Search Results

The American Conservative Union (ACU), through its Nolan Center for Justice is committed to promoting a criminal justice system that strengthens public safety, government accountability and champions redemption and human dignity with a Conservative worldview. Our efforts with current and former prosecutors are crucial in paving the way towards systemic improvement. At the front of our initiative is the Prosecutor and Law Enforcement Council, a group of seasoned professional dedicated to advancing a justice system that embodies our conservative values. By working closely with CPAC and the ACU, the council plays a pivotal role in shaping policies, identifying training opportunities, and developing best practices that resonate with fairness, accountability, and redemption. The recent CPAC session titled "Going Full Hungarian: Stopping Georgey Soros" cast a spotlight on the urgent issues plaguing our justice system, as articulated by notable figures and members of our Prosecutor and Law Enforcement Council, such as Matt Whitaker, Fmr. Acting U.S. Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, Attorney General of Missouri, Pete Lucido, Macomb County Prosecutor, and Kent Volkmer, Pinal County Attorney. Dave Sunday, York County District Attorney, also addressed the CPAC crowd, emphasizing the need for conservative values of accountability and redemption, advocating for a justice system that upholds these ideals. Pete Lucido criticized the weaponization of prosecutorial powers and the impact on justice, citing political biases and a deviation from principles of fairness and due process. Andrew Bailey highlighted the adverse effects of unchecked illegal border crossings, including increased fentanyl overdoses and human trafficking, blaming the Biden Administration's failure to enforce laws. Kent Volkmer, Pinal County Attorney, highlighted the crucial balance between mercy and accountability emphasizing that "Prosecutors have an absolute need for some level of mercy, but there also must be personal accountability...when we choose not to exercise entire classes of crime, that's when you start having [a] crisis." The discussion revolved around the alarming rise in fentanyl and human trafficking cases, a direct consequence of the crisis at the border and liberal prosecutors, highlighting how these issues detrimentally affect the wellbeing of states across the nation. As we forge ahead, the Nolan Center for Justice and CPAC remain committed in our mission to advance a justice system that is fair, accountable, and respectful of human dignity. We are inspired by the insights shared during the CPAC session and are committed to mobilizing these ideas into actionable reforms. To delve deeper into the panel's comprehensive discussion on the weaponization of the justice system we encourage you to explore the full session available on Rumble @CPAC.

Representatives from 20 different countries came to the table at CPAC’s first ever International Summit at CPAC in DC 2024. Country by country shared the struggles each is facing and the solutions the conservative movement in each country is working towards to stop globalism and preserve national sovereignty. Europe Hungary is truly setting the example for combating the social engineering and globalism of the Left in Europe. They have protected children from radical transgender ideology, revived respect for family and life, and asserted autonomy over their borders. Their biggest challenge comes from the deep state of the European Union in Brussels. Hungary remains in the European Union with the hope of reforming it. Though their friends in England took the step to leave the European Union to regain their sovereignty, they continue to struggle domestically with their own deep state and hundreds of appointed bureaucratic positions filled with left-wing activists who wield unprecedented decision-making authority. “We have a major problem with our administrative bureaucracy not being responsible, responsive, and democratically accountable, and I think it’s got a lot worse,” elaborated former Prime Minister Liz Truss. England’s Pacific Commonwealth brothers and sisters in Australia are similarly facing challenges from within. Left-wing politicians have bloated the welfare system and attempted to drive a wedge between white Australians and aboriginal peoples with a proposal that would give special privileges to those of a certain race. The classical liberals succeeded in voting down the proposal and now, they are focused on voting left-wing state premiers out of office. Asia Japan and South Korea are fighting to remain the beacons of freedom and democracy in Asia, but the communist forces from China and North Korea and the woke forces from the United States are threatening their independence, freedom, and cultures. U.S. Ambassador to Japan under Joe Biden, Rahm Emmanuel, has launched a social engineering assault on Japan, influencing a new law that allows the indoctrination of the Japanese people with LGBTQ ideology. South Korea, meanwhile, is facing threats from North Korea and the growing number of communist sympathizers in the South Korean government. Conservatives like Morse Tan and Annie Chan are fighting to keep South Korea free. Tan issued the reminder, “North Korea is not a paradise. It is one jail of a country, and it is what happens when communism has been tried anywhere in the world. It means that the communist elite sees everything and crush[es] their own people, and you have the purest form of communism in North Korea combined with the fourth largest military.” Latin America Countries in Latin America are facing their own struggles with influence from China and Iran and the weaponization of their governments from within. Argentina is making headway to turn its fortunes around with the election of President Javier Milei. Milei has revolutionarily promised to dismantle the administrative state. Other countries, especially Brazil, are still struggling under the rule of corrupt politicians, judges, and bureaucrats who are welcoming Chinese and Iranian funds and warships to South America and in turn, supporting the worldwide network of terrorists, including Hamas. Israel Israel is taking these evil forces head on in their war with Hamas. “I think it’s clear to anybody who’s an observer that what’s happening right now in Israel is existential war that Israel finds itself in. Israel is standing in defense of the West, really, and this is just one front, and we’re all in this together,” said Yitz Tendler. The International Summit produced a set of resolutions which included the resolve to stand firmly with Israel. “CPAC calls on nations around the globe to stand on the side of Israel, to recognize Jerusalem as her proper capital, and to fight religious discrimination in all its forms,” the statement reads. “Further, CPAC stands with our close ally Israel and supports Israel’s military operations to achieve total victory in Gaza and other fronts. CPAC calls on Joe Biden to end the hostage crisis in Israel, and eliminate the Iran-backed Hamas terrorists.” Together, the representatives of the twenty countries at the inaugural CPAC International Summit united to stand together with Israel and against the tyrannical regimes in China, Russia, and Iran and the concerted effort of the Biden administration, the World Health Organization, and wealthy elites to impose the tyranny of globalism. Watch the full summit on X @CPAC and read the official resolution at CPAC.org.

It comes as no surprise that human trafficking is a grim reality that not only victimizes the vulnerable but also perpetuates a cycle where survivors may be hit with collateral consequences, expanding the web of exploitation. Even after surviving abuse, victims of labor and sex trafficking are often left with limited financial resources, damaged reputations, and even criminal records. Thankfully, lawmakers have come to recognize these challenges only push victims further into the arms of their traffickers and more must be done to provide a safe pathway back into society. With the help of CPAC’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking, Congressman Russell Fry (R-SC) introduced the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, a comprehensive bill focused on redemption and rehabilitation for victims who have earned a second chance. When CPAC launched our new policy center, focusing on the needs of victims was our top priority. Through the leadership of conservatives in Congress, our country is finally taking the necessary steps to heal survivors which then allows us to focus law enforcement resources on holding these evil traffickers accountable. As Congressman Fry spoke about directly to CPAC, this new legislative effort strikes the right balance between victims’ rights and public safety.

The Maryland legislature was productive in all the wrong ways in 2023, earning the state the title of “California of the East” in CPAC’s state ratings. Democrat legislators in Maryland had the lowest possible individual ratings. Representatives in the Senate clocked in a 1% average rating, and Democrats in the House reached rock bottom at a 0% average. What’s more, their Republican counterparts proved to be moderate at best. Representatives in the House reached an 80% average rating but so-called ‘Republicans’ in the Senate only managed a shocking 57%. Maryland state legislators earned these ratings when they waged all-out war last year on the right to life, the Second Amendment, and free speech. Legislators passed SB 859, reinforcing Maryland as a sanctuary state for abortion, and they promoted abortion with SB 341 that requires state universities to help students construct plans to access abortion. They also proposed an amendment to the state constitution with HB 705 that lists abortion as a protected right. More laws now prevent Marylanders from protecting life outside of the womb as well and exercising their Second Amendment rights. SB 1 prohibits citizens from carrying firearms in government buildings and public spaces and HB 824 raises the legal age to acquire a firearm to 21. Finally, Maryland legislators executed an onslaught of assaults on the First Amendment. SB 5 expanded hate crime laws while leaving the definition of a hate crime ambiguous and broadly applicable. SB 540 allows the prosecution of individuals accused of “civil rights violations”, another dangerously ambiguous charge with the potential to target conservatives and political opponents. HB 1066 went further to establish an entire organization, the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention, dedicated to preventing hate crimes and which is bound to be stacked with members from radical Left-wing groups. Unfortunately, these bills are only the tip of the iceberg on Maryland’s radical, liberal agenda in 2023. CPAC identified more than thirty bills and laws that grew government power and shrunk individual liberty in Maryland in 2023.  The full breakdown of each piece of legislation can be viewed in the scorecard on CPAC.org.

The "Combating Human Trafficking" panel at CPAC in DC 2024 last week brought together human trafficking survivor and anti-Human Trafficking Director for the Attorney General of Virginia, Tanya Gould, founder of Latisha's House, Elizabeth Ameling, and Attorney General for the state of Ohio, David Yost to fight the rampant human trafficking happening in our own country. The panelists brought to light the reality that human trafficking is no longer a far away issue, but a problem affecting our friends, neighbors, and family members right here at home in the United States. Gould issued the grave reminder, "As we're moving and we're talking about, you know, the border and we're talking about this happens somewhere else, just remember that this is happening here, you know, in America, in the land of the free, the home of the brave." With a vast number of victims in the United States and the average age of individuals entering trafficking at the startlingly young age of twelve, it's a problem that can no longer be ignored but demands action from non-profit organizations and reforms of the criminal justice system. Ameling has seen through her work at her safe house, Latisha's House, how trafficking victims are often the ones facing criminal charges and incarceration while their traffickers go unknown and unpunished. She's observed how, as a result, victims are only pushed further into a cycle of crime and addiction and prevented from finding respectable employment and regaining control of their lives. "Victims of trafficking have complex trauma. They have DID. They have mental illness. They have addiction. They have a lot of things that need to be dealt with and those things don't change overnight, and so we have two houses, and we're going national, where women come and they can stay and there's addiction counseling and parenting classes and financial literacy," said Ameling. "We have to overcome barriers like felonies. Women overwhelmingly, victims of trafficking, overwhelmingly have felonies and other things." Yost as Attorney General of Ohio and Gould in her position at the Virginia Attorney General's office are working on solutions that support victims, hold traffickers accountable, and prevent human trafficking from the start. In Virginia, Gould has seen the implementation of the One Hundred Percent Back program that fosters awareness among business owners in Virginia to identify human trafficking and offer help to victims. In Ohio, Yost has taken measures to criminalize the buying of sex, rather than punishing the victims of sex trafficking, and to expunge trafficking victims' criminal records, allowing them greater freedom to find stable employment and start a new life. Still, Yost recognizes the need to address human trafficking at its root: the open southern border. Though Ohio is not geographically a border state, the effects of the open border i.e. sex, drug, and labor trafficking are still reaching Ohio, and Yost hopes to prevent these crimes from growing by securing the United State-Mexico border. Hear the panelists' full remarks on Rumble @CPAC.

Brett Tolman and Pam Bondi joined their expertise as attorneys with Savannah Chrisley and K.T. McFarland's firsthand experiences as victims of the politicized justice system on a panel at CPAC in DC 2024 that exposed the corruption of the justice system and the solutions that will bring reform. The Problem The panel identified the problem lying in cases like Chrisley's parents' and McFarland's cases where falsified records, unverified claims, and fear tactics are used by politically-motivated agents, judges, and attorneys to wrongly incriminate a person or force concession to a plea deal. In McFarland's case, she was dogged, pressured, and financially drained by the Mueller investigation with the ultimate goal of blackmailing her into a false admission that could be used to incriminate President Donald Trump. She described herself as simply "collateral damage" in the Mueller investigation but nonetheless terrorized by an abuse of the justice system in pursuit of jailing President Trump. Chrisley witnessed the heartbreaking use of similar fear tactics against her parents who were charged with tax evasion and bank fraud and are now serving time in prison. Chrisley saw her mother targeted with her own, separate investigation because of her father's refusal to accept a plea deal. She saw the FBI openly admit that they failed to authenticate evidence they brought forward against her parents. She heard the prosecutor in Fulton County, Georgia announce her political loyalties, declaring the Chrisleys, "the Trumps of the South" at the start of the trial before an Obama-appointed judge. McFarland poignantly summarized the problem, "They're flipping it around to do what Stalin's henchman did where 'Show me the man; I'll find you the crime.'" The Solution Such a deep-seated and dangerous problem requires a multi-pronged solution, but the first step is to re-elect a president with a respect for the integrity of the justice system. Bondi stated it plainly, "Well, first put Donald Trump back in office, and he's going to clean up DOJ. He's going to clean up the FBI." The next step, as Tolman urged, is to stay educated. The American people need to stay informed on the weaponization of the justice system and understand how the justice system is really supposed to operate. From there, Bondi urged Americans to take action by carefully electing their local justice officials, like District Attorneys, solicitors, and state Attorneys General, who influence the enactment of the justice system on the local levels, as seen prominently in Fani Willis' case against President Trump. Hear the panel's full take on the weaponization of the justice system on Rumble @CPAC.

This past Saturday at CPAC, I had the privilege of hosting a thought-provoking panel discussion on "Bidenomics and Regulation," which brought together a distinguished group of experts to dissect the intricacies and implications of the current administration's economic and regulatory policies. The panel featured Doug Collins, former member of Congress and host of the Doug Collins Podcast; Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission; Stephen Moore, co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and former senior economics advisor to President Trump A Critical Examination of Bidenomics The discussion opened with an exploration of the Biden administration's regulatory approach, particularly its "whole of government" strategy. This method has seen regulatory actions not just from the expected agencies but across the breadth of government, impacting sectors from healthcare to technology. Panelists raised concerns about the implications of such a wide-reaching approach to regulation. Doug Collins offered a pointed critique, stating, "When you get into the issue of march in and that sounds like they're doing some kind of military thing. This isn't march in. What this is literally is marching in to where they have people who have taken government funds to find new and innovative solutions across the spectrum of products in which they come to our markets. What they're wanting to do, though, is if you've taken government money, the government wants to come in and then take your patent, take your intellectual property, and then they can do whatever they want to with it. This will send us back to pre-1980 Ronald Reagan. How many of you want to take a trip back to Jimmy Carter days? Is there anybody in the place longing for that? No, nobody wants to." This sentiment underscored the panel's apprehension about the administration's direction, emphasizing the potential for overreach and the stifling of entrepreneurial spirit. Digital Equity, Net Neutrality, and Free Speech Brendan Carr's insights brought the conversation to the digital realm, focusing on issues of digital equity, net neutrality, and the broader implications for free speech and censorship. Carr highlighted recent initiatives by the Biden administration that seemed to prioritize control over digital spaces, expressing concerns over attempts to regulate the internet under the guise of net neutrality, which could have chilling effects on free speech and innovation. He further criticized the administration's policies, noting: "Just this week at the FCC, we voted to require all broadcasters to publicly post race and gender scorecard that lists the demographics of all their employees. Why? Because activist organizations want to use that information to pressure businesses into hiring people, or not, based on their race and their gender. So what's going on here? These aren't isolated pinpricks. It goes back to a lot of causes, but one main one. This extreme version of identity politics and everything else is downstream. Once you divide America into oppressor groups and oppressed, then of course we can take the rights away from the oppressor groups. Of course, they don't need the First Amendment. But that's just the beginning. Free speech is the counterweight to government control. And there's a straight line from the ballot box to the soapbox. As soon as they say we don't trust you with what to say, they move very quickly into we don't trust you in terms of who you get to vote for." Economic Consequences and Regulatory Costs Stephen Moore shifted the dialogue to the macroeconomic effects of regulatory policies, discussing how the administration's approach could influence the broader economy. Moore emphasized the costs associated with regulatory compliance, arguing, "you asked about the impact of Biden's regulations. So just to put it in terms that people can understand, under Barack Obama, who was the second worst president in the last 50 years, Joe Biden is the worst president of the last 50 years. Under Obama, the average family saw their cost rise by $5,000 per family because of regulation. Under Donald Trump - are you ready for this? - the average regulatory cost per family fell by $3,000 per family. And under Biden, it's been raised by another $6,000. So regulation is an attack on the American economy." He warned of the long-term implications warning that the US is at a tipping point where the cumulative burden of regulation threatens to undermine the very foundations of our free-market economy, eroding the principles of competition and entrepreneurship that have driven American prosperity. A Unified Call for Action Throughout the panel, a common theme emerged: a call for a return to policies that promote free enterprise, safeguard individual rights, and encourage innovation without excessive government intervention. The experts expressed a shared concern that the current trajectory of Bidenomics and regulatory expansion presents significant challenges that demand immediate attention from policymakers, industry leaders, and the public. In closing, the panelists underscored the importance of engaging in informed debate and advocacy to counter the trends they identified. This is not just about policy disagreements. It's about the fundamental principles that govern our society. We must be vigilant in defending the freedoms that define us. Looking Ahead The CPAC panel on Bidenomics and Regulation offered a crucial examination of the current administration's economic and regulatory strategies, highlighting concerns about overreach, the impact on innovation and free speech, and the potential for adverse economic consequences. The insights shared by the panelists serve as a call to action for all who value the principles of freedom and enterprise. As we move forward, it is imperative that we continue the conversation, critically assessing the implications of governmental policies and advocating for a regulatory environment that fosters growth, innovation, and freedom. Only through informed debate and concerted action can we ensure that our economic and regulatory policies reflect the values that have made the United States a beacon of prosperity and liberty. The panel at CPAC has laid the groundwork for ongoing discussions about the direction of our economy and regulatory framework. By drawing on the expertise and insights of leaders like Doug Collins, Brendan Carr, and Stephen Moore, we can better understand the challenges ahead and work towards solutions that preserve the principles of freedom and prosperity for future generations.

The theme of this year's CPAC national conference was "Where Globalism Goes to Die," and it's safe to say the conference succeeding in making a strong statement against globalism. CPAC in DC 2024 welcomed a number of international representatives and heads of state to stand in solidarity to preserve the sovereignty of their individual nations. Representatives from the CPAC conferences in Hungary, Australia, and Japan along with member of the Brazilian government, Eduardo Bolsonaro, several former U.S. ambassadors, former President Donald Trump, and two current presidents of El Salvador and Argentina, Nayib Bukele and Javier Milei, joined forces at the conference as advocates of the freedom and independence of their respective countries. The first ever CPAC International Summit united many of these representatives in conversation to reject globalism and protect the unique identities, needs, and democratic governments of each nation from Leftist, tyrannical administrative states. The summit resulted in the denouncing of the tyrannical regimes of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, and Lula de Silva, the collusion of wealthy businessmen with bureaucrats and ideological operatives to impose further tyranny, and the ruthless attack on Israel by Hamas and the inhumane, anti-semitic attacks on Jewish students and establishments that followed. The Left wants to destroy national sovereignty and crush the will of the people under bureaucratic and unelected entities like the World Health Organization, but CPAC is leading the charge to keep government for the people and by the people. See more from CPAC in DC 2024 at CPAC.org and on social media @CPAC.

The final day of this year's CPAC conference threw deathly blows at globalism with speeches from President Donald Trump, Kari Lake, Argentina president Javier Milei, and Steve Bannon. Saturday's speakers put an exclamation point on the weekend's stand for freedom with strong statements on the importance of free and fair elections, border security, limited government, and more to curb the spread of fascism around the globe. The day's speeches were followed by a celebratory watch party for President Donald Trump's victory in the South Carolina Republican primary. See these speeches and others on the CPAC livestream available here.

Day 2 of CPAC in DC 2024 continued to take a stand against globalism. Kristi Noem, Jim Jordan, Nigel Farage, Mark Levin, Jack Posobiec, Kat Cammack, and other conservative all-stars put Leftism in America and across the globe on full blast. The speeches of Day 2 exposed the incompetency of the Biden administration at the border and in election integrity, the weaponization of the justice system, the attacks on the Second Amendment, and more. The day was capped off by the iconic Ronald Reagan Dinner that featured remarks from Bishop Strickland and Vivek Ramaswamy. Catch Day 3 of CPAC in DC 2024 on the CPAC livestream at CPAC.org/live.

After an international summit on Wednesday that brought together conservative leaders, heads of state, elected officials, and dignitaries from all over the globe to the nation's capital, CPAC in DC 2024 officially began on Thursday on a high note with speeches from El Salvador President Nayib Bekele, PM Liz Truss, Tulsi Gabbard, Michael Knowles, and so many others. CPAC in DC 2024 started strong, diving head first into topics ranging from border security to government integrity to the 2024 election. Day One featured star-studded panels that tackled tough topics head on like abortion, the threats from China and Russia, the Left's attack on fossil fuels, and the dangerous march of globalism. Thousands of energized conservatives joined us on the very first day to hear these speeches and more and to stand together Where Globalism Goes to Die. Stand with us and catch the rest of the conference's speeches on the convenient CPAC livestream. Visit CPAC.org/live to start streaming CPAC in DC 2024 today!