1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on. Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,480 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,719 my daily show prep with all of the links, become 6 00:00:18,719 --> 00:00:22,359 a patron, go to dpetecleanershow dot com. Make sure you 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,960 hit the subscribe button. Get every episode for free, write 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,320 to your smartphone or tablet, and again, thank you so 9 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:32,759 much for your support. First, Maduro gets picked up brought 10 00:00:32,799 --> 00:00:37,960 back to America to face Narco terrorist charges. Governor Tim 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,759 Walls drops out of his re election campaign, citing all 12 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:48,399 of the Somali fraud stories and stuff. And now the 13 00:00:48,439 --> 00:00:52,960 thing that I thought would not happen has happened, and 14 00:00:53,039 --> 00:00:55,159 I am so happy that this has happened. I don't 15 00:00:55,159 --> 00:00:58,240 know how it's gonna I do not make predictions on 16 00:00:58,479 --> 00:01:03,479 the outcome of court cases or elections. Okay, so I 17 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,719 don't know how this is going to go down. But 18 00:01:06,879 --> 00:01:11,920 the fact that five people have stepped forward with credible 19 00:01:12,359 --> 00:01:18,480 accusations against Mecklemburg County Sheriff Gary not my fault McFadden. 20 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:25,879 They have sworn out affidavits and are now seeking a 21 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,959 court to intervene and oust McFadden from office, which is 22 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,719 the law. I do not have my file on McFadden 23 00:01:33,799 --> 00:01:36,840 with me. I did not anticipate talking about him at 24 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,560 all today. But here we are because we got a 25 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:46,760 press release. The press release came from I think a 26 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:56,000 law firm, yes, yeah, from a law firm representing the 27 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:01,159 plaintiffs in this matter of this petition. It is initiated 28 00:02:01,359 --> 00:02:09,280 under North Carolina statute, and the district attorney now must 29 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:13,439 take this matter up before a judge, and a judge 30 00:02:13,479 --> 00:02:16,159 then has to make a ruling. And so we'll see 31 00:02:16,159 --> 00:02:20,560 how this goes. But the petition is to remove McFadden 32 00:02:20,719 --> 00:02:25,439 from office. And I'm going back to the press release 33 00:02:25,439 --> 00:02:29,560 here and bouncing back and forth between the two, between 34 00:02:29,599 --> 00:02:34,199 the press release and the complaint or the petition. Okay, 35 00:02:34,439 --> 00:02:40,599 seeks to remove McFadden for attempted extortion and corruption, willful 36 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:46,599 misconduct and maladministration in office, and willful and habitual refusal 37 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:51,560 to perform the duties of his office. It looks like 38 00:02:51,719 --> 00:02:57,159 four of the five people here were former employees of his. 39 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:03,319 And then there is the I think maybe the most 40 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:09,360 serious allegation here is from State Representative Carla Cunningham. So, okay, 41 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,400 this is from page fourteen of the petition. Okay, all right, 42 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,240 here we go. This is Carla Cunningham is a resident 43 00:03:17,319 --> 00:03:20,560 Meckliberg County, qualified to vote as an elector in that county. 44 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:21,960 And this is what I've been saying, Like, all it 45 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,400 takes is five voters. That's what an elector is. In 46 00:03:24,439 --> 00:03:28,080 the law, it says any five electors in a county 47 00:03:28,319 --> 00:03:32,199 can bring this petition, and she is one. She is 48 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:37,280 qualified to vote as an elector, and so she's also 49 00:03:37,479 --> 00:03:41,439 a state representative serves the Charlotte area the one hundred 50 00:03:41,439 --> 00:03:48,439 and sixth district. McFadden and Cunningham had previously taken opposite 51 00:03:48,479 --> 00:03:51,520 sides of a public controversy because at times over the 52 00:03:51,599 --> 00:03:56,639 past few years, Cunningham has publicly supported increased oversight of 53 00:03:56,759 --> 00:04:02,199 and inspections at the Mecklinberg County Detention Center. In the 54 00:04:02,199 --> 00:04:05,719 fall of twenty twenty four, she publicly supported a bill that, 55 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,919 among other things, appropriated money to fund new full time 56 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:16,040 jail inspectors. Cunningham viewed inspections as necessary and helpful because 57 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,120 as of that time, eighteen inmates had died in Mecklinberg 58 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:25,240 County Detention Center on McFadden's watch. Okay, that's not his fault. 59 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,800 It's right there in his nickname. Okay, nothing is ever 60 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:35,959 Gary's fault. He's the first to tell you that McFadden 61 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:41,759 viewed jail inspections which inevitably resulted in critique of the operations. 62 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:47,040 He viewed these inspections as unfair and retaliatory, and he 63 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:52,120 personally criticized the jail inspectors at the North Carolina Department 64 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:55,639 of Health and Human Services who performed these inspections. That's true. 65 00:04:55,759 --> 00:05:00,759 I've covered this over the last two years. He would 66 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,639 make all sorts of remarks ascribing nefarious motives and oh, 67 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,639 we know why they're really doing this, and we know 68 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,360 what's really going on, and we know, Oh, he was 69 00:05:10,439 --> 00:05:12,439 up in a he was out hunting, he was up 70 00:05:12,439 --> 00:05:14,079 in a deer stand and he got a call to 71 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,879 come down and inspect my jail. And what do you 72 00:05:16,959 --> 00:05:19,199 think that's about? Like, that's what McFadden does. He throws 73 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:23,519 out this all these innuendo at people. You know, these 74 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,040 events first brought McFadden and Cunningham into conflict, albeit indirectly, 75 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,759 on an issue affecting McFadden. Moreover, on a handful of occasions, 76 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,680 Cunningham has crossed the aisle to vote for Republican sponsored 77 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,680 bills that require greater cooperation between local law enforcement, including sheriffs, 78 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,879 and federal immigration authorities. In particular, in the twenty twenty 79 00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:51,560 three twenty twenty four legislative session, House Bill ten required 80 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,399 sheriffs to notify ICE if they could not determine a 81 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:02,199 pre trial detainees immigration status, and the bill also required 82 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:08,000 sheriffs to cooperate with ICE detainers. Cunningham voted against the 83 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,879 original version of HB ten, but voted for the final 84 00:06:11,959 --> 00:06:15,399 version of the bill after certain amendments were made that 85 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:20,360 satisfied her concerns. She also voted to override Governor Roy 86 00:06:20,439 --> 00:06:24,519 Cooper's veto of the final version of the bill. House 87 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,519 Bill ten also funded the new jail inspectors that she 88 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,600 wanted to see put in place. Okay, so seems like 89 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,639 that's how the Republicans got her on board in the 90 00:06:36,639 --> 00:06:40,120 twenty twenty five session. So a year later, Cunningham votes 91 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:44,480 in favor of House Bill three eighteen, which the Republicans 92 00:06:44,519 --> 00:06:47,759 had to come back and do another bill because McFadden 93 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,480 was still not cooperating with the letter, if not the 94 00:06:52,519 --> 00:06:56,279 spirit of the law. So they come back with HB 95 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,600 three eighteen, which requires sheriffs and other officials to work 96 00:07:00,639 --> 00:07:04,120 with ICE to determine the immigration status of those detained 97 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:09,480 for felonies Class A one, misdemeanors, or DUI related offenses. 98 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,839 It also expands how long local officials must hold detainees 99 00:07:14,959 --> 00:07:18,360 on ICE detainers. All of this is true, I've covered 100 00:07:18,399 --> 00:07:23,920 all of these aspects of this fight. Okay. Next, Cunningham 101 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,879 votes to pass House Bill three eighteen, and then she 102 00:07:27,959 --> 00:07:31,720 votes to override Governor Stein's veto of the bill in July. 103 00:07:32,879 --> 00:07:39,040 And that's this past summer, This past July, that's when 104 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,959 this situation came to a head. In the spring and summer, 105 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,000 House Bill three eighteen was making its way through the 106 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,879 General Assembly, numerous other elected Democrats reached out to Cunningham 107 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,079 privately to attempt to persuade her to vote against the bill. 108 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,839 Such jaw boning or lobbying by other elected officials is 109 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:01,759 a normal and expected part of the political pros. All citizens, 110 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,199 even government officials, have a constitutional right to express their 111 00:08:05,279 --> 00:08:09,360 views to the people's elected representatives. Once she made the 112 00:08:09,399 --> 00:08:14,040 decision to vote for House Bill three eighteen. Cunningham publicly 113 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:18,959 announced her intention, she expected to and did take political 114 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,439 blowback for her votes. The bills were politically contentious, and 115 00:08:23,519 --> 00:08:27,639 Cunningham supplied a vote necessary to override a gubernatorial veto, 116 00:08:27,959 --> 00:08:33,320 the only Democrat in the House to do so. Now. 117 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:38,080 During his time in office, McFadden has spoken publicly about 118 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:42,240 his opposition too, both of these bills and other legislative 119 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,320 measures that did not pass, all of which required greater 120 00:08:45,399 --> 00:08:50,759 cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The 121 00:08:50,799 --> 00:08:56,200 final version of House Bill three eighteen passed June tenth, 122 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,720 stein vetoted on the twentieth, and then June twenty third. 123 00:09:00,879 --> 00:09:03,440 The House set a vote to override the veto the 124 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,559 next day, but then rescheduled the vote several times. It 125 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,240 eventually made it onto the calendar on July twenty ninth, 126 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:15,080 between the veto and the override vote. Okay, so during 127 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:19,279 this like month month and a half period, Cunningham was 128 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:24,440 subject to more intense petitioning by constituents, lobbyists, and other 129 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,879 elected officials about House Built three eighteen from both sides 130 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,600 of the issue. Again, that's normal and expected. What's not 131 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:38,960 normal or lawful? Is for such efforts to cross the 132 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:44,720 line into threats and extortion, as happened here with McFadden. 133 00:09:47,159 --> 00:09:50,320 We're getting to the good part. You know. Stories are powerful. 134 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,519 They help us make sense of things, to understand experiences. 135 00:09:53,759 --> 00:09:56,000 Stories connect us to the people of our past while 136 00:09:56,039 --> 00:09:59,440 transcending generations. They help us process the meaning of life 137 00:09:59,519 --> 00:10:03,440 and our stories are told through images and videos. Preserve 138 00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:06,879 your stories with Creative Video started in nineteen ninety seven 139 00:10:06,919 --> 00:10:09,720 and Minhill, North Carolina. It was the first company to 140 00:10:09,759 --> 00:10:13,759 provide this valuable service, converting images, photos and videos into 141 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,840 high quality produced slide shows, videos and albums. The trusted, 142 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,000 talented and dedicated team at Creative Video will go over 143 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,919 all of the details with you to create a perfect project. 144 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,159 Satisfaction guaranteed. Drop them off in person or mail them. 145 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,519 They'll be ready in a week or two. Memorial videos 146 00:10:29,519 --> 00:10:33,879 for your loved ones, videos for rehearsal, dinners, weddings, graduations, Christmas, 147 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,159 family vacations, birthdays, or just your family stories all told 148 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:41,919 through images. That's what your photos and videos are. They 149 00:10:41,919 --> 00:10:44,799 are your life told through the eyes of everyone around 150 00:10:44,799 --> 00:10:47,080 you and all who came before you, and they will 151 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,440 tell others to come who you are visit Creative video 152 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:52,960 dot Com. I do have a lot of messages. I 153 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,559 am aware, I gotta. I haven't even read through the 154 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,960 entire petition yet. So what I have been hammering away 155 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,879 at for the better part of now, probably three years, 156 00:11:05,759 --> 00:11:09,120 is that there is a mechanism in North Carolina state 157 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:15,720 law that allows for a process to be initiated to 158 00:11:15,879 --> 00:11:20,759 remove a sitting sheriff. It has to come from five 159 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,840 voters of the county. We now have that petition filed. 160 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:31,200 It has happened. I hang on, excuse me, still little 161 00:11:31,279 --> 00:11:34,399 remnants of the crud from Christmas, the Christmas crud as 162 00:11:34,399 --> 00:11:38,799 it were. I was unaware this was happening. All. I've 163 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,639 just been saying, like, this is the mechanism that has 164 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:45,759 to be employed. It would only work, I think if 165 00:11:45,799 --> 00:11:49,679 you get Democrats to do this. It cannot come from 166 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,720 Republicans because it'll then be perceived as a partisan attack. 167 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,879 This looks like it's coming from four of his former 168 00:11:57,919 --> 00:12:05,039 employees and a state representive Democrat, Carla Cunningham. And again, 169 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,000 this is like a thirty page petition. I've not read 170 00:12:08,039 --> 00:12:10,720 through it all. This is the portion now that I 171 00:12:10,759 --> 00:12:15,559 think might just given the headline might pose the biggest 172 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,960 problem for Mecklenberg County Sheriff Gary Not my fault, McFadden. 173 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:26,039 The headline on the sub section is McFadden's threats to 174 00:12:26,159 --> 00:12:33,759 Representative Cunningham, which that sounds bad. That sounds pretty bad. 175 00:12:35,799 --> 00:12:39,360 In between Governor Stein's veto of House Built three eighteen 176 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,720 and the House vote to override the veto, McFadden reached 177 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:49,120 out to Cunningham to schedule a phone call to discuss 178 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:54,000 the reasons for his opposition to the bill. That was normal, 179 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,720 and Cunningham was willing to speak to him, as she 180 00:12:56,799 --> 00:13:00,440 had with other elected officials and constituents and lobbyists all 181 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,679 attempting to persuade her on the issue. And by the way, 182 00:13:04,799 --> 00:13:12,320 kudos to Representative Cunningham who, in the face of this 183 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:20,159 massive campaign to get her to fall in line with 184 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,840 all of her party members, she held the line and 185 00:13:23,919 --> 00:13:28,559 she said, no, we need more jail inspectors, more inspections, 186 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:32,240 and we need to have local authorities working with ice. 187 00:13:33,879 --> 00:13:37,399 And she held firm and she voted to override the veto. 188 00:13:37,519 --> 00:13:40,879 But she was the target of a massive pressure campaign, 189 00:13:41,399 --> 00:13:44,279 and we knew this at the time. We did not 190 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:49,759 know this. After exchanging some preliminary text messages about scheduling. 191 00:13:50,159 --> 00:13:53,399 Cunningham and McFadden set up a half hour call on 192 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:59,159 or about Thursday, July twenty sixth McFadden began the call 193 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,480 by contending, this is so tell like everything that you 194 00:14:03,519 --> 00:14:09,840 know about McFadden, like this sentence, This is him in 195 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:15,240 a nutshell, Okay. He begins the call by contending that 196 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:22,559 he had heard from media that Cunningham didn't like him. 197 00:14:22,639 --> 00:14:27,120 What Cunningham replied she did not have any personal animosity 198 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,600 towards McFadden, but simply had a different view than him 199 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:33,320 that sheriffs ought to be cooperating with ICE as a 200 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:36,720 general matter to help ensure that illegal immigrants with criminal 201 00:14:36,759 --> 00:14:42,480 records or serious criminal charges were deported. McFadden stated that 202 00:14:42,559 --> 00:14:46,679 if Cunningham continued down the path she was on, the 203 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:52,799 people of Mecklenburg County would quote come after her. Based 204 00:14:52,799 --> 00:14:58,600 on McFadden's tone and manner of delivery, Cunningham understood McFadden 205 00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:03,720 to be making a prediction that Cunningham would become physically unsafe, 206 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,840 not that she would, for example, lose the support of 207 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:12,799 her constituents or face highly motivated political opposition. She took 208 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,600 it as a threat that they're going to come after you. 209 00:15:15,679 --> 00:15:19,960 McFadden then pointed out that House Bill three eighteen would 210 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:25,320 cost money to house immigration detainees in the Central Jail, 211 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,879 and the taxpayers would bear the cost for that, which 212 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,399 anytime a Democrat starts talking to you about, oh what 213 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,799 about the taxpayer costs, like, I'm not believing that you're 214 00:15:35,919 --> 00:15:39,480 arguing about cost. Okay, you have some other reason you 215 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,720 don't want to do something, and you're just citing taxpayer 216 00:15:41,759 --> 00:15:45,519 cost as some excuse that you think I will care about, 217 00:15:45,639 --> 00:15:49,840 you know. Cunningham replied that none of these concerns swayed her. 218 00:15:50,279 --> 00:15:53,240 She had heard them before, but believe the cost of 219 00:15:53,639 --> 00:15:57,919 House Bill three eighteen the cost were outweighed by its 220 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:02,279 benefits to the citizens via facilitating the removal of illegal 221 00:16:02,279 --> 00:16:07,360 immigrants with a criminal record from the community. Finally, McFadden 222 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:10,960 tells Cunningham that quote, I don't want to see you 223 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:15,879 get hurt. You live in my county. We had him 224 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,600 he just did some interview, right, We had audio of 225 00:16:20,679 --> 00:16:23,759 him saying something very much along those lines, not about Cunningham, 226 00:16:24,279 --> 00:16:26,720 but you know, live in my county. I don't want 227 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:31,320 anybody to get hurt. Whatever. So that sounds like him. 228 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:39,559 Cunningham hung up on McFadden immediately after that statement. Well, yeah, 229 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,039 when the sheriff of the county says I don't want 230 00:16:43,039 --> 00:16:47,440 to see you get hurt, what do you think that means? 231 00:16:48,039 --> 00:16:53,000 That means you know, you should really do what I'm 232 00:16:53,039 --> 00:16:56,080 asking you to do because you could come to physical harm. 233 00:16:57,639 --> 00:17:02,919 Cunningham reasonably understood those comments to be a threat by 234 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,559 McFadden to either physically harm her or to withdraw or 235 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:11,200 refuse her any protection from members of the public who 236 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,559 would physically harm her. Although on their face, McFadden's statements 237 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:21,519 nominally expressed concern for Cunningham's welfare, McFadden's tone and delivery 238 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,680 indicated the opposite, meaning. It's akin to a mafia boss 239 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,200 demanding money by saying, nice little story you've got there. 240 00:17:30,519 --> 00:17:33,160 It'd be a shame if anything happened to it. Here's 241 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,720 a great idea. How about making an escape to a 242 00:17:35,799 --> 00:17:39,319 really special and secluded getaway in western North Carolina? Just 243 00:17:39,319 --> 00:17:41,880 a quick drive up the mountain and cabins of Asheville 244 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,759 is your connection. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary a honeymoon, 245 00:17:45,839 --> 00:17:48,079 maybe you want to plan a memorable proposal or get 246 00:17:48,079 --> 00:17:51,000 family and friends together for a big old reunion. Cabins 247 00:17:51,039 --> 00:17:53,759 of Asheville has the ideal spot for you where you 248 00:17:53,799 --> 00:17:56,359 can reconnect with your loved ones and the things that 249 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,000 truly matter. Nestled within the breath taking fourteen thousand eight 250 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:03,599 of the Pisga National Forest, their cabins offer a serene 251 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,400 escape in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Centrally 252 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,920 located between Ashville and the entrance of the Great Smoky 253 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,799 Mountain National Park. It's the perfect balance of seclusion and 254 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:17,200 proximity to all the local attractions with hot tubs, fireplaces, 255 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:21,400 air conditioning, smart TVs, Wi Fi grills, outdoor tables and 256 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:25,799 your own private covered porch. Choose from thirteen cabins, six cottages, 257 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,839 two villas, and a great lodge with eleven king sized bedrooms. 258 00:18:30,039 --> 00:18:33,200 Cabins of Ashville has the ideal spot for you for 259 00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:37,039 any occasion, and they have pet friendly accommodations. Call or 260 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,440 text eight two eight three six seven seventy sixty eight 261 00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:42,920 or check out all there is to offer at cabins 262 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,480 Offashville dot com and make memories that'll last a lifetime. 263 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:52,279 Alrights sorry, just reading through the petition to remove Mecklenberg 264 00:18:52,319 --> 00:18:55,480 County Sheriff Gary not my fault, McFadden. It has been 265 00:18:55,559 --> 00:19:02,680 duly filed five voters of Mecklenburg County for apparently previous employees, 266 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,279 and one is a state representative. They have filed a 267 00:19:06,279 --> 00:19:11,640 petition with the court to have Sheriff McFadden ousted from 268 00:19:11,799 --> 00:19:21,759 his position for extortion, bribery, corruption, and maladministration. The extortion 269 00:19:22,279 --> 00:19:27,480 and bribery is associated with the state Representative Carla Cunningham, 270 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,799 who was going to vote and did vote with Republicans 271 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,319 on a bill that passed and then was vetoed, but 272 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,480 then the Republicans, along with Cunningham, overrode the veto that 273 00:19:39,519 --> 00:19:45,920 would force sheriffs to cooperate fully with ICE. McFadden ran 274 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,559 on this platform of not cooperating with Ice. You know, 275 00:19:49,759 --> 00:19:52,720 was always doing what he could to release people from 276 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:56,079 his custody without telling Ice. He was not honoring their 277 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:00,839 detainer requests and stuff. We've been following this well since 278 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:07,480 he first won election almost eight years ago. After this 279 00:20:07,799 --> 00:20:11,519 the governor's veto and before the vote to override the veto, 280 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,960 cunning Him gets on a call with McFadden. He had 281 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,880 asked for a call, asked to talk with her, tries 282 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:24,200 to persuade her to fall in line with all of 283 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:29,519 the other Democrats and vote not to override the veto, 284 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,519 and she's like, not going to happen. I believe in 285 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:35,680 this bill. This is what has to happen. And in 286 00:20:35,759 --> 00:20:41,720 that conversation is when he says that that Meckleberg County 287 00:20:41,759 --> 00:20:45,160 people are going to come after her and I don't 288 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,640 want to see you get hurt. You live in my county. 289 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,720 She took that as a threat and she hung up 290 00:20:51,720 --> 00:21:03,400 on him. Now some context here. Cunningham understood McFadden's statements 291 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,640 as a threat because he was implicitly admitting that he 292 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,039 could not do his job of protecting a citizen of 293 00:21:09,039 --> 00:21:12,880 his county who had faced and was facing threats of violence. 294 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:20,079 Remember what happened in the summer. McFadden never urged Cunningham 295 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,960 to say leave Mecklenburg County until the political passions of 296 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:27,880 the moment blew over, nor did he suggest any steps 297 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:32,119 that she could take to keep herself safe. Cunningham also 298 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,400 understood McFadden's statement as a threat because she was aware 299 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:41,799 of his carefully cultivated reputation for retaliation against his perceived enemies. 300 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:48,839 Within the sheriff's office. Cunningham's understanding of McFadden's statements was 301 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,799 also informed by the events of the summer of twenty 302 00:21:51,839 --> 00:21:55,240 twenty five, which was a time of heightened political tensions 303 00:21:55,480 --> 00:22:00,160 and high profile political violence. Cunningham held town halls in 304 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:06,240 her district at which some activists were physically intimidating, confrontations 305 00:22:06,279 --> 00:22:10,319 that McFadden was likely aware of. She also received threats 306 00:22:10,319 --> 00:22:12,839 of violence against her as a result of her publicly 307 00:22:12,839 --> 00:22:17,799 announced stance on House Bill three eighteen. As a result, 308 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:22,359 Cunningham received temporary security protection from the North Carolina State 309 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:27,039 Capitol Police while she was in Raleigh, but such security 310 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:32,640 did not accompany her to Charlotte. Cunningham also hired private 311 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:38,720 security for selected events using her campaign funds nationally just 312 00:22:38,759 --> 00:22:41,599 a few weeks. But again, so like, where is this 313 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:47,960 coming from? Where is the threat coming from the left? Right, 314 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,720 This is coming from the left. This is the base 315 00:22:50,799 --> 00:22:53,839 inside the Democrat Party. I've been talking about this also 316 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:59,119 for years that Democrat lawmakers have been feeding this alligator 317 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,640 in the hopes that it eats them last. And that's 318 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:06,480 the thing is, eventually you do get eaten. You may 319 00:23:06,519 --> 00:23:12,359 be last, but you do get eaten nationally. Just a 320 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:18,519 few weeks before McFadden's extortive threat, Minnesota Speaker of the 321 00:23:18,559 --> 00:23:21,839 House Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered in their 322 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:26,119 home June fourteenth, twenty twenty five by a politically motivated assassin. 323 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:30,000 Cunningham had followed the Hortman case and was deeply affected 324 00:23:30,039 --> 00:23:35,319 by it. Goes on to say, now it's the petition 325 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,200 here is going to lay out how these threats constitute extortion. 326 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,039 His threat to refuse to protect Cunningham from physical intimidation 327 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,559 and or violence that he himself predicted if she did 328 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:53,000 not change her vote constitutes extortion under state law. And 329 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,680 then it lists the law here and it says that 330 00:23:57,279 --> 00:23:59,759 his statements that the citizens of Meckelberg County would come 331 00:23:59,759 --> 00:24:03,400 after her, I don't want to see you get hurt. 332 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:07,720 You live in my county. These were intended by McFadden 333 00:24:07,759 --> 00:24:11,240 and were understood by cunning him as wrongful threats that 334 00:24:11,319 --> 00:24:14,559 McFadden would withdraw the protection of the Sheriff's office from her, 335 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,039 making no effort to protect Cunningham from predictable risk of 336 00:24:18,079 --> 00:24:21,720 physical harm if she did not change her vote. McFadden's 337 00:24:21,759 --> 00:24:26,640 threats were made with the intent to wrongfully influence her vote, 338 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:31,319 and Cunningham's vote was then by statute, they argue a 339 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:38,480 thing of value to McFadden. First, he said it's going 340 00:24:38,519 --> 00:24:41,440 to cost him money to implement House Bill three eighteen. 341 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:46,599 McFadden would reasonably anticipate that new obligations imposed on his 342 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,400 office would reduce the funds otherwise available to his office 343 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:54,920 for other purposes, you know, like making a recording studio 344 00:24:55,039 --> 00:24:58,920 for the inmates. I'm sorry, the residents, as he calls them, 345 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:04,319 the residents of the Second, it would remove housepil three 346 00:25:04,319 --> 00:25:09,640 eighteen removed discretion that McFadden, like other sheriffs, had previously enjoyed, 347 00:25:10,039 --> 00:25:12,440 to decide whether to cooperate with ICE on a selective 348 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:16,680 case by case basis in certain scenarios. Thus all else equal, 349 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:22,319 Housepill three eighteen's passage effectively reduced the budget and discretion 350 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,240 that McFadden enjoyed as a result of holding his office. 351 00:25:25,799 --> 00:25:30,240 In addition, McFadden had publicly opposed local law enforcement cooperation 352 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,640 with ICE. It was publicly viewed as part of his 353 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:38,960 political platform, having spoken out against House Bill three eighteen. 354 00:25:39,039 --> 00:25:46,319 The law's enactment was a political defeat for McFadden, Yeah, absolutely, 355 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:51,079 it has been so that's why they say that constituted 356 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:58,440 a extortion, also constituted attempted bribery and corruption. It lists 357 00:25:58,519 --> 00:26:04,079 the General Statute bribery economic threats made to influence legislation. 358 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:08,480 McFadden violated this provision by offering anything of monetary value 359 00:26:08,559 --> 00:26:12,319 that is law enforcement protection with the intent to influence 360 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:17,079 Cunningham's vote. McFadden's threats to Cunningham were made with the 361 00:26:17,079 --> 00:26:19,480 intent to influence her vote, as well as her other 362 00:26:19,559 --> 00:26:22,720 official actions and the discharge of her official duties, specifically 363 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,319 her publicly announced support of House Built three eighteen. His 364 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,519 implied threat that the Sheriff's office would not protect or 365 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:34,279 would not attempt to protect Cunningham unless she changed her 366 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,559 vote was a threat to provide or withhold a thing 367 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:43,079 of monetary value. Such physical security has monetary value. For example, 368 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:47,319 she had to hire private security guards until the controversy 369 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:51,119 over House Built three eighteen had passed, and finally McFadden 370 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,200 and members of the public could reasonably infer that a 371 00:26:54,319 --> 00:26:58,200 sheriff who threatened a lawmaker with withdrawal of law enforcement 372 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,799 protection unless that lawmaker voted as the sheriff wished could 373 00:27:01,839 --> 00:27:05,000 influence that legislator in the discharge of her official duties. 374 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:09,799 Right if the public found out that he said those 375 00:27:09,839 --> 00:27:13,640 comments to her and then she flipped her vote, Right, 376 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:18,039 if the public found out about that, then people would 377 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:21,200 believe that he had threatened her to get her to 378 00:27:21,279 --> 00:27:27,200 change your vote. Indeed, the entire purpose of McFadden's call 379 00:27:27,839 --> 00:27:31,279 was to influence her vote. But McFadden's threat was an 380 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:36,920 unlawful means of doing so. So that is from the petition. 381 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,519 That's just one of the five people that have filed 382 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:47,880 the petition. All the other four have all sorts of 383 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:51,240 serious allegations against him as well. All right, if you're 384 00:27:51,279 --> 00:27:53,039 listening to this show, you know I try to keep 385 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:54,839 up with all sorts of current events, and I know 386 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,279 you do too, And you've probably heard me say get 387 00:27:57,319 --> 00:28:01,279 your news from multiple sources. Why, Well, because it's how 388 00:28:01,319 --> 00:28:03,920 you detect media bias, which is why I've been so 389 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:07,640 impressed with ground News. It's an app and it's a 390 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,480 website and it combines news from around the world in 391 00:28:10,519 --> 00:28:13,839 one place, so you can compare coverage and verify information. 392 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,400 You can check it out at check dot ground dot 393 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,599 news slash pete I put the link in the podcast 394 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:23,640 description too. I started using ground News a few months 395 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,240 ago and more recently chose to work with them as 396 00:28:26,279 --> 00:28:29,480 an affiliate because it lets me see clearly how stories 397 00:28:29,519 --> 00:28:32,759 get covered and by whom. The blind spot feature shows 398 00:28:32,759 --> 00:28:35,680 you which stories get ignored by the left and the right. 399 00:28:35,799 --> 00:28:40,480 See for yourself. Check dot Ground dot news slash pete. 400 00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:43,240 Subscribe through that link and you'll get fifteen percent off 401 00:28:43,279 --> 00:28:46,559 any subscription. I use the Vantage plan to get unlimited 402 00:28:46,559 --> 00:28:49,880 access to every feature. Your subscription then not only helps 403 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:52,680 my podcast, but it also supports ground News as they 404 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,599 make the media landscape more transparent. Petition has been filed 405 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:02,319 by five Meckelberg County electors aka voters, seeking the removal 406 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:07,640 of Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary Not my fault, McFadden, I 407 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,920 ran through I think what is probably some of the 408 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:15,359 most serious allegations by state Representative Carla Cunningham, accusing McFadden 409 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,640 of extortion and bribery, trying to get her to switch 410 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:23,400 her vote on the House built three eighteen that forces 411 00:29:23,799 --> 00:29:30,200 sheriffs to cooperate with ICE. Made some veiled threats, Oh, 412 00:29:30,279 --> 00:29:32,240 I'd hate to see any harm come to you. You 413 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:37,720 know so in their claims, though again this is a 414 00:29:37,799 --> 00:29:43,359 thirty some pages and there are four other people in 415 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:47,559 the petition, they appear to be former employees, and so 416 00:29:47,599 --> 00:29:51,279 they just kind of restate in the petition here all 417 00:29:51,359 --> 00:29:58,200 of the accusations for why the petition has merit and 418 00:29:58,319 --> 00:30:01,680 now needs to be try and it would either be 419 00:30:01,759 --> 00:30:03,920 tried by the district attorney, which is where I would 420 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:09,599 prefer it go, or the Mecklenburg County Attorney. And I 421 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:13,759 believe that is Tyrone Wade. Got a bit of a 422 00:30:13,839 --> 00:30:17,680 history with mister Wade, which I will not go into here, 423 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,079 but it had to do with DSS litigation twenty years 424 00:30:21,079 --> 00:30:25,880 ago when I was a reporter, So I'm not terribly 425 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:30,000 confident in that, but maybe, like either way, like this 426 00:30:30,119 --> 00:30:32,519 is going to be a real test for the local 427 00:30:32,559 --> 00:30:37,839 Democrat party because they're going to have to decide on 428 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:45,079 whether or not these accusations are have merit and that 429 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,880 he is guilty of maladministration and needs to be removed. 430 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,359 Now they're also asking in this petition for him to 431 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:56,599 be suspended pending the disposition of the petition, so as 432 00:30:56,680 --> 00:31:01,519 this thing works its way through the court, they don't 433 00:31:01,519 --> 00:31:04,680 want him in office. He needs to be suspended. By 434 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:07,039 the way, and I mentioned this, I think earlier he 435 00:31:07,079 --> 00:31:12,319 had already been requested or summoned to appear before the 436 00:31:12,599 --> 00:31:18,079 North Carolina House Oversight Committee. I believe that that's set 437 00:31:18,079 --> 00:31:23,039 for January twenty second. And when I saw that this morning, 438 00:31:23,039 --> 00:31:25,960 I was like, well, that's odd. Why are they asking 439 00:31:26,039 --> 00:31:28,799 him to come before the House Oversight Committee. Well, now 440 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:33,599 it makes sense. Now it makes sense. Obviously the lawmakers 441 00:31:33,599 --> 00:31:37,599 and Raleigh knew what was coming, and so they've put 442 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:39,279 in the request. We'll see what he does. We'll also 443 00:31:39,279 --> 00:31:41,319 see if he still holds that meeting that he had 444 00:31:41,359 --> 00:31:44,319 set for tomorrow. I believe where he was going to 445 00:31:44,599 --> 00:31:47,200 talk about, you know, reopening Jail North and why we 446 00:31:47,319 --> 00:31:50,039 just can't do that, you know, and all the pressures 447 00:31:50,039 --> 00:31:52,920 from Arena's law, and I'm gonna have to hold more people, 448 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,519 and woe is me. It's not my fault. I don't 449 00:31:55,519 --> 00:31:58,079 have enough people and all this It is your fault. 450 00:31:58,079 --> 00:32:00,000 You don't have enough people. Nobody wants to work for you. 451 00:32:02,839 --> 00:32:07,279 So McFadden's so, here's some of the summation or the 452 00:32:07,279 --> 00:32:12,960 summary of the various accusations. McFadden's direction that line deputies 453 00:32:14,079 --> 00:32:18,279 working at the detention center not report assaults or other 454 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:23,440 misconduct by inmates constitutes wilful and habitual neglect to perform 455 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:27,039 the duties of his office. I'd say, oh, yeah, so 456 00:32:27,079 --> 00:32:30,000 he's telling people don't report assaults, so he's juice in 457 00:32:30,039 --> 00:32:35,400 the stats. McFadden's direction that line deputies not report assaults 458 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:43,079 or other misconduct constitutes wilful misconduct and maladministration. McFadden's retaliation 459 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,880 and threats of retaliation against line deputies working at the 460 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:52,000 detention center who reported assaults or other misconduct also maladministration. 461 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:58,440 His persistent non enforcement of jail policies intended to promote 462 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:02,559 the safety of officers and inmates, his creation of ad 463 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:07,640 hoc exceptions so one off, case by case exceptions to 464 00:33:07,839 --> 00:33:13,160 jail policies, and his retaliation against deputies and supervisors who 465 00:33:13,319 --> 00:33:19,559 enforced jail policies as written, McFadden's persistent non enforcement of 466 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:24,359 policies intended to promote safety. Okay, so they're just restating 467 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,559 each of these things and saying that they are maladministration 468 00:33:27,799 --> 00:33:34,359 and habitual neglect to perform duties. His misuse of official 469 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:40,079 resources for work on his re election campaign. Misuse of 470 00:33:40,079 --> 00:33:45,559 official resources in connection with dignitary duty. I have not 471 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:50,559 read this part of the petition yet, misuse of official 472 00:33:50,599 --> 00:33:56,200 resources in connection with the deployment of reserve deputies, his 473 00:33:56,359 --> 00:34:01,279 interference with the Sheriff's office ordinary hiring and promotion practices, 474 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:05,400 to show favoritism to employees who agreed to report to 475 00:34:05,599 --> 00:34:09,440 him outside the chain of command, and to show him 476 00:34:09,519 --> 00:34:16,320 unquestioning personal loyalty. Oh that explains that Facebook post celebrating 477 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,679 his birthday and showing videos of how snappily he dresses 478 00:34:21,079 --> 00:34:25,320 McFadden's threat to withdraw or refuse law enforcement protection of 479 00:34:25,599 --> 00:34:31,920 state Representative Carla Cunningham. Okay, these are the Cunningham Okay, 480 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,440 all right, So that's it. And then he is subject 481 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:38,000 to removal from office. So they're asking they're asking the 482 00:34:38,039 --> 00:34:42,199 court to suspend him from office pending the adjudication of 483 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:45,599 this petition and then enter judgment in favor of the 484 00:34:45,639 --> 00:34:52,519 petitioners and order McFadden removed from the office of Sheriff 485 00:34:52,559 --> 00:34:58,400 of Mecklenberg County. Oh boy, Okay, let's get to the 486 00:34:58,679 --> 00:35:05,679 text line messages here only imagine hmm let me see here. 487 00:35:05,719 --> 00:35:10,880 Seven oh four number suggests it is McFadden's fault well 488 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:17,400 this time it might be Pete, you're the joyous person 489 00:35:17,519 --> 00:35:20,960 in radio. Well, thank you, Robert, I appreciate that the 490 00:35:21,039 --> 00:35:23,400 helly and says I have not heard Pete this giddy. 491 00:35:23,639 --> 00:35:30,280 What a great couple of days for America. Mm hmmmmmm. 492 00:35:30,599 --> 00:35:33,880 This is from the grumpy major. I am only surprised 493 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:36,599 that this did not happen sooner. Anyone who has worked 494 00:35:36,599 --> 00:35:40,119 with or around Sheriff. Not my fault. McFadden knew that 495 00:35:40,199 --> 00:35:42,960 his ego and narcissism would come back to bite him 496 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:46,519 in the butt. Hopefully the dwindling number of his supporters 497 00:35:46,559 --> 00:35:48,920 will finally see him for who he is, or perhaps 498 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:52,119 they'll just be the last rats leaving the sinking ship. 499 00:35:53,639 --> 00:35:56,159 John says, too funny, you sounded like a kid on 500 00:35:56,239 --> 00:36:02,119 Christmas Day. I do feel like I mean, well, it's right, 501 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:09,000 Epiphany is tomorrow, so we are still in the Christmas season. 502 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:15,320 Rodney says, well, you know that not my fault McFadden 503 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:17,519 is going to say, oh, this is racism. It's all 504 00:36:17,559 --> 00:36:20,079 based on racism. Yeah, I expect that, Rodney. It's a 505 00:36:20,079 --> 00:36:24,519 good point. I love all the great breaking news today, Pete. 506 00:36:24,519 --> 00:36:27,639 It's the best late Christmas ever I can barely contain myself, 507 00:36:28,199 --> 00:36:32,679 says Mike from Maryland. Debra says, ha ha, I love 508 00:36:32,679 --> 00:36:38,280 it when Sheriff Gary writes his own posts. I was 509 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,119 just about to break this news about Gary to you, Pete. 510 00:36:41,159 --> 00:36:43,320 I want to be the reason you were happy today. 511 00:36:43,719 --> 00:36:49,599 That's Tyler. Oh my goodness. A lot of the text 512 00:36:49,599 --> 00:36:51,800 messages do they just keep pouring in here? People, I'm 513 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:58,599 trying to keep up, Dana. Okay, this is about the 514 00:36:58,639 --> 00:37:01,800 earlier topic in the first hour about Venezuela, which we 515 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:06,039 moved on from. Let me jump up here, Shannon, Pete. 516 00:37:06,119 --> 00:37:10,239 It's your New Year's gift. Welcome back, Jennifer says, best 517 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:18,079 day ever. Yes, McFadden is in apparently the finding out 518 00:37:18,159 --> 00:37:22,440 phase seven four number. I'm so glad they didn't break 519 00:37:22,480 --> 00:37:24,920 this while you were gone. You're a giver. Thank you, Sarah. 520 00:37:25,199 --> 00:37:29,719 They yes, you know what. Let me thank the law 521 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:39,800 offices of where did it come from? Chalmers and Adams, 522 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:46,920 I think for yeah, Chalmers, Adams, Backer and Kaufman. They're 523 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:49,760 out of Raleigh. So thank you very much to the 524 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:54,039 law firm for not breaking this over the weekend and 525 00:37:54,119 --> 00:37:58,280 instead breaking it during my show. For sending it out 526 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,800 during my show I do appreciate that so very much, 527 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:05,400 and Monica says when Pat Cannon was arrested, I was 528 00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:08,280 literally walking on air. I had a big, stupid smile 529 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,679 on my face. I was so happy. I also worked 530 00:38:10,679 --> 00:38:13,559 at a very leftist place, so I was trying and 531 00:38:13,559 --> 00:38:18,400 failing to hide it. I was effusive. All right, that'll 532 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:21,079 do it for this episode. Thank you so much for listening. 533 00:38:21,199 --> 00:38:23,320 I could not do the show without your support and 534 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:26,079 the support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast, 535 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:28,519 so if you'd like, please support them too and tell 536 00:38:28,559 --> 00:38:30,280 them you heard it here. You can also become a 537 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:35,000 patron at my Patreon page or go to thepetecallanershow dot com. Again, 538 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:37,719 thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything 539 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:42,800 while I'm gone.