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    DOJ Moves To Toss Charges Against Former Republican Lawmaker

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

    The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday moved to toss out charges against former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), who resigned from Congress in 2022.

    The request to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning the same charges can’t be brought again, comes as President Trump’s Justice Department has moved to end criminal prosecutions of his political allies, including those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and Trump’s co-defendants in his federal classified documents case.

    On his Truth Social platform, Trump celebrated the end of the DOJ’s “witch hunt” against Fortenberry and claimed he was the victim of a weaponized justice system.

    “The charges were totally baseless,” Trump said. “That Scam is now over, so Jeff and his family can go back to having a great life together, and be a part of our Country’s future as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. I am very proud of our Department of Justice, something I have not been able to say for many years!”

    A jury in Los Angeles previously convicted him in 2022 following a federal investigation, but a federal appeals court overturned the case in late 2023. (RELATED: Appeals Court Overturns Ex-Congressman’s Conviction For Lying To FBI)

    The charges centered on statements Fortenberry gave to authorities as they investigated the $30,200 donation to the former congressman’s campaign at a 2016 fundraising event in California from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian businessperson.

    Federal election law prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions in support of any candidate for a federal elected office in the U.S.

    That conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2023, after it determined Fortenberry should have faced trial in Nebraska or Washington, D.C., instead.

    Federal prosecutors brought the case again in Washington in May, and Fortenberry was awaiting a new trial when Trump won the presidential race.

    Congressional Investigators Issue Subpoena To Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    0

    The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has issued a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding she testify before lawmakers regarding the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    The subpoena intensifies the growing conflict between Congress and the Justice Department over transparency and accountability.

    Lawmakers say Bondi’s testimony is necessary to comprehensively review files related to the deceased sex trafficker. The resolution to subpoena Bondi was introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and passed in a bipartisan 24-19 vote.

    The Hill continues:

    All Democrats present for the committee hearing voted in favor, with Mace and GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas) and Scott Perry (Pa.) joining their colleagues from across the aisle. 

    The subpoena of Bondi would bring the highest-level sitting official before the House panel as it pushes ahead with its review of the files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

    Bondi has faced steady criticism over her handling of the files throughout her tenure as attorney general, cries that have only grown louder as the Justice Department has been accused of failing to release all the files and faced questions about how it has handled redactions.

    The Justice Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.

    Questions Over Missing Records

    The demand comes after a CBS News report on Tuesday stating that the Justice Department had started removing documents:

    After removing tens of thousands of files, the Department of Justice currently makes public about 2.7 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a CBS News analysis found, a number below the Department’s initial claim of 3 million, and a total that continues to fluctuate.

    The Justice Department initially said that its release, made in response to a law passed by Congress compelling the agency to disclose nearly all files related to Epstein, comprised more than 3 million pages. Combined with previously released materials, the Department put the total at 3.5 million pages.

    And now, in part in response to widespread criticism and concern from survivors and their attorneys that the files contain nearly 100 survivors’ personal information and photos, the DOJ has scrambled to remove documents. A CBS News analysis found that as of late February, the Justice Department has taken down more than 47,000 files comprising about 65,500 pages. Links to those files now return a “page not found” error on the department’s website.

    Some of those removed documents contained explicit images or survivor information — including one document with unredacted photos of 21 survivors along with most of their birthdates. But the reasons for other files’ removal is unclear, such as a call log with all names redacted and images of Epstein’s jail bunk where investigators say he hanged himself. The Justice Department appears to be putting some removed files back up.

    Bondi Faces Questions

    Bondi has already faced intense questioning from lawmakers during recent oversight hearings about the department’s handling of the Epstein document releases.

    During those hearings, members of Congress pressed the attorney general about:

    • Extensive redactions
    • Missing records
    • Whether additional investigations tied to Epstein could still occur

    Epstein, a financier with connections to powerful political and business figures, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.

    He died in federal custody later that year while awaiting trial.

    His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted of sex trafficking and is currently serving a federal prison sentence.

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

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    Jack Smith Claims He Has ‘Proof’ Trump Tried To Overturn 2020 Election

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    8
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A stunning claim…

    Former Special Counsel Jack Smith claimed in closed-door congressional testimony on Wednesday that investigators had proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” that President Donald Trump “criminally” conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

    Smith made the remarks in his opening statement to lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

    “I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,” Smith said in his opening statement, which was obtained in advance by the Associated Press. “We took actions based on what the facts and the law required — the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.

    Smith added that his probe had “developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a bathroom and a ballroom where events and gatherings took place.”

    Smith’s investigation, which began in 2022, focused on Trump’s alleged effort to overturn his 2020 election loss, as well as the classified documents that were stored at Mar-a-Lago.

    Charges were filed in both investigations, but later dropped due to the longstanding DOJ policy against the indictment of a sitting president.

    President Trump has yet to comment on Smith’s bold accusation.

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

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    Wisconsin Teen Plotted To Kill Trump To Start ‘Political Revolution’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    Disturbing…

    A 17-year-old Wisconsin teen accused of killing his mother and stepfather had also plotted to assassinate President Donald Trump to start a “political revolution,” according to court documents.

    Nikita Casap, 17, had images and messages on his phone that referenced a “self-described manifesto regarding assassinating the president, making bombs, and terrorist attacks,” FOX6 Milwaukee reported, citing a search warrant filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

    Images of a three-page document titled “Accelerate the Collapse” called for the assassination of Trump, according to the report. 

    Trump was specifically referenced in an excerpt from the document, which said “getting rid of the president and perhaps the vice president” is “guaranteed to bring in some chaos. … Point being this manifesto is specifically for the attack that targets Trump.”

    Casap was charged earlier this month in the shooting deaths of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer. The couple were found severely decomposed in their home on Feb 28 – more than two weeks after prosecutors allege Casap killed them. 

    During an interview with one of Casap’s classmates, authorities learned that Casap told the female classmate he had been in contact with a man from Russia, who they claim knew about the teen’s scheme to take passports, a car and the family dog and flee to Ukraine, according to the report.

    A recent study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has revealed a concerning trend: a significant portion of left-leaning Americans believe that political violence, including assassination, is justifiable against figures such as President Donald Trump and the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. The study surveyed over 1,200 U.S. adults and found that 38% of respondents felt that assassinating Trump would be at least “somewhat justified,” with this figure rising to 55% among those identifying as left-leaning. Similarly, 31% of overall participants, and 48% of left-leaning individuals, expressed some level of justification for assassinating Musk.

    This data suggests a troubling normalization of violent political rhetoric within certain segments of the population. The NCRI report highlights that this shift has been particularly pronounced following the December 2024 assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly by Luigi Mangione. Mangione’s actions have been glamorized in various online communities, leading to a proliferation of memes and discussions that endorse political violence.

    Screenshot via X [Credit: Elon Musk]

    Nancy Pelosi Claims Republicans May Hack Voting Machines and Create ‘Fake Count’ in Midterms

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    7

    Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is once again sounding alarms ahead of a major election—this time warning that Republicans aligned with Donald Trump could attempt to manipulate voting systems in the 2026 midterms.

    In a sit-down interview with MSNBC’s Ali Vitali, the former House Speaker—long one of Trump’s most vocal critics—predicted Democratic success in the upcoming elections but cautioned supporters to stay vigilant against what she suggested could be underhanded GOP tactics.

    “There are so many things that you can do to protect the election, and they are being done, whether it’s litigation or legislation or just mobilization, communication, all of that. But in addition to that, we have to be on guard as to what they may try to do to the technology. They may try to creep into the technology and create a false count,” Pelosi said.

    Pelosi, who has spent years opposing Trump and his political movement, framed her concerns as part of a broader battle over the integrity of American democracy. She has consistently accused Trump and his allies of undermining democratic norms—particularly following the 2020 election—and her latest comments reflect that ongoing distrust.

    Her remarks come as Democrats continue to push back against Republican-led redistricting efforts and the SAVE Act, a GOP-backed bill that would require stricter voter identification. While the legislation has passed the House, it faces steep odds in the Senate.

    Pelosi didn’t hold back in her assessment of Republicans’ motivations.

    “Pelosi accused Republicans of having ‘no commitment to the rule of law and doing things the appropriate way.’”

    Despite her warnings, Pelosi struck a confident tone about Democratic prospects, outlining what she sees as the party’s core mission heading into the midterms.

    “We have three purposes now. One is to win the midterm. Two is to make sure the elections are safe. And three, tell people what we will do when we win. That is the mission,” she said.

    The longtime Democratic leader also reflected on the party’s future, predicting that a woman will eventually become president—though she does not expect to see it herself. She credited Vice President Kamala Harris with energizing voters during the 2024 election cycle.

    “She turned out so many more people than who would have voted,” Pelosi said.

    Watch:

    Man Arrested With Body Armor, Rifle Painted Like Toy Near Trump Golf Course

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    9
    Police image via Pixabay free images

    Deputies in Los Angeles stopped what could have turned into a far more dangerous situation near a Trump-owned golf course.

    Authorities arrested a 36-year-old Arizona man after he was spotted running through traffic near Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes while armed with multiple weapons, including a loaded rifle painted to resemble a toy.

    According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect — identified as Sean Steiner of Glendale, Arizona — had been seen earlier hiking in the area with a duffel bag, step stool, and rifle before entering traffic along Palos Verdes Drive South around 5 p.m. on March 29.

    When deputies arrived, they found the rifle had been painted green and purple and marked with the phrases “HA HA HA HA” and “Why so serious?” — a reference to the Joker character from Batman. The tip had also been painted orange, “resembling a toy gun,” according to authorities.

    What may have looked theatrical was anything but harmless.

    “Not only was the rifle loaded with a round in the chamber and a full magazine inserted… he admitted he had just fired one of the pistols near the landslide area to ‘get some anger out,’” the sheriff’s Lomita Station said in a statement.

    Deputies also discovered two loaded handguns, high-capacity magazines, and additional ammunition. Steiner was wearing a ballistic vest capable of stopping rifle rounds.

    “Let that sink in,” authorities wrote. “An armed individual, firing a weapon, walking through traffic and trails… in a populated area.”

    Sean Steiner, right, is accused of multiple firearm-related felonies after Los Angeles deputies say they arrested him near a Trump-owned golf course with a semiautomatic rifle painted to look like a toy. He is also accused of firing a handgun in the brush nearby before running into traffic. (Lomita Sheriff’s Station via Fox News)

    The situation underscores how quickly a volatile scenario can escalate — and how critical early reporting can be. Officials credited witnesses who called in the suspicious behavior before anyone was injured, emphasizing the importance of the public safety mantra: “if you see something, say something.”

    Steiner now faces multiple felony firearm charges. He was booked March 29 and released on bond April 1.

    While investigators say Steiner had little prior criminal history beyond minor offenses, the incident raises broader concerns about armed individuals near high-profile locations — particularly those associated with President Donald Trump.

    It also echoes another alarming case: Ryan Routh, who was previously arrested after allegedly hiding in bushes near a Trump golf course while armed. That case, like this one, highlighted the persistent security risks surrounding prominent political figures and the critical role of vigilant law enforcement.

    Police Officer Chance Bretches was awarded a Lifesaving Medal with Valor for rescuing someone from a burning vehicle…But now radicals are trying to ruin his life just for doing his job. Officer Bretches and his family need your help.[Support Police Officers HERE]

    Trump Rival Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced Sunday that he is suspending his campaign for governor of California, just over 48 hours after multiple reports surfaced alleging sexual assault and misconduct involving a former aide and other women.

    “I am suspending my campaign for Governor,” Swalwell wrote in a post on the social platform X. “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

    The San Francisco Chronicle first reported Friday that Swalwell allegedly sexually assaulted a former aide in 2019 and 2024, incidents in which the woman was said to be too intoxicated to give consent. CNN later reported that four women had accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including one who alleged rape.

    Swalwell forcefully denied the claims.

    “They are absolutely false. They did not happen,” Swalwell said in a video posted on X on Friday. “They have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.”

    His attorney has also sent cease-and-desist letters to several of the accusers, according to CNN.

    Despite those denials, political support for Swalwell unraveled rapidly. Within hours of the initial reports, his campaign co-chairs — Reps. Adam Gray (D-Calif.) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) — publicly urged him to exit the race. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a longtime power broker in California politics, also called for him to drop out and said the allegations should be “appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability.”

    An unsigned letter from members of Swalwell’s congressional office and campaign described the allegations as “abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians,” according to Politico.

    Calls for his resignation from Congress have also grown, spanning both parties.

    Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said she plans to file a motion to expel Swalwell from the House. Expulsion would require a two-thirds vote, meaning significant Democratic support would be necessary. Some Democrats have already indicated they would back such a move if Swalwell does not step down.

    Separate investigations may further complicate his situation. The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday it is probing allegations that Swalwell illegally employed a nanny, while Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed it is reviewing the sexual assault claims.

    Before the allegations emerged, Swalwell had been widely viewed as a leading contender in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. He had secured endorsements from major groups, including the California Teachers Association and the California Medical Association — both of which have since rescinded their support.

    “CTA’s democratically elected board has voted unanimously to rescind our endorsement of Representative Eric Swalwell in his campaign for Governor of California. We withdraw all support,” the California Teachers Association wrote on X.

    The race is now far more uncertain. Democratic strategists say candidates such as billionaire Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) could gain traction as voters reassess their options ahead of the June 2 primary.

    Swalwell’s political downfall marks a dramatic turn for a congressman who rose to national prominence as one of former President Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics. A frequent presence on cable news, Swalwell served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first Senate trial and was a vocal advocate for investigations into Trump’s conduct and associates.

    The two have traded barbs for years, with Trump repeatedly targeting Swalwell in speeches and on social media, often mocking him personally and politically. Swalwell, in turn, built a national profile by positioning himself as a leading Democratic counterweight to Trump, including during his brief and unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign.

    Police Officer Chance Bretches was awarded a Lifesaving Medal with Valor for rescuing someone from a burning vehicle…But now radicals are trying to ruin his life just for doing his job. Officer Bretches and his family need your help.[Support Police Officers HERE]

    AG Bondi Reveals The Grim Reason She’s Carrying Fake Fentanyl

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    Attorney General Pam Bondi will stop at nothing to eradicate fentanyl from the streets.

    On Wednesday, Bondi revealed that she carries around a vial of fake fentanyl to show that just a tiny amount can be deadly.

    While appearing on Fox & Friends from the White House lawn, Bondi discussed the importance of recent drug trafficking busts in several states that turned up massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and guns.

    To illustrate her point, she said she keeps a small bottle of “fake fentanyl” to remind herself how just a tiny amount can prove deadly.

    “Each pill has the potential to kill a human being. A human life. An American life. I’ve been carrying around a little vial with fake fentanyl in it, the amount it takes to kill you, and it looks like a couple of grains of salt,” Bondi told Fox & Friends co-host Lawrence Jones.

    On Tuesday, Bondi announced that authorities made one of the biggest fentanyl busts in U.S. history with the seizure 409 kilos of fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilos of fentanyl powder.

    Bondi said that around 35 kilos of methamphetamine, 35 kilos of meth, 7.5 kilos of cocaine and 4.5 kilos of heroin were also seized along with $5 million in cash and 49 rifles and pistols.

    Sixteen people were arrested in the operation. Six of the individuals are in the U.S. illegally, Bondi said. 

    Bondi also teased a joint announcement with FBI Director Kash Patel of a major child exploitation ring bust later in the morning, while urging parents to take notice of their children’s online habits.

    “Your kids have no right to privacy on the internet,” she said, adding, “Children are getting recruited on the internet from being on games, social media or any social media platform. Parents, you’ve got to monitor what your kids are doing because they think they are talking to other children and they are not. They are talking to monsters often.”

    “You’ve gotta be all in your children’s business,” Jones added.

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

    Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday that 205 alleged child sex predators who preyed on children online have been arrested in the last week. 

    The arrests are part of a new joint operation by the Justice Department and FBI called “Operation Restore Justice” which saw 115 children across the country rescued in the process, Bondi and Patel said.

    Bondi called the operation “historic and “unprecedented.”

    “These depraved human beings, if convicted, will face the maximum penalty in prison some life,” Bondi said at a press briefing.

    “We will find you. We will arrest you, and we will charge you. If you are online targeting a child, you will not escape us. The FBI and the Department of Justice will come after you. And we will prosecute you.”

    Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Attack Outside California ‘Trump House’

    By
    admin
    -
    2
    Arrest image via Pixabay

    A California man is facing attempted murder charges after a brutal daytime attack outside a well-known San Diego “Trump House” left an elderly homeowner fighting for his life and a bystander injured, according to police.

    Authorities say 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler is accused of critically injuring the homeowner outside a residence on Buchanan Street in Escondido that has long drawn attention for its prominent displays of American flags and pro-Trump banners. The suspect, who lives nearby, is being held at the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County.

    The attack unfolded around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when Escondido police responded to reports of an assault near East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street. Officers arrived to find an elderly man suffering from severe injuries in the driveway area, along with a good Samaritan who had intervened and was also hurt.

    Police say Butler fled the scene on foot but was located about a half-mile away shortly afterward and taken into custody.

    The victim, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized in critical condition. Public records indicate the home is owned by a 69-year-old man. The property—widely referred to online as the “Trump House”—has been a familiar local landmark for years due to its extensive political signage and flags, which neighbors have both complained about and discussed online.

    Video and photos from the scene show a heavy police presence, evidence markers along the street, and what appeared to be blood near the driveway between parked vehicles, including a pickup truck displaying American flags.

    While investigators have not publicly detailed a motive, the case is already fueling broader concern about escalating political hostility in public spaces. Online discussions about the property in past years have included both criticism of the displays and, in some cases, explicit hostility toward the homeowner.

    The incident comes amid a broader national backdrop of politically charged confrontations and violence. In recent weeks, conservative media and activist circles have pointed to the reported attack on Turning Point USA reporter Savannah Hernandez during a separate confrontation as part of a growing pattern of aggression directed at individuals associated with right-leaning political movements. (RELATED: 2 Indicted Following Assault Of Turning Point USA Journalist)

    Taken together, these episodes are likely to intensify debate over whether political rhetoric and public polarization are increasingly spilling over into real-world violence. Law enforcement officials have not indicated that Butler’s alleged attack was politically motivated, and the investigation remains ongoing.

    This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

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    Appeals Court Rejects Trump Request To Stay Criminal Sentencing

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    Just in…

    The New York Court of Appeals has denied a motion filed by President-elect Donald Trump to stay the Jan. 10 sentencing in the New York v. Trump case.

    New York Judge Juan Merchan set Trump’s sentencing date in the case earlier this month, ahead of his inauguration as president on Jan. 20. 

    Trump filed a motion to stay the Jan. 10 sentencing with the New York State Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. 

    The New York Court of Appeals denied Trump’s request Thursday morning. The status of his appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court is pending.

    new-york-v.-trumpDownload

    Trump remains set to be sentenced on Friday, Jan. 10, at 9:30 a.m., pending the Supreme Court’s decision. He plans to attend virtually. 

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

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