Connect with us

Southeast

Top GOP nominee in Virginia race defiant after Youngkin advisor denies ‘extortion’ claims

Published

on

Top GOP nominee in Virginia race defiant after Youngkin advisor denies ‘extortion’ claims

The campaign for Virginia’s Republican nominee for lieutenant governor is pushing back amid a firestorm of controversy and Republican infighting in Virginia, which has pitted the nominee against Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

A source familiar with the conversations told Fox News Digital that a Youngkin advisor attempted to solicit business from the lieutenant governor nominee just days before allegedly attempting to extort him.

John Reid, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, is refusing to drop out of the race after being pressured to do so by the governor because of lewd photos he allegedly posted on a Tumblr account.

In a video posted on Sunday, Reid, who is gay, denied that the Tumblr account with lewd photos belonged to him. He said he would not back down from the race and accused the Youngkin-linked Spirit of Virginia political action committee, which is run by Matt Moran, of attempted “extortion.” Reid also said Spirit of Virginia offered to purchase the negative research against him gathered by Republican-aligned America Rising PAC and to bring an end to the negative coverage.

AFTER HURRICANE HELENE, VIRGINIA COUPLE WELCOMES NEW HOME BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS

Advertisement

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (Right) explained that he wanted Lt. Gov. nominee John Reid to step down from race because allegations were a “distraction,” but added that the “decision is John’s and up to John.” (John Reid Campaign/AP)

Reid’s team filed a cease-and-desist letter against Moran on Monday. Moran has since filed an affidavit in which he denied attempting to extort Reid’s team, saying, “I never attacked John and did not threaten or coerce him” and “I communicated what I truly believed was in his best interests in my judgement.” 

Moran said he was “clear in the meeting that I had acted on the information as a friend and colleague of John Reid, and adamantly deny the characterization of the meeting.” 

However, audio of an April 25 conversation with Moran and Reid’s team, which was obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital, casts doubt on Moran’s characterization of the conversation.

During the conversation, Moran stated that “if John were to step aside … I would go buy it all from America Rising, if that’s what you want. The campaign could go buy it all from America Rising.”

Advertisement

At another point in the conversation, Moran states that “it is in no one’s best interest for any of this to continue” and that if Reid “stays in the race, it is going to continue.”

FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN TURNED VA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ABIGAIL SPANBERGER ACCUSED OF ETHICS VIOLATION

The Virginia State Capitol (AP Photo/Steve Helber/File)

“That hurts our candidates up and down the ticket,” said Moran, adding, “Him getting out of the race is the only way it stops, and then, yeah, it absolutely would have to stop forevermore after that.”

Additionally, a source familiar with the conversations told Fox News Digital that Moran pitched the Reid campaign services from his advertising company, Creative Direct, in a conversation on April 21.

Advertisement

Youngkin has explained his decision to ask Reid to step down by saying that “explicit social media content like this is a distraction” and “it’s a distraction for campaigns, and it’s a distraction from people paying attention to the most important issues.”

He noted, however, that “the decision is John’s and up to John.”

WINSOME EARLE-SEARS KNOCKS GUBERNATORIAL OPPONENT FOR HIDING BIDEN’S HEALTH: SHE CANNOT BE TRUSTED

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Reid’s campaign claimed in a statement to Fox News Digital that “the threat was clear” in the April 25 conversation and that “Moran’s affidavit denying it is not accurate.”

Advertisement

The spokesperson added that “it’s deeply unfortunate he chose to create this distraction for the party after failing to secure business for himself from the campaign.”

In response to these accusations, Moran referred Fox News Digital to Wednesday’s X post in which he said, “I’ve known John Reid for years and consider him a friend” and that “over the last nine days, I was actively supporting and assisting John as the Lt. Governor nominee of the Republican Party.” 

“Let me be clear, facts matter, and they will demonstrate the accusations against me are unfounded,” Moran said. 

The X post Moran shared included a letter from his attorney, George Terwilliger, in which the attorney stated that “the facts, evidence, and witnesses would demonstrate that Mr. Moran never attempted to extort, coerce, or pressure Mr. Reid directly or indirectly, but rather as a seasoned professional endeavored to provide sound advice regarding the viability of Mr. Reid’s candidacy to someone he counted as a friend.” 

Advertisement

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Southeast

Charlotte sheriff warns of jail overcrowding dangers amid train stabbings

Published

on

Charlotte sheriff warns of jail overcrowding dangers amid train stabbings

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Just days after another stabbing on Charlotte’s light rail, and only days after Iryna’s Law went into effect, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden warned that it would lead to dangerous overcrowding.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed Iryna’s Law in October, which was named after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, who was stabbed to death on the Charlotte light rail in August. Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender, has been charged in her murder. The legislation imposes stricter pretrial release rules for repeat and violent offenders.

Speaking at a Monday news conference, the sheriff said the law adds numerous new requirements for his office and added that politicians used Zarutska’s stabbing as a “political agenda.”

“And we believe that the only reason that this caught national attention is because it was caught on video and it was displayed across the United States, and our local politicians at that time saw it was a political agenda, or they could highlight her as a refugee and not an immigrant,” McFadden said. “This is why they created Iryna’s Law.”

Advertisement

Sheriff Garry McFadden discussed Iryna’s Law on Monday, Dec. 8. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)

CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS SAY THEY FEEL LESS SAFE AS CITY FACES SECOND TRANSIT STABBING

McFadden insisted that the new legislation will lead to overcrowding in Mecklenburg County Jail.

“This law will cause our detention centers’ numbers to rise. We will have more people staying inside a detention center at a longer stay than normally. Because it attacks the new bond referendum and it attacks also the discretion that the magistrates and the judge has on releasing people,” he said.

Iryna Zarutska curls up in fear as a man looms over her during a disturbing attack on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train. (NewsNation via Charlotte Area Transit System)

Advertisement

The sheriff said that following Zarutska’s violent attack in August, local judges “were attacked violently on social media.”

“And we took additional measures to protect them because of the violent nature of social media, and parts of other media, and also just the violence that they received just personally,” he said. “And so, they live in fear now, and I have to say that, because for an entire day, we had to talk to the magistrates on how to live safely, how to travel safely, and in the middle of all of that, they were concerned after the shooting of Charlie Kirk, because they said to me, ‘Well, what if they shoot me because of this?’ And so, they’re going to be more cautious and reluctant to allow people to be released.”

Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska came to the U.S. to escape war but was stabbed to death in Charlotte. (Evgeniya Rush/GoFundMe)

LENIENT JUDGES IGNORE RED FLAGS, CAVE TO SOFT-ON-CRIME PRESSURES AS THEY RELEASE REPEAT OFFENDERS: ATTORNEY

He argued that county staff will now be responsible for managing “a much more difficult population,” particularly individuals with heightened mental-health needs who must remain in custody longer under the new rules.

Advertisement

“On top of the other population, of the people who are arrested for robbery, rape and murder. All these people are still gonna be housed here at the detention center. So when people say, ‘Well, is that gonna cause a problem for your staff?’ Of course, it is. Why? Because my staff is not gonna be subject to having to deal with people with much more mental health problems than we had in the past. Or we’re gonna be dealing with families who will not understand why their loved ones are not being released.”

WATCH: North Carolina lawmakers pass tough-on-crime bill in honor of Iryna Zarutska

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The sheriff said that none of the new requirements were accompanied by state funding.

“House Bill 307 did not bring us any resources, and it did not bring any funding,” he said, adding that lawmakers should not impose such sweeping mandates without input from the agencies that must carry them out.

Advertisement

He asked legislators in Raleigh to include sheriffs in future conversations about criminal-justice policy, saying they “need a seat at the table and a voice” when new laws directly affect local detention operations.

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Southeast

Student killed in fight at North Carolina high school as sheriff calls for community prayers

Published

on

Student killed in fight at North Carolina high school as sheriff calls for community prayers

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A student died after a fight between two students at a Forsyth County, North Carolina, high school on Tuesday morning, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. said as he urged the community to pray for the families and come together on what he called “another sad day.”

Kimbrough said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference that just after 11 a.m. the school resource officer at North Forsyth High School sent out a communication saying he needed “all hands on deck.”

When deputies arrived, they learned there was an altercation between two students.

“During this… altercation, there was a loss of life and what I will tell you is that the families of the people involved have been notified,” Kimbrough said. “What I will tell you is that there is no danger to the community.”

Advertisement

MAN SHOT 10 TIMES PROTECTING HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER WHO DIED AFTER SHOOTING AT BONFIRE: REPORT

A student died after a fight at North Forsyth High in North Carolina, prompting emotional pleas from law enforcement and school leaders for unity and community support. (Google Maps)

Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn Jr. said, “It’s a dark day for our city,” adding that the violence at the school “has shaken us to our very core.” He said his department is serving as an assisting agency in the investigation and is committed to helping identify exactly what happened.

Penn urged residents not to share videos or images from the incident online, saying it is “not the time to clout chase,” and warned that doing so is insensitive to the students and families affected.

He said the city, school staff and students at North Forsyth High School will need community support in the days ahead and asked residents to come together to “put an end to senseless violence.”

Advertisement

11-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN ROAD RAGE SHOOTING ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL, POLICE SAY

Investigators on scene after a student was killed in a fight at North Forsyth High in North Carolina. (Credit: WGHP)

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps said his thoughts and prayers are with the students, staff and families impacted by the fatal altercation.

He thanked law enforcement and medical first responders for their quick response and praised school faculty and staff for acting swiftly during the emergency.

Phipps said, “Today is the worst nightmare of any educator” and that the district is hurting “when our students hurt.”

Advertisement

CHICAGO RESIDENTS DEMAND ACTION, ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER MOB OF CHILDREN BRUTALLY BEATS MOTHER AND 9-YEAR-OLD SON

Police did not release the identities of the students involved in the fatal fight. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

He announced that North Forsyth High School would be closed for students on Wednesday and said crisis teams will be available for faculty and staff, with services extended to students once they return. The superintendent also encouraged parents and guardians to use the school’s website for resources if immediate needs arise.

Kimbrough said he would not answer questions or provide further details about what led to the altercation, citing the ongoing investigation. He emphasized that authorities are still gathering information and said releasing specifics too early could compromise the case.

“I know there’s a lot of questions that you probably have, but it’s an ongoing investigation,” Kimbrough said. “I won’t be answering any questions right now. As soon as we bring closure, what I will tell you is we will push the information out to you as we’ve always been transparent.”

Advertisement

Kimbrough said he had just left the victim’s family and repeated that what they need most right now is prayer.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He said the governor reached out with condolences and urged the community to take time to reflect, talk with their children, and support students who witnessed the incident.

“We have some work to do in our community,” Kimbrough said.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein reacted to the stabbing on X.

Advertisement

“The stabbing that took place at North Forsyth High School is shocking and horrible,” he wrote. “I am praying for all students in the community and their loved ones. North Carolinians need to be safe wherever they are — especially in school. I have spoken with Sheriff Kimbrough to offer my support. We must never stop working toward a safer North Carolina.”

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Southeast

At least 1 dead in campus shooting at Kentucky State University as governor says suspect in custody: police

Published

on

At least 1 dead in campus shooting at Kentucky State University as governor says suspect in custody: police

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Authorities confirmed Tuesday afternoon that a shooting at the Kentucky State University (KSU) campus in Frankfort claimed the life of at least one victim, with another transported to a hospital in “stable but critical” condition.

Frankfort Police shared during a news briefing that the two victims, both KSU students, each had gunshot wounds.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear first announced that the shooting had occurred at KSU via X, sharing that the suspect has been arrested. He later added the shooting appears to be “an isolated incident.”

“The shooting that took place today at Kentucky State University appears to be an isolated incident – not a mass shooting,” Beshear wrote. “The suspect has been arrested, and there is no ongoing threat.”

Advertisement

FATAL SHOOTING ROCKS LUXURY MGM CASINO AS POLICE HUNT FOR GUNMAN

Kentucky State University campus in Frankfort, Ky. (iStock)

“Two individuals were critically injured, and I am sad to share that one has now passed away,” Beshear added in his post with a video address attached.

“We are aware of a reported shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort,” Beshear announced earlier in the afternoon. “At this time, we are aware of some injuries. We will share more information as available.” 

“Law enforcement are on scene, and a suspect has been arrested. Let’s pray for all those affected,” he concluded.

Advertisement

Frankfort Police Department confirmed in a social media post that it responded to “an active aggressor” on the KSU campus around 3:30 p.m. local time Tuesday. 

Later, police announced “one person is deceased” and “one has been transported to the hospital in stable but critical condition,” with the suspect remaining in custody.

MULTIPLE VICTIMS WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS AT VALLEY FAIR MALL IN CALIFORNIA ON BLACK FRIDAY: POLICE

Law enforcement responded to a reported shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Ky., on Tuesday. (WDKY)

Police said both the department and university will share more information as it becomes available.

Advertisement

The Frankfort Sheriff’s Office wrote via Facebook that they “secured the campus and have a suspect in custody.”

The campus stayed under lockdown during the investigation, but there are “no active safety concerns on campus at this time” according to Assistant Chief of Frankfort Police Scott Tracy.

According to local reports citing police, the shooting occurred in a residence hall on campus.

Fox News Digital has contacted the KSU and Frankfort police for further comment. 

Advertisement

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading

Trending