Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona

The Gateway Pundit reported in May that the Department of Education under President Trump rescinded penalties imposed by the Biden Regime against Phoenix, Arizona’s Grand Canyon University (GCU) for allegedly misleading students about tuition costs.

This was one of several attacks on the university during its years-long battle with the federal government under Biden.

As The Gateway Pundit reported in December 2023, the FTC announced a lawsuit against the school, alleging “false advertising,” after the Department of Education imposed a massive $37.7 million fine on October 31.

The university announced in May that the IRS reaffirmed its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, “further refuting lawfare” the university has faced. “The recent IRS and ED decisions stand in stark contrast to false accusations made by officials in the Biden Administration related to GCU’s nonprofit status and doctoral disclosures,” the university said.

Now, GCU has announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has voted unanimously to drop its lawsuit against the school.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted unanimously today to dismiss its lawsuit against Grand Canyon University’s largest service provider — Grand Canyon Education — and Brian Mueller, ending years of coordinated lawfare by government officials under the Biden Administration against the largest Christian university in the country.

The lawsuit, which already had been dismissed by the United States District Court of Arizona against Grand Canyon University on jurisdictional grounds, has now been completely dropped after all parties filed a joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice with the court.

In a unanimous ruling issued by FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson and the other two commissioners, he stated: “This case, which we inherited from the previous administration, was filed nearly two years ago and has suffered losses in two motions to dismiss.These losses are compounded by recent events: Grand Canyon secured a victory over the Department of Education in a related matter before the Ninth Circuit; the Department of Education rescinded a massive fine levied on related grounds; and the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Grand Canyon University is properly claiming 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation designation.”

GCU President Brian Mueller shared his appreciation that current FTC officials took an objective look at the case and recognized the numerous agencies and courts that have already ruled in GCU’s favor on the same allegations.

“As we have stated from the beginning, not only were these accusations false, but the opposite is true,” Mueller stated.

“We go above and beyond what is required in our disclosures and are recognized as a leader in this area.”

GCU has maintained that the allegations were a coordinated effort by former officials within the Biden Administration to undermine a thriving Christian university.

“They threw everything they had at us for four years, and yet, despite every unjust accusation leveled against us, we have not only survived but have continued to thrive as a university,” Mueller continued.

“That is a testament, first and foremost, to the strength and dedication of our faculty, staff, students and their families. Above all, it speaks to our unwavering belief that the truth would ultimately prevail.”

The post Victory for Christian University Target By Years of Lawfare from Biden Administration appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Vicky

The State Department has issued what may be its most blunt statement yet against a policy in the United Kingdom that created public buffer zones inside of which prayer is banned.

For the past few years, several cases of British Christians praying outside or in the vicinity of abortion clinics have drawn international attention as the nation’s government arrests, charges, and convicts the anti-abortion advocates.

In recent days, an unnamed spokesman for the State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, issued the strongest statement on record against these policies from the Trump administration, telling British news outlet The Telegraph that “the UK’s persecution of silent prayer represents not only an egregious violation of the fundamental right to free speech and religious liberty, but also a concerning departure from the shared values that ought to underpin US-UK relations.”

The spokesman added that “the United States is still monitoring many ‘buffer zone’ cases in the UK, as well as other acts of censorship throughout Europe.”

“It is common sense that standing silently and offering consensual conversation does not constitute harm,” he added.

The spokesman was by no means exaggerating: As noted by Alliance Defending Freedom International, a legal advocacy group which has represented many of the British Christians threatened with penalties under the new rules, several believers have been charged for such conduct.

Rose Docherty, who is 75 years old, was arrested in Scotland earlier this year for holding a sign that said “coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want” outside of a hospital.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was previously awarded £13,000 in compensation for unfair arrests related to her public prayers, was placed back under investigation this year for once more praying near an abortion clinic in Birmingham.

Adam Smith-Connor, a veteran, spent a few minutes bowing his head in prayer near an abortion clinic and was told to pay £9,000 in costs as a result.

Beyond media statements from spokesmen, Vice President J.D. Vance has publicly condemned such prosecutions before European leaders.

After discussing the case of Smith-Connor, Vance said during the Munich Security Conference this year that he wishes the incident was merely a “one-off, crazy example of a badly written law being enacted against a single person.”

But he acknowledged that the targeting of Smith-Connor was part of a broader pattern.

“This last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so-called ‘safe access zones,’ warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law,” Vance added.

“Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thoughtcrime,” he continued. “In Britain, and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.”

Lorcan Price, a barrister in Ireland who serves as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom International, voiced agreement with the assessment.

“Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are cornerstones of any free society,” the attorney said.

“The UK’s treatment of individuals like Livia, Adam, Isabel and Rose for the false ‘crimes’ of praying silently or offering conversation shows just how far the country has strayed from its own proud traditions of liberty,” Price added, in reference to those who have been prosecuted for their prayers.

Price commended the State Department for openly denouncing the policy in recent days.

“The US State Department is right to call out this injustice,” he continued. “It is time for the UK government to restore fundamental freedoms, and repeal buffer zone legislation.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Rubio’s State Department Rebukes Britain’s Persecution of Praying Christians appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Vicky

In 2023, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared on “Anderson Cooper 360” and said that then-President Joe Biden should ignore court rulings on abortion pills. (@IngrahamAngle / X screen shot)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) must be too busy flying first class to worry about following financial transparency rules.

AOC skipped filing her mandatory 2024 financial disclosure documents and instead requested a 90-day extension past the May due date.

Despite being given extra time, the far-left Congresswoman missed the second date as well and, according to an exclusive from The New York Post, finally filed the documents a week late.

Absent from her disclosure, however, was any sign of her partner of more than a decade, fiancé Riley Roberts.

Although AOC calls Roberts her “spouse” for perks, she has excluded him from disclosures.

Per The Post:

Ocasio-Cortez, 35, came under fire from the House Ethics Committee last month for calling Roberts, 37, her “spouse” on some ethics forms to receive perks such as travel and gala access, but leaving him off financial disclosures so she doesn’t have to disclose his assets.

“There is a reason Congress requires financial disclosures to include the spouses of members of Congress,” Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, interim vp of policy and government affairs at the Project On Government Oversight, told The Post.

“If spousal disclosures were not required, it would be all-too easy to exploit that loophole and simply transfer any conflicted or problematic assets or financial activity into the spouse’s name.

“If her fiancée is going to avail himself of some of the perks and privileges of being the spouse of a member of Congress, he should surely have to likewise comply with the less convenient parts,” he said.

The post Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Misses Financial Disclosure Deadline After Extension, Omits Fiancé’s Finances appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Vicky