1 Ohio Man Planned Terror Attack On Synagogue
Federal prosecutors yesterday announced the arrests of 23-year-old Elizabeth Lecron of Toledo, and 21-year-old Damon Joseph of Holland, Ohio, both of whom are accused of parallel but unconnected plans to unleash massacres in the Toledo area. It seems that the Tree of Life Congregation massacre in Pittsburgh inspired Joseph to plot an attack against a Toledo-area synagogue, federal agents said. An affidavit in Mr. Joseph’s case states he told undercover agents he was a supporter of ISIS and that he discussed plans to attack area synagogues and kill a rabbi. He ultimately collected two assault-style rifles from agents before he was arrested. “In a matter of months, Damon Joseph progressed from radicalized, virtual jihadist to attack planner,” according to the FBI. Just three days after the Pittsburgh massacre, Mr. Joseph told a federal agent he fantasized about doing something similar in Toledo. Meanwhile, Ms. Lecron wanted to commit mass murder at a Toledo bar, according to the FBI, and frequently posted material on social media that glorified the Columbine school killers and Charleston, South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof. A criminal complaint against Ms. Lecron outlines a pattern of bizarre online behavior in the lead up to her arrest including, frequently posting photos and memes on social media of mass murders, including Roof.
2 Trump: Hush Money Wasn't Against The Law
President Trump yesterday defended hush-money payments to two women made by Michael Cohen and said if there’s liability it belongs to his ex-lawyer, not him. In a pair of tweets, Trump called payments to two women who alleged sexual relationships with him a “simple private transaction.” Trump also cited a Fox News report as saying Democrats were unable to find a “smocking [sic] gun” tying his campaign to Russia and added that it was Democrats who were “wrongly calling” the payments a campaign contribution.
3 House Panel May Investigate Kushner Relationship With Saudis
The House Foreign Affairs Committee may conduct a thorough review of US policy towards Saudi Arabia and that could include Jared Kushner's ties to the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Representative Eliot Engel, who is poised to become the committee's chairman in the 116th Congress, is a driving force behind this review. A Democratic aide says Representative Engel will prioritize an investigation into "what has driven the U.S. response to the Jamal Khasshogi murder." “The Foreign Affairs Committee will conduct a complete review of U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia, including the Administration’s response to the Khashoggi killing," the House Foreign Affairs Committee spokesman said. He did not address comments about Kushner's involvement. "Everything is on the table," Engel said when asked whether the probe will include the reportedly close relationship between Kushner and the Saudi prince. A "New York Times" investigation on Sunday showed that Kushner sought to counsel the prince to weather the storm in the aftermath of the murder. The White House has emphasized the importance of maintaining strong Saudi relations for the benefit of the US economy.