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Report: House Task Force Releases Scathing Assassination Disclosure

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

Americans still want answers…

On Monday, the House Task Force investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania released its initial findings.

Lack of adequate planning, a narrow field of vision for local snipers, the absence of a unified command post and fragmented communication were among the main findings in theย 53-page reportย that examinedย howย 20-year-old shooter Matthew Crooks was able to climb atop a building with a line of sight to Trump and fire at him.ย 

“Although the findings in this report are preliminary, the information obtained during the first phase of the Task Forceโ€™s investigation clearly shows a lack of planning and coordination between the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners before the rally,” the report said.

U.S. Secret Service (USSS) personnel at the event “did not give clear guidance” to state and local authorities about how to manage security outside of their hard perimeter, nor was there a central meeting between USSS and the law enforcement agencies supporting them the morning of the rally โ€“ two findings presented as key failures in the 51-page report.

The Houseย Task Forceย investigating the attempts on Trumpโ€™s life is expected to release its final report by Dec. 13.

Read the interim report in its entirety:

Crooksโ€™s bullet came within inches of killing the former president and injured his ear. Shots also killed one rally attendee and seriously wounded two others.ย 

The latest report also detailed information about Crooksโ€™ autopsy report and the chain of events that led to release of the remains to the Crooksโ€™s family. The Butler County Coronerโ€™s office released the remains after the FBI concurred that no additional evidence was necessary, the report said. 

The autopsy report found that Crooks died from one gunshot wound to the head, found negative results for alcohol or drugs of abuse, but was positive for antimony, selenium, and lead. Heightened levels of lead could have been due to time spent at the shooting range, the Allegheny County Chief Medical Examiner said.

The House force is made up of a bipartisan group of lawmakers and has also been assigned to investigate the September apparent assassination attempt on Trump in at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

โ€œThe Task Force will continue to rigorously investigate the July 13 assassination attempt in the coming months,โ€ the report said, adding that it is โ€œin the process of conducting more than 20 transcribed interviews of federal officials and others who may have knowledge relevant to the events of July 13.โ€ 

This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

Report: Alleged Trump Bomber Charged

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Political threats are on the rise…

On Monday, A man pleaded not guilty after he allegedly drove past a security checkpoint and claimed to have an explosive device at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Michigan, last week.

Steven William Nauta was arrested after police say he drove around barricades set up for Trumpโ€™s rally and told police that he had a C4 explosive, WOOD TV 8 reported. According to a court document, Nauta โ€œheld up a bottle to police and stated that it was โ€˜C4โ€™ explosive and that it was the โ€˜real deal.’โ€ After being told to stop by officers, Nauta allegedly โ€œsped offโ€ before stopping and throwing bags of fertilizer on the ground.

The Daily Wire reports:

โ€œWhen (Nauta) finally stopped, he removed bags of fertilizer from his vehicle and threw them on the ground to make it appear that they were explosives while disobeying officersโ€™ commands,โ€ the court document states. The 65-year-old was eventually detained by police, and the man allegedly told officers that he intended to make them believe that he had explosives. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said there was no active bomb in Nautaโ€™s vehicle.

Nautaโ€™s virtual court appearance from a jail cell was a bizarre scene as the man took his shirt off at one point and made profane hand gestures, according to WOOD TV 8. Nauta was charged with one felony count each of a false report or threat of terrorism, possession of bombs with unlawful intent, third-degree fleeing a police officer, and resulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Kent County, Michigan, District Court Judge Nicholas Christensen set the manโ€™s bond at $1 million, and Nauta replied, โ€œWell, your honor, given my situation, I think Iโ€™m better off just staying in here. Very cruel world out there. Probably a lot better off here.โ€

The judge told Nauta, โ€œItโ€™s not lost on this court here today that your alleged actions were directed to stopping or hindering a fundamental aspect of this countryโ€™s democratic process: a political rally.โ€

The Michigan manโ€™s alleged bomb threat came just two weeks after Secret Service agents apprehended an alleged suspect with a gun near Trump’s golf course. Ryan Routh pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.

The Republican nominee said on Monday that he has requested more Secret Service agents, but alleged that Democrats are โ€œnot giving us the proper number of people within Secret Service that are necessary for Security.โ€

โ€œWe need more Secret Service, and we need them NOW,โ€ Trump wrote. โ€œIt is ELECTION INTERFERENCE that we have to turn away thousands of people from arenas and venues because it is not being provided to us.โ€

Trump Pardons Ex-MLB Star Darryl Strawberry

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President Donald Trump has officially pardoned former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry, a move celebrated by supporters as another example of Trumpโ€™s commitment to second chances, redemption, and faith-driven transformation.

Strawberry, who became one of the most electrifying sluggers of the 1980s and 1990s, played a key role in leading the New York Mets to their 1986 World Series title and later joined the New York Yankees dynasty, winning championships in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Yet, behind the fame and success, Strawberry struggled with addiction and multiple run-ins with the law, leading to three separate suspensions from Major League Baseball.

A White House official confirmed to the Associated Press that the pardon recognizes Strawberryโ€™s โ€œfaith in Christianityโ€ and a decade-long commitment to sobriety. Since leaving the game, Strawberry has become a symbol of recovery and spiritual renewal. He now leads a faith-based ministry and a recovery center, helping others overcome the same challenges that nearly derailed his own life.

โ€œPresident Trump believes in forgiveness and the power of personal transformation,โ€ the official noted. โ€œDarryl Strawberry represents both โ€” a man who fell, got back up, and chose to make his life a testimony of hope.โ€

A Broader Effort on Clemency and Reform

This latest pardon comes amid a renewed focus by Trump on criminal justice reform and clemency for deserving Americans, particularly those who have demonstrated genuine rehabilitation and contributions to their communities.

In recent months, Trump has issued a series of pardons to figures who, in his view, were either wronged by the system or have since proven their reform. These include non-violent offenders, military veterans, and public figures who have turned their lives around through faith and service.

Strawberryโ€™s Story Resonates Beyond Baseball

Darryl Strawberryโ€™s transformation has become a beacon for those battling addiction and despair. His ministry work reaches into prisons, rehab centers, and churches nationwide, where he often speaks about faith, responsibility, and redemption.

Now, with his record officially cleared by the President, Strawberryโ€™s story stands as a powerful reminder that America remains a nation of second chances โ€” and that faith and perseverance can lead anyone from struggle to triumph.

READ NEXT: Trump Pardons Former Lawmaker Convicted In Corruption Probe

Capitol Police Arrest Democrat House Staffer

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Police image via Pixabay free images

On Monday, capitol police arrested a Congressional staffer for Rep.ย Joe Morelleโ€™sย (D-NY) office.

The staffer was identified in a statement as 38-year oldย Michael Hopkins and he was arrested for allegedly carrying ammunition, including a high-capacity magazine, into the Cannon House Office Building.

Chad Pergram, senior congressional correspondent for Fox News.ย posted a statement from Capitol police to X,ย formally Twitter:

At approximately 8:45 a.m., a House staffer entered the Cannon House Office Building and put his bag through screening. USCP officers noticed what appeared to be ammunition on the x-ray screen. After a hand search of the bag, officers found four ammunition magazines and eleven rounds of ammunition. The staffer told the officers that he forgot the ammunition was in the bag. 38-year-old Michael Hopkins was arrested, and he is facing charges for unlawful possession of ammunition, including one charge for possession of a high-capacity magazine.

Fox5 Washington reported that Hopkins โ€œhas been a guestโ€ฆseveral times over the years,โ€ as a Democratic strategist on their show The Hill, and posted video of the staffer on-air.

Morelleโ€™s office also released a statement, saying theyโ€™re fully cooperating with the investigation:

This morning, our office was informed that a member of our staff was arrested by Capitol Police. We are currently gathering more information regarding the circumstances of the arrest. Our office is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation. As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle is devoted to ensuring a safe and secure workplace for all.

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.

Trump Announces Plan To Seek Death Penalty For D.C. Murders

President Trump said Tuesday the federal government would seek the death penalty for murders committed in Washington, D.C.

“Anybody murders something in the capital, capital punishment,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. “Capital, capital punishment. If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington, D.C., we’re going to be seeking the death penalty. And that’s a very strong preventative.”

The District of Columbia hasn’t executed anyone since 1957, after Robert Carter was convicted of fatally shooting an off-duty police officer.

CBS News reported that previously, D.C. had mandatory death sentences for first-degree murders, a policy the Supreme Court later voided in the 1972 caseย Furman v. Georgiaย when it found that the death penalty was being applied in an unconstitutionally arbitrary manner. Four years later, the high courtย allowedย capital punishment to be reinstated with clearer sentencing guidelines. The D.C. City Council, however, abolished the death penalty in 1981.ย 

Washington went 12 days without a murder during the federal government’s crime crackdown, a streak broken early Tuesday with the killing of a 31-year-old man in Southeast D.C., according to the Metropolitan Police Department. 

Vice Presidentย JD Vance,ย a day earlier, said the capital typically averaged one murder every other day, before commending the president on saving 6-7 lives since deploying the National Guard

On his first day in office, the president signed an executive order directing the attorney general to seek the death penalty in cases involving the murder of a law enforcement officer or “a capital crime committed by an alien illegally present in this country.”

Republican Lawmaker Gets Into Physical Altercation Outside US Capitol

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Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Things were heated on Capitol Hill this week…

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) was caught in a run-in outside the Capitol on Thursday with a protester who challenged him over his stance on Israelโ€™s campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

The Republican reportedly shoved the man, who he later claimed had intentionally โ€œbumpedโ€ into him after being approached near the Longworth House Office Building, according to Politico.

The incident occurred shortly after lawmakers wrapped up their final votes of the week.

Burchettโ€™s spokesperson Will Garrett defended the congressmanโ€™s reaction in a comment to Politico, saying the protester had crossed a line.

โ€œEveryone has a right to their opinion, and they can say all of the filthy stuff they want. But they donโ€™t have the right to bump the congressman,โ€ Burchett spokesperson Will Garrett said in a statement to The Hill

Capitol Police briefly detained and questioned the protester, though the department has not commented publicly.

Burchett, meanwhile, dismissed the confrontation with characteristic bite, telling reporters the activist โ€œhad bad breath.โ€

Last year, Burchett introduced a resolution to reject the United Nationsโ€™s decision to place the Israeli military on a list of childโ€™s rights abusers.

โ€œIsrael is our greatest ally in the Middle East and their leadership tries to protect life. Hamas, on the other hand, hides behind innocent civilians like a bunch of cowards. We need to make it clear to the United Nations that the United States completely supports Israelโ€™s efforts to wipe these terrorists off the map,โ€ Burchett said at the time. 

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.

Arrest Made In โ€˜Targeted Attackโ€™ At Vegas Tesla Center

One down…

Police have arrested a man in what they called a โ€œtargeted attackโ€ at a Tesla collision center last week.

Officers arrested Paul Kim, 36, on Wednesday on charges including arson and possessing an explosive device.

The fires happened Tuesday, March 18, around 2:45 a.m.

Five vehicles were damaged, including the two engulfed in flames. Police also said they believed the person who set the fires also fired gunshots into the cars.

โ€œHe used what appeared to be multiple Molotov cocktails and firearms to conduct his attack,โ€ Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Asst. Sheriff Dori Koren said during a news conference last week.

The word โ€œresistโ€ was spray-painted on the Tesla centerโ€™s front doors. Police said an unignited Molotov cocktail was found in one of the cars.

Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Muskย referred to the fire as โ€œterrorism.โ€

Other incidents of vandalism have occurred around the country, including two incidents at an Oregon dealership where shots were fired and Molotov cocktails thrown at a dealership.

A 41-year-old man faces charges for those incidents.

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. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi officially labeled the recent vandalism targeting Tesla dealerships and cars as โ€œdomestic terrorism.โ€

โ€œThe swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences,โ€ Bondi said in a statement released Tuesday

โ€œWe will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes,โ€ the attorney general said. 

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.