Michigan’s High Stakes Dem Primary, Blanche Confirmation Latest, Max Miller Stays In: AM Update 8/5

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0:43Michigan Democrats choosing their Senate nominee following a record-shattering primary battle over the future direction of the party. I believe that we have addressed the concerns that I have. Acting AG Todd Blanch clearing a key Senate hurdle in his bid to get confirmed as the Attorney General after two Republican holdouts forced the DOJ to scrap a controversial payout fund. My daughter lives in constant fear of this man. President Trump reportedly losing confidence in Congressman Max Miller as the Ohio Republican denies allegations that he terrorized his former wife and seriously injured their young daughter.

1:18And a man who served 10 years for killing his own father, now accused of starting Spokane's largest wildfire. All that and more coming up here on your AM Update.

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3:26At Impact tracking a record$80.9 million in advertising spending and reservations targeting the Democratic primary. About 79 % of all spending in the primary supporting Congresswoman Stevens. The Washington Post reporting Congresswoman Stevens raising more than$11 million through the middle of July, with donations coming from small-dollar contributors as well as energy, chemical, and pro-Israel interests. APAC and its affiliated organizations pouring get this nearly$30 million into the race, according to AdImpact, the AP calling it APAC's largest ever investment in a single election. Several additional so-called dark money organizations spending millions more without publicly disclosing their donors.

4:11El Saad making that outside support a central argument against his opponent, telling the Washington Post and I quote, There's a reason that I'm up in nearly all the polls, despite the fact that they've outspent us 20 to one, 30 to one. That money is corrupting on its own terms, and people understand what will transpire if they support a candidate who's taking that kind of money, and they don't want that anymore. Congresswoman Stevens rejecting the suggestion that the spending influences her positions, telling the AP, quote, anyone who supported me is supporting me because of my dedication to the people of Michigan and the things I have done for Michiganders.

4:47LCI drawing a sharp contrast on Israel denouncing the war in Gaza and arguing AIPAC holds too much power inside the Democratic Party. As of 11 p.m. Eastern time last night, the race still too close to call, with both campaigns waiting for the final ballots to be counted. We'll have more on this later today on the MK Show. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination yesterday, clearing the way for a confirmation vote before the full Senate. The committee voting 12 to 10 along party lines after Republican Senators John Cornyn and Tom Tillis last week forced party leaders to postpone the vote over their objections to a proposed Justice Department agreement.

5:30Republican Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, had yesterday's committee vote noting the two holdouts' prior objections. I want to thank Senator Cornyn and Senator Tillis for their work, very hard work, related to today's nomination. Their concerns about the anti-weaponization fund and the IRS settlement were shared by many, including this senator. I'm grateful that they as well as Mr. Blanche and the White House worked in good faith to solve them. Formerly rescinding the fund and clarifying the scope of release of claims has put this issue to bed once and for all. Senator Cornyn outlined the written assurances he says Mr.

6:22Blanche provided after several rounds of negotiations. I've been very clear, as others have, that in order to support Mr. Blanche's nomination, I needed specific assurances in writing about a release signed by the acting Attorney General last May. I asked for written assurances that clarifies the scope of the parties to the IRS audit agreement and that permanently ends the weaponization fund. This past Sunday, Senator Tillis and I came to an agreement after numerous meetings with the Department of Justice and Mr. Blanche on an agency interpretative guidance document that reaffirms what Mr. Blanche said in his sworn testimony in front of the committee.

7:09This document will help limit the substance and scope of the audit protection to the defendants in the lawsuit, the IRS, and the Treasury. And it limits it to the parties to the audit settlement. It limits the parties to the audit settlement to the plaintiffs, the people who brought the lawsuit, and no one else. Senator Till is saying the agreement resolves his objections, then broadening his criticism to the political use of federal law enforcement under both parties. I believe that we have addressed the concerns that I have. The first one I call the payout pot for punks. I've never liked this 1776 fund.

7:47It made no sense to me, and I thought it was an insult to the police officers and the people that defended us on January the 6th. It's done. It's been rescinded, and I am satisfied. Everybody has this view of they are as pure as the driven snow, and it's the other side that has a problem. I think we both have a problem, folks. If you want to talk about weaponization, take a look at the Biden administration. Take a look at the Obama administration. Take a look at Crossfire hurricane. Take a look at the codes that Lois Lerner used in the IRS to target businesses to try and unbank them. Take a look at the prospective pardons on the way out the door that President Biden did for family members, for staff members in Congress.

8:33The bottom line is nobody is clean here. And until we start recognizing this behavior is bad, we're just going to one-up it. Democrats remaining unconvinced that the changes permanently close either issue. To state the obvious, Mr. Blanche's statement on the slush front and the IRS immunity agreement are not signed by the parties to the settlement agreement and are therefore unenforceable. The parties could still sue to enforce the agreement and the cop beaters fund can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as attorney general.

9:11The nomination now heading to the full Senate. Politico reporting Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Curtis of Utah, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have not yet committed to supporting Mr. Blanche. Senator Murkowski telling the outlet the written elimination of a fund is a, quote, pretty good step, while the other two continue reviewing the nomination. Punchbowl News reporting yesterday afternoon Senator Susan Collins, Republican from Maine, will not vote for Blanche. with Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky absent from voting since June. For health reasons, Blanche can lose no more than one additional Republican if every Democrat remains opposed.

9:48Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune aiming to hold the final confirmation vote before senators leave Washington, potentially as soon as the end of the week. Coming up, President Trump reportedly raising doubts about Congressman Max Miller as he comes out swinging over allegations of violent abuse against his former wife and their young daughter. And the man accused of setting Spokane's largest wildfire is a convict who recently left prison for killing his own father.

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11:51Axios reporting the president repeatedly warning that Miller's re-election prospects are not looking good. Congressman Miller reportedly pointing to his own polling and telling the president he will remain in the race. Congressman Miller entering the House in 2023 after receiving President Trump's endorsement. The former Trump White House aide marrying Emily Marino in 2022 during a ceremony at the President's Bedminster Golf Club. Marino, the daughter of Republican Senator Bernie Marino of Ohio, separating from the congressman in 2024 before the couple's divorce. The former Mrs. Miller now accusing her ex-husband of repeated domestic abuse, including allegedly holding a gun to her head and breaking their daughter's collarbone.

12:33Congressman appearing on CNN yesterday, denying all allegations that he abused either his ex-wife or their child. There have been two investigations that have already been looked into me, And I would like to just have a little bit of moment to explain. The first investigation that was looked into me was that my ex-wife, Emily Moreno, filed a report of child abuse against me. That first incident, two individuals were held liable for abusing my daughter at a daycare, which I have a private settlement agreement from. I was found not guilty. They looked at my fingerprints. They made me take off my shirt.

13:08They made me look at my body to make sure that I didn't abuse my daughter. And that was number one, Mr. Tapper. Number two, when I was reported for child abuse for my daughter for a broken collarbone, my daughter was in my ex-wife's care nine out of the last 11 days, and she took her to the emergency room, which is a contempt violation from our shared parenting plan. Further more than that, Mr. Tapper, is this. These matters have already been looked into. Ms. Moreno has already gone to the police. The police are not investigating it. Ask yourself, why aren't they investigating these things? Congressman Miller going on to say that he's been in therapy for 10 years, calling it, quote, healthy to talk to somebody.

13:48Senator Moreno on Sunday publicly calling on the congressman, his former son-in-law to resign, arguing Miller should seek professional help. Speaking to reporters yesterday, the senator describing the toll these allegations are taking on his family. What did you think of Miller telling Trump he could still win the election? I don't care about the politics of this. I hope that you guys understand, and maybe I hope you never have to understand, what my daughter's been through, what my daughter's going through, what my wife is going through, my two boys and my other daughter are going through. This is truly the seventh level of hell.

14:28This has been a horrific experience for my entire family. You've got to remember, when you don't have kids and you get divorced, you can just say farewell. You never have to see each other again. But when you have a child, you have to co-parent with that individual for the rest of your life. My daughter lives in constant fear of this man. Not like something that's existential, but deeply in her heart, she fears what this guy is capable of. There are remarks following Congressman Miller's nearly 20 minute live stream Sunday, where he denied the allegations and directed viewers to an online file he said would support his version of events.

15:10I've been portrayed as an abusive husband, an abusive father, and a violent man. Those allegations have damaged my reputation, caused enormous pain to my family, and most importantly, it's affected our daughter. I very much am grateful for the opportunity to address you in this way, and I look forward to and many follow-ups after this. But the last thing I'll say and end it, please take a look at the Dropbox that will be made public, and it should be made public right now. God bless you all. I'm not getting out of this race, and I'm winning in November, and I'll be back in the 120th. Thank you all.

15:48God bless you. The Congressman then posting a Dropbox link containing hundreds of private messages, photographs, and videos. One photograph showing the couple's young daughter unclothed. The images appearing in a February 2025 exchange as Marino and Miller coordinated custody arrangements, Marino informing Miller that she discovered a large bruise while bathing their daughter Miller, asking her to send a photograph of the injury. The bruising later determined to be connected to a broken collarbone, prompting a police investigation that ended without criminal charges. Miller's attorney taking responsibility for the photograph being included in the release, telling CNN he accidentally overlooked the final three pages of a document exceeding 40 pages, describing the disclosure as unintentional and saying he corrected the file Monday morning.

16:37Senator Marino yesterday rejecting that explanation. And to have this whole thing out in the public like this is not what I wanted to do. It's not what my daughter wanted to do. But on Sunday, when he went out and did what he did, including releasing photos of my granddaughter, completely naked, that now you have hundreds of thousands of psychotic human beings that have that, and to say oops is grotesque. My personal opinion is that this is a felony and that every single human being that touched that photo and transmitted it electronically should go to jail because it is illegal to do that. This has been brutal beyond comprehension and if there's any minimum standard for being an elected official, as I said, he fails to meet that minimum basic standard.

17:32Congressman Miller announcing yesterday he will ask the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against him, saying he intends to provide all necessary documents and has, quote, absolutely nothing to hide. The House Ethics Committee announcing shortly afterward it is opening an investigation. The congressman now facing a 4 p.m. deadline today to leave the race, the last opportunity for Ohio Republicans to replace him on the November ballot. A convicted felon who served prison time for killing his own father, now under arrest, accused of deliberately starting the largest of the devastating wildfires tearing through the Spokane, Washington region.

18:09Authorities on Monday charging 37-year-old Spokane resident Aaron Farinacci with first-degree arson alleging he ignited the Old Trails fire Saturday afternoon. The blaze burning more than 3 ,600 acres, making it the largest of three major fires surrounding Spokane. The Old Trails, Autumn Lane and Fairview fires collectively scorching more than 8 ,000 acres, destroying at least 700 buildings and forcing about 67 ,000 people to evacuate, according to NBC News. Another 400 structures reportedly still awaiting assessment as of Monday, with all three fires remaining completely uncontained as of yesterday morning.

18:48Spokane County Sheriff John Knowles crediting an alert citizen with giving investigators their first major break in the case. They witnessed a citizen, a very good citizen, noticed a male standing on the side of the road looking into the trees as he was going to pick somebody up. About 10 minutes later, as he was coming back through the area, he noticed the male was bending down near some grass. At that point, the male stood up and looked very nervous, according to our citizen witness. At that point, the mail walked away. The citizen returned to their house. A short time later after being home, they saw smoke coming from what they believed was the area that they had seen the mail bending down by the side of the road.

19:31They contacted an Airway Heights police officer, gave that police officer a description of the suspect. Mr. Farinacci was contacted in the area about a mile and a half from where the fire started and was detained, questioned, and ultimately released after being identified by our citizen witness. Sheriff Knowles saying investigators eventually determined the fire originated precisely where the witness reportedly saw Farinacci kneeling beside the road. A judge approving arrests and search warrants Monday with members of Spokane County SWAT team taking Farinacci into custody with that incident the same day.

20:12Authorities were covering waterproof matches and a butane lighter from Farinacci when officers initially detained him near the scene. According to an affidavit obtained by the Associated Press, Farinacci denied he started the fire, reportedly claiming he carried the matches and lighter because he smokes. He's now being held on a$1 million bond. Sheriff Knowles also revealing investigators are examining whether Farnacci could be tied to any other crimes while outlining the suspect's serious criminal record. Mr. Farnacci is a convicted felon out of the state of Arizona. He has a felony conviction for manslaughter and a proceeding arrest in the same case in premeditated murder in the state of Arizona.

20:58We will be looking into any other crimes Mr. Farnacci may have committed in the past. We will also be looking into other charges that may come about as the facts and circumstances of the old trail fire come to light and come to be known. Just know that this charge is what we have probable cause for right now. It is a serious charge. It is significant, but these charges may change as the investigation goes on. Arizona records revealing Farinacci fatally shot his father in 2010, reportedly following an argument over washing dishes. Farinacci later convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault, serving roughly 10 years in prison before his release in 2020, according to ABC10.

21:49That'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Mark Halperin, host of Next Up. Find more about my show at nextuphalperin.com and catch The Megyn Kelly Show today, live on SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east on youtube.com slash Megyn Kelly and all podcast platforms.

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