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Former CIA Director Sues Trump Administration as Criminal Probes Intensify

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

Former CIA Director John Brennan is taking the Trump administration to court as two Justice Department criminal investigations into his conduct continue to gather steam.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., Brennan asked a judge to order the Justice Department, the White House, the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to preserve records related to the ongoing probes, arguing the materials could prove critical if he is eventually charged.

The filing does not seek to stop the investigations. Instead, Brennan’s attorneys contend that internal emails, memos and other communications may become key evidence if they later argue any prosecution was motivated by politics rather than the facts.

“The evidence of vindictiveness in this matter is overwhelming,” Brennan’s lawyers wrote in the 46-page complaint.

The lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of using the criminal justice system to target political opponents, claiming Brennan has been “vindictively singled out for investigation and prosecution.”

Brennan, who led the CIA under former President Barack Obama, has spent years publicly criticizing President Donald Trump. The two have been locked in a bitter feud dating back to Trump’s first term, when Brennan sharply criticized Trump’s handling of intelligence matters and Trump responded by revoking Brennan’s security clearance in 2018, calling his conduct “erratic” and accusing him of making “wild outbursts” about the administration. Brennan later became one of Trump’s most outspoken intelligence-community critics on television and in public appearances.

Now, that long-running political rivalry has become intertwined with a pair of Justice Department investigations.

One investigation is examining whether Brennan made false statements to Congress during 2023 testimony regarding the intelligence community’s assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The second is a broader probe examining allegations that Obama- and Biden-era intelligence and law enforcement officials participated in a years-long effort to undermine Trump’s political career. No charges have been filed against Brennan in either investigation.

According to the lawsuit, Brennan intends to challenge any future indictment as “unconstitutionally vindictive and selective.” His attorneys argue that preserving government records now is essential because losing those materials could make it impossible to determine whether prosecutors acted appropriately.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb.

Among those named as defendants are President Trump, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones and other officials involved in the investigations.

CBS News has reported that some current and former Justice Department officials have raised concerns about personnel changes within the Brennan investigations after career prosecutors were replaced by lawyers viewed as more closely aligned with the administration. CBS reported that attorney Joseph DiGenova was brought in to oversee one of the investigations, while constitutional scholar John Yoo and former Trump election security official Kurt Olsen have also joined the effort in advisory roles.

The Justice Department declined to discuss the existence of any investigation but pushed back on Brennan’s allegations.

“While we cannot comment on the existence, or lack thereof, of an investigation, it is certainly rich that John Brennan is accusing anyone of a ‘retribution campaign,'” a DOJ spokesperson said.

Brennan’s attorneys also point to more than 100 public statements Trump has made about the former CIA director since 2017, arguing those remarks could become relevant if criminal charges are ultimately filed.

For now, Brennan has not been charged with any crime. His lawsuit seeks only to preserve records that could become evidence if the investigations eventually lead to a prosecution.

Report: Charlie Kirk’s Family To Attend Tyler Robinson’s Preliminary Hearing

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Charlie Kirk’s family is expected to attend a pivotal court hearing next week as the criminal case against the man accused of assassinating the Turning Point USA founder moves forward.

According to Fox News, Kirk’s parents and his widow, Erika Kirk, plan to be present for the preliminary hearing of Tyler Robinson, who is charged with fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

The hearing, scheduled for the week of July 6, will mark the first major court proceeding that Kirk’s family is expected to attend since Robinson was arrested in the days following the killing. A source familiar with the case told Fox News that the family does not plan to make any public statements.

“The preliminary hearing is expected to be a raw, difficult moment for the family,” the source told Fox News.

During the hearing, prosecutors will seek to establish probable cause to move the case toward trial. If the judge determines that sufficient evidence exists, Robinson will be ordered to stand trial.

The hearing could still be delayed, however. The Utah Supreme Court is currently considering a defense appeal after Judge Tony Graf denied Robinson’s request to prohibit cameras from the courtroom. Erika Kirk, acting as a designated victims’ advocate, opposed the defense motion. According to Fox News, the state’s highest court could rule before the end of the week.

Because the preliminary hearing will include evidence outlining the prosecution’s case, family members are expected to be confronted with graphic material. Fox News reported that prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to notify the family before particularly sensitive evidence is shown, allowing them the opportunity to leave the courtroom if they choose.

Robinson, 22, has not yet entered a plea. He faces one count of aggravated murder, along with six additional charges, including weapons offenses, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek the death penalty if he is convicted of the top charge.

Unlike a trial, Utah law allows hearsay evidence during preliminary hearings. Judge Graf has also approved prosecutors’ request to present a recorded statement from Robinson’s former roommate, Twiggs, rather than requiring him to testify in person.

According to court filings cited by Fox News, prosecutors allege Robinson confessed both in a handwritten note and in text messages exchanged with Twiggs after the shooting.

“I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it,” the alleged note states, according to court documents.

Court filings also allege that after Twiggs texted, “You weren’t the one who did it right????,” Robinson responded, “I am, I’m sorry.”

Investigators say they later recovered the suspected murder weapon—a Mauser rifle wrapped in a blanket—in a wooded area near the university. Prosecutors also allege text messages show Robinson and Twiggs discussed retrieving the rifle after the shooting. Twiggs has cooperated with investigators and has not been charged.

Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA and was a father of two. He was participating in a campus question-and-answer event when he was fatally shot.

The upcoming hearing follows another recent ruling in the case. Last week, Judge Graf determined that prosecutors had violated a previously issued gag order but rejected the defense’s request to remove the death penalty as a possible punishment, instead ordering expanded jury selection procedures should the case proceed to trial.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Court Filing Says Reflecting Pool Liner Was Cut With Knife or Razor — Vindicating Trump After Media Mockery

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Reflecting Pool

President Donald Trump wasn’t imagining it after all.

After days of media ridicule and accusations that the administration was trying to blame construction failures for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s problems, a senior National Park Service official has now sworn under oath that someone cut the pool’s liner with a “sharp knife or razor.”

The explosive court filing appears to validate Trump’s repeated claims that the newly renovated Reflecting Pool was deliberately sabotaged by vandals—not simply falling apart because of faulty workmanship, as many critics insisted.

According to National Park Service Deputy Director Frank Lands, the agency reported the damage to U.S. Park Police on June 9, shortly after the $16 million rehabilitation project was substantially completed.

“The caulk over the foam sealant was cut with a sharp knife or razor,” Lands declared in the filing, adding that roughly 70 fence-post tops were also thrown into the Reflecting Pool.

That’s a far cry from the “there’s no evidence” narrative many outlets pushed when Trump first warned that vandals had attacked the iconic landmark.

Trump Took Heat — Now Comes the Evidence

Earlier this week, Trump told reporters he had personally seen what he described as a massive cut through the pool’s protective surface and promised Americans the evidence would eventually emerge in court.

It just did.

The White House blasted what it called “Fake News hacks” and self-described experts for rushing to dismiss the president’s claims while ignoring an active federal investigation.

According to the administration, surveillance footage captured suspects damaging the site, police documented slashes through the pool liner and protective coating, and multiple suspects have already been arrested or cited.

The White House says:

  • Seven people have been arrested.
  • Seven others received federal citations.
  • Eighteen police reports have been filed.
  • Surveillance video allegedly captured suspects damaging the pool.

Those figures are higher than earlier public numbers released by Park Police as the investigation has continued.

Not All Questions Are Settled

The new filing confirms that portions of the liner and sealant were intentionally cut—but it does not establish that those cuts caused all of the renovation’s highly publicized problems, including peeling coating or the massive algae bloom that turned the pool green just days after reopening.

Some engineering documents previously reported by major news outlets suggested the cuts discovered in expansion joints may not fully explain the widespread coating failure, meaning investigators are still sorting out exactly what damage was caused by vandalism versus what may have resulted from construction or environmental factors.

Still, Thursday’s filing marks the first sworn government statement confirming deliberate damage with a blade.

A Symbolic Target

The Reflecting Pool has become one of the Trump administration’s signature beautification projects ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebration next year.

The renovation included draining the century-old pool, applying a new waterproof coating, repainting the basin in what Trump called an “American flag blue,” and installing advanced water-treatment systems designed to eliminate algae.

When the project quickly ran into trouble, critics mocked it as an embarrassing failure.

The White House argues those critics ignored what investigators were finding.

“Crazed and deranged lunatics have once again exposed their hatred for America with a cowardly, deliberate attack on one of our nation’s most iconic landmarks,” the administration declared Thursday.

Officials say advanced nanobubble ozone technology has already neutralized much of the algae while crews prepare permanent repairs after the Independence Day celebrations.

Judge Rejects WHCD Shooter’s Bid to Boot Blanche, Pirro From Case

A federal judge on Monday swatted down an effort by accused White House Correspondents’ Dinner gunman Cole Allen to force Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro off the case, ruling that neither official has a conflict of interest despite attending the event that erupted in gunfire.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rejected Allen’s argument that Blanche and Pirro should be disqualified because they were present at the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and later acknowledged they could have been among the victims had the alleged attacker made it inside the ballroom.

“In line with longstanding precedent, the Court finds that neither the officials’ dinner attendance nor their statements after the fact demonstrate a conflict of interest,” McFadden wrote in an 18-page opinion. “Nor does Pirro’s friendship with the President.”

Allen’s attorneys had argued that Blanche and Pirro were potential victims and witnesses, creating at least the appearance of a conflict. They also pointed to Pirro’s longstanding relationship with President Trump and her public comments identifying Trump as one of the alleged targets.

McFadden wasn’t buying it.

Citing Allen’s own writings, the judge noted that the suspect allegedly intended to target “administration officials” broadly rather than any specific individual.

“Allen did intend to harm administration officials. He did not, however, name particular targets,” McFadden wrote.

“Nothing suggests that Allen knew that either Blanche or Pirro would attend the dinner. The focus on the administration at large, rather than particular individuals, dilutes the potential biasing effect.”

The judge further ruled that neither Blanche nor Pirro qualifies as a victim under the law and that both are unlikely to serve as trial witnesses. Their continued involvement in prosecutorial decisions, he said, does not threaten Allen’s right to a fair trial.

McFadden also dismissed claims that Pirro’s friendship with Trump — and Trump’s pardon of her ex-husband during his first term — created a disqualifying conflict.

“Presidents routinely select high-ranking Justice Department officials from among their friends and supporters,” the judge wrote.

“Pirro’s relationship with Trump is hardly an aberration. And the Court sees no reason, on this record, that she cannot fulfill her duties because of that friendship.”

Allen, a 31-year-old California tutor and computer engineer, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the shocking attack that sent the Washington Hilton into chaos and prompted the evacuation of President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other top administration officials.

Federal prosecutors allege Allen traveled from California to Washington armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives, checked into the hotel hosting the annual media gala, and then attempted to breach security while targeting Trump administration officials. Authorities say he fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer near a security checkpoint before being tackled and arrested. The wounded agent survived because of a bulletproof vest.

According to court filings, Allen allegedly emailed relatives a manifesto shortly before the attack outlining his grievances against the administration and indicating his intent to carry out violence against senior government officials. Prosecutors have charged him with attempted assassination of the president, assaulting a federal officer and multiple firearms offenses. If convicted on the most serious count, he could face life in prison.

The failed bid to remove Blanche and Pirro marks another setback for Allen’s defense team as the high-profile prosecution moves toward trial.

Meanwhile, the White House Correspondents’ Association has announced plans to hold a rescheduled version of the dinner in July with significantly enhanced security measures.

FBI Foils Alleged Drone-and-Sniper Plot Targeting White House UFC Spectacle

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Image via gage Skidmore Flickr

The FBI says it thwarted a chilling attack plot aimed at President Donald Trump’s blockbuster UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn — an alleged scheme involving explosive drones, sniper teams, and even a planned rush on the White House gates.

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed Tuesday that federal agents and law enforcement partners disrupted the plot just days before the historic event, which drew thousands of spectators to Washington, D.C., over the weekend.

“Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said in a statement released Tuesday.

According to reporting first detailed by Fox News Digital, investigators uncovered an alleged plan to launch explosive-laden drones at buildings near the UFC Freedom 250 venue, triggering panic and forcing a mass evacuation. Authorities say the conspirators allegedly intended to funnel fleeing crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team waiting to open fire.

Even more alarming, officials told Fox News Digital that a “second wave” of attackers allegedly planned to storm the White House gates amid the chaos.

The FBI first learned of the threat on June 10 and quickly launched a multi-state investigation. One suspect was arrested in Cincinnati after investigators established probable cause, while additional arrests followed as agents unraveled what officials described as a broader network spanning multiple states. Five suspects were in custody as of Monday, and investigators identified at least 23 individuals allegedly discussing operational plans in encrypted Signal chats.

According to Fox News Digital, investigators discovered messages detailing pre-operational activity and travel plans to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where some suspects allegedly intended to prepare for the attack.

One suspect reportedly told investigators that potential targets included “capitalist elites,” billionaires, and politicians who had received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to Fox News Digital.

The operation involved at least a dozen FBI field offices and close coordination with the Department of Justice and U.S. Secret Service. Secret Service Director Sean Curran praised agents who worked “around the clock” to identify those responsible and prevent the alleged attack.

Patel said the case demonstrated the FBI’s ability to move quickly when credible threats emerge against large public events.

“We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight,” Patel said.

The UFC Freedom 250 event was one of the biggest spectacles ever held on White House grounds. Staged on the South Lawn as part of celebrations surrounding America’s upcoming 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday, the event attracted roughly 4,300 attendees, including approximately 1,200 active-duty service members.

Trump himself attended the fights and later praised the event as “incredible,” calling it “one of the most exciting days in the history of the White House.”

When asked about the alleged plot while attending the G7 summit in France, Trump said he had not yet been briefed on the details.

Vice President JD Vance reacted to the revelations Tuesday morning, describing the allegations as “very, very dark stuff” and warning that heated political rhetoric can fuel violence.

“This is what happens when people turn the rhetoric up so loud that disagreeing with somebody is a cause for violence,” Vance said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.

The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say additional charges and court filings could reveal more details in the coming days.

Tucker Carlson Claims Trump Shut Down Butler Probe After Bongino ‘Confession’

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Tucker Carlson via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former Fox News star Tucker Carlson is pushing a fresh conspiracy theory about the attempted assassination of President Trump — claiming the president himself ordered federal investigators to back off the probe into the July 2024 shooting in Butler, Pa.

Carlson made the explosive allegation during an appearance on Thursday on entrepreneur Mario Nawfal’s show, where he recounted what he described as a series of conversations with former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel regarding lingering questions surrounding the attack.

The claim was quickly shot down by Bongino, who publicly denied Carlson’s account on Friday and blasted the former cable news host as a “nepo baby.”

“I know that, about Butler, I know that Trump shut down the investigation into Butler. That is a fact,” Carlson told Nawfal. “Dan Bongino told me that when he worked at the FBI.”

Carlson alleged Bongino became visibly rattled after Carlson confronted him about social media posts purportedly written by gunman Thomas Crooks that Carlson claims the FBI falsely said did not exist.

“Dan Bongino himself was terrified when I spoke to him in December,” Carlson said.

The conservative commentator claimed he had “accidentally came into possession” of social media posts allegedly authored by Crooks in the months and years before the shooting. Carlson said he contacted both Patel and Bongino seeking answers about why the FBI had allegedly concealed their existence.

“And Dan Bongino became hysterical with me on the phone,” Carlson claimed. “I’ve known Dan a long time for many years and always gotten along with him.”

“He was clearly terrified. I didn’t get it at first, but he was hysterical,” Carlson continued. “And ultimately, after a long series of text exchanges, which I still have, and phone conversations, he said, ‘Look, take it up with Trump. He’s the one who shut down the investigation.’”

Carlson said the alleged exchange occurred during the second week of December and left him questioning why Trump would halt an investigation into an attempt on his own life.

“That was the moment and I realized, ‘Oh wow, there’s no good explanation for shutting down an investigation into your own attempted murder,’” Carlson said.

Watch:

Crooks, 20, opened fire during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, grazing Trump’s ear, killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore and seriously wounding two others before Secret Service snipers fatally shot him.

Authorities have said Crooks acted alone and have found no evidence linking him to a broader plot. However, the absence of a clear manifesto or publicly known motive has fueled persistent conspiracy theories online.

Carlson, once one of Trump’s most influential media allies, has increasingly broken with the president in recent months. He has repeatedly criticized Trump over the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and U.S. involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Earlier this year, Carlson suggested Trump’s worldview changed after the Butler shooting.

“He spent his campaign in the 2024 race arguing against regime change war, attacking people in favor of it — and then he launched it,” Carlson said on his own show. “And not just launched it, but became this kind of enthusiastic tool of the government of Israel.”

Bongino forcefully rejected Carlson’s latest allegations Friday morning in a post on X, denying he ever told Carlson that Trump shut down the Butler investigation.

The former FBI official also took a personal swipe at Carlson, dismissing the claims and mocking the commentator as a “nepo baby.”

Jailed Crypto King Sam Bankman-Fried Begs Trump For Pardon

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

Disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried has officially thrown himself on President Trump’s mercy, filing a formal application for a presidential pardon while serving a 25-year prison sentence for one of the largest financial frauds in modern American history.

According to records maintained by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, the fallen FTX founder recently submitted a request for a “pardon after completion of sentence,” with the application now listed as pending review.

The move marks the latest twist in the spectacular downfall of the former cryptocurrency billionaire, who went from being Washington’s favorite crypto wunderkind to a convicted fraudster accused of stealing billions from customers.

A federal jury found Bankman-Fried guilty on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges after prosecutors proved he illegally diverted customer funds from FTX to prop up his hedge fund Alameda Research, finance lavish spending, make venture investments, and shower politicians with campaign donations. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

From Democrat Megadonor to Trump Pardon Seeker

Bankman-Fried’s pardon request carries an extra layer of political irony.

Before FTX imploded, he was one of the Democrat Party’s biggest donors, pouring millions into Democratic candidates and causes during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.

But since landing behind bars, the former crypto executive has increasingly sought to align himself with Trump and the MAGA movement, publicly criticizing the Biden Justice Department and portraying himself as a victim of political persecution. Reports indicate Bankman-Fried and his family have spent months exploring avenues to secure presidential clemency.

The effort appears to be facing long odds.

In January, Trump told The New York Times he had no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried, a position that has since been reiterated by White House officials.

Trump’s Expanding Crypto Pardon Record

Still, Bankman-Fried may be encouraged by Trump’s increasingly aggressive use of presidential clemency during his second term.

Trump has already issued a series of controversial pardons involving high-profile figures from the cryptocurrency world. Most notably, he pardoned Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to anti-money laundering violations and served a four-month prison sentence.

Trump has also extended clemency to BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes and other crypto-linked figures, fueling speculation that additional industry players could seek similar treatment.

Critics argue the pattern reinforces the perception that wealthy and well-connected defendants have greater access to presidential mercy than ordinary Americans. Recent reporting has highlighted a growing ecosystem of lobbyists, attorneys, and political operatives attempting to secure pardons through connections to Trump’s orbit.

Progressives Blast Pardon Push

Bankman-Fried’s latest maneuver quickly drew condemnation from financial reform advocates.

Americans for Financial Reform, a progressive nonprofit watchdog, blasted the request as “one more striking indication of the level of impunity that crypto industry figures expect from the President.”

“This particular wish may or may not be granted, but the request — despite Bankman-Fried’s conviction on multiple counts of fraud — should come as little surprise,” the group said Monday.

Appeal Still Pending

The pardon application comes as Bankman-Fried continues to fight his conviction in court.

His appeal remains pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and he has also sought a new trial, arguing prosecutors falsely portrayed FTX’s finances and that additional witnesses could challenge the government’s case.

For now, however, the once-celebrated crypto king remains locked behind bars — waiting to see whether the president who says he won’t pardon him ultimately changes his mind.

Trump Admin Moves To Revoke Citizenship Of 17 Criminals

President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

The Trump administration is launching a new crackdown on naturalized citizens accused of gaming America’s immigration system, moving to strip citizenship from 17 foreign-born criminals ranging from child sex offenders to multimillion-dollar fraudsters.

The Justice Department is expected to announce Monday that it has filed denaturalization actions against a group of naturalized citizens who allegedly lied, concealed serious crimes, or committed fraud while obtaining U.S. citizenship.

“U.S. citizenship is a privilege, not a right for people who obtained it through deception,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said as the administration unveiled its latest effort to purge what officials describe as bad actors who abused the naturalization process.

Among the most shocking cases is Haitian-born Jean Claude Alfred, 68, who federal officials say was sexually abusing his minor daughter while applying to become an American citizen.

According to the Justice Department, Alfred denied committing any crimes during his citizenship application process despite allegedly abusing his daughter during that same period. He was later convicted by a Florida jury on charges including attempted sexual battery of a child in a familial relationship and lewd assault on a minor.

The Daily Wire reported that another target is Colombian-born Fernando Cristancho, a Roman Catholic priest sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually grooming and abusing a young parishioner between the ages of 11 and 13. Federal officials allege Cristancho concealed his criminal conduct from immigration authorities while seeking naturalization.

The administration is also seeking to denaturalize Delmas Garcia, a Cuban-born woman convicted in a massive healthcare fraud scheme that prosecutors say generated more than $36 million in false insurance claims.

Garcia admitted operating dozens of physical therapy clinics in Florida that billed insurers for treatments that were either medically unnecessary or never provided at all.

Also on the list is Andrea Marroquin, the daughter of a notorious Colombian drug trafficker. Prosecutors allege Marroquin concealed a fraudulent marriage and used drug money inherited from her father to carry out a series of illicit real estate transactions in Miami before becoming a U.S. citizen.

The latest actions are part of a broader Trump administration push to dramatically expand denaturalization efforts nationwide.

Last year, the Justice Department directed federal prosecutors to prioritize cases involving individuals who obtained citizenship through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment of serious criminal activity. The New York Times reported that USCIS was subsequently instructed to increase referrals of potential denaturalization cases, with reports indicating the agency was expected to identify between 100 and 200 new cases each month.

The administration argues the initiative is aimed at restoring integrity to the naturalization system and ensuring citizenship is reserved for immigrants who follow the law.

“The Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system,” Blanche said in a previous announcement unveiling a separate round of denaturalization cases involving terrorism suspects, war criminals, sex offenders, and fraudsters.

Critics have accused the administration of vastly expanding a legal tool that historically was used only sparingly. For decades, denaturalization cases averaged roughly a dozen filings annually, but federal officials now say hundreds of potential cases are under review.

Under federal law, citizenship can be revoked if prosecutors prove it was obtained illegally or through willful misrepresentation of material facts during the naturalization process. The government carries a high burden of proof and must convince a federal court that citizenship was fraudulently secured.

For the Trump administration, however, the message is straightforward: if someone lied their way into American citizenship, the government intends to take a second look.

And for some of the nation’s worst criminals, that second look could mean losing the very citizenship they worked to obtain.

Trump Posts Pardon Request For Ex-Congressman Hit With Insider Trading Charges

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President Donald Trump appears to be weighing a pardon for former Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), a one-time congressman convicted of insider trading, after sharing multiple pardon requests on his Truth Social account.

On Tuesday, Trump posted a letter from former Republican National Committee Chairman Robert James Nicholson urging him to grant Buyer a “full and unconditional pardon.” The letter, dated April 22, 2025, marks the second public appeal Trump has shared in recent days on Buyer’s behalf.

Trump offered no commentary alongside the post, but his decision to amplify the request has fueled speculation that he may be seriously considering clemency for the former lawmaker.

In the letter, Nicholson praised Buyer’s military and congressional service, describing him as “an honorable man and an extraordinary American.” Nicholson argued that Buyer had been targeted by a “politically weaponized federal and state judiciary” and claimed the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission pursued him as an act of political retribution.

Nicholson, who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President George W. Bush, highlighted Buyer’s work as chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and credited him with helping improve veterans’ healthcare, information technology systems, and treatment programs for wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. He also noted that Buyer served on Trump’s 2016 presidential transition team and contributed to policy recommendations that later influenced the VA Mission Act.

The former RNC chairman concluded by asking Trump to issue a pardon and to seek dismissal of an SEC civil case against Buyer, writing that the former congressman “should have never been a political prisoner in America.”

The post follows a similar move by Trump on Sunday, when he shared another letter signed by several Republican officials requesting clemency for Buyer. That letter likewise alleged that Democratic political figures and government officials sought revenge against the former congressman because of his role in high-profile Republican efforts against President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

Buyer was sentenced in 2023 to 22 months in federal prison after being convicted of insider trading. According to the Department of Justice, prosecutors proved that Buyer participated in two insider-trading schemes in 2018 and 2019, using confidential information obtained through consulting work to make profitable securities trades before the information became public.

Trump’s public promotion of the pardon requests comes as he faces scrutiny over stock trading activity linked to major policy announcements during his presidency, adding another layer of attention to any potential clemency decision involving a lawmaker convicted of financial crimes.

Read the full letter below:

Dear Mr. President,

Without any reservation, I strongly endorse a full and unconditional pardon for Congressman Stephen Buyer, Ret. He served Indiana for 18 years in Congress before announcing his retirement when his wife was diagnosed with an incurable disease. He also served our nation in the US Army during war and peace in both active and reserve components for 30 years before retiring as a Colonel.

Congressman Buyer is an honorable man and an extraordinary American guided by his faith and committed to values and beliefs that I have personally witnessed. Like you, however, he has suffered the consequences of a politically weaponized federal and state judiciary.

Prior to the election of President George W. Bush, I served as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. During the Administration of President Bush, I had the honor and privilege to represent our country as Ambassador to the Vatican and served as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a young Army officer, I served in Vietnam.

During my tenure as Secretary of the VA, it was a distinct honor to work with Congressman Buyer when he was in Congress serving as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. As a veteran of the first Gulf War, he took his service to veterans and their needs most seriously. He strived to increase the quality of veteran healthcare and benefits, promote IT security, and bring efficiencies to the VA’s health enterprise.

I worked with Chairman Buyer to centralize the VA IT architecture in line and budget authority to promote security, commonality, efficiency, and savings through strategic sourcing. These accomplishments were inordinately important as our nation began to respond to the increase in wounded servicemembers who experienced traumatic brain injuries from Improvised Explosive Devices during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the number of wounded, ill and injured were returning from those wars, we also worked together with the Senate to create and fund for poly-trauma centers in the VA.

Congressman Buyer served on your 2016 Presidential Transition Team, where he assisted in drafting the roadmap for the VA that your administration followed when it created the Mission Act.

Additionally, during his tenure as Chairman he contributed to the initial path for VA leadership to fulfill the goal of a seamless electronic health record between the VA and DOD by seeking a new electronic health record operating system for the VHA.

Congressman Buyer prosecuted President Bill Clinton in his Impeachment trial, sought an indictment against then first lady Hillary Clinton for obstruction of justice for hiding the infamous Rose Law Firm billing records, and defended the military overseas vote that was disenfranchised during the Florida recount of 2000 Presidential Election. The Clinton-Obama-Biden political surrogates never forgot his contributions to our country. The SEC and DOJ were weaponized against Congressman Buyer as political retribution and prosecuted him in criminal and civil courts without any direct evidence by testimony or document.

I am most hopeful Mr. President, you will be able to restore the integrity of the DOJ and SEC into serving the interest of justice in a manner that re-establishes the trust of the American people in our systems of government.

I respectfully request for you to give a full and unconditional pardon to Steve Buyer and to dismiss the

SEC civil suit against him. Steve Buyer should have never been a political prisoner in America. As our leader of the Republican Party and America, please send the message of fairness and justice to our fellow patriotic citizens and the observing world.

Newly Unsealed Complaint Reveals Disturbing Threat Against Ivanka Trump

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

A newly unsealed federal terrorism complaint has revealed a deeply unsettling detail tied to an alleged Iran-backed terror network — and it appears to place First Daughter Ivanka Trump alarmingly close to potential danger during a family trip to Disneyland Paris earlier this year.

According to the complaint, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — a group prosecutors say operates as part of the U.S.-designated terror organization Kata’ib Hizballah — issued a disturbing Snapchat message to President Donald Trump on April 20 that specifically referenced Ivanka Trump in graphic and threatening language.

“From the heart of the matter, where your daughter Ivanka, that whore who throws herself into the arms of men, adorns her face lightly and breathes with delight wherever she falls upon the edge of a rich wealthy man,” the message read before adding: “You moron, your daughter was on the brink of death thirteen days ago, but our men don’t kill whores.”

The post then encouraged followers to kill “arrogant, criminal, cursed Trump.”

The timing immediately raised alarms.

Exactly thirteen days before the April 20 threat was posted was April 7 — the same day Ivanka Trump was publicly photographed visiting Disneyland Paris with her children. TMZ reported at the time that the Trump family traveled with heavy security, including guards stationed outside rides and throughout the park.

No major media outlet appears to have previously connected the “thirteen days ago” reference in the terror message to Ivanka’s highly publicized Paris trip.

The revelation comes as federal prosecutors pursue charges against 32-year-old Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, described in court filings as a senior Kata’ib Hizballah operative with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to investigators, Al-Saadi and associates were allegedly operating in Paris around the same time as Ivanka Trump’s visit. Prosecutors say the terror network had also plotted attacks against Western targets in Europe, including an alleged attempt to bomb the Bank of America building in Paris.

Federal authorities say Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya released a propaganda video on March 16 previewing an attack against the exact building.

The allegations add new weight to longstanding concerns about threats directed at members of the Trump family — especially after the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian terror mastermind Qassem Soleimani.

According to The New York Post, Al-Saadi allegedly made explicit statements about targeting Ivanka Trump in retaliation.

“After Qassem was killed, he went around telling people ‘we need to kill Ivanka to burn down the house of Trump the way he burned down our house,’” former Iraqi diplomat Entifadh Qanbar told the outlet.

The complaint also points to social media posts allegedly tied to Al-Saadi dating back years.

In posts on X from 2021 and 2023, Al-Saadi allegedly shared maps showing the Florida neighborhood where Ivanka Trump lives with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children.

“I say to the Americans look at this picture and know that neither your palaces nor the Secret Service will protect you,” one post read. “We are currently in the stage of surveillance and analysis. I told you, our revenge is a matter of time.”

Ivanka Trump has long faced heightened security concerns due to her role in the Trump administration and her family’s high profile. During Donald Trump’s first term, federal authorities repeatedly warned of escalating threats from Iran-linked actors following Soleimani’s death, including assassination plots targeting top Trump administration officials.

The newly unsealed complaint alleges Al-Saadi either coordinated or inspired nearly 20 terror attacks across Europe and Canada through Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, a group prosecutors say was specifically created to mask operational ties to Kata’ib Hizballah, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The allegations paint an increasingly disturbing picture: a terror network allegedly obsessed with revenge against the Trump family — and possibly operating frighteningly close to Ivanka Trump during a family vacation packed with innocent children and tourists.