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    Loomer Ally Files Police Report After Intense Run-In With Crockett

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    5

    Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett is under growing fire after allegedly assaulting a conservative commentator in the halls of Congress.

    The confrontation took place Tuesday when Charles Downs, an activist affiliated with Laura Loomer’s media outlet, questioned Crockett over her escalating rhetoric against Tesla and Elon Musk. Video footage shows Crockett grabbing Downs’ phone, an act that has sparked allegations of assault and renewed criticism of her behavior under pressure.

    Downs reportedly tried to ask the congresswoman if she condemns violence ahead of the planned 500 “Tesla Takedown” protests on Saturday.

    The clash came just days after Crockett expressed support for the “Tesla Takedown” movement, a left-wing protest effort targeting Tesla dealerships nationwide. Her rhetoric has raised eyebrows on the right—especially as tensions surrounding Musk have escalated into real-world violence.

    Newsweek has more details on Tuesday’s confrontation, which led to a police report being filed against an individual some Republicans now call the Democratic Party’s “unquestioned leader.”

    Crockett’s garnered plenty of her party’s spotlight since President Donald Trump took office in January, speaking publicly and openly about Trump, Elon Musk and other Republican lawmakers and their policies.

    She’s been a staunch defender of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and was critical of her Republican counterparts who were either downplaying the impact of DOGE-inspired budget cuts or skipping town halls with constituents.

    Crockett originally ignores the questions while having a walking back-and-forth with Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee. Audio is muffled but some of the conversation includes mentions of “horse manure.”

    Near the end of the 30-second recording, Downs asks once more and Crockett moves toward him and grab his phone, distorting the video. The video has been viewed on X over 1.7 million times.

    Previous video that went viral showed Crockett telling supporters that March 29 is her birthday, and “all she wants” on her birthday is for Musk “to be taken down.” Her remarks were rebuked by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who warned Crockett on Sunday to “tread carefully.”

    On Monday, the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad responded to a Tesla dealership where multiple incendiary devices were discovered. Authorities say the incident is part of a broader campaign of politically motivated vandalism targeting Tesla facilities across the country.

    The FBI and ATF have since launched a joint task force to investigate what federal officials are now calling acts of domestic terrorism. President Donald Trump has condemned the attacks, warning that those responsible could face the full weight of federal prosecution.

    Meanwhile, Crockett is also catching heat for another remark—this time mocking Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is paralyzed from the waist down, by calling him “Governor Hot Wheels.” Abbott has used a wheelchair since a tragic accident in his 20s.

    As criticism mounts, Crockett’s conduct is reigniting national debate over political discourse, decorum and how public officials respond to dissent—especially when the cameras are rolling.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

    Tucker Carlson Claims Trump Shut Down Butler Probe After Bongino ‘Confession’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6
    Tucker Carlson via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former Fox News star Tucker Carlson is pushing a fresh conspiracy theory about the attempted assassination of President Trump — claiming the president himself ordered federal investigators to back off the probe into the July 2024 shooting in Butler, Pa.

    Carlson made the explosive allegation during an appearance on Thursday on entrepreneur Mario Nawfal’s show, where he recounted what he described as a series of conversations with former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel regarding lingering questions surrounding the attack.

    The claim was quickly shot down by Bongino, who publicly denied Carlson’s account on Friday and blasted the former cable news host as a “nepo baby.”

    “I know that, about Butler, I know that Trump shut down the investigation into Butler. That is a fact,” Carlson told Nawfal. “Dan Bongino told me that when he worked at the FBI.”

    Carlson alleged Bongino became visibly rattled after Carlson confronted him about social media posts purportedly written by gunman Thomas Crooks that Carlson claims the FBI falsely said did not exist.

    “Dan Bongino himself was terrified when I spoke to him in December,” Carlson said.

    The conservative commentator claimed he had “accidentally came into possession” of social media posts allegedly authored by Crooks in the months and years before the shooting. Carlson said he contacted both Patel and Bongino seeking answers about why the FBI had allegedly concealed their existence.

    “And Dan Bongino became hysterical with me on the phone,” Carlson claimed. “I’ve known Dan a long time for many years and always gotten along with him.”

    “He was clearly terrified. I didn’t get it at first, but he was hysterical,” Carlson continued. “And ultimately, after a long series of text exchanges, which I still have, and phone conversations, he said, ‘Look, take it up with Trump. He’s the one who shut down the investigation.’”

    Carlson said the alleged exchange occurred during the second week of December and left him questioning why Trump would halt an investigation into an attempt on his own life.

    “That was the moment and I realized, ‘Oh wow, there’s no good explanation for shutting down an investigation into your own attempted murder,’” Carlson said.

    Watch:

    Crooks, 20, opened fire during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, grazing Trump’s ear, killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore and seriously wounding two others before Secret Service snipers fatally shot him.

    Authorities have said Crooks acted alone and have found no evidence linking him to a broader plot. However, the absence of a clear manifesto or publicly known motive has fueled persistent conspiracy theories online.

    Carlson, once one of Trump’s most influential media allies, has increasingly broken with the president in recent months. He has repeatedly criticized Trump over the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and U.S. involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran.

    Earlier this year, Carlson suggested Trump’s worldview changed after the Butler shooting.

    “He spent his campaign in the 2024 race arguing against regime change war, attacking people in favor of it — and then he launched it,” Carlson said on his own show. “And not just launched it, but became this kind of enthusiastic tool of the government of Israel.”

    Bongino forcefully rejected Carlson’s latest allegations Friday morning in a post on X, denying he ever told Carlson that Trump shut down the Butler investigation.

    The former FBI official also took a personal swipe at Carlson, dismissing the claims and mocking the commentator as a “nepo baby.”

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    Trump Tells Fox & Friends Suspect in Charlie Kirk Shooting is In Custody

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    President Donald Trump attends the National Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, February 6, 2025, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley.)

    President Donald Trump revealed that a suspect in the political assassination of Charlie Kirk is in custody.

    “I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody, in custody,” Trump announced on Fox & Friends, adding, “Everyone did a great job, worked with local police, governor, everybody did a great job. Getting somebody —  you start off with absolutely nothing — and we started off with a clip that made him look like an ant, almost useless, just saw someone up there. So much work has been done, it is amazing when you start with that, and all of a sudden, you get lucky or talent or whatever it is. I think we’re in great shape. He’s in custody.”

    The FBI was under bipartisan criticism for its initial handling of the search for the alleged assassin, drawing criticism even from Fox & Friends’ co-host Brian Kilmeade earlier in the show.

    Lawrence Jones followed up, noting, “Your suspicion was he was radical left, and now you have more information. What can you share about his ideology?”

    Trump responded:

    “I think that I don’t want to go too far, like to tell you stories how it happened, essentially somebody very close to him turned him in and that happens when you have good shots, somebody will say whether a parent or whatever, I would rather not say right now,” Trump deferred. “They will announce it later today, probably talk about that.”

    “Somebody close to him said, ‘Whoa, it is interesting’ — we had very good pictures, but not great or perfect. When you look at it, what happened, somebody and this happens a lot, it happened with the crazy Boston bomber, and with others. Somebody that is close recognizes a little tilt of the head and somebody close to him said, that’s him. And essentially went to the father, went to U.S. Marshal who is fantastic and the person was involved with law enforcement but was a person of faith, a minister. And brought him to a U.S. Marshal, who is fantastic and the father convinced the son, this is it.”

    “And I’m always subject to be corrected, just giving you based on what I’m hearing, they will give you,” Trump explained. “I just heard about it five minutes before I walked in. As I’m walking in, they said looking good, they have the person they wanted.”

    Watch:

    “So you have breaking news,” Trump boasted to his Fox & Friends hosts. “Don’t you, you always have breaking news, Ainsley? Sean will be disappointed we’re not doing it on his show,” he added, in reference to Ainsley Earhardt’s fiance, Sean Hannity.

    Robinson was taken into custody on Thursday night in southern Utah after having allegedly confessed to his father, Matt Robinson. 

    Robinson was a student at Utah State University on a scholarship, insiders confirmed to Daily Mail. 

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

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    Justice Department Sued For Hidden Documents On Pennsylvania Trump Shooter

    By
    Donny Ferguson
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    1

    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 “filed 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.”

    “No 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,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

    Judicial Watch notes it sued after the FBI “failed to respond to a July 24, 2024, FOIA request for:”

    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.

    “On 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,” Judicial Watch explained, adding, “Crooks 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.”

    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 Trump’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 attorney’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.

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    Trump Says DOJ Is Investigating Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    President Donald Trump announced Monday on social media that the Justice Department is investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), escalating a long-running clash with the progressive “Squad” lawmaker amid ongoing tensions in Minneapolis.

    “The DOJ and Congress are looking at ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan [sic] Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars,” Trump shared. “Time will tell all. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

    Trump made the announcement early Monday as Minneapolis remained on edge after a chaotic weekend. Unrest intensified after a federal immigration agent fatally shot an armed anti-ICE protester during demonstrations opposing immigration enforcement efforts. Trump also said he is dispatching border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota.

    The Truth Social post also pointed to broader concerns about fraud and misuse of taxpayer-funded programs in the state.

    Trump added that a major investigation into the “massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota” has been launched, arguing that it is “at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.”

    Omar Responds, Calls Trump’s Claim a “Deflection”

    Omar quickly pushed back, accusing Trump of using her as a political distraction.

    In response, Omar posted on social media: “Sorry, Trump, your support is collapsing and you’re panicking. Right on cue, you’re deflecting from your failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of ‘investigations’ have found nothing.”

    She added: “Get your goons out of Minnesota.”

    Omar has been one of the loudest critics of immigration enforcement under Trump and has accused ICE of carrying out a “terror campaign.” She also claimed a federal agent “murdered” Renee Good, an anti-ICE activist who was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent after she allegedly drove her car toward him.

    DHS Secretary Noem Praises Homan Deployment

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that sending Tom Homan to Minnesota will bring “peace, safety, and accountability” to Minneapolis as federal authorities dig deeper into suspected fraud and expand enforcement operations.

    “This is good news for peace, safety, and accountability in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X.

    “I have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our team— his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the of [sic] streets of Minneapolis,” she added. “We continue to call on the leadership in Minnesota to allow for state and local partnership in our public safety mission.”

    Trump-Omar Feud Reaches New Level Amid Minnesota Immigration Crackdown

    Trump and Omar have been feuding for years, but their confrontation has intensified in recent weeks as the Trump administration surged immigration enforcement resources into Minnesota. Trump has sent 3,000 immigration agents to the state, with Minneapolis—represented by Omar—receiving special focus.

    The president has also highlighted a series of fraud scandals in Minnesota’s social service system, with several cases drawing scrutiny for alleged ties to networks operating within Somali American communities.

    Last week, Trump again targeted Omar personally, accusing her of benefiting financially during her time in Congress and demanding an investigation into her wealth.

    “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is worth over $30 Million Dollars,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There is no way such wealth could have been accumulated, legally, while being paid the salary of a politician. She should be investigated for Financial and Political Crimes, and that investigation should start, NOW!”

    Financial Disclosures Raise Questions as Trump Points to Wealth Claims

    While Trump claimed Omar is worth more than $44 million, Omar’s official financial disclosures suggest a smaller—but still significant—range that critics argue deserves scrutiny.

    In a May 2025 financial disclosure, Omar listed two large assets tied to her husband, whom she married in 2020. One is a winery business valued between $1 million and $5 million, and the other is a venture capital firm valued between $5 million and $25 million. Based on the valuations, Omar and her husband have a net worth between $6 million and $30 million, minus liabilities, such as Omar’s student loan debt of between $15,000 and $50,000 that she disclosed on a 2024 form.

    Members of Congress are required to file annual financial disclosures designed to promote transparency and reduce corruption. The disclosures typically report ranges of asset values, rather than exact dollar figures—meaning a lawmaker’s true net worth can be difficult to pinpoint from public documents alone.

    Still, Trump and his supporters argue that Omar’s reported rise in wealth should be investigated, especially given her vocal role in shaping federal policy debates and her influence within the Democratic Party’s activist wing.

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    Trump Official Refers New York AG Letitia James For Prosecution – Again

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    A senior Trump administration official has made new criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

    Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte said in a letter Wednesday to prosecutors in Florida that James may have falsified information on a homeowner’s insurance application submitted to Fort Lauderdale-based Universal Property Insurance. In a separate letter to prosecutors in Illinois, Pulte alleged that James may have also provided false information on an application to Allstate.

    The referrals mark the latest development in a series of legal actions pursued by officials in President Trump’s administration against James, a longtime political adversary. In a Truth Social post Wednesday night, President Trump wrote that James had been “referred again for criminal prosecution for alleged homeowner insurance fraud.”

    One of the referrals was sent to Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Quiñones is currently leading an investigation into Obama-era officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan, related to intelligence findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election to benefit Trump. Last year, Quiñones also sought records connected to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into Trump.

    The second referral was sent to Andrew Boutros, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

    Abbe Lowell, an attorney for James, rejected the allegations and criticized the administration’s actions.

    “abusing their power to pursue a vendetta against her by trying to rename, refile, and repeat baseless allegations.”

    “These desperate tactics will fail — just as every previous attempt has failed — and exposes an Administration that has abandoned its responsibility to the American people in favor of petty political payback,” Lowell said.

    The new referrals follow a previously dismissed federal case against James. Last fall, she was charged in federal court with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, based on allegations that she misrepresented details about a property in Virginia to secure more favorable mortgage terms. James denied wrongdoing, and the charges were later dismissed.

    The earlier indictment came after Pulte referred James for possible mortgage fraud, though the charges ultimately focused on a different property than the one cited in his referral. A federal judge dismissed the case in November, ruling that interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had been unlawfully appointed. A separate case brought by Halligan against former FBI Director James Comey was also dismissed, and two federal grand juries later declined to re-indict James on bank fraud charges.

    According to the original indictment, James purchased a Virginia home in 2020 using a mortgage that required the property to be used as a second residence, but she allegedly rented it out as an investment property to obtain a lower interest rate.

    James has argued that she is being targeted for political reasons, particularly after she sued Trump in civil court during the period between his presidential terms. A New York judge found Trump and his company liable for fraud and ordered them to pay hundreds of millions of dollars, though an appellate court later overturned the financial judgment.

    In court filings last year, James’s attorneys accused Pulte of using the Federal Housing Finance Agency — which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — as a “weapon to be brandished against President Trump’s political enemies.”

    CBS News previously reported that prosecutors have also examined financial transactions between James and her longtime hairdresser, Iyesata Marsh, as part of a separate line of inquiry. Pulte has since sought a protective security detail, citing threats he said were connected to the case.

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    Suspect Arrested In Attempted Murder Plot Targeting OMB Director Russell Vought

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    A Maryland man has been accused of attempting to murder Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, according to NewsNation.

    Court records from Arlington General District Court show that Colin Demarco was arrested on Jan. 22 and arraigned the following day. Records indicate he faces multiple charges, including first-degree attempted murder, first-degree solicitation to commit murder, wearing a mask in certain places, and carrying a concealed firearm, a misdemeanor.

    Demarco is accused of plotting to kill Vought, a law enforcement source briefed on the case told NewsNation.

    Police say they were called to a Virginia residence on Aug. 10 after a witness reported that a man wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves appeared to be standing on Vought’s porch while possibly concealing a firearm under his shirt.

    According to authorities, the suspect approached the witness and asked about Vought before leaving the scene.

    Investigators later identified Demarco as the man described and executed search warrants that reportedly uncovered evidence tying him to the alleged plot. NewsNation reported that authorities found Demarco had obtained directions to the budget director’s home, had posted online about the victim, and had engaged in online discussions that appeared to solicit others to murder Vought.

    Demarco is currently being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 23 for a preliminary hearing. Court records list him as being represented by a public defender.

    The case comes amid heightened concern nationwide over threats directed at public officials. In recent years, federal authorities have warned of an increase in violent rhetoric and plots targeting government figures across the political spectrum, including presidents, members of Congress, and senior administration officials.

    Earlier this week, Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years over his attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course.

    Prosecutors argued that Routh, 60, should get a life sentence after a jury last year convicted him on five counts for allegedly plotting “painstakingly to kill President Trump, and [taking] significant steps toward making that happen.” 

    “Routh’s crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence — he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,” prosecutors argued in a court filing. 

    During the September trial, a jury quickly found Routh guilty on five felony counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. 

    Routh allegedly hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent. 

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    Trump-Appointed Judge Blocks DOJ Bid To Clear Steve Bannon

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump has thrown a temporary roadblock in front of the Justice Department’s effort to erase Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress case.

    U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols declined to dismiss the indictment underlying Bannon’s 2022 conviction, ruling that federal prosecutors failed to provide an adequate explanation for abandoning the case.

    The Justice Department’s request “does not explain its motivations for seeking dismissal,” Nichols wrote, according to Bloomberg Law.

    Nichols said the government must provide “a statement of reasons and underlying factual basis” supporting its request—not merely a broad assertion that dropping the case would serve the interests of justice.

    The ruling leaves Bannon’s conviction intact for now, but it does not necessarily represent a lasting defeat. Nichols denied the motion “without prejudice,” allowing prosecutors to return with a more detailed justification.

    DOJ’s One-Sentence Explanation Falls Short

    Bannon, who served as Trump’s White House chief strategist during the president’s first term, was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

    The committee sought documents and testimony related to Bannon’s communications with Trump and efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.

    Bannon maintained that he declined to comply after Trump asserted executive privilege. He was nevertheless convicted by a Washington jury in 2022 and served a four-month federal prison sentence in 2024.

    After Trump returned to office, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington moved in February to vacate the judgment and dismiss the indictment with prejudice, which would prevent prosecutors from bringing the same case again.

    “The government has determined in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice,” prosecutors wrote.

    That explanation, signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, did not satisfy Nichols. According to ABC News, the judge found that prosecutors had failed to comply with local court rules requiring the government to explain its reasons for seeking dismissal.

    Pirro and Nichols were both appointed by Trump.

    Supreme Court Cleared The Path—But Did Not End The Case

    The procedural showdown comes months after the Supreme Court handed Bannon a significant victory in his appeal.

    In April, the justices vacated the federal appeals court judgment that had upheld Bannon’s conviction and returned the case for further consideration in light of the government’s pending motion to dismiss the indictment.

    The high court did not directly dismiss Bannon’s charges. Its brief April 6 order instead cleared the procedural path for Nichols to consider the Justice Department’s request.

    In its Supreme Court filing, the Justice Department argued that Rule 48(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure permits prosecutors—with a judge’s approval—to dismiss an indictment even after a jury has returned a guilty verdict and the court has entered judgment.

    Bannon had asked the Supreme Court to examine whether someone “willfully” defies a congressional subpoena when acting on a good-faith assertion of executive privilege. He also challenged the composition of the House Jan. 6 committee.

    The Justice Department’s reversal made it unlikely that the justices would reach those broader constitutional questions. Instead, the court vacated the appellate judgment and sent the case back down.

    Nichols’ latest ruling means the conviction remains on Bannon’s record while prosecutors decide whether to submit a renewed motion with the detailed factual and legal explanation the judge demanded.

    Because Bannon has already completed his prison sentence, the immediate consequences are largely symbolic. Clearing the conviction, however, would still deliver an important legal victory to one of Trump’s most prominent and outspoken allies.

    FBI Foils Alleged Drone-and-Sniper Plot Targeting White House UFC Spectacle

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Image via gage Skidmore Flickr

    The FBI says it thwarted a chilling attack plot aimed at President Donald Trump’s blockbuster UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn — an alleged scheme involving explosive drones, sniper teams, and even a planned rush on the White House gates.

    FBI Director Kash Patel revealed Tuesday that federal agents and law enforcement partners disrupted the plot just days before the historic event, which drew thousands of spectators to Washington, D.C., over the weekend.

    “Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said in a statement released Tuesday.

    According to reporting first detailed by Fox News Digital, investigators uncovered an alleged plan to launch explosive-laden drones at buildings near the UFC Freedom 250 venue, triggering panic and forcing a mass evacuation. Authorities say the conspirators allegedly intended to funnel fleeing crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team waiting to open fire.

    Even more alarming, officials told Fox News Digital that a “second wave” of attackers allegedly planned to storm the White House gates amid the chaos.

    The FBI first learned of the threat on June 10 and quickly launched a multi-state investigation. One suspect was arrested in Cincinnati after investigators established probable cause, while additional arrests followed as agents unraveled what officials described as a broader network spanning multiple states. Five suspects were in custody as of Monday, and investigators identified at least 23 individuals allegedly discussing operational plans in encrypted Signal chats.

    According to Fox News Digital, investigators discovered messages detailing pre-operational activity and travel plans to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where some suspects allegedly intended to prepare for the attack.

    One suspect reportedly told investigators that potential targets included “capitalist elites,” billionaires, and politicians who had received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), according to Fox News Digital.

    The operation involved at least a dozen FBI field offices and close coordination with the Department of Justice and U.S. Secret Service. Secret Service Director Sean Curran praised agents who worked “around the clock” to identify those responsible and prevent the alleged attack.

    Patel said the case demonstrated the FBI’s ability to move quickly when credible threats emerge against large public events.

    “We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight,” Patel said.

    The UFC Freedom 250 event was one of the biggest spectacles ever held on White House grounds. Staged on the South Lawn as part of celebrations surrounding America’s upcoming 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday, the event attracted roughly 4,300 attendees, including approximately 1,200 active-duty service members.

    Trump himself attended the fights and later praised the event as “incredible,” calling it “one of the most exciting days in the history of the White House.”

    When asked about the alleged plot while attending the G7 summit in France, Trump said he had not yet been briefed on the details.

    Vice President JD Vance reacted to the revelations Tuesday morning, describing the allegations as “very, very dark stuff” and warning that heated political rhetoric can fuel violence.

    “This is what happens when people turn the rhetoric up so loud that disagreeing with somebody is a cause for violence,” Vance said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.

    The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say additional charges and court filings could reveal more details in the coming days.

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    Government Employee Arrested After Disclosing Classified Info With FBI Agent

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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