Crime

Home Crime

Dan Bongino Returns To Fox News Following Time In Trump Admin

Dan Bongino is officially back at Fox News.

After nearly a year as deputy director of the FBI under President Donald Trump, Bongino has returned to Fox as a contributor, according to a Monday afternoon report from The New York Times media reporter Michael Grynbaum.

His comeback was announced during the Monday night episode of Sean Hannity’s show at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Dan Bongino via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Grynbaum noted that Bongino has expressed regret at times about stepping away from his former life in media. Just weeks into the FBI role, he admitted on Fox & Friends that he missed what he left behind.

“I gave up everything for this,” Bongino said at the time.

First Appearance Back Focuses on High-Profile Disappearance

Bongino’s first major appearance after returning centered on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Speaking on Hannity Monday night, Bongino outlined three troubling possibilities in the case, emphasizing that investigators are still operating with very limited evidence.

“The first [possibility] would be, obviously, it’s a kidnapping. That was an intended kidnapping for a ransom payment…” he said.

He then explained a second scenario — that the situation may have spiraled out of another crime entirely.

“The second possibility would be this was just a crime that went awry. Someone was at the house, maybe it was a burglary, maybe something went bad, and you’ve got some bad actors committing another crime unrelated — in other words, requesting a ransom for something you didn’t do just to take advantage of a situation like this.”

Bongino’s third possibility raised an even more unsettling idea: that the disappearance may not involve a kidnapping at all.

The third possibility, he said, is that Guthrie’s disappearance could have resulted from a medical emergency or another non-criminal event that was later misunderstood or misrepresented.

Bongino Highlights Lack of Evidence

Bongino pointed to the complete absence of digital and forensic indicators — no DNA, no license plate hits, no cellphone activity, and no surveillance leads — as a major reason investigators are struggling.

He explained that when authorities cannot locate someone within the first few days, it can suggest either extremely sophisticated perpetrators or something else entirely.

“The story you’ve been told, or you may have believed may not be the story,” he said.

While Bongino declined to push one theory more strongly than the others, he emphasized that the lack of proof-of-life communication is unusual for legitimate ransom kidnappings.

He also referenced commentary from veteran FBI Special Agent Lance Leising, noting that real ransom cases typically involve rapid contact and early confirmation that the victim is alive — patterns missing here.

Multi-Agency Search Continues

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home earlier this month, triggering a multi-agency investigation that now includes the FBI.

As the search intensified, Savannah Guthrie issued an emotional public plea, describing the situation as an “hour of desperation.”

Authorities are also investigating an alleged ransom note tied to the disappearance, though the deadline referenced in the note passed Monday night without proof of life or resolution.

Back to Media — and Still on Rumble

Bongino will continue hosting his podcast on Rumble, which he recently rebooted after leaving the FBI in December.

Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham said at the time she wasn’t surprised by Bongino’s departure, noting that he “loved his lucrative media life” and wanted to “get back to it.”

President Trump joined Bongino’s first show back on Rumble.

The president made headlines during his appearance when he said Republicans should “nationalize” the voting process in order to block “crooked” Democrat-led states from allowing illegal immigrants to vote.

“These people were brought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally,” Trump said. “And it’s amazing the Republicans aren’t tougher on it. The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over, we should take over the voting in at least 15 places.’”

The White House initially sought to soften Trump’s remarks, but the president doubled down on Tuesday, arguing that federal intervention could be warranted if states fail to administer elections fairly.

“If states can’t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over,” Trump said. “The federal government should get involved.”

Trump framed his argument as a response to what he described as “corruption” at the state and local level, particularly in more than a dozen states he has criticized in recent months.

In response, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said he plans to introduce a Senate resolution on Monday denouncing any effort by a president to “nationalize” or “take over” state-run election systems ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Newly Unsealed Complaint Reveals Disturbing Threat Against Ivanka Trump

2
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

A newly unsealed federal terrorism complaint has revealed a deeply unsettling detail tied to an alleged Iran-backed terror network — and it appears to place First Daughter Ivanka Trump alarmingly close to potential danger during a family trip to Disneyland Paris earlier this year.

According to the complaint, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya — a group prosecutors say operates as part of the U.S.-designated terror organization Kata’ib Hizballah — issued a disturbing Snapchat message to President Donald Trump on April 20 that specifically referenced Ivanka Trump in graphic and threatening language.

“From the heart of the matter, where your daughter Ivanka, that whore who throws herself into the arms of men, adorns her face lightly and breathes with delight wherever she falls upon the edge of a rich wealthy man,” the message read before adding: “You moron, your daughter was on the brink of death thirteen days ago, but our men don’t kill whores.”

The post then encouraged followers to kill “arrogant, criminal, cursed Trump.”

The timing immediately raised alarms.

Exactly thirteen days before the April 20 threat was posted was April 7 — the same day Ivanka Trump was publicly photographed visiting Disneyland Paris with her children. TMZ reported at the time that the Trump family traveled with heavy security, including guards stationed outside rides and throughout the park.

No major media outlet appears to have previously connected the “thirteen days ago” reference in the terror message to Ivanka’s highly publicized Paris trip.

The revelation comes as federal prosecutors pursue charges against 32-year-old Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, described in court filings as a senior Kata’ib Hizballah operative with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to investigators, Al-Saadi and associates were allegedly operating in Paris around the same time as Ivanka Trump’s visit. Prosecutors say the terror network had also plotted attacks against Western targets in Europe, including an alleged attempt to bomb the Bank of America building in Paris.

Federal authorities say Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya released a propaganda video on March 16 previewing an attack against the exact building.

The allegations add new weight to longstanding concerns about threats directed at members of the Trump family — especially after the 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian terror mastermind Qassem Soleimani.

According to The New York Post, Al-Saadi allegedly made explicit statements about targeting Ivanka Trump in retaliation.

“After Qassem was killed, he went around telling people ‘we need to kill Ivanka to burn down the house of Trump the way he burned down our house,’” former Iraqi diplomat Entifadh Qanbar told the outlet.

The complaint also points to social media posts allegedly tied to Al-Saadi dating back years.

In posts on X from 2021 and 2023, Al-Saadi allegedly shared maps showing the Florida neighborhood where Ivanka Trump lives with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children.

“I say to the Americans look at this picture and know that neither your palaces nor the Secret Service will protect you,” one post read. “We are currently in the stage of surveillance and analysis. I told you, our revenge is a matter of time.”

Ivanka Trump has long faced heightened security concerns due to her role in the Trump administration and her family’s high profile. During Donald Trump’s first term, federal authorities repeatedly warned of escalating threats from Iran-linked actors following Soleimani’s death, including assassination plots targeting top Trump administration officials.

The newly unsealed complaint alleges Al-Saadi either coordinated or inspired nearly 20 terror attacks across Europe and Canada through Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, a group prosecutors say was specifically created to mask operational ties to Kata’ib Hizballah, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The allegations paint an increasingly disturbing picture: a terror network allegedly obsessed with revenge against the Trump family — and possibly operating frighteningly close to Ivanka Trump during a family vacation packed with innocent children and tourists.

Speaker Johnson Says Trump Deserves Nobel Peace Prize For DC Police Takeover

2
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is calling for President Donald Trump to be recognized on the world stage after his decisive leadership brought unprecedented safety to the nation’s capital.

On Monday, Johnson said Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize following 11 straight days without a single reported murder in Washington, D.C. — a stunning turnaround after Trump took charge of the city’s police force.

“There are MANY reasons why President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize – but 11 straight days with ZERO murders in Washington, D.C. might top the list,” Johnson posted on social media. “SAFER streets. STRONGER communities. AMERICA IS BACK!”

Trump Delivers Where Democrats Failed

The numbers come from the Metropolitan Police Department’s own preliminary data: from August 14 through August 24, not one homicide was reported in the city.

This sharp decline follows Trump’s August 11 takeover of D.C.’s police department, a bold move to re-establish law and order in a city long plagued by violent crime under Democrat leadership. Since Trump stepped in, only two killings have been reported — one on August 11, and another on August 13.

Critics may try to downplay the results, noting there was a 16-day stretch earlier this year without a murder, but it’s clear that Trump’s hands-on leadership and “law and order” agenda have already had a direct impact on restoring peace and safety to America’s capital.

A President Who Gets Results

President Trump has never hidden his desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize — and many argue he has already earned it for his historic Middle East peace agreements, his refusal to drag America into new foreign wars, and now, for bringing real results to America’s streets.

Even world leaders agree. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing Trump’s unmatched record of delivering peace and stability.

The Bottom Line

While Democrats and the mainstream media remain silent, the facts are clear: Trump’s leadership is saving lives. Speaker Johnson’s call for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize isn’t just political theater — it reflects the reality that Trump’s America First agenda delivers real safety, real security, and real peace.

Mob Of Protesters Storm NYC Trump Tower

3

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. 

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 “lead negotiator” and called on Columbia to reinstate its “Sanctuary Campus Policy” 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 Khalil’s arrest in a statement Sunday, describing the move as “in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism.”

“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,” 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 Khalil’s arrest in a Monday post on Truth Social.

– Advertisement –

“We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again,” the president said. “If 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 America’s Colleges and Universities to comply.”

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 Trump’s border czar, said Monday that federal authorities “absolutely can” deport a legal immigrant.

“Absolutely, we can,” Homan told Stuart Varney on Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.” 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bondi called the operation “historic and “unprecedented.”

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

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

JD Vance Confirms DOJ Is Probing Squad Democrat For Immigration Fraud

1

Rep. Ilhan Omar may again face scrutiny from the Justice Department after Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that federal authorities are examining allegations tied to the Minnesota Democrat’s immigration history.

Speaking during a White House press briefing while filling in for Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Vance was asked by Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese whether Omar could ultimately face an indictment.

“I don’t want to prejudge an investigation,” Vance said. “You read the things about Ilhan Omar, and about who she married, and whether she didn’t marry this person or that person. It certainly seems like something fishy is there. But everyone is entitled to equal justice under the laws.”

Vance added that the administration intends to review the matter and pursue legal action only if investigators determine a crime occurred.

“We’re going to investigate it, we’re going to take a look at it. If we think there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime, and that’s something that the Department of Justice is looking at right now,” he said.

The comments revive longstanding controversy surrounding Omar and allegations that she participated in an immigration-related scheme involving a former marriage. Omar has repeatedly denied those claims, and no public evidence has proven them.

According to reports cited by Fox News and The New York Times, the Justice Department under former President Joe Biden opened an investigation into Omar in 2024 that examined campaign expenditures, personal finances and alleged contacts with a non-U.S. citizen. However, individuals familiar with internal discussions reportedly said investigators did not uncover evidence warranting additional action, and the probe eventually stalled.

Vance had previously raised the issue publicly. During a March podcast appearance with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, he claimed he had discussed potential legal action involving Omar with White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller. (RELATED: Vance Says Administration Reviewing Action Against Rep. Ilhan Omar)

“We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vance said at the time.

Omar, who was born in Somalia, came to the United States with her family after they were granted asylum in 1995 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000.

The allegations center on Omar’s past relationships and claims from critics that she legally married a man named Ahmed Elmi in 2009 as part of an immigration arrangement. Omar has denied allegations that Elmi was her brother and has repeatedly dismissed the accusations as false and politically motivated.

In December, Omar pushed back against renewed criticism on social media, calling the allegations “bigoted lies” and accusing former President Donald Trump of repeatedly targeting her.

“He needs serious help,” Omar wrote at the time. “Since he has no economic policies to tout, he’s resorting to regurgitating bigoted lies instead.”

Vance reiterated Tuesday that investigators would ultimately follow the evidence.

“If we think that there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime,” he said.

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

READ NEXT: ‘Having A Bad Day’: Circle K Clerk Sentenced For Killing Off-Duty Officer

Retired 4-Star Navy Admiral Found Guilty In Bribery Case

1

A retired four-star admiral who once served as the Navy’s second-highest ranking officer, was convicted of bribery and other conspiracy charges on Monday. The conviction marks the most senior member of the U.S. military ever convicted of committing a federal crime while on active duty.

Following a five-day trial, retired four-star Adm. Robert Burke, 62, was found guilty on Monday of a scheme to direct lucrative contracts to the training company Next Jump in exchange for a $500,000-a-year job after leaving the Navy, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. 

Burke is facing up to 30 years in prison for his role in the scheme to direct contracts potentially worth millions of dollars to a New York City-based company that offered training programs to the Navy.

Burke, who served aboard attack and ballistic missile submarines, rose through the ranks to eventually become chief of naval personnel in 2016 followed by vice chief of naval operations in June 2019. He then took command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command in June 2020 before retiring in summer 2022.

Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, co-CEOs of Next Jump, allegedly participated in the scheme to get a government contract in exchange for offering Burke a position with the company.

Kim and Messenger were each charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery, according to the case’s unsealed indictment. They face trial in August, which is when Burke will be sentenced. 

Kim and Messenger, via their company Next Jump, provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. However, the deal appeared to go downhill and the Navy terminated a contract with the company in late 2019 and directed it not to contact Burke.

The Hill reports:

But in summer 2021, Messenger and Kim met with Burke in Washington, D.C., to reestablish their company’s business relationship with the Navy. While at the meeting, the two “agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a contract” to their firm — as well as influence other Navy officers to award another contract to the company — in exchange for his future employment there, according to the Justice Department. 

Burke in December 2021 then ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to Next Jump to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain, which the company performed in January 2022. 

In October 2022, Burke began working at Next Jump with an annual salary of $500,000 and a grant of $100,000 in stock options. 

Burke was accused of making several false and misleading statements to the Navy to conceal the scheme, such as implying that his discussions to join Next Jump began months after the contract was awarded.

“When you abuse your position and betray the public trust to line your own pockets, it undermines the confidence in the government you represent,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote in a post on X following the conviction. 

Mike Lindell Appears To Be Served Lawsuit During Live Interview

3
Mike Lindell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO and a prominent Trump ally, appeared to be served with legal papers during a live interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, in an interruption that quickly drew attention online.

Lindell was speaking on camera with Michael Casey, a correspondent for O’Keefe Media Group, at the event in Grapevine, Texas, when a woman stepped into frame holding documents. In footage shared by Casey, the woman approached Lindell mid-interview and said: “Hi, sorry to interrupt. I have this for you. You’ve been served.”

Casey described the woman as a “deranged leftist,” though her identity and the nature of the documents have not been independently confirmed.

Lindell attempted to continue the interview, repeatedly asking the woman to move out of the shot. “We’re on TV here, please. We’re on TV, please. OK, we’re on TV,” he said, gesturing for her to step aside.

Watch:

As Casey pressed the woman about what she was delivering, Lindell added: “I’m not accepting it.” The woman insisted the papers had been served regardless. Lindell briefly took the documents before tossing them off camera behind him and continuing the interview.

It remains unclear whether the incident involved a legitimate legal filing or was a staged disruption. No details about the alleged lawsuit were immediately available.

Lindell has been a close ally of former President Donald Trump and one of his most vocal supporters since the 2020 election. He has repeatedly promoted Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen, using his platform, LindellTV, to amplify those assertions. Trump has publicly praised Lindell in the past, often highlighting his loyalty and willingness to fund efforts challenging the election results.

That alignment has also placed Lindell at the center of multiple legal battles. He has faced defamation lawsuits from voting technology companies over his election claims, and earlier this week, he lost a bid to overturn a related defamation verdict.

Congressional Investigators Issue Subpoena To Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files

0

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

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

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

The Hill continues:

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

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

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

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

Questions Over Missing Records

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

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

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

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

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

Bondi Faces Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ NEXT: Top Newspaper’s Admission Sends Shockwaves Through Gun Rights Community

Trump Posts Pardon Request For Ex-Congressman Hit With Insider Trading Charges

1

President Donald Trump appears to be weighing a pardon for former Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), a one-time congressman convicted of insider trading, after sharing multiple pardon requests on his Truth Social account.

On Tuesday, Trump posted a letter from former Republican National Committee Chairman Robert James Nicholson urging him to grant Buyer a “full and unconditional pardon.” The letter, dated April 22, 2025, marks the second public appeal Trump has shared in recent days on Buyer’s behalf.

Trump offered no commentary alongside the post, but his decision to amplify the request has fueled speculation that he may be seriously considering clemency for the former lawmaker.

In the letter, Nicholson praised Buyer’s military and congressional service, describing him as “an honorable man and an extraordinary American.” Nicholson argued that Buyer had been targeted by a “politically weaponized federal and state judiciary” and claimed the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission pursued him as an act of political retribution.

Nicholson, who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President George W. Bush, highlighted Buyer’s work as chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and credited him with helping improve veterans’ healthcare, information technology systems, and treatment programs for wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. He also noted that Buyer served on Trump’s 2016 presidential transition team and contributed to policy recommendations that later influenced the VA Mission Act.

The former RNC chairman concluded by asking Trump to issue a pardon and to seek dismissal of an SEC civil case against Buyer, writing that the former congressman “should have never been a political prisoner in America.”

The post follows a similar move by Trump on Sunday, when he shared another letter signed by several Republican officials requesting clemency for Buyer. That letter likewise alleged that Democratic political figures and government officials sought revenge against the former congressman because of his role in high-profile Republican efforts against President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

Buyer was sentenced in 2023 to 22 months in federal prison after being convicted of insider trading. According to the Department of Justice, prosecutors proved that Buyer participated in two insider-trading schemes in 2018 and 2019, using confidential information obtained through consulting work to make profitable securities trades before the information became public.

Trump’s public promotion of the pardon requests comes as he faces scrutiny over stock trading activity linked to major policy announcements during his presidency, adding another layer of attention to any potential clemency decision involving a lawmaker convicted of financial crimes.

Read the full letter below:

Dear Mr. President,

Without any reservation, I strongly endorse a full and unconditional pardon for Congressman Stephen Buyer, Ret. He served Indiana for 18 years in Congress before announcing his retirement when his wife was diagnosed with an incurable disease. He also served our nation in the US Army during war and peace in both active and reserve components for 30 years before retiring as a Colonel.

Congressman Buyer is an honorable man and an extraordinary American guided by his faith and committed to values and beliefs that I have personally witnessed. Like you, however, he has suffered the consequences of a politically weaponized federal and state judiciary.

Prior to the election of President George W. Bush, I served as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. During the Administration of President Bush, I had the honor and privilege to represent our country as Ambassador to the Vatican and served as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a young Army officer, I served in Vietnam.

During my tenure as Secretary of the VA, it was a distinct honor to work with Congressman Buyer when he was in Congress serving as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. As a veteran of the first Gulf War, he took his service to veterans and their needs most seriously. He strived to increase the quality of veteran healthcare and benefits, promote IT security, and bring efficiencies to the VA’s health enterprise.

I worked with Chairman Buyer to centralize the VA IT architecture in line and budget authority to promote security, commonality, efficiency, and savings through strategic sourcing. These accomplishments were inordinately important as our nation began to respond to the increase in wounded servicemembers who experienced traumatic brain injuries from Improvised Explosive Devices during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the number of wounded, ill and injured were returning from those wars, we also worked together with the Senate to create and fund for poly-trauma centers in the VA.

Congressman Buyer served on your 2016 Presidential Transition Team, where he assisted in drafting the roadmap for the VA that your administration followed when it created the Mission Act.

Additionally, during his tenure as Chairman he contributed to the initial path for VA leadership to fulfill the goal of a seamless electronic health record between the VA and DOD by seeking a new electronic health record operating system for the VHA.

Congressman Buyer prosecuted President Bill Clinton in his Impeachment trial, sought an indictment against then first lady Hillary Clinton for obstruction of justice for hiding the infamous Rose Law Firm billing records, and defended the military overseas vote that was disenfranchised during the Florida recount of 2000 Presidential Election. The Clinton-Obama-Biden political surrogates never forgot his contributions to our country. The SEC and DOJ were weaponized against Congressman Buyer as political retribution and prosecuted him in criminal and civil courts without any direct evidence by testimony or document.

I am most hopeful Mr. President, you will be able to restore the integrity of the DOJ and SEC into serving the interest of justice in a manner that re-establishes the trust of the American people in our systems of government.

I respectfully request for you to give a full and unconditional pardon to Steve Buyer and to dismiss the

SEC civil suit against him. Steve Buyer should have never been a political prisoner in America. As our leader of the Republican Party and America, please send the message of fairness and justice to our fellow patriotic citizens and the observing world.