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War Department Takes Out Cartel-Owned Drone

By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

On Wednesday morning, the White House confirmed drone activity from Mexican drug cartels caused the sudden closure of U.S. airspace over El Paso, Texas.

In a statement toย Newsweekย the White House said: “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones.

“The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”

A Trump administration official told Fox News that the initial lockdown came in response to “Mexican cartel drones” that breached U.S. airspace. The FAA had announced Wednesday morning that all flights to and from El Paso were being grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. The restriction was initially set to be effective from February 10 at 11:30 p.m. MST to February 20 at 11:30 p.m. MST.

“Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel,” the official told Fox News.

Restrictions set earlier by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been lifted and authorities say there remains no threat to commercial air travel.

“The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,” the FAA said on its X account.

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

GOP Congressman Wildly Says โ€˜a Lot of Congressmen Probably Should Be in Jailโ€™

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Image via Pixabay

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) raised eyebrows this week after making blunt remarks about corruption in Washington and the lingering unanswered questions surrounding the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During a Monday appearance on Newsmax, Burchett argued that the Epstein scandal remains one of the clearest examples of how Americaโ€™s political and elite class often operates under a different set of rules than everyday citizens.

Burchettโ€™s comments came as discussion continues about potential upcoming depositions tied to the Epstein investigation, including speculation about former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-epstein-maxwell/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143417695

When asked about the possibility of questioning the Clintons, Burchett did not hold back, calling them an โ€œevil pairโ€ and suggesting they have long avoided accountability because of their political skill and influence.

โ€œThereโ€™s a reason that theyโ€™re not in prison and a reason that he was in the White House for two terms and she was secretary of state, because theyโ€™re very slippery and theyโ€™re very smart and I think theyโ€™re an evil pair,โ€ Burchett said.

He went on to argue that while many Americans want answers โ€” particularly given Epsteinโ€™s high-profile connections โ€” he doubts the Clintons or others in their circle will ever face serious consequences.

โ€œI think she is probably the brains behind the operation, but I donโ€™t think weโ€™ll get much on them,โ€ he continued. โ€œI know a lot of people want us to get them, and itโ€™d be great clickbait, Iโ€™m sure, but I think when it comes down to it theyโ€™ll either bail or they wonโ€™t answer very many questions and be very evasive and be very smugโ€ฆโ€

Burchett also expressed frustration with what he described as a two-tiered justice system, where powerful political figures often escape scrutiny while ordinary Americans are held to stricter standards.

โ€œโ€ฆbecause in this world there are two forms of justice โ€“ those like the Clintons and for the rest of us,โ€ he said.

While some commentators have speculated about dramatic legal consequences for high-profile individuals connected to Epstein, Burchett emphasized that Congress itself cannot directly jail anyone.

โ€œEverybody says weโ€™ll put them in handcuffs, all this stuff. All thatโ€™s talk,โ€ he explained. โ€œThe lawโ€™s gotta back you up on it and, you know, we gotta define what those laws were that they broke, and Congress cannot send somebody to jail.โ€

In one of his most striking statements, Burchett suggested that Washingtonโ€™s problems extend far beyond one scandal.

He concluded, โ€œOddly enough, a lot of congressmen probably should be in jail, but the truth is that weโ€™re not gonna. I donโ€™t think itโ€™ll boil down to anything, and thatโ€™s gonna make a lot of people mad, but I believe thatโ€™s the truth.โ€

The Tennessee congressman also weighed in on Epsteinโ€™s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a prison sentence for her role in Epsteinโ€™s sex trafficking operation.

Burchett predicted that if Maxwell were ever released early, her fate could mirror the suspicious circumstances many Americans still associate with Epsteinโ€™s death.

โ€œI see maybe she gets out early on good behavior and does a humongous book deal and probably ends up committing suicide by getting shot in the back of the head five times because this thing goes very deep and the people involved in it are very powerful,โ€ he said.

Burchett also repeated a belief shared by many skeptics across the country โ€” that Epsteinโ€™s death in federal custody left far too many unanswered questions.

โ€œAnd Iโ€™m still one of those that believe Epstein didnโ€™t kill himself, maโ€™am. I just donโ€™t think he did.โ€

Dan Bongino Returns To Fox News Following Time In Trump Admin

Dan Bongino is officially back at Fox News.

After nearly a year as deputy director of the FBI under President Donald Trump, Bongino has returned to Fox as a contributor, according to a Monday afternoon report from The New York Times media reporter Michael Grynbaum.

His comeback was announced during the Monday night episode of Sean Hannityโ€™s show at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Dan Bongino via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Grynbaum noted that Bongino has expressed regret at times about stepping away from his former life in media. Just weeks into the FBI role, he admitted on Fox & Friends that he missed what he left behind.

โ€œI gave up everything for this,โ€ Bongino said at the time.

First Appearance Back Focuses on High-Profile Disappearance

Bonginoโ€™s first major appearance after returning centered on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Speaking on Hannity Monday night, Bongino outlined three troubling possibilities in the case, emphasizing that investigators are still operating with very limited evidence.

โ€œThe first [possibility] would be, obviously, it’s a kidnapping. That was an intended kidnapping for a ransom paymentโ€ฆโ€ he said.

He then explained a second scenario โ€” that the situation may have spiraled out of another crime entirely.

โ€œThe second possibility would be this was just a crime that went awry. Someone was at the house, maybe it was a burglary, maybe something went bad, and you’ve got some bad actors committing another crime unrelated โ€” in other words, requesting a ransom for something you didn’t do just to take advantage of a situation like this.โ€

Bonginoโ€™s third possibility raised an even more unsettling idea: that the disappearance may not involve a kidnapping at all.

The third possibility, he said, is that Guthrieโ€™s disappearance could have resulted from a medical emergency or another non-criminal event that was later misunderstood or misrepresented.

Bongino Highlights Lack of Evidence

Bongino pointed to the complete absence of digital and forensic indicators โ€” no DNA, no license plate hits, no cellphone activity, and no surveillance leads โ€” as a major reason investigators are struggling.

He explained that when authorities cannot locate someone within the first few days, it can suggest either extremely sophisticated perpetrators or something else entirely.

โ€œThe story youโ€™ve been told, or you may have believed may not be the story,โ€ he said.

While Bongino declined to push one theory more strongly than the others, he emphasized that the lack of proof-of-life communication is unusual for legitimate ransom kidnappings.

He also referenced commentary from veteran FBI Special Agent Lance Leising, noting that real ransom cases typically involve rapid contact and early confirmation that the victim is alive โ€” patterns missing here.

Multi-Agency Search Continues

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home earlier this month, triggering a multi-agency investigation that now includes the FBI.

As the search intensified, Savannah Guthrie issued an emotional public plea, describing the situation as an โ€œhour of desperation.โ€

Authorities are also investigating an alleged ransom note tied to the disappearance, though the deadline referenced in the note passed Monday night without proof of life or resolution.

Back to Media โ€” and Still on Rumble

Bongino will continue hosting his podcast on Rumble, which he recently rebooted after leaving the FBI in December.

Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham said at the time she wasnโ€™t surprised by Bonginoโ€™s departure, noting that he โ€œloved his lucrative media lifeโ€ and wanted to โ€œget back to it.โ€

President Trump joined Bonginoโ€™s first show back on Rumble.

The president made headlines during his appearance when he saidย Republicansย should โ€œnationalizeโ€ the voting processย in order to block โ€œcrookedโ€ Democrat-led states from allowing illegal immigrants to vote.

โ€œThese people were brought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally,โ€ Trump said. โ€œAnd itโ€™s amazing the Republicans arenโ€™t tougher on it. The Republicans should say, โ€˜We want to take over, we should take over the voting in at least 15 places.โ€™โ€

The White House initially sought to soften Trumpโ€™s remarks, but the president doubled down on Tuesday, arguing that federal intervention could be warranted if states fail to administer elections fairly.

โ€œIf states canโ€™t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over,โ€ Trump said. โ€œThe federal government should get involved.โ€

Trump framed his argument as a response to what he described as โ€œcorruptionโ€ at the state and local level, particularly in more than a dozen states he has criticized in recent months.

In response, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said he plans to introduce a Senate resolution on Monday denouncing any effort by a president to โ€œnationalizeโ€ or โ€œtake overโ€ state-run election systems ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Democrat Senator Warns Trump Planning a โ€˜Coordinated Effort to Try to Interfereโ€™ in the Midterms

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Missvain, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is raising concerns about what he claims could be an effort by President Donald Trump and his allies to influence the 2026 midterm elections.

Speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday, Warner suggested that Trumpโ€™s recent comments about Republicans needing to โ€œtake overโ€ elections from the states could signal broader plans to challenge state-run election systems.

โ€œIt appears there may be a coordinated effort to try to interfere in the โ€˜26 midterms,โ€ Warner said. He added that he is concerned, โ€œThey may even start to interfere in the primaries.โ€

Watch:

Trump and many Republicans have argued for years that election administration should be strengthened through tighter oversight and more uniform standards, particularly after disputes over voting procedures in 2020. Democrats, however, have increasingly framed these efforts as threats to democracy.

Warner Criticizes Tulsi Gabbardโ€™s Role in Georgia Investigation

Warner also expressed anger over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbardโ€™s reported involvement in a federal raid in Fulton County, Georgia, where officials seized ballots and voter information as part of an investigation.

While details surrounding the raid remain unclear, Warner compared the situation to Watergate-era abuses of power โ€” an analogy Democrats have frequently used in recent years when criticizing Trump.

In a clip posted to social media, Warner said:

โ€œThe Nixon era is back. What do I mean? Richard Nixon is most infamously known for Watergate, where he intervened in a domestic political effort under the guise of the Watergate break-in. He knew what was going on before the fact. Well, it appears the same is true.โ€

Warner claimed testimony suggested Gabbard traveled to Atlanta because Trump personally asked her to.

โ€œIt appears the same is true. We got testimony yesterday that Tulsi Gabbard was down in Atlanta for that crazy raid on the voting machines because Trump asked her to go.โ€

Warner then questioned how Trump would have known about the investigation ahead of time:

โ€œWell, how the hell did Trump know there was about to be a warrant issued in a lame criminal investigation before the act took place? How did he let Gabbard know to go there?โ€

He also criticized reports that Trump spoke directly with FBI agents involved in the case:

โ€œThis is not how American justice should work. When, when, when will any of my Republican colleagues find a spine?โ€

Democrats Claim Raid May Have Been Improper

In another clip posted Wednesday, Warner suggested the FBI raid itself may have been unlawful, pointing to leadership changes under FBI Director Kash Patel.

โ€œWe have seen Kash Patel basically decimate the leadership of the FBI to the point that that raidโ€ฆ the FBI agent in charge of that office got fired because I donโ€™t believe he felt this was legal.โ€

Warner also argued that Gabbard, as DNI, should not have been involved in what he called a โ€œdomestic criminal investigation.โ€

โ€œThe director of national intelligence, who showed up at that domestic criminal investigation where she had no right to be thereโ€ฆโ€

He continued by questioning whether anyone in the administration attempted to stop Trump from contacting agents directly:

โ€œI know Trump doesnโ€™t know the law, but wasnโ€™t there anybody in the White House Counsel that said, โ€˜Mr. President, you shouldnโ€™t be talking to FBI agentsโ€ฆโ€™โ€

Warner concluded with a sharp personal attack on Gabbard:

โ€œThis is a guy thatโ€™s being enhanced by a rogue DNI whoโ€™s way over her skis in terms of knowledge or competency.โ€

Political Stakes Rising as 2026 Approaches

Warnerโ€™s comments come as Democrats increasingly warn of authoritarianism and election manipulation, themes expected to dominate campaign messaging heading into 2026.

Republicans, meanwhile, have argued that ensuring election integrity โ€” including investigating irregularities and enforcing stricter standards โ€” is a legitimate government responsibility, not โ€œinterference.โ€

Suspect Arrested In Attempted Murder Plot Targeting OMB Director Russell Vought

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A Maryland man has been accused of attempting to murder Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, according to NewsNation.

Court records from Arlington General District Court show that Colin Demarco was arrested on Jan. 22 and arraigned the following day. Records indicate he faces multiple charges, including first-degree attempted murder, first-degree solicitation to commit murder, wearing a mask in certain places, and carrying a concealed firearm, a misdemeanor.

Demarco is accused of plotting to kill Vought, a law enforcement source briefed on the case told NewsNation.

Police say they were called to a Virginia residence on Aug. 10 after a witness reported that a man wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves appeared to be standing on Voughtโ€™s porch while possibly concealing a firearm under his shirt.

According to authorities, the suspect approached the witness and asked about Vought before leaving the scene.

Investigators later identified Demarco as the man described and executed search warrants that reportedly uncovered evidence tying him to the alleged plot. NewsNation reported that authorities found Demarco had obtained directions to the budget directorโ€™s home, had posted online about the victim, and had engaged in online discussions that appeared to solicit others to murder Vought.

Demarco is currently being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 23 for a preliminary hearing. Court records list him as being represented by a public defender.

The case comes amid heightened concern nationwide over threats directed at public officials. In recent years, federal authorities have warned of an increase in violent rhetoric and plots targeting government figures across the political spectrum, including presidents, members of Congress, and senior administration officials.

Earlier this week, Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years over his attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course.

Prosecutors argued that Routh, 60, should get a life sentence after a jury last year convicted him on five counts for allegedly plotting โ€œpainstakingly to kill President Trump, and [taking] significant steps toward making that happen.โ€ 

โ€œRouthโ€™s crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence โ€” he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,โ€ prosecutors argued in a court filing. 

During the September trial, a jury quickly found Routh guilty on five felony counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. 

Routh allegedly hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent. 

Man Who Falsely Claimed To shoot Charlie Kirk Sentenced To Prison

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Image via Pixabay

In a strikingly bizarre footnote to the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a Utah man who falsely claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting has now been sentenced and faces up to 15 years in prison.

Seventy-one-year-old George Hodgson Zinn โ€” who dramatically approached law enforcement at Utah Valley University, yelling โ€œI shot him โ€” now shoot meโ€ moments after Kirk was gunned down โ€” has now pleaded no contest to obstruction of justice and guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to court records.

While Zinnโ€™s initial false confession drew headlines and confusion during the chaotic aftermath of the shooting โ€” leading some to believe he was the shooter โ€” investigators quickly ruled him out as a suspect in Kirkโ€™s assassination.

During questioning at a hospital after the incident, Zinn shocked authorities by admitting he had child sexual abuse material on his phone. A warrant later uncovered more than 20 images depicting abused minors, and prosecutors charged him accordingly.

In Salt Lake County district court, Zinn was sentenced to zero to five years for obstruction and one to 15 years for each exploitation count, with the judge ordering the terms to run concurrently. The exact amount of time he will serve will be decided by the Utah parole board.


Remembering Charlie Kirk: A Conservative Voice Silenced

The backdrop to this strange prosecution is one of the most shocking episodes of political violence in recent U.S. history. On Sept. 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk โ€” founder and executive director of the conservative youth advocacy group Turning Point USA and a leading voice in the MAGA movement โ€” was assassinated by a sniper while speaking at an outdoor event on the Utah Valley University campus.

Kirk, just 31 years old, had become one of the most recognizable young conservative figures in America. He built Turning Point USA from a student organization into a powerful grassroots force shaping Republican campaigns, energizing young voters, and challenging campus liberal orthodoxy across the country.

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

His death prompted an outpouring of grief and outrage from Republican leaders and conservative grassroots activists, who saw the attack as not just a crime but part of a broader pattern of hostility toward conservatives. Thousands attended memorial events, and his legacy has become a rallying point in debates over political violence and free speech on college campuses and beyond.

The suspect in the shooting โ€” 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson โ€” was later arrested and charged with aggravated murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, underscoring the gravity of the crime and the national attention still focused on the case.


What This Means Going Forward

Zinnโ€™s sentencing closes one strange chapter in the unfolding story of the Kirk assassination, but it also highlights the turmoil that followed one of the most prominent conservative leaders of his generation. A man who tried โ€” for reasons still unclear โ€” to throw law enforcement off the trail of the real shooter now faces prison time for his own criminal behavior.

Attempted Trump Assassination Suspect Sentenced In Court

Just in…

On Wednesday, Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years over his attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course.

Prosecutors argued that Routh, 60, should get a life sentence after a jury last yearย convicted him on five countsย for allegedly plotting โ€œpainstakingly to kill President Trump, and [taking] significant steps toward making that happen.โ€ย 

โ€œRouthโ€™s crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence — he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,โ€ prosecutors argued in a court filing. 

During the September trial, a jury quickly found Routh guilty on five felony counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.ย 

Routh allegedly hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent. 

โ€œRouthโ€™s crimes of conviction reflect careful plotting, extensive premeditation, and a cowardly disregard for human life,โ€ prosecutors wrote. โ€œRouthโ€™s motive for his crimes was unconscionable โ€“ preventing the American people from electing the candidate of their choice for President. Routhโ€™s gloss on his crimes has always been that anything he may have done was justified by events in Ukraine or American domestic politics.โ€

Since his conviction, Routh was appointed an attorney and has requested a 27-year sentence that would allow him to โ€œexperience freedom again as opposed to dying in prison.โ€ His lawyer argued that Routh could not have a fair trial because he represented himself, even though Routh made that decision after repeated warnings about the potential consequences.ย 

Routh represented himself at trial and attempted to argue that he never intended to harm Trump or the Secret Service agent, claiming his actions were a form of protest

Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, dismissed the criminal case against the president in 2024ย related to his handling of classified documents.ย Routh unsuccessfully attempted to have Cannon removed from the case by arguing her appointment by Trump is a conflict of interest.

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

House Panel Uncovers ‘Substantial Evidence’ In Fraud Probe Into Florida Democrat

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The House Ethics Committee has found โ€œsubstantial reason to believeโ€ that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) violated multiple federal laws, House rules, and ethical standards, according to a report released Thursday.

The bipartisan panel said its investigative subcommittee is formally โ€œbringing the chargesโ€ against Cherfilus-McCormick, citing potential violations of campaign finance laws and regulations, criminal statutes tied to campaign finance misconduct, the Ethics in Government Act, the Code of Ethics for Government Service, and several House rules.

The findings come as Cherfilus-McCormick already faces serious legal trouble. In November, a federal grand jury indicted the congresswoman on charges that she stole $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and used a portion of that money to bankroll her political campaign.

Prosecutors allege that in July 2021, Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother received a $5 million overpayment from FEMA while their health care company was working under a FEMA-funded staffing contract related to COVID-19 vaccinations. At the time, Cherfilus-McCormick was serving as the companyโ€™s CEO.

Rather than returning the money, federal authorities claim the congresswoman and her brother conspired to keep it, routing the funds through multiple bank accounts in an effort to โ€œdisguiseโ€ their source.

According to the Ethics Committee report, investigators uncovered evidence that aligns closely with the criminal indictmentโ€”and, in some cases, points to broader misconduct.

โ€œThe ISCโ€™s [Investigative Subcommittee] investigation has revealed substantial evidence of conduct consistent with the allegations in the indictment, as well as more extensive misconduct as laid out in the following Statement of Facts in Support of Alleged Violations related to violations of federal laws and regulations, as well as ethical standards,โ€ the report said.

Cherfilus-McCormick forcefully denied wrongdoing and criticized the committeeโ€™s process.

โ€œTodayโ€™s action was taken without giving me a fair opportunity to rebut or defend myself due to the constraints of an ongoing legal process,โ€ she said. โ€œI reject these allegations and remain confident the full facts will make clear I did nothing wrong. Until then, my focus remains where it belongs: delivering for my constituents and continuing the work they sent me to Washington to do.โ€

The investigative subcommittee detailed the scope of its work, noting it reviewed more than 33,000 documents, conducted 28 witness interviews, sent 30 requests for information, issued 59 subpoenas, and met 12 times across the 118th and 119th Congresses.

The report also highlighted Cherfilus-McCormickโ€™s lack of cooperation in the later stages of the investigation. While she initially produced some records, the congresswoman ultimately invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination after being subpoenaed for documents and testimony.

West Virginia Librarian Charged For Allegedly Recruiting People To Assassinate Trump

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Police image via Pixabay free images

A West Virginia woman was arrested in Ripley over the weekend after authorities said she used social media to issue threats against President Donald Trump.

Police arrested 39-year-old Morgan L. Morrow and charged her with making terroristic threats. Investigators allege Morrow attempted to recruit others online to help carry out violence against the president. (RELATED: Suspect Held Without Bail After Alleged Assault On Congressman)

According to the New York Post, Morrow was arrested over a TikTok video suggesting that finding a terminally ill sniper among 343 million Americans should not be difficult. The remark was cited in a criminal complaint obtained by Charleston-Huntingtonโ€™s WOWK.

Morrow is being held at the South Central Regional Jail. No bond has been set, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The Post continues:

The Jackson County Public Library staffer was detained at her home and allegedly admitted to police that the TikTok was โ€œintended as a threat directed toward President Donald J. Trump.โ€

Morrow revealed her โ€œpersonal reasons for wishing harm upon the president,โ€ according to the complaint, which did not elaborate on what they were.

Morrow claimed she had no intention to personally carry out the threat, the complaint said.

But deputies said such statements are โ€œdesigned to encourage, inspire or entice others to carry out the threatened act, regardless of whether the speaker publicly intends to personally do so.โ€

โ€œWhen you saddle up on the horse of stupidity, you have to be prepared for the ride that follows,โ€ Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger told local media(RELATED: Shot In The Butt: Fighting The Wrong Guy At The Wrong Apartment)

The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of threats against public officials. In recent years, federal authorities have prosecuted multiple cases involving threats, plots, or attempts targeting President Trump.

WATCH:

READ NEXT: 19-Term Incumbent To Leave Congress Amid Health Controversy

Trump Says DOJ Is Investigating Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

President Donald Trump announced Monday on social media that the Justice Department is investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), escalating a long-running clash with the progressive โ€œSquadโ€ lawmaker amid ongoing tensions in Minneapolis.

โ€œThe DOJ and Congress are looking at โ€˜Congresswomanโ€™ Illhan [sic] Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars,โ€ Trump shared. โ€œTime will tell all. Thank you for your attention to this matter!โ€

Trump made the announcement early Monday as Minneapolis remained on edge after a chaotic weekend. Unrest intensified after a federal immigration agent fatally shot an armed anti-ICE protester during demonstrations opposing immigration enforcement efforts. Trump also said he is dispatching border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota.

The Truth Social post also pointed to broader concerns about fraud and misuse of taxpayer-funded programs in the state.

Trump added that a major investigation into the โ€œmassive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesotaโ€ has been launched, arguing that it is โ€œat least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.โ€

Omar Responds, Calls Trumpโ€™s Claim a โ€œDeflectionโ€

Omar quickly pushed back, accusing Trump of using her as a political distraction.

In response, Omar posted on social media: โ€œSorry, Trump, your support is collapsing and youโ€™re panicking. Right on cue, youโ€™re deflecting from your failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of โ€˜investigationsโ€™ have found nothing.โ€

She added: โ€œGet your goons out of Minnesota.โ€

Omar has been one of the loudest critics of immigration enforcement under Trump and has accused ICE of carrying out a โ€œterror campaign.โ€ She also claimed a federal agent โ€œmurderedโ€ Renee Good, an anti-ICE activist who was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent after she allegedly drove her car toward him.

DHS Secretary Noem Praises Homan Deployment

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that sending Tom Homan to Minnesota will bring โ€œpeace, safety, and accountabilityโ€ to Minneapolis as federal authorities dig deeper into suspected fraud and expand enforcement operations.

โ€œThis is good news for peace, safety, and accountability in Minneapolis,โ€ Noem wrote on X.

โ€œI have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our teamโ€” his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the of [sic] streets of Minneapolis,โ€ she added. โ€œWe continue to call on the leadership in Minnesota to allow for state and local partnership in our public safety mission.โ€

Trump-Omar Feud Reaches New Level Amid Minnesota Immigration Crackdown

Trump and Omar have been feuding for years, but their confrontation has intensified in recent weeks as the Trump administration surged immigration enforcement resources into Minnesota. Trump has sent 3,000 immigration agents to the state, with Minneapolisโ€”represented by Omarโ€”receiving special focus.

The president has also highlighted a series of fraud scandals in Minnesotaโ€™s social service system, with several cases drawing scrutiny for alleged ties to networks operating within Somali American communities.

Last week, Trump again targeted Omar personally, accusing her of benefiting financially during her time in Congress and demanding an investigation into her wealth.

โ€œCongresswoman Ilhan Omar is worth over $30 Million Dollars,โ€ Trump wrote on Truth Social. โ€œThere is no way such wealth could have been accumulated, legally, while being paid the salary of a politician. She should be investigated for Financial and Political Crimes, and that investigation should start, NOW!โ€

Financial Disclosures Raise Questions as Trump Points to Wealth Claims

While Trump claimed Omar is worth more than $44 million, Omarโ€™s official financial disclosures suggest a smallerโ€”but still significantโ€”range that critics argue deserves scrutiny.

In a May 2025 financial disclosure, Omar listed two large assets tied to her husband, whom she married in 2020. One is a winery business valued between $1 million and $5 million, and the other is a venture capital firm valued between $5 million and $25 million. Based on the valuations, Omar and her husband have a net worth between $6 million and $30 million, minus liabilities, such as Omarโ€™s student loan debt of between $15,000 and $50,000 that she disclosed on a 2024 form.

Members of Congress are required to file annual financial disclosures designed to promote transparency and reduce corruption. The disclosures typically report ranges of asset values, rather than exact dollar figuresโ€”meaning a lawmakerโ€™s true net worth can be difficult to pinpoint from public documents alone.

Still, Trump and his supporters argue that Omarโ€™s reported rise in wealth should be investigated, especially given her vocal role in shaping federal policy debates and her influence within the Democratic Partyโ€™s activist wing.