for political allies.
Trump met Sunday with his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka Trump and other aides to review a long list of pardon requests, The Washington Post reported.
Pardon-seekers and those lobbying on their behalf have reportedly paid allies of Trump tens of thousands of dollars to press the president to grant clemency.
4) Federal authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for a Harrisburg woman they suspect may have stolen House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the Jan. 6 Capitol siege with the intent of selling the device to Russia’s foreign intelligence services.
In an affidavit filed late Sunday evening, agents said they were contacted by the former romantic partner of Riley June Williams, 22, who recognized her in footage shot during the insurrectionist attack by the British network ITV.
Williams’ ex also reported having seen another video showing Williams pocketing the computer from Pelosi’s office and told investigators that Williams had said she intended to send it to a friend in Russia who would arrange the transfer to the SVR, the Russian equivalent of the CIA.
Today’s Guests:
1) Donna Jackson, Member, Project 21, Black Leadership Network – joins to speak on behalf of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his holiday to express her opinions on BLM, politicians, and notable people of color.
2) Chad Rogers, Publisher of TheDeadPelican.com; Ringside All-Star – joins the show to take callers and share his unique, pessimistic outlook on the future.
3) Angelo Michael, Trump Rally Participant on January 6 in Washington D.C. – calls in the final hour to share his perception of what happened at the January 6th riots in DC.