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Jason Palmer wins American Samoa, Nikki Haley wins Vermont
Update: Nikki Haley will suspend her campaign, reports Associated Press
By Jonathan Goetz
March 5, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- On Super Tuesday, President Joe Biden won all 16 states holding Democratic contests for President, while former President Donald Trump won at least 12 of the 14 states holding Republican primaries or caucuses today. Neither secured enough delegates yet to secure their party’s nominations, though both appear on track to do so. This is Biden's first loss to primary challengers in the 2024 election cycle and Trump's second, following Haley's victory in Washington, D.C.
Jason Palmer, a venture capitalist and former staffer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, defeated Incumbent President Joe Biden by 51 votes to 40, in American Samoa's caucus. As a result, Palmer secured all six Democratic delegates from American Samoa. Palmer told NBC news after his surprising win, “You can never expect to beat an incumbent president, but I love the people of American Samoa, and they’ve been so wonderful to me this past month.”
Trump was denied a sweep by Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor (ret.) of South Carolina, who won the Republican primary in the State of Vermont, picking up at least 9 of 17 Republican delegates.
Haley has not yet indicated whether she will remain in the race. Despite having only a handful of delegates, she may opt to continue her candidacy to be considered as a possible replacement candidate should Trump be convicted on criminal charges before the November election, or should the 77-year-old Trump suffer a serious health emergency. Age is also an issue for Biden, 81, who would likely have his Vice President Kamala Harris step in should he become incapacitated.
Harris issued a statement after the Biden wins tonight, which reads in part, ”Americans of all backgrounds are showing that they sense the urgency of this election, and that they are ready to stand with President Biden and me in this fight to protect our fundamental freedoms. Donald Trump has vowed to be a dictator on Day One. He has promised to weaponize the Department of Justice. And he has bragged that he is proud of his role in robbing women of their reproductive freedom. He poses a fundamental threat to our democracy, and he must be stopped... During the upcoming State of the Union, President Biden will have the opportunity to report on the tremendous progress we have made when it comes to creating good-paying jobs, reducing costs, and helping America's families build a better life. He will also lay out our vision of what more we can accomplish, if we work together.”
Trump made the case that the country would be better were he in charge, but did not mention Haley by name, instead, focusing his salvo on President Joe Biden. His speech painted a dark portrait of America. "We've watched our country take a great beating over the last three years. And nobody thought a thing like this would be possible. We wouldn't have Russia attacking Ukraine,” said Trump, though Trump recently said he would urge Russian president Vladimir Putin to “do whatever the hell he wants” to America’s NATO allies.
He also faulted Biden for inflation and denigrated immigrants as an ”invasion” adding, “We’re a third-world country at our borders, and we’re a third-world country at our elections.” Trump’s claims of a stolen 2020 election, however, were found false by more than 60 judges, including three whom he appointed.
Trump also took credit for the stock market, "the only bright spot" in what he claims is a dismal American economy, boasting that the record highs should be credited to him because he is (claiming to be) polling better than Biden.
The twice-impeached former President Trump has until now dominated the Republican primary, despite having been found civilly liable for defamation, sexual assault and fraud. Trump also faces numerous felony criminal counts on charges that include obstruction of justice, mishandling classified documents, and conspiring to interfere in the 2020 election results. (See details below)
Summary of Trump civil liabilities and criminal charges:
In a civil trial, a jury unanimously found that Trump sexually abused and forcibly touched journalist E. Jean Carroll during the 1990s. As a result, they ruled in favor of Carroll’s claims and awarded her $5 million in damages for battery and defamation and later, $83 million for defamation. It’s important to note that this civil lawsuit outcome does not carry criminal consequences. While some may interpret this as a conviction, legally, it falls under the category of liability rather than criminal guilt.
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-
https://www.snopes.com/news/
https://www.nbcnews.com/
Donald Trump was not convicted of fraud in a criminal court. However, in a civil fraud trial, Judge Arthur Engoron found him liable for fraud, conspiracy, issuing false financial statements, and false business records. As a result, Trump was fined $355 million for fraudulently inflating the values of his properties. The judge also barred him from serving as a director of a company in New York for three years.
Additionally, the Trump Organization was sentenced to the maximum allowable fine of $1.6 million for a tax fraud scheme that spanned at least 10 years.
Furthermore, Trump faces 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 hush-money payment made by his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/
https://apnews.com/article/
https://www.theguardian.com/
https://www.bbc.com/news/
Former President Donald Trump faces a total of 91 charges across four criminal cases. These charges include 44 federal charges and 47 state charges, all of which are felonies.
Georgia Election Interference Case:
13 charges in this case, including:
Racketeering: Related to a criminal enterprise that allegedly conspired to change the election outcome.
Forgery, false statements, and false documents: Involving attempts to appoint fake electors and spread false voter fraud claims.
https://www.deseret.com/2023/
Federal Jan. 6 Election Case:
4 charges:
Conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government: Accusing Trump and co-conspirators of scheming to reverse the election results.
Conspiracy against civil rights: Related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Obstruction: Arising from Trump’s attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s win.
https://www.washingtonpost.
New York Falsifying Business Records Case:
34 felony counts:
Trump was indicted for falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
These legal proceedings do not constitute criminal convictions, but they reflect significant legal consequences related to Trump’s actions and business practices.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/
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