Alleged would-be Donald Trump assassin Ryan Routh wrote in a letter to the news outlet Politico that he shared a trait with Butler shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks. Routh, who has pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted assassination of Trump in September, argued in a sent to Politico writer Ankush Khardori before this month’s election, saying that he, like Crooks, was “ready to die for freedom and democracy.” Crooks was shot and killed by a after the would-be assassin opened fire at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, grazing the now president-elect in the ear, while killing one rally attendee and seriously wounding two others. A Secret Service agent spotted Routh’s rifle protruding from the hedge line at a Florida golf course where Trump was playing on Sept. 15. The agent opened fire on the suspect, who fled the scene but was quickly captured. who claimed to be independent politically, wrote in his letter, “My entire life has been plagued by D’s and R’s. It seems not long ago there was a push for the libertarian party and now a green party and maybe Truth party. But for some reason our leaders have not allowed any other party [to] be recognized in any race.” He explicitly disclaimed having an affiliation with the Democratic Party, recounting, “A guard [in] Palm Beach asked jokingly if I was a democrat — I said, ‘NO — Independent — I vote for the best candidate.’” His pickup truck parked at his Hawaii home had a Biden-Harris bumper sticker on it, and he has made 19 donations to a Democratic political action committee since 2019, the reported. Trump would-be assassin Ryan Routh has a Biden-Harris bumper sticker on his pickup truck and apparently donated entirely to Democrats (spreadsheet via , photo ) — Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) Nonetheless, Routh’s letter criticized “the two ruling parties” and argued that “[w]ith our national debt swallowing us whole and bankruptcy imminent we may as well fix this problem balls out.” The 58-year-old also wrote that in the event of a Trump victory, federal officials should “remove the power of our military by the President and place it with Congress before January.” “We must limit all Presidential power before Trump seizes our country,” he added, referring to Trump at one point as a “ ,” a term that mirrors Democratic talking points. sent a similar letter to before the Nov. 5 election, as well. The Palm Beach Post reported that Routh’s daughter authenticated the letter as being from her father, who sent it from the federal prison in Florida where he is being held. Both Politico and the Palm Beach Post noted the handwriting for the letters looks the same as that included in a filed by the Justice Department. In that letter, Routh wrote, “Dear World, This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job.” The Post reported, “In addition to the attempted assassination charge, Routh faces charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and assaulting a federal officer. He has pleaded not guilty to each.” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson's massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Friday. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL suspension and injuries with the Browns, who signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022. The restructuring allows the team to spread out the salary-cap hit after the 2026 season, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not disclose contract specifics. The 29-year-old Watson has two years remaining on his contract with an average of $46 million a year, and with a salary-cap hit of $72.9 million in those seasons. The agreement to restructure his deal will not preclude the Browns from adding talent at the quarterback position in 2025, the person said. Watson played in only seven games this season before suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. He's 9-10 as a starter with Cleveland. The Browns (3-12) have been a major disappointment after making it to the playoffs a year ago behind Joe Flacco, who was signed as a free agent after Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Watson had surgery in October and is expected to make a full recovery. While the team hasn't disclosed its plans at quarterback, it's assumed Watson will be in the mix to be the starter next season. It's also possible the Browns will draft a quarterback in the first round. The team hasn't had a first-round pick the past three years after trading three to the Houston Texans to acquire Watson, who was once considered one of the league's elite QBs. Watson's disappointing tenure has been a sore spot with Cleveland fans, who had hoped the team had finally resolved its interminable QB issues when they signed the three-time Pro Bowler three years ago. But it hasn't worked out, and the major investment in Watson and the salary-cap ramifications of his contract — the largest fully guaranteed deal in league history — have made it difficult for the Browns to upgrade their roster. Watson has shown flashes of being a competent starting quarterback, but there have been just as many moments in which he's looked hesitant in the pocket or unable to connect with receivers down field. Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of his first season in Cleveland after an independent arbiter ruled he violated the conduct policy after he was accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Since having surgery, Watson has been rehabbing his Achilles injury. He has not spoken to reporters for months. On Thursday, he posted a photo of himself on Instagram standing without wearing a walking boot. The caption read: “Back on My Feet! MOREGLORY!” Last week, Browns defensive star Myles Garrett caused a stir by saying he did not want to be part of a rebuild in Cleveland. Garrett also made it clear he wanted to know the team's offseason plans, including what the Browns intended to do at quarterback. On Friday, Garrett said he had “a few” discussions this week with the team's front office following his comments. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year didn't reveal any specifics of the talks. “They just wanted to see where my head was at and what I was thinking and just trying to keep things in house, in house,” he said. Garrett was asked if he got a favorable reaction from teammates. “They want to know what’s coming next as well,” he said. “So I haven’t really heard too many people speak up on whether they liked my comments or not. Everyone’s kind of feeling the same way. But I’m not going to assume and I’ll have my answer at the end of the year.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLElgin arts organization Hamilton Wings has launched a website to celebrate the life and legacy of one of its founders, Risé Jones, who died earlier this month. The public is welcome to share their memories of Jones on the page, www.letterstorisedawnjones.org . “We have opened this website, as friends and family of Dr. Jones, for what she would call a creative invitation, where you can feel welcome to step into and express your full self by writing a letter to Risé Dawn Jones,” the site says. Jones, 58 and a lifelong Elgin resident, died unexpectedly Dec. 7 from a pulmonary embolism. In addition to her work with Hamilton Wings, she was known for her community involvement with organizations that included the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, Elgin Community College and the Elgin YWCA. A memorial for Jones is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, followed by a service at noon at Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive. The Elgin History Museum is selling rare, out-of-print Elgin history books that have come into its collection over time but are not needed by the organization. Books can be shipped for an additional $8 or picked up during the open hours at the museum, 360 Park St., according to a news release. Museum members receive a 15% discount on purchases. To request a title, arrange payment and for more information, email museum@elginhistory.org. Available books include “Elgin: An American History” by E.C. Alft, $30; “A History of Elgin Country Club: Part One, 1901-1948,” $5; “Madman Muntz: American Maverick,” $5; “Modern Elgin: 130 Years of Progress in Commerce & Industry,” $25; “Old Main: A National Historic Site” (booklet), $2; “A History of Elgin Academy of Northwestern University,” $15; “The Sweep of Time: The History of Elgin Sweeper Company,” $10; “Elgin on the Fox,” $2; “Goodbye Elgin High” by Mike Bailey, $15; Also, “Plan of Elgin,” copyright 1917, $15; “St. Joseph’s Parish; The First 100 years, 1887-1987,” $5; “Elgin Area Landmarks: A Community Heritage Tour Guide” by E.C. Alft, $5; “American Eagle” by Trygve A. Rovelstad, $5; “Historic Resources in the Northeast Neighborhood: A Summary and Inventory,” $5; “The History of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra from 1950-1985” by Dean Chipman, $10; City Directories from 1976 with a celebratory red, white and blue bicentennial colored cover and 1986, $10 each; “Pieces: The Story of Elgin in a Quilt,” $5. High school yearbooks are also being sold, including the Elgin High School Maroon from 1952, 1963 and 1981, $10-$15, and the Larkin High School Cerulean from 1969, 1970, 1976 and 1977, $10 each. Used books available in the museum bookstore include “Elgin’s Black Heritage,” $2; “Elgin Days Gone By,” $2; and “Sherman Hospital: Century of Caring, 1888-1988,” $5; all written by E.C. Alft. Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser has been reappointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Elder Law. (Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office) Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser has been reappointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Elder Law. Effective Jan. 1, it is Mosser’s second two-year term, according to a news release. The Commission on Elder Law was established in 2022 to examine how courts can better serve the needs of the elderly. “Protecting the most vulnerable individuals has always been a priority for me,” Mosser said in the release. “As our population ages, it is critical to ensure our laws and practices are equipped to safeguard these citizens from exploitation. I am proud of the work the commission has accomplished so far, and I look forward to advancing its mission in the coming years.” The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is looking for people to join its volunteer usher team. Volunteers scan tickets, hand out programs and direct audience members to their seats, according to an ESO social media post. Standing for long periods of time and climbing stairs may be required. The symphony holds most of its concerts at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. For a performance schedule, go to www.elginsymphony.org . For more information or to volunteer, email patron services manager Luiza Moraes at l.moraes@elginsymphony.org.Over 25 years after a woman’s skeletal remains were discovered in Clatsop County, the Oregon State Police has released a facial illustration in the hopes of jogging someone’s memory. On Nov. 3, 1999, mushroom pickers reported finding human skeleton remains in a wooded area off of U.S. Highway 26 near milepost 29. An initial forensic examination revealed that the remains belonged to a woman between 16 and 30 years of age, about 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing between 108 and 117 pounds. Forensic anthropologists believed the woman had given birth some time prior. For decades, all law enforcement had to work with was a pencil drawing of what they believed the woman looked like. But a recent collaboration between Parabon NanoLabs and Oregon State Police forensic anthropologist Nici Vance highlighted the ability to use the individual’s genetic phenotype to construct the new illustration. “This has been a case that we’ve been working on since 1999, and it’s very near and dear to my heart, because I was actually out there in Astoria and I helped recover her,” Vance said. Over the years, Vance and her colleagues had been applying various innovative DNA techniques to the remains. They uploaded the remains to the national DNA database to try and find any genetic association with reported missing persons, which yielded no results. “In 2019, when we partnered with Parabon NanoLabs, they performed investigative genetic genealogy on the remains, which is, you know, this great technique now that can find family members as well as the family trees of some of our unidentified decedents,” she said. Again, there were no leads. But the collaboration was not entirely fruitless. Oregon State Police asked the lab to create the new illustration based on her genetics, drawing renewed interest in the case through a recent alert sent out with the image attached. “And so the picture you see that was added to the alert from Oregon State Police this afternoon is what her genetics predict her facial features would look like,” Vance said. “And so those features are defaulted to the age right around 25, so we think she was between the ages of 20 and 35 when she died. So we think this is probably a pretty accurate way of what she looked like when she was alive.” Using the technology, Parabon NanoLabs and Oregon State Police have collaborated to identify over 30 previously unidentified individuals found in Oregon. They continue to track cold cases, some as old or older than this one, for several reasons. “She deserves a name,” Vance said. “And also, we assume someone is looking for her, someone is missing her. She’s probably someone’s mother or sister. She’s definitely someone’s daughter ... Every case is different, but these are some of the reasons why we continue to look for the names and identities of these unknown people that we’ve had at our medical examiner facility for decades.” There is also the hope that the new rendering of the woman’s face will spark a memory for someone. Vance said that while it’s not quite a shot in the dark, it is a long shot, given that it’s been over 25 years. But to her, it’s still worth a try. “Maybe these very accurate facial predictions might jog someone’s memory,” she said. “Maybe they saw her in a convenience store in Clatsop County. Maybe they’re reminded of, you know, a college roommate that they haven’t heard from for years and years. “Or maybe someone recognizes them in, you know, any suspicious context — a girlfriend who had a boyfriend who wasn’t very nice to her. Any kind of context that might jog someone’s memory in regards to seeing her or knowing her will help facilitate investigative leads, will help our cold case detectives follow up on potential avenues that might lead to her identification. It’s all valuable.”
Japanese chief of International Criminal Court lashes out at Russia, U.S. senatorLONDON (AP) — Arsenal moved up to second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich on Friday. Mikel Arteta’s side is six points behind leader Liverpool, which has a game in hand. Second-bottom Ipswich had won two of its last three away games but was up against it from the start at the Emirates. The visitors did not have one touch in the Gunners’ box during the first 45 minutes and, although Ipswich showed signs of life after the break, it was Arsenal which continued to dominate the game, marshaled by Declan Rice in midfield. Kai Havertz got the only goal midway through the first half when he knocked in a cross from Leandro Trossard. Havertz, Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus all had chances but none of them could add to Arsenal’s tally. “It’s so tough, every team is tough to break down," Havertz said. "They fight for each other and at the end we’re very proud for the win.” Arsenal is a point above third-place Chelsea and two points clear of season surprise team Nottingham Forest in fourth. Brighton had most of the chances but could not find the net in a 0-0 draw with Brentford that extended the south coast club’s winless run to six league games. It was a frustrating night for the home side and especially Julio Enciso. The Paraguay striker had a host of opportunities to score but couldn’t make them count. Along with Southampton, Brentford has the worst away record in the league with seven losses and two draws and it was easy to see why in this toothless performance. Brentford had an early goal from Yoane Wissa ruled out for offside and, although it came a bit more into the game in the second half, it failed to pressure Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut eight minutes before halftime when Mark Flekken went off with a thigh injury. One bright spot for the home side was the return of winger Solly March. He came on as a late substitute to make his first appearance for Brighton since injuring a knee against Manchester City 14 months ago. The result leaves Brighton in 10th place with 26 points, one spot and two points ahead of the Bees. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerU.S. manufacturing contracted at a moderate pace in November, with orders growing for the first time in eight months and factories facing significantly lower prices for inputs. The improvement reported by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) on Monday tracked similar increases in other sentiment surveys, which have risen on hopes of more business-friendly policies from the incoming Trump administration. Still, manufacturing is not out of the woods yet. ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee Chair Timothy Fiore noted that “production execution eased in November,” consistent with demand sluggishness and weak backlogs, and that suppliers continue to have capacity, with lead times improving but some product shortages reappearing. “It is worth noting that in the aftermath of the 2016 election, the ISM index rose for four straight months, as business optimism swelled,” said Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist at Santander U.S. Capital Markets. “I would not be surprised to see a similar dynamic this time, though in the current case, the underlying fundamentals for the factory sector have been tepid at best for a while.” The ISM said its manufacturing PMI increased to a five-month high of 48.4 from 46.5 in October, which was the lowest level since July 2023. A PMI reading below 50 indicates contraction in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for 10.3% of the economy. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a PMI of 47.5. November marked the eighth straight month that the PMI stayed below the 50 threshold, but above the 42.5 level that the ISM says over time generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. The share of industries reporting a composite PMI calculation at or below 45%, viewed as a good barometer of overall manufacturing weakness, rose to 48% from 46% in October. Only three industries, including computer and electronic as well as electrical equipment, appliances and components reported growth. Among the 11 industries reporting contraction were transportation equipment, machinery, miscellaneous manufacturing, chemical products and primary metals. Comments from manufacturers were mostly downbeat. Makers of transportation equipment reported that business remains slow, and anticipated the first half of 2025 will be similar. Some machinery manufacturers said “a general construction slowdown in the fourth quarter has created a surplus of finished goods, creating the need for an extra two weeks of shutdown over the Christmas holiday period.” Fabricated metal products makers said customers were destocking and appear uncertain about near-term demand, adding the preliminary forecast for 2025 is down significantly. Miscellaneous manufacturers worried about potential increased tariffs on imports from China, noting the “cost and capacity of U.S. manufacturing is a concern.” President-elect Donald Trump said last week he would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, on his first day in office. Some companies in the primary metal industry, however, said they had seen an uptick in customers wanting to reshore their businesses after the election. Inflation remained a concern for manufacturers of food, beverage & tobacco products. Makers of computer and electronic products reported pent-up buying, but complained that “competition for qualified technical labor is a constraint on operational throughput.” U.S. stocks were trading higher. The dollar rose against a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury yields rose. The PMI has suggested manufacturing remains stuck in deep recession following hefty interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve in 2022 and 2023. It has, however, not been all doom and gloom. Business spending on equipment has notched two consecutive quarters of strong growth, reflecting in part an artificial intelligence boom and demand for commercial aircraft. The U.S. central bank started easing monetary policy in September, and a third rate cut is expected this month. The ISM survey’s forward-looking new orders sub-index increased to 50.4, expanding for the first time since March, from 47.1 in October. The production index was, however, little changed at depressed levels. Its measure of prices paid by manufacturers dropped to 50.3 from 54.8 in October. That suggests goods prices have room to fall, though higher tariffs could see a reversal. The survey’s gauge of supplier deliveries dropped to 48.7 from 52.0 in October. A reading above 50 indicates slower deliveries. Factory employment continued to improve, though remaining at subdued levels, with the manufacturing employment measure climbing to 48.1 from 44.4 in October. That is consistent with an anticipated acceleration in nonfarm payrolls growth in November, after a strike by factory workers at Boeing and another aerospace company tanked manufacturing employment in October. Job growth in October was also restrained by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Labor Department’s strike report last Friday confirmed the 38,000 aerospace employees returned to work in late October and early November. Early results of a Reuters survey of economists estimated payrolls increasing by 195,000 jobs in November after rising by 12,000 in October, the fewest since December 2020. The closely watched employment report is due to be released on Friday. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)