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Trump asks Florida court to pause classified documents case after Supreme Court immunity decision

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Trump asks Florida court to pause classified documents case after Supreme Court immunity decision

Former President Donald Trump has requested a partial pause in the classified documents case brought against him after a U.S. Supreme Court decision this week found that presidents have substantial immunity for official acts that occurred while they were in office. 

Lawyers for Trump asked a Florida court to pause all proceedings in the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith — except those that deal with Smith’s gag order request — until the judge can apply the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling to the facts of the case.

“Consistent with President Trump’s pending motion to dismiss based on Presidential immunity, the Supreme Court explained in Trump that it would ‘eviscerate the immunity we have recognized’ if a prosecutor could “do indirectly what he cannot do directly — invite the jury to examine acts for which a President is immune from prosecution to nonetheless prove his liability on any charge,” the Friday court filing states.

It adds: “Thus, ‘even when an indictment alleges only unofficial conduct,’ which is not the case here, prosecutors cannot ‘[u]se evidence’ of official acts. Based on this reasoning, like the trial court in the Trump case, Your Honor must undertake the ‘necessarily factbound analysis’ regarding whether alleged conduct ‘is official or unofficial.’”

TRUMP IMMUNITY CASE: SUPREME COURT RULES EX-PRESIDENTS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION FROM PROSECUTION

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Former President Donald Trump has requested a partial pause in his classified documents in light of the Supreme Court’s decision that granted him and, future presidents, immunity for official acts.  (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Trump referred to the filing as “a really bad day for Deranged Jack Smith, the wacko prosecutor used for Crooked Joe Biden’s attack on his Political Opponent,” in a Friday post on Truth Social.

“Today, as in the past, the Supreme Court gave the Deranged One a high level SPANKING! His ‘real’ bosses, Andrew Weissmann and Lisa Monaco, not to mention Merrick Garland, whose once great reputation has been shattered by these Thugs, and his constant defense of Crooked Joe, must be furious at him,” Trump wrote. “Garland ought to call an end to this never ending HOAX, and let people focus on bringing back Greatness to America!”

The high court on Monday in the case Trump v. United States ruled that a former president has substantial immunity from prosecution for official acts committed while in office, but not for unofficial acts.

SCOTUS WEIGHS MONUMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL FIGHT OVER TRUMP IMMUNITY CLAIM

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supreme court exterior

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen, Nov. 15, 2023, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

In a 6-3 decision, the Court sent the matter back to a lower court, as the justices did not apply the ruling to whether or not former President Trump is immune from prosecution regarding actions related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The case considered by the court was separate from the classified documents case, although Smith is involved in both prosecutions.

“The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. 

Last month, Trump’s lawyers presented arguments over the legality of Smith’s appointment as special counsel and the limited gag order that prosecutors have requested to bar Trump from making comments that they say could endanger the safety of FBI agents and other law enforcement officials involved in the case.

JUSTICE ALITO QUESTIONS WHETHER PRESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO FEAR ‘BITTER POLITICAL OPPONENT’ THROWING THEM IN JAIL

Trump Bronx Rally

Former President Donald Trump holds a rally in the historically Democratic South Bronx on May 23, 2024 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Trump’s lawyers have said any speech restrictions would infringe on the former president’s free speech rights. Cannon initially rejected the prosecution’s request on technical grounds, saying Smith’s team had not sufficiently conferred with defense lawyers before seeking the restrictions. Prosecutors subsequently renewed the request.

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U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon heard hours of arguments on June 24 from lawyers for both sides, with Trump attorney Emil Bove asserting that the Justice Department risked creating a “shadow government” through the appointment of special counsels to prosecute select criminal cases.

Cannon did not make a decision on Friday and is expected to issue a written order on the matter in the coming days.

Trump faces charges stemming from Smith’s investigation into his possession of classified materials. He pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony counts from Smith’s probe, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.

Trump was also charged with an additional three counts as part of a superseding indictment from the investigation, an additional count of willful retention of national defense information and two additional obstruction counts.

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Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

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Southeast

Georgia mom, newborn twins killed sheltering from Hurricane Helene; twins are likely storm's youngest victims

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Georgia mom, newborn twins killed sheltering from Hurricane Helene; twins are likely storm's youngest victims

A Georgia woman died alongside her twin newborn boys while hunkering down for their safety as Hurricane Helene ripped through their rural town. 

Obie WIlliams discovered his daughter, Kobe Williams, 27, and her sons, Khyzier and Khazmir, after a tree fell on top of their trailer in Thomson, 120 miles east of Atlanta, causing her to fall on top of the children. 

Williams said he received a call from his daughter last week as Helene battered the area. She heeded his advice and sheltered in the bathroom with her month-old babies until the storm passed. When she stopped answering her family’s phone calls, Williams dodged power lines and downed trees to check on her and the boys. 

MORGAN WALLEN DONATES TO HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF, SAYS FAMILY IS ‘SAFE’ AMID DEVASTATING FLOODS

Kobe Williams and her twin sons, Khazmir and Khyzier, were killed in their home in Thomson, Ga., by a falling tree during Hurricane Helene Sept. 30. (Obie Lee Williams via AP)

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“I’d seen pictures when they were born and pictures every day since, but I hadn’t made it out there yet to meet them,” Williams told The Associated Press, days after the storm ravaged eastern Georgia. “Now I’ll never get to meet my grandsons. It’s devastating.”

Williams’ grandsons were born Aug. 20 and are the youngest known victims of Helene, which has claimed the lives of at least 230 people throughout the Southeast.

The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue continues to comb through new areas.

HURRICANE HELENE: NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS FIGHT FOR THEIR SURVIVAL AS BASIC GOODS BECOME SCARCE

Civil Air Patrol load water

Members of the Civil Air Patrol load water for Hurricane Helene relief into a pickup truck at a water station in Augusta, Ga.  (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins)

Williams described his daughter as a lovable, outgoing and strong young woman who always had a smile on her face and loved to make people laugh. She was studying to be a nursing assistant but had taken time off from school to give birth to her sons.

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“That was my baby,” he said. “And everybody loved her.”

Williams, who lives in Augusta, said many of his 14 other children are still without power in their homes across Georgia. Some have sought refuge in Atlanta, and others have traveled to Augusta to see their father and mourn together.

Williams said they are waiting for the bodies to be released by the county coroner and for roads to be cleared before arranging a funeral.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Passengers intervene on flight when man allegedly attacks woman next to him, video shows

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Passengers intervene on flight when man allegedly attacks woman next to him, video shows

Several passengers intervened on an American Airlines flight this week when a man allegedly attacked a woman sitting next to him, video taken by another passenger appeared to show. 

The incident happened Wednesday on a flight from Miami to Charlotte, North Carolina.

“This evening, there was a violent incident on my @AmericanAir Flight AA 310 from Miami to Charlotte,” another passenger, journalist Arjun Singh, who took the video posted on social media, said. “Several men jumped to subdue another man in first class, who entered an altercation with the lady next to him. The flight landed 26 minutes early, but we aren’t getting off soon.”

AIR TRAVELER INVADES PASSENGER’S PERSONAL SPACE TO SNAP PHOTOS OF CLOUDS THROUGHOUT FLIGHT 

Several passengers intervened on an American Airlines flight this week when a man allegedly attacked a woman sitting next to him, video taken by another passenger appeared to show.  (Arjun Singh, @arjunswritings / TMX)

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“Don’t f—— touch her! Get your f—— hands off of her right now!” one of the passengers could be heard saying to the man in the video.

“You touch her again, you’re gonna get f—— arrested,” he added. 

Flight attendants soon arrived, and the woman said she was OK, but agreed to move to a seat across the aisle from her alleged attacker.

EMERGENCY LANDING PROMPTS UNITED AIRLINES PILOT TO ORDER DINNER FOR 150 PASSENGERS

Passengers intervening

(Arjun Singh, @arjunswritings / TMX)

After the woman moved, she told the man who accused her of assaulting him: “You weren’t assaulted. I put my hand over your mouth to shut you up. I didn’t slap you. I put my hand over your mouth.” 

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Minutes later, after the flight landed, an officer arrived and passengers were asked if any of them had seen him assault her. He began taking statements from those who said they’d seen the attack. 

The alleged aggressor and the woman were escorted off the plane, according to the New York Post. 

It wasn’t clear what the man and woman’s relationship was or if the man was arrested. 

Police officer taking notes on plane

After the flight landed, an officer took statements from witnesses.  (Arjun Singh, @arjunswritings / TMX)

Fox News Digital has reached out to American Airlines and the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Department for comment. 

“Two customers traveling together were engaged in an altercation aboard American Airlines flight 310, with service from Miami (MIA) to Charlotte (CLT) on Oct. 2.” American Airlines told the Post.

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“Local law enforcement responded and escorted the customers from the CLT airport. We do not tolerate violence, and we thank our team members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation.”

The airline wrote in the comments of Singh’s post: “Our first priority is the safety of the crew and our customers, and we take these matters very seriously.”

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Samaritan's Purse continues Helene relief efforts with three water filtration systems in North Carolina

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Samaritan's Purse continues Helene relief efforts with three water filtration systems in North Carolina

Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid organization, has expanded its relief efforts to hard-hit areas in western North Carolina with three water filtration systems.

The water filters can provide clean water for 10,000 people daily, or up to 50,000 liters. Samaritan’s Purse designed the filtration systems with an in-house team of engineers.

THOSE SUFFERING FROM HURRICANE HELENE’S IMPACT GET HELP FROM REV. FRANKLIN GRAHAM AND SAMARITAN’S PURSE

One of the locations where the water filters have been deployed, Swannanoa, had its water pipeline network completely destroyed during Hurricane Helene. 

“We designed these systems to use overseas—and they work so well—but now the need is in our own backyard,” said Rev. Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse in a release.

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The Samaritan’s Purse water filters provide up to 50,000 liters of clean water daily. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)

“We are airlifting supplies, mudding out homes, removing trees, and doing so much more—all in Jesus’ Name—and we’re thankful for everyone who is helping make it possible. We want to remind each person that we help that God loves and cares for them and hasn’t forgotten them,” the Rev. added.

GEORGIA MAN SHARES STORY OF SURVIVAL IN NORTH CAROLINA AFTER HURRICANE HELENE: ‘INCREASED MY FAITH IN GOD’

Samaritan’s Purse, which is based in Boone, North Carolina, has also delivered emergency relief supplies to communities in need via 19 helicopter operations thus far. Many North Carolina communities were cut off from road systems during Hurricane Helene.

Engineer checking water filtration levels

More than 2,700 Samaritan’s Purse volunteers have brought aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)

Food, water, infant hygiene kits, and medical supplies have also been airlifted by Samaritan’s Purse to some of the most isolated and affected areas. The organization is operating a 20-bed emergency field hospital in Avery County for those hardest hit by Hurricane Helene and to continue oxygen care for those without electricity.

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Samaritan’s Purse has also flown supplies to hard-hit areas from Hurricane Helene in 19 separate helicopter operations thus far. (Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse)

In addition to basic supplies, nearly 3,000 volunteers have answered the call with Samaritan’s Purse to assist over 140 North Carolina families. Volunteers have cleared and cut downed trees, clearing storm debris, and mudding out flooded homes.

Samaritan’s Purse has also deployed Disaster Relief Units to communities in Georgia and Florida which have been affected by Hurricane Helene.

The current death toll from Hurricane Helene sits at 232 at the time of publishing of this article.

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