But Trump may have been walking into a trap in Mar-a-Lago’s gilded halls — one that leveraged his own penchant for spectacle and showmanship against him. Ye arrived with three guests, including white nationalist and antisemite Nick Fuentes.

Trump has since said he didn’t know Fuentes or his background when they dined together, a claim Fuentes confirmed in an interview, but others at the crowded members-only club figured out his identity. News of the meeting prompted an avalanche of criticism, from some Republican rivals and allies of Trump and his then-week-old presidential campaign.

In damage control, Trump’s campaign is now instituting new vetting procedures and gatekeeping efforts as details emerge about how Fuentes and the former president found themselves at the same table, according to two people briefed on the plans.

The uproar underscores long-standing issues with Trump as Republicans consider whether they want him back as president again in 2024.

Both his campaigns and his administration were often characterized by chaos and buffeted by the consequences of his impulses as they stumbled from crisis to crisis. And Trump has repeatedly put himself in the center of controversies over racism, from falsely accusing the first Black president of not being a natural-born citizen to announcing his 2016 presidential bid by portraying most Mexican migrants as rapists and drug runners.

Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley on Tuesday urged prosecutors to consider criminal charges against the Cochise County supervisors who refused to certify the county's election Monday.

Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd have repeatedly questioned election procedures and also been warned that if they did not canvass their election Monday, the state deadline, they not only could disenfranchise voters in southeastern Arizona but also face criminal penalties.

The supervisors already are facing two civil cases, both seeking to force them to certify the election this week so the statewide canvass can include Cochise County votes Monday.

"Their votes against certification resulted in the three-member Board failing to perform its legal duty to certify the election," said the letter from Goddard, a Democrat, and Romley, a Republican.
They added that they "take no pleasure in making this prosecution recommendation," which was sent to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre.

"But we believe deeply that the rule of law dictates that public officials be held accountable when they refuse to comply with their legal obligations — all the more so where those officials’ actions threaten to undo the proper administration and integrity of elections, disenfranchise thousands of voters, and potentially even alter the results of some races," they wrote.

Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley on Tuesday urged prosecutors to consider criminal charges against the Cochise County supervisors who refused to certify the county's election Monday.

Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd have repeatedly questioned election procedures and also been warned that if they did not canvass their election Monday, the state deadline, they not only could disenfranchise voters in southeastern Arizona but also face criminal penalties.

The supervisors already are facing two civil cases, both seeking to force them to certify the election this week so the statewide canvass can include Cochise County votes Monday.

"Their votes against certification resulted in the three-member Board failing to perform its legal duty to certify the election," said the letter from Goddard, a Democrat, and Romley, a Republican.
They added that they "take no pleasure in making this prosecution recommendation," which was sent to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre.

"But we believe deeply that the rule of law dictates that public officials be held accountable when they refuse to comply with their legal obligations — all the more so where those officials’ actions threaten to undo the proper administration and integrity of elections, disenfranchise thousands of voters, and potentially even alter the results of some races," they wrote.

THOMPSON & CHENEY STATEMENT ON VERDICTS IN JANUARY 6TH OATH KEEPERS SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY TRIAL
Nov 29, 2022
Washington—Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) today issued the following statement:

“Today’s convictions are a victory for the rule of law and reinforce the fact that the violence of January 6th included a deliberate attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election and block the transfer of presidential power. The Select Committee’s investigation demonstrated that when Donald Trump summoned a mob to assemble in Washington, DC on January 6th, the Oath Keepers and other extremist groups heard that call and began to plan and coordinate. Individuals involved now face the consequences of taking part in a scheme to undermine American democracy.

“It’s vital that there be accountability for every vile aspect of January 6th and the events that led to that day’s tragedy. We applaud the Justice Department’s success today and support ongoing efforts to ensure that accountability at all levels.”

# # #

But as last week progressed, Trump’s specific interest in Smith grew. On Thanksgiving, for example, the former president didn’t deliver holiday well-wishes to Americans, but he did use his social media platform to condemn the special counsel as “a Radical Left Prosecutor, who is totally controlled by Eric Holder and Obama.”

Referring to the two threads of the Justice Department’s ongoing criminal investigations, the Republican added that he “did nothing wrong on Jan 6th (Peacefully & Patrioticly), or with Documents (Check out past presidents).”

In reality, none of this made any sense — though I do appreciate the irony of Trump struggling to spell “patriotically” — but it didn’t stop him from adding a day later that “Trump Hater Jack Smith ... should never be allowed to work on anything having to do with me because of his and his family’s anger, hatred, and bias.”.....

Yesterday, the former president even raised concerns about the special counsel’s name:

“Jack Smith (nice, soft name, isn’t it?), is a political hit man, who is totally compromised, and shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near our already highly WEAPONIZED & CORRUPT ‘Justice’ Department and FBI, which are stuffed with, and listening to, Radical Left ‘MONSTERS,’ who will cause difficulties for our Country the likes of which we have not seen before. By the way, OBAMA SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN (and got caught!), & what about the MASSIVE Joe & Hunter BIDEN CORRUPTION (Evidence already in!)?”

.....But stepping back, his tirades seem to reflect something more important than his routine lying: Trump seems scared. The former president is scrambling in the hopes of trying to discredit a highly respected career prosecutor, and he apparently believes hysterical online tantrums will do the trick.