Why the FBI BATTLED Tennessee media over Covenant School shooter’s manifesto



The Covenant School shooter’s manifesto has finally been released by the Tennessee Star — but it didn’t happen without a fight.

“We’re just a journalistic organization seeking documents which the public has a right to see, and at every level, the local government has obstructed those desires, as has the FBI,” Tennessee Star CEO Michael Patrick Leahy tells Jill Savage and Matthew Peterson of “Blaze News Tonight.”

“In fact, the Metro National Police Department has claimed for well over a year that the investigation is ongoing. They claimed in court in March it would be over by the end of June. Well, here we are, the beginning of September, they’re still claiming it,” he explains.

“It’s basically a stalling tactic because they don’t want this information out,” he adds.

In 2023, Leahy was hauled into court on June 17 by the presiding judge in the state case to explain why “she shouldn’t hit me with contempt of court charges.”

“She claimed that perhaps there was a court order that she’d issued that I violated. There was no such order,” Leahy explains. “It was Kafka-esque, right here in America.”

Leahy didn’t give up, as he believes it’s incredibly important for Americans to understand the motive behind a shooting like this, and Savage also notes that "the shooter's writings shed light on her poor mental health leading up to the shooting."

“This is a matter of public interest,” he says. “What is the motivation behind these mass murders committed by very troubled people, and what’s the public policy solution to it? I think that’s a very important part of the discussion.”

“We believe that we have served the public interest by demonstrating the very confused state of mind that Audrey Hale had and the absolute total failure of the mental health system to treat her for her difficulties,” he continues, noting that Hale had been under psychiatric care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for 22 years.

“She was also taking very, very strong SSRI drugs since 2019. Those will have an impact on a person, and I think that really, the whole public discussion about this has been misdirected. They try to make it about gun control.”

The issue isn’t the weapon a person uses but why the person picks up the weapon in the first place.

“The real issue here is how our children are suffering from mental illness and not being treated properly and how they’re being overprescribed with psychiatric drugs,” Leahy says.


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Judge issues ruling at 11:58 p.m. to block release of Covenant School killer's manifesto, other documents



A Tennessee judge has ruled that writings from the Covenant school killer will not be released "at this time."

There has been an ongoing legal battle to secure the release of the writings that the killer left behind. After the tragedy last year, Nashville police vowed to release the documents, but that day never came. The FBI pressured against the release of the documents, and the families of the victims oppose the documents making their way into public hands.

'Compliance with both the TPRA and federal copyright law cannot be accomplished, therefore state law must cede to federal law.'

But the other side argues there is a compelling public and constitutional interest requiring the documents be made public.

Just minutes before the clock struck midnight on July 4 — at 11:58 p.m., according to court documents — Davidson County Chancellor I'Ashea Myles (D) issued a ruling that blocks the release of the documents — at least for now.

"Tennessee courts have determined that unfettered access to every record at any time does not serve to uphold the system of justice that we all depend upon to ensure that the criminal legal system and investigations remain fair and impartial for every involved person," Myles wrote in her ruling.

As legal justification for her ruling, Myles cited the Constitution's Supremacy Clause.

"Based upon Supremacy Clause and conflict preemption, the federal Copyright Act serves as a valid exemption to the Tennessee Public Records Act and thus preempts the disclosure of any original work of authorship in any form created by the assailant," she explained.

"Compliance with both the TPRA and federal copyright law cannot be accomplished, therefore state law must cede to federal law," she added.

Legally, the victims possess ownership over the documents after the killer's family transferred legal ownership of them last year.

Even documents not protected by copyright law, Myles ruled, do not have to be released until the "investigation and any collateral criminal proceedings are complete."

In a statement after the ruling, the city of Nashville said officials will release documents upon the conclusion of the investigation — with the exception of the killer's writings. The investigation, the statement added, "is in its final stages."

The victims' families praised the ruling, which will likely be appealed.

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New memo shows how FBI pressured Nashville Police about trans killer's manifesto after Christian school mass killing



The FBI appears to have counseled the Metro Nashville Police Department against releasing the manifesto belonging to the Covenant School killer.

Officials with the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group wrote to Nashville Police Chief John Drake on May 11, 2023 — approximately six weeks after the school massacre — about the "protection of legacy tokens," referring to the writings and other documents that killers leave behind.

'For all the reasons listed above, release of legacy tokens such as this would endanger school security across the country.'

The FBI "strongly discourages the public dissemination of any legacy tokens," the memo said.

The memo does not specifically mention the Covenant School tragedy or the transgender perpetrator. But the timing of the memo — and its message — is not a coincidence.

The FBI provided three reasons to persuade the Nashville Police from releasing "legacy tokens."

First, the FBI claimed they "will contribute to future attacks." Second, the FBI said legacy tokens do not "provide the answers or comfort sought by the public and surviving victims." Third, the FBI claimed legacy tokens "facilitate false narratives and inaccurate information" — and even "conspiracy theories."

The memo goes on to say:

Public release of legacy tokens from all mass shootings, but school shootings in particular, will likely spark incredibly intense interest and study by potential offenders who are considering a school-based attack. For all the reasons listed above, release of legacy tokens such as this would endanger school security across the country.

Experts agree that as a society we must do everything we can to prevent all mass shootings, including school shootings, from happening in the future. A clear step we can take is limiting the availability of legacy tokens for ideation, study, and inspiration by those considering an attack.

The Tennessee Star first reported the memo.

On Tuesday, the Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit has been assisting in the Covenant School investigation.

"As has been publicly acknowledged, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit has assisted in this Homicide investigation," MNPD public affairs director Don Aaron confirmed to the Tennessee Star. "Any material related to that assistance that is part of the open case file is protected. As I referenced earlier today, our Homicide team is working to bring this matter to a conclusion."

The killer's manifesto has been the subject of contentious legal drama.

A Tennessee judge recently heard arguments about releasing the manifesto. The media and some officials believe there is a public interest in the manifesto, while some parents of the victims have fought to block its release.

There has been no decision on when — or if — the memo will be made public.

Last November, several pages of the manifesto were leaked, showing the transgender perpetrator hoped to have a "high death count" by killing "all" of the "little crackers" at the school.

Despite investigating, Nashville police never identified the source of the leak.

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Tennessee teachers may soon carry guns, thanks to lawmakers who ignored desperate, theatrical stunts from activists



Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill permitting teachers and staff to carry a concealed weapon under certain conditions, despite angry theatrics from activists.

On Tuesday, hundreds of anti-gun radicals ramped up their efforts to stop the gun-rights legislation. They stormed the capitol building in Nashville, carrying signs and chanting unoriginal slogans such as "Blood on your hands!" and "Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! The GOP has got to go!"

Noted Democrat agitator state Rep. Justin Pearson, who has already been expelled from the Tennessee House once for his disruptive activism, spoke in the midst of the group, railing in the cadence of a Southern preacher, "This is what democracy looks like!"

The activists, most of whom appeared to be women, then performed a protest known as a "die in," whereby participants collectively collapse to the floor, pretending to be dead. They apparently believe the demonstration reflects the carnage of mass school shootings, though members of the public and law enforcement in the building that day instead likely enjoyed the brief moment of quiet.

The cries of the activists then reached a shrill pitch when the measure, SB1325, passed easily through the House, 68-28. Four Republicans joined all 24 Democrats in voting against the bill. Three more Republicans abstained.

"Vote them out!" one woman shrieked as a security officer escorted her and another individual out of the gallery. "Vote them out!"

The bill will now go to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Lee. If he signs it or does nothing, it will become law. His only means of stopping the measure from taking effect would be to veto it, but he has never vetoed any piece of legislation since taking office in 2019.

Thus, the bill will almost assuredly soon become the law of the state. But, cosponsor Republican state Sen. Paul Bailey clarified that it will not force any "faculty or staff member" to carry a weapon. It "simply gives" them "the option," he said.

The bill also places several conditions on teachers and staff interested in arming themselves on campus. The following is a summary of those conditions, per CNN:

• Get an enhanced carry permit

• Get written authorization from the superintendent, principal, and the chief of the appropriate law enforcement agency

• Complete 40 hours of basic training in school policing and 40 hours of Peace Officer’s Standards and Training commission-approved training that is specific to school policing each year at the educator’s expense

• Complete a background check

• Undergo a psychological exam conducted by a Tennessee-licensed health care provider

As CNN noted, the bill passed just over a year after the horrific shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, which left six Christians — three adults and three children — dead. However, CNN neglected to report that the individual responsible for the murders identified as transgender, describing the shooter only as "a 28-year-old former student."

CNN also incorrectly asserted that "gun violence is the leading killer of children in the United States," which has already claimed the lives of 436 children this year. The leading killer of children in America, by far, is abortion. According to NPR, more than 1 million children died from abortion in the U.S. in 2023 alone.

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Transgender suspect threatens to rape Christian girls, inject HIV in people wearing crosses, copycat Nashville shooting: Feds



A transgender individual threatened to rape Christian schoolgirls, inject HIV into people wearing crosses, and carry out a copycat of the Nashville Christian Covenant School shooting, according to federal authorities.

Jason Lee Willie – a biological male who identifies as Alexia N. Willie – was charged on Nov. 7 with 14 felony counts of interstate communication of a threat to injure.

Willie – a 47-year-old from Nashville, Illinois – allegedly made the macabre threats in online videos and during streaming video calls.

In a ghastly threat from Illinois to Virginia, Willie purportedly vowed to commit a school shooting.

"We're out here walking into your school, shooting your children, and I'm going to tell you right now, I'm gonna be one of them and the FBI isn't gonna stop me, but I'm gonna kill your children out here," Willie declared, according to the indictment.

"There's a lot of transgenders out here that are tired of being picked on and we're going to go into the schools and we're going to kill their f***ing children out here, and that's the end of it. We're at war," Willie reportedly said.

Willie allegedly made a subtle threat to carry out a copycat shooting like the one executed in March by a transgender individual who killed three children and three adults at the Christian Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.

"A person in Tennessee walked into one of your schools and shot up a bunch of your Christian daughters," Willie purportedly said. "That's not the last of them if you don't shut your f***ing mouth."

In August, Willie allegedly used the video platform MeetMe to make more heinous threats under the username Mentally Unstable.

"I catch your daughters in them bathrooms alone, I am gonna f*** them. I mean I am gonna f*** f*** them until they're dead," Willie allegedly proclaimed. "I guarantee I'll be in the bathroom raping your Christian daughters."

Willie allegedly admitted to being an "open pedophile."

The indictment accused Willie of challenging the Republican Party by calling its members "weak," "p***ies," and "f*gg*ts."

Willie reportedly said, "You can't do nothing about us. You can cry. Cry. Put me on national television, I don't care. I'm transgender, I'm in the bathroom raping your f*** daughters and I'm openly letting you guys know this. The Republican Party, what are you f*gg*ts going to do about us?"

The self-identifying transgender individual allegedly threatened to inject HIV into people wearing Christian crosses.

"I catch you b****es out here with a cross around your neck in that restroom, you better know we’re going to hit you with a f***ing syringe," Willie said, according to the indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Willie reportedly disparaged black Americans.

"They're trash, they're Christian trash. They're transphobic, they're homophobic. They're no different than the f***ing white supremacists," Willie allegedly said of black people. "That's exactly who the f*** they are. Listen, Dave Chappelle and all the blacks out here, all the black people out here talking about trannies and s**t, they ain’t no different than the white supremacists either. You all bow to the same cross."

Newsweek reported that Willie made terrifying claims of murdering a preacher in 2018. The FBI was alerted when Willie allegedly wrote on Facebook about killing a preacher who had supposedly molested Willie and hundreds of other children.

The FBI also interrogated Willie over another alleged incident on the Twitch streaming platform, where Willie allegedly threatened to bomb people who discriminate against transgender rights.

Willie pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody. A trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 16.

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Nashville Shooter Manifesto LEAKED | Latest NYT Poll Shows Trump DEFEATING Biden in 2024 | 11/6/23

Nashville Shooter Manifesto LEAKED | Latest NYT Poll Shows Trump DEFEATING Biden in 2024 | 11/6/23

NBA coach Gregg Popovich exploits transsexual extremist's school shooting as opportunity to condemn Republicans and the 'myth' of the Second Amendment



Leftist NBA coach Gregg Popovich, whose San Antonio Spurs have 22 wins and 60 losses in the 2022-2023 season, has been silent on the question of whether he will soon retire. Over the weekend, he managed to leave some fans hoping his exit will come sooner rather than later.

Popovich, 74, launched into a vitriolic rant about gun control during a pregame media availability Sunday, in which he denounced Republican lawmakers and invoked the March massacre of six Christians by a transsexual extremist in a Nashville school.

Dodging inquiries about whether he might retire in the off season, Popovich asked if anyone in the room was carrying a firearm, reported ESPN.

"I just wondered because we have a governor and lieutenant governor and an attorney general that made it easier to have more guns," said Popovich, allegedly in reference to Texas politicians. "That was a response to our kids getting murdered. I just thought that was a little bit strange decision. It's just me, though."

The geriatric coach, who has gone 3-7 in his past 10 games, condemned Republicans in Texas and Tennessee and further denounced the expulsion of Democratic Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson from the Tennessee House.

Popovich intimated that the lawmakers who expelled Jones and Pearson over their disruption of the Democratic process were racists who "deep in their soul want to go back to Jim Crow."

After smearing those who sought to restore order in the state House as racist, Popovich read and then ridiculed a statement from U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), suggesting her coordination efforts with federal, state, and local officials to assist in Nashville after an LGBT militant shot up a school were futile.

"[Assist] in what? They're dead," Popovich yelled. "What are you going to assist with — cleaning up their brains off the wall, wiping the blood off the schoolroom floor? What are you going to assist with?"

Blackburn is presently working to introduce the Securing Aid for Every School Act to the U.S. Senate, which would fund the training and hiring of veterans and former police officers to harden school security and ultimately keep children safe.

Popovich continued, lambasting Governor Bill Lee, who, along with his wife Maria, lost two close friends, Cynthia Peak, 61, and Dr. Katherine Koonce, in the Covenant School shooting.

"And then there's Governor Lee. I'm sorry to go on and on, but Bill Lee: 'I'm closely monitoring the tragic situation. Please join us in prayer.' What are you monitoring? They're dead! Children — they're dead. When I pick up my 6- and 11-year-old grandkids at school, when I'm here at home, on the way it goes through my mind that I hope they're going to be OK."

The 74-year-old coach from Indiana suggested that Republican efforts to defend Americans' constitutional rights depended on the "myth" of the Second Amendment.

"You know, it's just a myth. It’s a joke. It’s just a game they play. I mean, that's freedom. Is it freedom for kids to go to school and try to socialize and try to learn and be scared to death that they might die that day?" said Popovich.

"But Ted Cruz will fix it because he is going to double the number of cops in the schools. That’s what he wants to do. Well, that’ll create a great environment. Is that freedom? Or is it freedom to have a congressman who can make a postcard with all his family holding rifles, including an AR-15 or whatever. Is that cool? Is that like street cred for a Republican? That’s freedom? That’s more important than protecting kids? I don’t get it."

\u201cAt the end of what might be his last pregame media availability, Gregg Popovich asked if any of the reporters had brought guns into the arena, then had so e things to say about lack of gun control regulation in Tennessee and, well, everywhere in the U.S.\u201d
— Brad Townsend (@Brad Townsend) 1681065602

This is not the first time that Popovich — who originally figured he would apply his academic background in Soviet studies to a career working for the CIA — has opined on political matters.

TheBlaze previously reported that Popovich endorsed failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke in 2018 because of the way Sen. Ted Cruz's opponent had made him feel.

In 2019, Popovich called former President Donald Trump "feckless, impotent, and cowardly."

In 2020, Popovich suggested George Floyd's death was a "lynching" and claimed the incident made him "embarrassed as a white person."

In 2021, he likened Italian hero and renowned explorer Christopher Columbus to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, accusing him of committing "a new world genocide," and further suggested that Texan schools that observed Columbus Day were "backward."

Gregg Popovich asks a serious question… again. youtu.be

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Music stars Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, Chris Tomlin to perform benefit concert for Covenant School shooting victims: 'Hope in a broken world'



Country music stars and other Nashville-based music stars will perform a benefit concert for the victims of the Covenant School shooting.

At 7 p.m. CT on April 12, more than 20 musical acts will raise money for the victims of the atrocious Nashville shooting that took the lives of six people last month. The "Night of Joy: Celebrating Covenant School" benefit concert at Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville will "honor the victims and their families, the church, staff, and the first responders."

"Nashville musicians and songwriters stand with the Covenant School and Covenant Church for a night of joy, restoration, music, and memory," the description of the event reads.

The concert will feature Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, Chris Tomlin, Lady A, Colony House, Sixpence None the Richer, Mat Kearney, Ben Rector, Dave Barnes, Drew Holcomb, Ellie Holcomb, Ketch Secor, Matt Maher, the Warren Brothers, Natalie Hemby, Stephanie and Nathan Chapman, the War and Treaty, Trent Dabbs, Tyler Hubbard, Sarah Kroger, Brett Taylor, Luke Laird, Sandra McCracken, Dwan Hill, Jasmine Mullen, and Sarah Kroger.

Natalie Hemby said, "Nashville is once again stepping up and using its talents and resources to support the community. After attending the funerals of victims, who were also friends, it will be healing for me to be able to sing songs about hope in a broken world, and to honor the victims, the school, and the first responders."

New York Times best-selling author Annie F. Downs will host the event.

Downs added, "I'm so honored to be a part of this event, gathering with our city and rallying around a school and community that I love so much."

All of the proceeds from the benefit concert will go to the victims of the Covenant School mass shooting.

The deadly attack on March 27 took the lives of 9-year-old students Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. Also murdered in the mass shooting were Covenant School head Katherine Koonce, 60; substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61; and custodian Mike Hill, 60.

Tickets for the benefit concert for the Covenant School went on sale on Wednesday and have already sold out.

Donations can be made to the Caring for Covenant Fund – a charity "to support the healing" of those affected by the Covenant School shooting.

On Sunday, country music singer Kelsea Ballerini addressed the Nashville school shooting and gun violence before hosting the 2023 CMT Music Awards.

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