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    Trump Announces He Will Pardon Ex-Honduran President

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    Image via Pixabay

    President Donald Trump announced Friday on Truth Social that he intends to grant a full pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a 45-year sentence in U.S. federal prison on drug trafficking and weapons charges.

    Hernández, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, was arrested in Tegucigalpa in February 2022 following a U.S. extradition request. He was transferred to New York two months later to face charges that federal prosecutors said stemmed from years of cooperation with major drug cartels. Prosecutors accused him of turning Honduras into a “narco-state,” alleging that during his presidency he leveraged political power to help move more than 400 tons of cocaine toward the United States in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes. Among those he allegedly interacted with was notorious Mexican cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

    A federal jury convicted Hernández in March 2024 on three counts related to drug-trafficking and firearms conspiracies. On June 26, 2024, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay an $8 million fine.

    In his Friday post, Trump criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case and suggested Hernández had been treated more harshly than warranted. “I will be granting a Full and Complete Pardon to Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez who has been, according to many people that I greatly respect, treated very harshly and unfairly,” Trump wrote. “This cannot be allowed to happen, especially now, after Tito Asfura wins the Election, when Honduras will be on its way to Great Political and Financial Success.”

    The message reflects Trump’s increasingly vocal support for Nasry “Tito” Asfura, the conservative National Party candidate in Honduras’ presidential election. Earlier this week, Trump used Truth Social to praise Asfura, writing that the two “can work together to fight the Narcocommunists, and bring needed aid to the people of Honduras.”

    Trump’s Friday post escalated that endorsement further, urging Hondurans to “VOTE FOR TITO ASFURA FOR PRESIDENT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO JUAN ORLANDO HERNANDEZ ON YOUR UPCOMING PARDON. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE HONDURAS GREAT AGAIN!”

    He also warned that future U.S. assistance to Honduras could hinge on the election’s outcome, stating that if Asfura loses, “the United States will not be throwing good money after bad, because a wrong Leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which country it is.”

    Context: Trump’s Recent Use of the Pardon Power

    The announcement comes amid renewed attention to Trump’s approach to pardons and commutations, which he has described as an important tool for correcting what he views as systemic unfairness in the U.S. justice system and in politically sensitive prosecutions. In recent months, Trump has signaled his willingness to revisit high-profile cases involving allies, military personnel, and others he says were treated wrongly by federal authorities.

    During his first term, Trump issued several controversial pardons, including for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former adviser Roger Stone, and several U.S. military service members involved in war-related prosecutions. He also pardoned political figures such as former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and longtime conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, citing prosecutorial excess in those cases.

    More recently, Trump has publicly floated pardons for individuals prosecuted for actions related to border security and drug enforcement, arguing that some federal cases—particularly those involving international cooperation or politically volatile regions—deserve closer scrutiny.

    Hernández’s case now appears to be the latest example of Trump’s willingness to intervene where he believes U.S. prosecutors overstepped or failed to account for broader geopolitical considerations.

    A Sign of Trump’s Foreign Policy Priorities

    Trump’s strong backing of Asfura and criticism of the U.S. prosecution of Hernández reflect his broader emphasis on building alliances with conservative governments in Latin America. Throughout his presidency and afterward, Trump has framed left-wing governments in the region as destabilizing forces aligned with organized crime, while praising leaders who adopt pro-business and anti-corruption platforms.

    By tying Hernández’s pardon to Honduras’ political future, Trump is signaling that he views Asfura’s victory—and Honduras’ alignment with the United States—as strategically important.

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    Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty To Defrauding MAGA Donors

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Thor Brødreskift / 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 States’ southern border on Tuesday.

    Bannon 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 President Donald Trump 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. 

    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 “defrauded 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.”

    Bannon received a presidential pardon from Trump on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the final full day of Trump’s first term in office. In 2022, the Manhattan district attorney’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 “Department of Government Efficiency.”

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

    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.

    Anarchist Arrested In Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting Top Government Official

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5

    A 29-year-old man has been arrested for what federal authorities describe as a brazen “murder-for-hire” online plot targeting the U.S. Attorney General.

    According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnesota resident Tyler Maxon Avalos was taken into custody on October 16 after a tipster notified them of his alleged TikTok post offering a $45,000 bounty on the life of Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General.

    The post reportedly featured Ms. Bondi’s photo with a red target icon over her forehead and the caption: “WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD). Beneath the image: ‘Cough cough. When they don’t serve us, then what?’”

    Court filings reveal Avalos used the handle “Wacko” on TikTok and had references to an “An Anarchist FAQ book” in his profile. Authorities further noted his criminal history of violence: a July 2022 felony stalking conviction in Dakota County (Minnesota), an August 2016 felony third-degree domestic battery charge in Polk County, Florida, and an April 2016 misdemeanor domestic assault in Dakota County (originally a felony domestic assault by strangulation). The affidavit describes media concerns that Avalos has “anarchist ties,” though the FBI has not publicly confirmed a full motive.

    Federal prosecutors say Avalos now faces a charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person — a federal crime carrying potentially years in prison. His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, stated only that his client “is not guilty of any crime.”

    Recent incidents of violence targeting Republican or conservative figures

    While the Bondi case is extraordinary, it aligns with a growing body of incidents in which political actors — particularly those associated with the Republican side — have been targeted:

    • In September 2024, at least one apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump (the Republican former-President and leading 2024 nominee) was reported.
    • More broadly, an analysis by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) found that between 2016 and 2025 there were 25 attacks and plots targeting elected officials, candidates, judges and other government figures motivated by extremist partisan beliefs — more than triple the number in the previous 25 years combined.
    • While some of the high-profile cases involve Democratic officials (for example, the June 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators), the broader trend applies across the ideological spectrum: violence is trending upward, not just against one side but throughout government—and conservatives are explicitly among the targets.

    Polls & studies confirm the spike in political violence

    The Bondi bounty scheme emerges against a backdrop of disturbing data indicating rising public concern and creeping acceptance of politically motivated violence:

    Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable — yet they are concerned it will escalate.

    A recent study found that 86 % of Americans believe political violence is either a major or minor problem — the highest in two years. When asked whether political violence has increased over the past few years, 78 % said yes.

    A Pew Research Center-sponsored survey found that Americans believe politically-motivated violence is increasing, and that polarization is seen as a key cause.

    A PBS/NPR/Marist poll found that nearly one-third of Americans now believe political violence may be necessary to set the country back on track — up from 19 % about a year and a half earlier.

    Other surveys show that while majorities condemn political violence, many believe it will increase. For example, a CBS News poll found that people of all parties overwhelmingly find political violence unacceptable — yet they are concerned it will escalate.

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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]

    GOP Congressman Floats Prospect Of Contempt Charges For Pam Bondi

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3
    Image via Pixabay

    Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) suggested this week that holding Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt remains an option as Congress presses the Justice Department over its handling of the long-awaited Epstein files.

    Massie, who helped author legislation requiring the release of government records tied to convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, said lawmakers are still not receiving full access to unredacted documents — despite the deadline set by Congress.

    Appearing Tuesday on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins, Massie accused the Justice Department of failing to deliver what the law requires and raised concerns that redactions appear inconsistent and unjustified.

    “We have not had access to totally unredacted files,” Massie said, adding that names such as Epstein associate and former Victoria’s Secret CEO Leslie Wexner have been blacked out “for no apparent reason.”

    Massie said the DOJ’s refusal to acknowledge gaps in its production makes it difficult for Congress — and the public — to trust that the full truth is being released.

    “If they’ll admit that they’re making mistakes and that their document production is not done, I could trust them,” Massie said. “But I can’t trust them if they say… this is it, there’s no more.”

    The Kentucky Republican noted he would have limited time to question Bondi when she appeared Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee, warning that stronger measures could follow if answers are not forthcoming.

    Massie first raised the possibility of using Congress’s “inherent contempt” powers against Bondi in a weekend interview, calling it the most direct way to force compliance.

    “The quickest way… to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” he said.

    Still, Massie acknowledged the challenge of pursuing contempt charges against the nation’s top law enforcement official, noting that referrals often run through the same department under scrutiny.

    “You know, it’s hard to refer a contempt charge… on an attorney general to the attorney general,” Massie said. “This is the problem that you run into.”

    Instead, he suggested Congress may need to compel testimony from individuals named in the documents, similar to efforts already underway by the House Oversight Committee.

    Bondi’s appearance on Wednesday quickly turned tense as Democrats confronted her over the Justice Department’s redaction process — particularly allegations that some victims’ identities were improperly exposed while other information, including references to powerful individuals, was withheld.

    Watch:

    Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) pressed Bondi to apologize directly to Epstein survivors seated in the hearing room, accusing the DOJ of mishandling sensitive records.

    Bondi declined to issue a direct apology for the department’s release process, offering general sympathy for victims but defending the DOJ’s actions. The exchange escalated into a sharp back-and-forth, with Bondi accusing Jayapal of engaging in “theatrics.”

    Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) struggled to bring the room back to order as lawmakers debated whether the Justice Department has been transparent — or selective — in what it has released.

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

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3
    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 “Big Balls,” and another individual in early August.

    According to Pirro, the pair had already been involved in another mugging — of a victim named Ethan Levine — 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.

    “Lawrence 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,” Pirro said.

    Pirro didn’t mince words when calling out judges who ignored her office’s repeated requests for jail time. Instead of protecting the public, the courts released Cotton-Powell on probation, giving him multiple chances to reoffend — and, according to prosecutors, he did just that.

    Watch:

    This latest attack became a flashpoint for President Donald Trump’s crackdown on violent crime in America’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 — a 15-year-old girl and boy — 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)

    “I think the judge should be ashamed of himself,” said Trump.

    Calling the outcome “terrible,” 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.

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    Escaped Louisiana Inmate Releases Video Pleading With Trump For Help: Watch

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    A desperate plea for help…

    The man identifying himself as Antoine Massey, one of 10 escapees from the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) last month, claimed he was “let out” — and showed papers to the camera in a viral video supposedly backing up his story. The men fled the jail through an opening behind a toilet. Graffiti was left near the point of escape that read, “To Easy LoL.”

    Eight of the 10 men have been apprehended by authorities.

    “They say that I broke out,” he said. “I didn’t break out. I was let out.”

    Massey claimed he has a signed affidavit clearing him of an assault charge, alleging the person who accused him of the assault swore previous statements given were false.

    “If the individual depicted in the video is indeed Antoine Massey, we strongly urge him to come forward and turn himself in to the proper authorities,” the Orleans parish sheriff’s office said in a statement about the video. “Cooperating with law enforcement is in his best interest and may help avoid additional charges. It is important that justice is served appropriately and that due process is followed.”

    Massey has a history of being on the run. According to NOLA.com, Massey, 32, has made multiple escape attempts from detention centers dating back to 2007 when he was a minor.

    Massey also sought help from rappers like Lil Wayne and Meek Mill when he’s back in “custody.” He denied allegations of threatening a maintenance worker as part of the latest escape. There is a $50,000 reward being offered for information leading to Massey’s arrest.

    “I’m saying people that been through the system that know it’s corrupt. Lil Wayne, Donald Trump, please, I’m asking for help. You know what I’m saying?” he said.

    Trump Administration Moves To Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia – To Uganda

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    New court filings reveal that the Trump administration is threatening to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda — a move his attorneys describe as coercive. Abrego, a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this year, declined a plea deal tied to human smuggling charges. In response, prosecutors withdrew an offer that would have allowed him to enter Costa Rica — a safe, Spanish-speaking country where he’d face no detention after serving time — and instead pursued deportation to Uganda.

    His attorneys argue immigration authorities are essentially offering a forced choice: accept guilt and a path to Costa Rica, or refuse and risk being sent to Uganda, where his safety — and legal protections — are uncertain at best.

    As The Hill reports:

    Federal prosecutors on Thursday offered Abrego Garcia the option to “live freely” with refugee or residency status in Costa Rica after serving prison time for federal human smuggling charges in exchange for a guilty plea, per his lawyers in the Saturday filings.

    Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to a notorious prison in his native El Salvador, declined the offer on Friday to instead return to his family in Maryland. He had been imprisoned in a Tennessee jail.

    After his return to Maryland, Abrego Garcia’s attorneys were notified later in the day that he must report to an Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) field office in Baltimore on Monday — and that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to deport him to Uganda.

    …

    “The only thing that happened between Thursday—Costa Rica—and Friday—Uganda— was Mr. Abrego’s exercise of his legal entitlement to release under the Bail Reform Act and the Fifth Amendment…,” Abrego Garcia’s defense team wrote.

    Saturday’s revelations mark a significant escalation, as Uganda recently entered into a U.S. agreement to accept third-country deportees— but explicitly excluding individuals with criminal records or unaccompanied minors. Abrego’s legal team contends that his criminal charges make such deportation both inappropriate and potentially dangerous.

    READ NEXT: Dem Forced To Eat Words After Defending Alleged Criminal

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    Attorney General Charges Three In Tesla Attacks

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2

    More to come…

    Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday announced three individuals are facing federal charges for allegedly attacking Tesla properties as protests and vandalism hit Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company across the country.

    Calling the charges a “warning,” Bondi said the three individuals are accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealerships in three different states in recent weeks.

    “The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said in a Thursday statement. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”

    The charges come amid a wave of violent demonstrations taking place across the nation in protest of Musk’s efforts to slash the federal government and budget under President Trump’s direction.

    Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, on Jan. 20, threw approximately eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership located in Salem, Oregon, federal prosecutors said. One vehicle was completely destroyed, and several others were damaged.

    Lansky also threw a “large heavy object through the dealership window,” they said. At the time of the attack, he was armed with a suppressed AR-15 rifle.

    Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, 42, was arrested in Loveland, Colorado on Jan. 29 after attempting to light Teslas on fire with Molotov cocktails, prosecutors said. 

    A former high-level FBI special agent said he expects political violence in the United States to continue escalating amid the nationwide destruction of Tesla vehicles and dealerships aimed at intimidating Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk. 

    Michael Tabman is the former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, and he said there is no doubt that recent violent attacks faced by Tesla owners and dealerships are clear cases of domestic terrorism. 

    “I do fear that more violence is on its way,” Tabman told Fox News Digital. “Maybe not directly Teslas or DOGE, but just general political violence. I think it’s already here. But I think there’s more around the corner.”

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