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Agent Who Took Bullet For Reagan Backs Secret Service After WHCA Dinner Chaos

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By Series: Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989Collection: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989 - https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75856639, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96625804

A Secret Service agent who literally took a bullet for President Ronald Reagan is now defending the agency after the shocking armed breach at the White House Correspondentsโ€™ Dinner.

Tim McCarthy โ€” the agent wounded during the 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan โ€” says critics need to cool it.

โ€œI think we need to ratchet down the rhetoric just a little bit and give the Secret Service at the moment quite a bit of credit for doing a hell of a good job,โ€ McCarthy said on NewsNation Live.

Thatโ€™s no small endorsement.

McCarthy was among the agents protecting Reagan outside the Washington Hilton in March 1981 when would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. opened fire. Reagan was hit by a bullet that ricocheted off his limousine, piercing his lung and causing massive internal bleeding. McCarthy, along with Press Secretary James Brady and others, was also struck โ€” Brady left permanently disabled.

Now, more than four decades later, McCarthy is weighing in on another high-stakes moment at the very same hotel.

On Saturday night, an armed suspect stormed the White House Correspondentsโ€™ Dinner, where President Donald Trump was in attendance โ€” sparking panic and fierce backlash online over security failures.

But McCarthy says the system worked.

โ€œThis guy really didnโ€™t get too far,โ€ he said. โ€œHe ran through the metal detectorsโ€ฆ exchanged gunfireโ€ฆ wasnโ€™t even on the same floorโ€ฆ and was tackled by an agent, never got to the stairs.โ€

Despite viral outrage โ€” and even the suspect himself claiming there was โ€œno damn securityโ€ โ€” McCarthy emphasized the layered defense that stopped the threat cold.

โ€œNow, security is in layers,โ€ he explained, detailing how multiple levels of resistance stood between the gunman and the president, including counter-assault teams and SWAT units.

Bottom line: the shooter never got close.

โ€œSecurity was tested, security responded, and at this point it did pretty well,โ€ McCarthy said.

The Trump White House appears to agree.

Officials praised the Secret Service for quickly evacuating the president, vice president, and cabinet, while Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is set to review protocols going forward.

Still, critics have questioned whether more could have been done โ€” including calls to lock down the entire hotel.

McCarthy dismissed that idea outright.

โ€œWell, try finding a hotel with a ballroom if youโ€™re going to shut the hotel down,โ€ he said. โ€œYouโ€™re not going to find one. No oneโ€™s going to want to do that.โ€

He also noted that security included multiple layers โ€” possibly more than the standard three โ€” and that the threat never reached the ballroom floor.

For McCarthy, who lived through one of the darkest days in presidential security history, the verdict is clear:

โ€œSo far, based on what I know, Iโ€™m pretty satisfied with what the Secret Service did on this occasion.โ€

The Washington Hilton hotel said is a statement Monday it was following โ€œstringentโ€ Secret Service protocols during Saturdayโ€™s White House Correspondentsโ€™ Association dinner.

โ€œThe โ€‹hotel was operating under stringent security โ€‹protocols for the property as directed by the โ€ŒU.S. โ Secret Service, which led security,โ€ a hotel spokesperson said in a statement, according to Reuters

The spokesperson reportedly added that the Secret Service coordinated with numerous security teams, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in addition to hotel security.ย 

Secret Service Fatally Shoot Armed Mar-A-Lago Intruder

Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

PALM BEACH, Fla. โ€” A 21-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday after allegedly breaching the secure perimeter of President Donald Trumpโ€™s Mar-a-Lago estate, prompting a multi-agency federal investigation, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed.

The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. when the suspect made what officials described as an โ€œunauthorized entryโ€ onto the property.

According to the Secret Service, the individual was observed near the north gate carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can. Agents, along with a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriffโ€™s Office (PBSO), responded immediately.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw identified the suspect as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of North Carolina.

Bradshaw said during a press conference that a deputy and two Secret Service agents assigned to the detail confronted the man after he entered what authorities described as the โ€œinner perimeterโ€ of the estate.

โ€œThey confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun. He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him โ€” at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,โ€ Bradshaw told reporters. โ€œAt that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.โ€

Bradshaw said the suspect did not respond verbally to commands from law enforcement officers to drop the items.

Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials confirmed that no Secret Service personnel or sheriffโ€™s deputies were injured during the confrontation. No Secret Service protectees were present at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the incident, and Trump was not in Florida when the shooting occurred.

The FBI, Secret Service, and Palm Beach County Sheriffโ€™s Office are jointly investigating the shooting, including the suspectโ€™s background, actions, potential motive, and the use of force.

FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles said the bureau is assisting due to the location being under Secret Service protection.

The FBIโ€™s evidence response team is processing the scene and collecting physical evidence. Skiles urged residents in the area to review surveillance footage from late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

โ€œIf you see anything that looks suspicious or out of place, please contact us,โ€ he said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the agency โ€œis dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morningโ€™s incident,โ€ adding that the bureau โ€œwill continue working closely with @SecretService as well our state and federal partners and will provide updates as we are able.โ€

Heightened Security After Previous Threats

Sundayโ€™s incident comes amid heightened security surrounding Trump following multiple high-profile threats and assassination attempts in recent years. Most notably, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman opened fire, injuring Trump and killing a rally attendee. That attack prompted sweeping reviews of Secret Service procedures and significantly intensified protective measures at Trump properties and public events.

Since then, federal authorities have reported disrupting additional threats against the former president, contributing to an already elevated security posture.

Mar-a-Lago, which serves as Trumpโ€™s private residence and a frequent venue for political and public events, operates under layered security protocols when under Secret Service protection. Officials have not yet indicated whether Sundayโ€™s incident is connected to any broader threat.

The investigation remains active, and authorities say additional details will be released as they become available.

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.

Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn Arrested

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Former Congressman Madison Cawthorn was briefly arrested this week in Cape Coral, Florida โ€” yet the setback may not slow what many believe is a mounting effort to reenter national politics.

Authorities took Cawthorn into custody on a warrant stemming from an August 19 citation for driving without a valid license in Naples. He was released shortly thereafter on a $2,000 bond and is expected to appear in court to resolve the matter. Supporters have dismissed the incident as a minor technicality, unlikely to derail his ambitions.


From Conservative Trailblazer to Political Lightning Rod

Cawthorn burst onto the national stage in 2020 as one of the youngest Republicans ever elected to Congress, winning his North Carolina seat at just 25 years old. He quickly became a symbol of youthful conservative energy and unapologetic defiance of the Washington establishment.

But his meteoric rise ran into turbulence during his lone term. In early 2022, he alleged that some D.C. elites had invited him to a cocaine-fueled โ€œorgy,โ€ a claim that drew sharp criticism from GOP leadership. Weeks later, police body camera footage showed him being pulled over while driving a car he mistakenly believed he owned, and he was also cited for bringing a firearm through airport security โ€” his second such incident in less than a year.

Republican leadership, once supportive, gradually distanced themselves. The controversies overshadowed his legislative work and contributed to his loss in the 2022 Republican primary.


Florida Could Offer a Second Act

Now, Cawthorn may be plotting a political revival โ€” this time from Floridaโ€™s 19th Congressional District, where Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is expected to step down to run for governor. Axios recently reported that Cawthorn has been exploring a run to fill the soon-to-be-open seat, potentially offering him a clean slate and new political base in one of the countryโ€™s most Republican-leaning regions.

If he enters the race, Cawthorn could return to Washington older, more seasoned, and still armed with the anti-establishment instincts that made him a grassroots favorite. For many conservatives, his resilience โ€” and willingness to challenge entrenched power โ€” could be the very qualities the GOP needs in its next generation of leadership. for the second time in nine months.

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.

Jeanine Pirro Announces Additional Charges Against DC Teens Over DOGE Employeeย Attack

By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Jeanine Pirro, CC BY-SA 2.0,

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced Monday that two young men have been charged in connection with a violent summer attack on a federal staffer for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Federal prosecutors have charged Lawrence Cotton-Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, with robbery, assault, and carjacking for their alleged roles in the beating of DOGE employee Edward Coristine, known to colleagues as โ€œBig Balls,โ€ and another individual in early August.

According to Pirro, the pair had already been involved in another mugging โ€” of a victim named Ethan Levine โ€” shortly before the brutal assault on Coristine. Both suspects, she said, are repeat offenders who should never have been on the streets in the first place.

โ€œLawrence Cotton-Powell is 19 years of age. He is now charged with robbery, first-degree robbery for which he faces 15 years in prison. He also faces a charge of assault with intent to commit robbery, another 15 years, and robbery for Edward Coristine, 15 years, assault with intent to commit robbery, another 15 years, and attempted carjacking, five years,โ€ Pirro said.

Pirro didnโ€™t mince words when calling out judges who ignored her officeโ€™s repeated requests for jail time. Instead of protecting the public, the courts released Cotton-Powell on probation, giving him multiple chances to reoffend โ€” and, according to prosecutors, he did just that.

Watch:

This latest attack became a flashpoint for President Donald Trumpโ€™s crackdown on violent crime in Americaโ€™s cities. Following the assault, Trump ordered National Guard deployments to crime-plagued areas like Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, while courts have blocked his efforts to extend the same law-and-order measures to other liberal-run cities like Seattle.

During an interview, Coristine said he was defending a woman when he was attacked by the group.

The charges against Cotton-Powell and Taylor follow outrage over two other teens โ€” a 15-year-old girl and boy โ€” who received only probation for their roles in the same attack. Both Pirro and Trump condemned the slap-on-the-wrist punishment. (RELATED: Police Apprehend Suspects Linked To DOGE Staffer Beating)

โ€œI think the judge should be ashamed of himself,โ€ said Trump.

Calling the outcome โ€œterrible,โ€ Trump and Pirro have urged lawmakers and local officials to enact tougher sentencing laws for youth offenders in D.C., arguing that the explosion of teen crime in the capital is the direct result of years of leniency and failed progressive policies.

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?

Taxpayers May Be Forced To Cover Legal Fees For NY AG Letitia James Amid Fraud Probe

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Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

New York taxpayers could soon find themselves footing the legal bill for Attorney General Letitia James as she prepares to defend herself against a federal investigation into alleged mortgage and real estate fraud. Buried in New Yorkโ€™s newly approved operations budget is language that opens a $10 million fund to reimburse state officials โ€” including James โ€” for โ€œreasonable attorneysโ€™ fees and expensesโ€ tied to investigations launched by the federal government after January 1, 2025.

Though the budget provision does not mention James by name, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to The New York Post that the fund was included with her case in mind. The fund could also apply to other state officials targeted by a Trump administration-led Department of Justice as it reopens investigations into political and institutional corruption.

The controversy stems from a criminal referral issued last month by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), whose director, William Pulte, accused James of falsifying mortgage documents and misrepresenting her residency status. According to the referral sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, James claimed a Virginia home โ€” allegedly purchased on behalf of her niece โ€” as her primary residence, a move that could constitute mortgage fraud.

James, who gained national prominence for her high-profile civil fraud case against Donald Trump, has come under scrutiny for what critics now call a double standard. Once the face of the โ€œno one is above the lawโ€ mantra, she now finds herself leaning on state funds and a private legal defense to fight the allegations. A spokesperson for her office called the probe โ€œpolitical retributionโ€ and vowed to fight what they characterized as a โ€œrevenge tourโ€ orchestrated by Trump.

But Republicans are not buying the victim narrative.

โ€œThis is what corruption looks like in plain sight: political insiders rigging the system to protect their own, while hardworking families get shortchanged,โ€ said New York GOP Chair Ed Cox. โ€œTish James used her office to wage partisan lawfare against her political opponents, and now New Yorkers are footing the bill for the consequences.โ€

Critics also slammed what they describe as a legal “bailout” hidden in plain sight. The language in the budget states that any state employee facing a federal investigation related to their duties may seek reimbursement โ€” a clause that could be used broadly and, according to opponents, easily abused.

The legal support fund is likely to inflame already tense debates over partisanship, misuse of public resources, and institutional trust. With New Yorkโ€™s top law enforcement officer now potentially under federal investigation, questions will continue to mount over the ethical boundaries between public office and political warfare โ€” and who ends up paying the price.

Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty To Defrauding MAGA Donors

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Thor Brรธdreskift / Nordiske Mediedager, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist for the Trump White House, pleaded guilty to defrauding donors who thought they were giving money to help build a wall at the United Statesโ€™ southern border on Tuesday.

Bannonย had faced five felony counts and up to fifteen years in prison. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Bannon pled guilty to one count and received a three-year conditional discharge. He will face no jail time so long as he does not re-offend.

The longtime ally of Presidentย Donald Trumpย had previously faced federal charges pertaining to the same scheme. In an indictment unsealed in 2020, Bannon was accused of soliciting millions of dollars to build the wall and the funneling the money to himself and his associates.ย 

Audrey Strauss, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York at the time, said in a statement that Bannon and his co-conspirators had โ€œdefrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction.โ€

Bannon received a presidential pardon from Trump on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the final full day of Trumpโ€™s first term in office. In 2022, the Manhattan district attorneyโ€™s office charged him over the same scheme.

Last month, Bannon openly declared war on billionaire businessman Elon Musk ahead of Trump’s second inauguration.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, as highlighted by Mediaite, Bannon sharply criticized Musk, who was tapped by Trump to co-lead the โ€œDepartment of Government Efficiency.โ€

โ€œI will have Elon Musk run out of here by Inauguration Day,โ€ Bannon said. โ€œHe is a truly evil guy, a very bad guy. I made it my personal thing to take this guy down.โ€

Mob Of Protesters Storm NYC Trump Tower

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On Thursday, Several dozen protesters supporting Mahmoud Khalil occupied the lobby area of Trump Tower on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, calling for the release of the anti-Israel activist who was detained over the weekend.ย 

The protesters, many dressed in red, held signs reading “Free Mahmoud, Free Palestine” and “Fight Nazis Not Students.”

Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at his university residence Saturday, according to The Hill.  

The Student Workers of Columbia labor union. describes Khalil as a โ€œlead negotiatorโ€ and called on Columbia to reinstate its โ€œSanctuary Campus Policyโ€ after reports of ICE accessing multiple buildings at the school Friday and Saturday.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, also confirmed Khalilโ€™s arrest in a statement Sunday, describing the move as โ€œin support of President Trumpโ€™s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.โ€

โ€œWe will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,โ€ Rubio said on the social platform X, sharing a news report regarding Khalil.

Julian Stallabrass from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Trump celebrated Khalilโ€™s arrest in a Monday post on Truth Social.

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โ€œWe will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country โ€” never to return again,โ€ the president said. โ€œIf you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of Americaโ€™s Colleges and Universities to comply.โ€

The arrest raises serious constitutional questions, as Khalil is a legal permanent resident who has not been charged with any crime. Only an immigration judge has the authority to revoke a green card.

Tom Homan, President Trumpโ€™s border czar, said Monday that federal authorities โ€œabsolutely canโ€ deport a legal immigrant.

โ€œAbsolutely, we can,โ€ Homan told Stuart Varney on Fox Business Networkโ€™s โ€œVarney & Co.โ€ after the host asked about the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a leading pro-Palestinian activist, and if ICE can deport someone who is in the country legally. 

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