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Government Employee Arrested After Disclosing Classified Info With FBI Agent

Authorities arrested a government employee in Virginia on Thursday over accusations he shared classified information with an officer or agent of a foreign government.

Nathan Vilas Laatsch, a 28-year-old IT specialist employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) since 2019, has been arrested and charged with attempting to transmit classified national defense information to a foreign government, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Laatsch, who held a Top Secret security clearance and worked in the DIA’s Insider Threat Division, was apprehended in northern Virginia after an undercover FBI operation. The investigation after the FBI received a tip that someone was offering to provide classified information to a friendly foreign government. Subsequent communications revealed that Laatsch expressed ideological disagreements with the current U.S. administration and a willingness to share sensitive materials.

Over several weeks, Laatsch engaged with an FBI agent posing as a foreign government representative. He allegedly transcribed classified information onto a notepad and, on May 1, deposited a thumb drive containing documents marked as Secret and Top Secret at a prearranged location in a northern Virginia park. The drive also included a message indicating his intent to provide a sample of the information he could access.

Following the initial drop, Laatsch communicated his desire for citizenship in the foreign country, citing concerns about the long-term trajectory of the United States. He also indicated openness to other forms of compensation. Between May 15 and May 27, he continued to transcribe and remove classified information, concealing notes in his clothing. On May 29, at another prearranged drop-off, Laatsch was arrested by the FBI upon delivering additional classified materials.

FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the persistent risk of insider threats, stating, “The FBI remains steadfast in protecting our national security and thanks our law enforcement partners for their critical support.”

Laatsch is scheduled to appear in court in Alexandria, Virginia on Friday.

Trump Acting Attorney Files Charges Against Lawmaker Involved In ICE Facility Raid

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Image via Pixabay images

Ouch…

On Monday evening, acting U.S. Attorneyย Alina Habbaย announced that her office had charged Rep.ย LaMonica McIverย (D-NJ) in connection with the congresswomanโ€™s visit to an ICE detention facility in Newark.

McIver, Newark Mayorย Ras Barakaย (D) and Reps.ย Rob Menendezย (D-NJ)andย Bonnie Watson Colemanย (D-NJ) visited the center on May 9. Baraka was arrested on that day, and shortly afterward, Habbaย hailed his arrest. But on Monday, Habba announced she is dropping the charges against the mayor and will proceed with the prosecution of McIver, alleging the lawmaker โ€œassaulted, impeded, and interfered with law enforcement.โ€

On X, Habba wrote, โ€œToday my office has charged Congresswoman McIver with violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a)(1) for assaulting, impeding and interfering with law enforcement.โ€ In a statement, she added:

I take my obligations as U.S. Attorney seriously. I understand the responsibility that comes with my position, and I will work diligently to uphold the law and deliver justice to the people of New Jersey.

After extensive consideration, we have agreed to dismiss Mayor Barakaโ€™s misdemeanor charge of trespass for the sake of moving forward.

In the spirit of public interest, I have invited the mayor to tour Delaney Hall. The government has nothing to hide at this facility, and I will personally accompany the mayor so he can see that firsthand.

The citizens of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so we can get to work to keep our state safe.

The dismissal against the mayor is not the end of this matter.

Congressional oversight is an important constitutional function and one that I fully support. However, that is not at issue in this case.

Representative LaMonica McIver assaulted, impeded, and interfered with law enforcement in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1 1 1 (a)(1). That conduct cannot be overlooked by the chief federal law enforcement official in the State of New Jersey, and it is my Constitutional obligation to ensure that our federal law enforcement is protected when executing their duties. I have persistently made efforts to address these issues without bringing criminal charges and have given Representative McIver every opportunity to come to a resolution, but she has unfortunately declined.

No one is above the law โ€” politicians or otherwise. It is the job of this office to uphold justice impartially, regardless of who you are. Now we will let the justice system work.

McIver responded with her own statement:

“Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall in my district,” McIver said. “We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short. Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.

Last week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) warned against repercussions for his fellow Democrat lawmakers who clashed with federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)ย detention facility at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, last week after Trump’s border czar Tom Homan issued a warning to the lawmakers that charges could soon follow.

During an exchange with Fox News reporter Chad Pergram, Jeffries repeatedly said โ€œtheyโ€™ll find outโ€ when pressed what might happen if the House Democrats involved in the incident were to be arrested by federal authorities or get sanctioned.

Report: Trump Wonโ€™t Rule Out Hunter Biden Pardon If Elected

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President Joe Biden hugs his family during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

Former President Trump said Thursday that he would not rule out pardoningย Hunter Bidenย if he wins Novemberโ€™s election.

โ€œI wouldnโ€™t take it off the books. See, unlikeย Joe Biden,ย despite what theyโ€™ve done to me, where theyโ€™ve gone after me so viciously, despite what โ€” and Hunterโ€™s a bad boy. Thereโ€™s no question about it. Heโ€™s been a bad boy,โ€ Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, wasย found guilty in Juneย of lying about his use of illicit drugs when applying to purchase a gun six years ago and unlawfully possessing it thereafter, marking the first criminal conviction of a sitting presidentโ€™s child.

A federal judge agreed to push back Hunter Bidenโ€™s sentencing to Dec. 4. 

Hunter Biden in September pleaded guilty to all nine federal tax charges he faced, staving off his second criminal trial this year, just before it was set to begin.

President Biden has repeatedly said he would not pardon his son before leaving office.

Hidden FBI Files On Trump-Russia Probe Discovered In Secret Room, Patel Says

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I, Aude, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Thousands of documents turned over to…

WASHINGTON โ€” FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly uncovered a cache of sensitive documents tied to the origins of the now-discredited Trumpโ€“Russia investigation, according to sources with direct knowledge of the discovery.

The documents were allegedly found inside a concealed room at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., stored in multiple “burn bags” โ€” containers typically used for the destruction of classified materials. The material is now under active review, with portions slated for declassification and eventual release to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA). (RELATED: Trump Issues Ultimatum To GOP Leader โ€” Abolish This Rule Or Else)

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

Among the most consequential items is a classified annex to former Special Counsel John Durhamโ€™s final report โ€” a document that had previously been withheld from public and congressional view. Sources say the annex contains the raw intelligence Durham reviewed and includes information gathered before the FBI formally launched its โ€œCrossfire Hurricaneโ€ probe into alleged ties between Donald Trumpโ€™s 2016 campaign and Russia.

The annex reportedly outlines internal warnings about efforts within the federal government to elevate unsubstantiated claims of collusion โ€” with some of the intelligence suggesting the narrative was intended to politically benefit the Clinton campaign.

Per Fox News Digital:

A source familiar with the contents of the classified annex told Fox News Digital that while it may not have been exactly clear in the moment what the intelligence collection meant, with the benefit of hindsight, it predicted the FBIโ€™s next move “with alarming specificity.”

“Ultimately, the release of the classified annex will lend more credibility to the assertion that there was a coordinated plan inside the U.S. government to help the Clinton campaign stir up controversy connecting Trump to Russia,” the source, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters that have not yet been made public, told Fox News Digital.

Not Stated, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

“Mere days after this intelligence was collected, the FBI launched Crossfire Hurricane,” the source said. “Itโ€™s really hard to see how Brennan, Clapper and Comey are going to be able to explain this away.”

Sources told Fox News Digital that Patel and his team discovered a previously undisclosed sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) in the FBI headquarters.

Patel, who previously served as a top national security official during Trumpโ€™s presidency, is now overseeing the review of the trove, which reportedly consists of thousands of pages and digital records. Some of the documents are believed to directly relate to early surveillance activities and internal deliberations within the FBI in 2016. (RELATED: [WATCH] FBIโ€™s Latest Target Isnโ€™t Who Youโ€™d Expectโ€ฆ)

The declassification process is being coordinated with top national security officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and NSA Director Gen. William Hartman.

Former FBI Directors James Comey and Christopher Wray have yet to respond to request for comment as of this article’s publication.

Grassley Expected to Lead Congressional Oversight

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Grassley, who has long pressed for transparency surrounding the Durham probe, is expected to spearhead efforts to bring the annex and related documents before Congress.

The development has reignited conservative concerns about politicization within federal agencies and the weaponization of national security tools for partisan purposes.

As the annex moves toward declassification, key questions remain: How did this material remain hidden for so long? Who knew of its existence? And what political or legal consequences could follow its release?

Trump Considers Labeling Tesla Vandals As Domestic Terrorists

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Tesla

After a string of attacks targeting Elon Musk’s Tesla company, President Donald Trump is considering labeling the vandals as domestic terrorists.

On Wednesday, when a reporter asked Trump about the issue, saying,  โ€œSome say they should be labeled domestic terrorists,โ€ Trump responded. โ€œI will do that. Iโ€™ll do it. Iโ€™m gonna stop โ€˜em (if) we catch anybody doing it. Because theyโ€™re harming a great American company.โ€

President Trump lined Tesla vehicles up on the White House driveway as he was accompanied by Tesla CEO Elon Musk while purchasing the Tesla S.

โ€œLet me tell you, you do it to Tesla, and you do it to any company, weโ€™re going to catch you, and โ€ฆ youโ€™re going to go through hell,โ€ Trump added. โ€œWhite House spokesperson Harrison Fields said โ€œongoing and heinous acts of violence against Tesla by radical Leftist activists are nothing short of domestic terror,โ€ .

Although Trump stated he was not allowed to drive while he was president, he bought a Tesla S, saying he purchased it for his staff.

Earlier this month, authorities responded to multiple Tesla superchargers being set ablaze in Massachusetts. (RELATED: Trump Hater Accidentally Sets Himself On Fire While Trying To Destroy Tesla Station)

A total of seven chargers were damaged, police said. 

On Saturday, NBC News noted, โ€œThere have been at least a dozen [acts] of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships or charging stations in recent weeks, according to police and local reports.โ€ (RELATED: Woman In Custody After Explosives Discovered At Tesla Dealership)

The incidents come months after a Tesla cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

U.S. Army soldier drove the Cybertruck, which he rented from Turo, outside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Monday morning. Upon arriving, the vehicle was detonated by explosives in the car.

Investigators found fireworks, gasoline canisters and camping fuel in the remains of the vehicle. The soldier was believed to have fatally shot himself shortly before the explosion.

On the day of the attack, Musk commented on X that the individual โ€œpicked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attackโ€ because the โ€œCybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.โ€

Authorities Apprehend Suspect In Trump Campaign Office Burglary

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Arrest image via Pixabay

A suspect accused of breaking into a Donald Trump campaign office outside of Washington, D.C. has been arrested, according to reports.

Toby Shane Kessler, 39, was detained on Saturday by the University of California, San Francisco Police Department for squatting in a campus dorm, the Loudoun County sheriffโ€™s office said in a release on Thursday.ย 

Kessler was allegedlyย behind the break-inย at a Trump campaign office in Ashburn, Va., in August. He broke in through the back door of the office and spent a โ€œbriefโ€ period of time there before exiting, according to the Loudoun County sheriffโ€™s office.ย 

The office is also used as the Virginia 10th District Republican Committeeโ€™s headquarters.

The sheriffโ€™s office said that Kessler faces burglary charges, though law enforcement did not say if he took anything from the office. 

โ€œIt is rare to have the office of any political campaign or party broken into,โ€ Sheriff Mike Chapman said at the time the incident took place. โ€œWe are determined to identify the suspect, investigate why it happened, and determine what may have been taken as well as what may have been left behind.โ€

In mid-August, the Loudoun County sheriffโ€™s office said Kessler has a โ€œhistory of criminal behavior and appears to have been in the Washington metropolitan area at least since 2018.โ€ 

Trump has not commented on the arrest.

Nancy Mace Attacked Amid Fight To Protect Womenโ€™s Rights

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) revealed that she was physically attacked Tuesday evening on Capitol grounds, an alarming incident that underscores the contentious debate surrounding her efforts to protect womenโ€™s spaces.

โ€œI was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women,โ€ Mace announced on X. โ€œCapitol police have arrested him.โ€ The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed the arrest of 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois, who now faces charges of assaulting a government official.

The assault occurred just before 6 p.m. inside the Rayburn House Office Building, a federal government office on Capitol Hill. Capitol Police and Threat Assessment Section agents quickly apprehended McIntyre, who had entered the building after passing through routine security checks.

While the police statement did not explicitly name Mace, her public account of the attack has reignited focus on her uncompromising legislative push. Mace has introduced a bill aimed at barring transgender women from using womenโ€™s restrooms and locker rooms on Capitol Hill, arguing itโ€™s a necessary safeguard for biological womenโ€™s safety and privacy.

โ€œAll the violence and threats keep proving our point,โ€ Mace declared. โ€œWomen deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!โ€

Battling Backlash and Violence

Maceโ€™s advocacy has drawn fierce opposition from LGBTQ+ groups, who argue her legislation is discriminatory. Despite this, Mace remains steadfast, framing the debate as one about safeguarding womenโ€™s rights.

Her resolve is deeply personal. โ€œLook, I am a rape survivor, a survivor of sexual violence and abuse,โ€ Mace shared in a recent interview with NewsNation. โ€œI know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces. At the end of the day, the question is: do women have rights or not?โ€

Mace also highlighted concerns about the Capitolโ€™s shared spaces, noting her discomfort with the potential presence of biological men in womenโ€™s locker rooms and restrooms. โ€œIf Iโ€™m in the womenโ€™s gym in D.C., changing clothes, and a man shows up with his genitalia in the room, thatโ€™s not okay. This is about protecting privacy and safety.โ€

Speakerโ€™s Support Amid Controversy

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently affirmed Maceโ€™s position, announcing that biological men would no longer be permitted in womenโ€™s bathrooms and locker rooms on Capitol grounds. โ€œWomen deserve womenโ€™s-only spaces,โ€ Johnson stated, providing legislative backing to Maceโ€™s campaign.

The congresswoman, previously known for her socially moderate views, has drawn a definitive โ€œred lineโ€ in this debate. โ€œAt some point, we have to draw a line with this insanity,โ€ she stated firmly. โ€œThis is about protecting the rights and safety of women everywhere.โ€

As the dust settles on this latest chapter in Maceโ€™s fight, one thing remains clear: the debate over womenโ€™s spaces and privacy is far from over.

READ NEXT: Matt Gaetz Reveals Major Career Move โ€“ January Will Be Huge

Cuban Regime Finally Loses a Longtime Fugitive: Joanne โ€œAssataโ€ Shakur Dies in Havana

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Havana, Cuba โ€” On September 25, 2025, Cubaโ€™s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Joanne Deborah Byron โ€” better known by her aliases Joanne Chesimard and Assata Shakur โ€” died in Havana at the age of 78 due to health complications and the rigors of old age.

This news brings to a close a decades-long saga in which a convicted murderer escaped justice, was shielded by a hostile foreign regime, and became a symbol for radical causes.


A Fugitiveโ€™s Origin: From Violent Crime to Escape to Cuba

In 1977, Chesimard was convicted on multiple serious charges including first-degree murder, armed robbery, and other felonies after a 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike that left State Trooper Werner Foerster dead.

She escaped prison in 1979, spent years underground, and resurfaced in 1984 under asylum in Cuba โ€” a regime that refused U.S. extradition requests.

For decades, the United States and New Jersey authorities pushed Cuba to hand her over. She carried the dubious distinction of being the first woman ever placed on the FBIโ€™s Most Wanted Terrorists list, with a $1 million reward for her capture.


A Death Without Accountability

Her passing in Havana presents a bitter irony: after decades of immunity facilitated by a foreign government, she dies free โ€” far from the prison cell where she was supposed to serve life in the U.S.

New Jersey officials immediately expressed outrage. They reiterated that justice was never fully served for Trooper Foersterโ€™s family.

Cubaโ€™s complicity in harboring Chesimard has long been roundly condemned by American leaders. Senator Marco Rubio recently denounced Havana for providing โ€œa safe haven for terrorists and criminals, including fugitives from the United States.โ€

What She Represented โ€” and What the U.S. Must Learn

For defenders of law and order, her story is a cautionary tale of diplomatic failure and ideological double standards.

  • Rule of Law Must Be Absolute: A convicted cop killer escaping and living with impunity is a stain on the integrity of the justice system.
  • Foreign Regimes Should Not Shield Criminals: Cubaโ€™s refusal to extradite Chesimard fashioned her into a political symbol, rather than merely a criminal. That sets a dangerous precedent.
  • Consistency in Foreign Policy Matters: If the U.S. does not forcefully demand accountability from regimes that shelter fugitives, it weakens its moral and strategic footing.

Now that she has died abroad, the question of bringing her remains home may arise. But more importantly, the memory of Trooper Foerster โ€” his sacrifice and service โ€” must remain central. And the mission remains: to hold foreign governments accountable when they interfere with American justice.

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.

Justice Department Sued For Hidden Documents On Pennsylvania Trump Shooter

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Americans may know more about the man who attempted to assassinate President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, after a legal watchdog filed a federal lawsuit for documents being concealed by the Justice Department.

The non-profit public interest law firm Judicial Watch announced in a statement it โ€œfiled a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice for all records regarding Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate President Trump on July 13, 2024.โ€

โ€œNo more delays and excuses, the FBI should release what it has on the man who tried to kill President Trump a full year ago in Butler. Attorney General Pam Bondi should direct a full and immediate records response to this Judicial Watch FOIA lawsuit,โ€ said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Judicial Watch notes it sued after the FBI โ€œfailed to respond to a July 24, 2024, FOIA request for:โ€

All records, including but not limited to, investigative reports, interview summaries (Forms 1023), letterhead memoranda, photos, audio/visual recordings, database inquiries, interagency communications, and any other records, whether contained in the Central Records System or cross-referenced files, related to Thomas Matthew Crooks, born September 20, 2003 in Butler Township, PA and died on July 13, 2024, who attempted the assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024.

All records of communication in any form, including but not limited to emails, text messages, encrypted app communications and voice recordings, between FBI officials and/or FBI sources, contractors, and assets on the one hand, and Thomas Matthew Crooks on the other hand.

โ€œOn July 13, 2024, then-Republican presidential candidate Trump survived an assassination attempt while speaking at an open-air campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was shot and wounded in his upper right ear by 20-year-old Crooks, who fired eight rounds from his perch on top of a nearby building,โ€ Judicial Watch explained, adding, โ€œCrooks also killed one audience member, firefighter Corey Comperatore, and critically injured two others. Crooks was shot and killed by the counter sniper team of the United States Secret Service.โ€

Judicial Watch has been pursuing the information for nearly a year, noting:

In March 2025, Judicial Watch sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for records related to security provided for the July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, PA, during which there was an assassination attempt on President Trump (Judicial Watch Inc. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:25-cv-00704)).

In September 2004, Judicial Watch sued the Department of Homeland Security for Secret Service and other records regarding potential increased protective services to former President Trumpโ€™s security detail prior to the attempt on his life at his July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:24-cv-02495)).

 In August 2024, Judicial Watch obtained records from the district attorneyโ€™s office in Butler County, PA, detailing the extensive preparation of local police for the rally at which former President Trump was shot. The preparation included sniper teams, counter assault teams and a quick response force. On August 9, in response to a separate open records request, Judicial Watch obtained bodycam footage of the July 13 assassination events from the Butler Township Police Department.