Fauci Held in Contempt, Trump’s 2028 Reality Show, Hawaii Dem Candidate's Beach Brawl: AM Update 8/7

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Anthony Fauci to answer, he refused again. That is what we are voting on today, not his opinions, not his policies, not anything he said from a podium six years ago. We are voting on whether a witness who has received the benefit of a sweeping federal pardon can be ordered by this committee to answer questions and then defy that order without consequence. Democrats repeatedly trying to stop the resolution, forcing five separate votes aimed at tabling the measure. Republicans defeating all five attempts along party lines before advancing the contempt resolution. Anthony Fauci's attorney, David Shirtler, releasing a statement, quote, Today's resolution is a continuation of Senator Paul's personal vendetta against Dr. Anthony Fauci, who spent 50 years in public health and has saved countless lives. It is shameful and wrong that Senator Paul is abusing his power by trying to weaponize the Justice Department against an honorable public servant. Following the vote, Senator Paul telling reporters the referral would be hand-delivered to the Justice Department. The chairman leaving open the possibility of seeking a full Senate vote at a later date, though the resolution would likely fall short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. The DOJ does not have to wait for that vote. Federal prosecutors can review the committee's referral and decide on their own whether to pursue charges, though they would still have to present the case to a federal grand jury and convince it there is enough evidence to indict Anthony Fauci. Any potential prosecution would likely hinge on whether Anthony Fauci had a valid legal basis to invoke the Fifth Amendment. CNN's senior legal analyst Ellie Honig concluding he did. Any person can take the fifth when they're questioned by Congress. You have that right. The complication here, of course, as John said, is that Dr. Anthony Fauci received a pardon from Joe Biden. If a person has been pardoned, he cannot be criminally charged for anything within the scope of that pardon, and therefore you cannot take the fifth for anything within the scope of the pardon. But the third thing and the wrinkle here is Dr. Anthony Fauci's position through his lawyer is he might still have criminal exposure. outside the scope of that pardon. That pardon only covers federal crimes. He could still be prosecuted for state crimes. We know there have been various state attorney general investigations of Dr. Anthony Fauci. He also could theoretically be charged for anything after the date of the pardon after January 19th, 2025. And on that basis, I believe Dr. Anthony Fauci does have a valid legal right to take the fifth. We spoke with attorney and Article III project founder Mike Davis, who reaches a very different conclusion. Anthony Fauci got a Biden pardon, and then Anthony Fauci gave an opening statement. which waives his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. And then he sat there after giving this opening statement and refused to answer the Senate's questions. The Senate should absolutely refer Anthony Fauci to the Justice Department, and the Justice Department should absolutely prosecute him for contempt of Congress and an obstruction.

Who does anybody have? Okay, let's go. You ready? Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio? All right. Sounds like a good ticket. J.D. is a perfect, that was a perfect ticket. By the way, I do believe that's a dream team, but these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement. under any circumstance. I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate. Vice President JD Vance downplaying the 28 speculation during a press conference shortly after that moment. I've answered this question probably in any number of ways. I love Marco. I think he's a great secretary of state. He's become a very, very dear friend. But I think both of us are very much focused on accomplishing the American people's business right now. If I was the American people, there are a few things that I would hate more than a person who's barely been in one office for a year and a half who's angling for a job two and a half years down the road. Let's do a good job now. We are. We just got to keep at it. Mr. JD Vance still yet to confirm whether he intends to run. People familiar with his thinking previously telling the post that the vice president planned to postpone any decision until after the birth of his fourth child who arrived on July 19th. Mr. JD Vance telling CBS in June that he expected to discuss the decision with his wife after the midterm elections. Marco Rubio on NBC in May also insisting his attention remains on his current job. I know this is going to sound like the typical job. I'm going to be in this job for the next two and a half years. I'm going to do that job. I'm going to finish the job for this president. I'm enjoying it very much. I think we're going to make a lot of good things happen. JD is a very good friend of mine. J.D. runs for president. I think you'd be a phenomenal candidate. I've said publicly and I'll say it again. I'll be the first person to sign up and support him. I think J.D. would do great. The Secretary of State, also serving as National Security Advisor, rolls the post notes, would make it legally and logistically difficult for him to run for president while remaining in office. The advisor familiar with President Trump's donor remarks reportedly saying the president still wants Mr. Marco Rubio to join JD Vance on a future ticket. Whether Marco Rubio would agree to serve as JD Vance's running mate, remaining unclear. A spokesperson for Marco Rubio declining to comment to the Washington Post. Coming up, a rapidly strengthening El Nino drawing comparisons to a global catastrophe that killed more than 50 million people, and a Democrat running for Congress in Hawaii allegedly threatening beachgoers before the confrontation takes a dramatic turn.

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Some computer models reportedly suggesting it could rank among the strongest El Nino events since reliable records begin in 1950. The comparisons to 1877, understandably sounding alarming. The Washington Post reporting the El Nino that year helped produce conditions leading to catastrophic crop failures and famine across India, China, Brazil, and other parts of the world. More than 50 million people eventually dying, representing an estimated 3 to 4% of the global population at the time. However, that disaster was not caused by El Nino alone. Drought reportedly spreading for roughly two years before the event reached full strength, while unusual conditions in the Indian and Atlantic oceans intensifying and prolonging the crisis. CBS News explaining why the consequences of this El Nino are unlikely to resemble the catastrophe of 1877. And in 1877, the impacts of the very strong El Nino were truly catastrophic with massive crop failures. So could it happen again? In part, yes, we could see very severe droughts, but it's not likely to have the same outcome that brought major areas of food loss to India and China and a very large loss of life. Those countries were dealing with unique circumstances like swapping food crops to feed populations for cash crops, as well as a lack of irrigation, groundwater, electricity, and global aid. Quite simply, the world is very different from 1877, even if El Nino could match similar temperatures and extreme weather patterns. A Democrat running for Congress in Hawaii now facing criminal charges after allegedly threatening beachgoers before getting knocked out during a confrontation on a Maui beach Saturday. Kirill Basin, running for the Democratic nomination in Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, now charged with two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening following the incident at Kyavakapu Beach. Basin facing extremely long odds in Saturday's Democrat primary, with prediction market polymarket giving incumbent Congresswoman Jill Takuda a 100% chance of winning the nomination. Maui police saying the trouble began when a 61-year-old man asked Basin to turn down his music. Basin allegedly threatening the man before confronting his wife and making statements suggesting he had a firearm and would shoot her. Police saying that at some point outside the view of the camera, Basin allegedly pulled out a knife, threatened several people, and later tossed the weapon into the ocean. the now viral video appearing to capture the tail end of a much longer confrontation between Basin and a group of beachgoers. Basin launching into a profanity-laced tirade before hearing a woman off-camera call him a child, the 40-year-old candidate taking that personally, zeroing in on a group of women and marching toward them. I'm a child, I'm 40-5 years old. You should act like the

What Basin apparently does not realize, an unrelated bystander with mixed martial arts training is watching the entire scene unfold nearby. Kamahoman describing to Hawaii News now, the moment he decided somebody needed to step in. Maybe I should intervene. And then as I got closer and closer, he was just getting more irate and violent and then saying stuff like, you know, I'm going to hurt you or I can injure or you like scrap and, you know, to the antis. Basin later getting arrested and appearing in handcuffs inside a Wailuku courtroom Tuesday, a judge keeping his bail set at $1 million. Basin's attorney, Brandon Siegel, calling the amount, quote, outrageous while disputing the allegations involving both alleged weapons. Siegel arguing none of the widely circulating videos shows Basin holding a knife and insisting his client never possessed a firearm during the beach confrontation. Hawaii News Now reporting court records show Basin has previously been arrested in cases involving alleged assault and property damage. Police also accusing Basin of brandishing a firearm during a separate confrontation with Maui County employees in May. The court now recommending that Basin undergo a mental health assessment. That'll do it for your AM update. I'm Emily Jashinsky, host of AfterParty. Go and check out more at afterpartyemoly.com. Catch the Megyn Kelly show later today, live on SiriusXMs, the Megyn Kelly channel 11 at noon east on YouTube.com slash Megyn Kelly and all podcast platforms.

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