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Over 60 arrested during second night of riots in Minnesota

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Minnesota police officers arrested over 60 protesters and looters as unrest continued for a second night after the deadly shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Arrests were made for rioting, curfew violations and other criminal behavior, Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer said in a news conference early Wednesday morning.

“The behaviors that we continue to see are unacceptable and we are not going to tolerate them,” Langer said. “It is not acceptable and it will not be tolerated if you choose to do criminal activity and destroy property and throw objects and make it unsafe for people to come and exercise their First Amendment rights.”

Authorities fired multiple rounds of tear gas, along with rubber bullets and flash grenades to attempt to disperse the crowd.

Protestors retaliated by throwing water bottles, bricks and setting off fireworks.

“Unfortunately again, some citizens decided to come out and throw these bricks and these other items at law enforcement and this type of behavior is not acceptable and we’re just, quite frankly, not going to tolerate it,” Booker Hodges, an assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department for Public Safety, said.

Looters broke into several businesses in the Brooklyn Center and surrounding areas, including a Dollar Tree that was completely destroyed, where flames were later spotted.

Fox News reporter Mike Tobin said many of the protestors identified themselves as Antifa.

“On Sunday night it was all about the locals that were here and they were genuine and they were angry. As it goes on, you get more people coming in from out of town,” Tobin told Laura Ingraham. “I had a lot of people – several people I spoke with tonight – who identified themselves as Antifa and angrily so.”

13 people were arrested in the surrounding city of Minneapolis, according to Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Amelia Huffman. Four of those arrests were for burglaries related to looting, two were suspects in shots-fired incidents, six were for curfew violations and one was on an outstanding warrant, the Star Tribune reported. Five businesses, including a Target that was trashed last year after the fatal arrest of George Floyd, a liquor store and a shoe store, were targeted by looting, she said.

Duante Wright was allegedly shot and killed by a Minnesota police officer during a traffic stop Sunday.

The officer resigned Tuesday, as well as the city’s police chief — moves that the mayor said he hoped would help heal the community and lead to reconciliation after two nights of protests and unrest.

Follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy

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Rep. Matt Gaetz Confronts Speaker McCarthy in Fiery House GOP Meeting

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In a closed-door House GOP conference meeting on Thursday morning, tensions flared as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) confronted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), accusing him and his allies of orchestrating an online campaign against him with the help of “MAGA influencers.”

According to reports from Fox News, the exchange was marked by what was described as “fireworks.” Gaetz directly addressed McCarthy, alleging that “MAGA influencers” had been paid to attack him on social media. McCarthy promptly denied the accusation, dismissing Gaetz’s claims.

Speaker McCarthy dismissed Gaetz’s allegations, indicating that he had no intention of engaging in such activities. In the same meeting, another source revealed that McCarthy questioned Gaetz’s commitment to the GOP’s goals, pointing out that he was personally dedicating his efforts to allocate $5 million to support GOP candidates and members with the aim of strengthening their majority in the near future. McCarthy’s remark seemed to challenge Gaetz regarding his contributions toward achieving a stronger Republican majority.

In response to Gaetz’s allegations, some members of the GOP caucus expressed frustration. According to a second source, one lawmaker told Gaetz to “f— off,” while another referred to him as a “scumbag,” according to reports.

Gaetz confirmed the confrontation to reporters as he exited the meeting, explaining, “I asked him whether or not he was paying those influencers to post negative things about me online.” He also confirmed McCarthy’s response, saying, “Yeah, that is what he said.”

When asked about his feelings toward McCarthy during and after the exchange, Gaetz remarked, “My blood pressure is like 120 over 80. So I’m feeling great.”

A spokesperson for Speaker McCarthy categorically denied any involvement in the alleged online campaign, attributing it to a Democrat-backed entity. In support of this claim, Fox News Digital reportedly obtained a screenshot of a cease-and-desist email sent by McCarthy’s outside lawyer to the individuals allegedly behind the campaign.

Furthermore, the email asserted that the campaign falsely claimed to act on behalf of Speaker McCarthy and his affiliated entities and warned of legal consequences if the actions continued.

The exchange in the House GOP meeting underscores the ongoing tension between Gaetz and McCarthy. Gaetz has been threatening to force a House-wide vote on McCarthy’s speakership, alleging violations of a deal struck to secure McCarthy’s election as Speaker in January.

Under the terms of that compromise, McCarthy agreed to allow any lawmaker to trigger a vote on his removal, known as a “motion to vacate.” While Gaetz had hinted at pursuing such a motion earlier in the week, he sidestepped questions on the matter during the recent meeting with reporters.

In the midst of this contentious atmosphere, Gaetz emphasized his current focus on advancing single-subject spending bills, deflecting inquiries regarding the motion to vacate and maintaining his dedication to legislative efforts.

The confrontation between Gaetz and McCarthy underscores the complex dynamics within the Republican caucus as it navigates internal divisions and confronts ongoing challenges on Capitol Hill.

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