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Police Arrest Would-Be Assassin Targeting Trump Cabinet Officials

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Arrest image via Pixabay

Capitol police have arrested a Massachusetts man who allegedly traveled to Washington, D.C. armed with Molotov cocktails and a knife to kill newly-confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Ryan Michael โ€œReilyโ€ English, who turned himself in to U.S. Capitol Police at 3:12 p.m. ET Monday, said he traveled to Washington, D.C., initially planning to kill Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a police affidavit revealed.

By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America – Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

But English shifted his target to Bessent after stopping at a library in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and reading that the Senate was voting Monday on his nomination as President Donald Trumpโ€™s Treasury chief, the document said.

CNBC reported English contemplated throwing the Molotov cocktails at Bessentโ€™s feet, according to the affidavit, which was filed in Washington, D.C., federal court. And if he were able to get close enough, English said, he would have stabbed Bessent with a knife.

Bessentโ€™s nomination was confirmed about three hours after Englishโ€™s arrest. President Trumpโ€™s Cabinet nominee received bipartisan backing and was confirmed Tuesday with a 77-22 vote.

English has been charged with unlawful receipt, possession or transfer of a firearm, as well as carrying a firearm, explosive or incendiary device on Capitol grounds.

The affidavit said English approached an officer at the south door of the Capitol and said, โ€œIโ€™d like to turn myself in.โ€ English told the officer that he was carrying weapons, including two Molotov cocktails.

Two officers detained and searched English, finding two devices constructed of 50-milliliter vodka bottles with gray cloth affixed to their tops. They also found a folding knife and a lighter, according to the court documents.

He said he was at the Capitol to โ€œkill Scott Bessent,โ€ the affidavit said.

Police said they searched the vehicle and found a 750-milliliter bottle of 100-proof vodka and a gray sweatshirt with cloth cut off the sleeves.

Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Before transporting English into custody, police said they found a receipt in his pocket with a note written on the back of a receipt:

โ€œJudith dear god I am so sorry. You must understand I can feel myself dying slowly b/c of my heart. This is terrible but I cant do nothing while nazis kill my sisters,โ€ the note read, according to the affidavit.

โ€œI love you. This is awful. Im so sorry. I love u. Please stay alive and heal. you can. you are strong enough. [F—] them for pushing us so far. you dont deserve this. Im so sorry for lying and plotting and lying. Please survive [7 hearts],โ€ it read.

In addition to his initial intention of killing Hegseth or Johnson, English told police he considered burning down the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

English said that he surveilled the Capitol grounds and figured he would have to kill at least three police officers in order to get to Bessent. English โ€œexpressed acceptance and content with the possibility of suicide by cop,โ€ the affidavit said.

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

House Democrats Release Emails Linking Epstein and Trump in Ongoing Oversight Probe

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released a new batch of emails connected to Jeffrey Epstein that reference President Donald Trump.

The correspondence, which includes messages between Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and author Michael Wolff, was reportedly obtained from Epsteinโ€™s estate as part of an ongoing congressional review of more than 23,000 documents.

By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-epstein-maxwell/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143417695

In a 2011 email to Maxwell, Epstein wrote that Mr. Trump โ€œspent hours at my houseโ€ with one of Epsteinโ€™s alleged victims, whose name was redacted. โ€œI want you to realize that that dog that hasnโ€™t barked is Trump. [Victim 1] spent hours at my house with him, he has never once been mentioned,โ€ Epstein wrote. Maxwell responded, โ€œI have been thinking about thatโ€ฆโ€

Another message, dated January 31, 2019, appears to show Epstein corresponding with Wolff about Mr. Trump and Mar-a-Lago. โ€œTrump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever. of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop,โ€ Epstein wrote.

A third exchange between Epstein and Wolff, dated December 15, 2015, discusses how then-candidate Trump might respond to media questions about his connection to Epstein. Wolff wrote, โ€œI hear CNN planning to ask Trump tonight about his relationship with youโ€”either on air or in scrum afterwards.โ€ Epstein replied, โ€œif we were able to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?โ€ Wolff responded, โ€œI think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasnโ€™t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency… Of course, it is possible that, when asked, heโ€™ll say Jeffrey is a great guy and has gotten a raw deal and is a victim of political correctness, which is to be outlawed in a Trump regime.โ€

Mr. Trump announced his first presidential campaign in June 2015. Wolff later wrote Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, published in 2018.

Epstein and Mr. Trump were social acquaintances in New York and Florida from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. The President has said he cut ties with Epstein in 2004, long before Epsteinโ€™s 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Mr. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing.

Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell was later convicted of conspiring in Epsteinโ€™s sex trafficking operation and is serving a 20-year sentence.

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said in a statement that the Justice Department should release its full Epstein files โ€œimmediately.โ€

He added, โ€œThe more Donald Trump tries to cover up the Epstein files, the more we uncover. These latest emails and correspondence raise glaring questions about what else the White House is hiding and the nature of the relationship between Epstein and the President.โ€

The email release coincides with a broader congressional push for transparency in the Epstein case. Lawmakers are reviewing materials from Epsteinโ€™s estate and have sought information from former officials, including past attorneys general and FBI directors. The committee has also questioned Alex Acosta, the former U.S. attorney who oversaw Epsteinโ€™s controversial plea deal in Florida and later served as Labor Secretary under Mr. Trump. Acosta resigned in 2019 amid scrutiny over his handling of the Epstein case.

The House returned to session Wednesday for the first time since mid-September, with Democrats expected to advance a discharge petition to compel the Justice Department to make public its Epstein investigation files. A vote on the measure is not expected until next month.

Report: Minnesota Lawmaker Behind โ€˜Trump Derangement Syndromeโ€™ Bill Accused Of Soliciting Teen

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Arrest image via Pixabay

Hours after introducing a bill proposing โ€œTrump derangement syndromeโ€ (TDS) as a form of mental illness police arrested Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn for soliciting a minor.

According to The Hill, Bloomington Police Department detectives had communicated with Eichorn, who was under the assumption he was talking to a 17-year-old female.ย He arrived Monday to meet the teen in person but was instead met by localย officers.

He was later booked at the Bloomington Police Department jail and was expected to be transported to the Hennepin County Adult Detention Center. A felony charge of soliciting a minor to practice prostitution was pending, authorities said in a statement Tuesday.

โ€œAs a 40-year-old man, if you come to the Orange Jumpsuit District looking to have sex with someoneโ€™s child, you can expect that we are going to lock you up,โ€ Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges said in a statement. โ€œI have always advocated stiffer penalties for these types of offensesโ€ฆWe need our state legislature to take this case and this type of conduct more seriously.โ€

Eichorn, who is married with four children, represents St. Paul, Minn., according to his legislative profile

The bill, sponsored by Republican State Senators Eric Lucero, Steve Drazkowski, Nathan Wesenberg, Justin Eichorn, and Glenn Gruenhagen, seeks to amend the stateโ€™s definition of mental illness by adding a specific reference to TDS. According to the text of the bill, mental illness would include โ€œTrump Derangement Syndromeโ€ or an organic disorder of the brain that significantly impairs an individualโ€™s ability to function in daily life. (RELATED: Minnesota Republicans Propose Bill Classifying โ€œTrump Derangement Syndromeโ€ as Mental Illness)

The bill describes TDS as โ€œthe acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump.โ€ According to the proposal, individuals affected by TDS exhibit symptoms of paranoia and an inability to separate legitimate political disagreements from perceived personal or psychological pathology in Trumpโ€™s behavior.

In the wake of Eichornโ€™s arrest, his colleagues have urged him to resign.

โ€œWe are shocked by these reports and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation,โ€ Minnesota State Republicans wrote in a statement, posted on X. โ€œJustin has a difficult road ahead and he needs to focus on his family.โ€

Indicted Congressman Eyes Party Switch After Potential Presidential Pardon

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Speculation on Capitol Hill is building that Congressmanย Henry Cuellarย (D-Texas), who is currently facing federal corruption charges, might consider switching parties if granted a presidentialย pardon. The potential shift has set political tongues wagging, fueled by Cuellarโ€™s complicated legal battle and reactions from both sides of the aisle.

The rumor is as follows:

Itโ€™s alleged someone is going to receive a pardon and flip from blue to red in the House of Representatives.

Now I fully believe that this person has only gotten indicted because of his wide open criticism of the current admin and his opposition toโ€ฆย https://t.co/WjCOGNNbcaโ€” George Santos (@MrSantosNY)ย December 26, 2024

Cuellar, a conservative Democrat, was indicted in May following a two-year investigation by the Department of Justice. The probe, linked to an ongoing corruption case, began after FBI agents raided his South Texas home and campaign office. While initial details were sparse, reports alleged that Cuellar cultivated relationships with Azerbaijani and Mexican business leaders, leveraging his congressional position to advance their interests in U.S. policy.

The indictment, if accurate, presents a damning picture. Between 2014 and 2021, Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, allegedly accepted $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an Azerbaijani state-owned oil and gas company and a Mexico City-based bank. Federal prosecutors claim these payments were funneled through bogus consulting contracts to shell companies under Imelda Cuellarโ€™s name, with little to no actual work performed.

In exchange, Cuellar allegedly influenced U.S. foreign policy to benefit Azerbaijan and supported legislative activities favorable to the Mexican bank. The charges against the Cuellars are sweeping, with potential penalties stacking up as follows:

Two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and acting as an unregistered foreign agent (up to 5 years each).

Two counts of bribery of a federal official (up to 15 years each).

Two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (up to 20 years each).

Two counts of violating laws against unregistered foreign agents (up to two years each).

One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (up to 20 years).

Five counts of money laundering (up to 20 years each).

Both Henry and Imelda Cuellar have pleaded not guilty, with the congressman insisting his actions were focused on serving South Texans. Despite the charges, Cuellar secured an 11th term in November, showcasing his political resilience among his constituents.

President-elect Donald Trump has eagerly weighed in on the case. Writing on Truth Social shortly after the indictment, Trump accused the Biden administration of targeting Cuellar and his wife for his conservative stance on border policy.

โ€œBiden just indicted Henry Cuellar because the respected Democrat Congressman wouldnโ€™t play Crooked Joeโ€™s open border game. He was for Border Control, so they said, โ€˜Letโ€™s use the FBI and DOJ to take him out!โ€™โ€ Trump wrote, calling the administration โ€œD.C. Thugsโ€ and labeling President Biden a โ€œthreat to democracy.โ€

The drama surrounding Cuellarโ€™s case, coupled with rumors of a potential party switch, has heightened tensions in Washington. Inside the Beltway, all eyes are on the congressman to see whether he will stay the course or make a stunning shift in a historically narrowly divided Congress.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

Woman Who Admitted Trump Death Threats To Secret Service Released By Judge

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A woman arrested last month for allegedly making death threats againstย President Donald Trumpย has been released by a federal judge who has clashed with the Trump administration several times this year.

Federal Chief Judge James Boasberg ordered the release of 50-year-old Nathalie Rose Jones under electronic monitoring and instructed her to visit a psychiatrist in New York City once she obtains her personal belongings from a local police station.

Her release comes after U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya had ordered her held without bond, citing alarming conduct, including online posts proclaiming willingness to “disembowel” Trump and stage his arrest, and statements admitting she would kill him with a bladed weapon at “the compound.”

Jones took part in a “dignified arrest ceremony” for Trump at a protest in Washington, D.C., which circumnavigated the White House complex and was arrested following an investigation into her series of concerning Instagram and Facebook posts. 

In early August, Jones labeled Trump a terrorist, referred to his administration as a dictatorship, and stated that Trump had caused extreme and unnecessary loss of life in relation to the coronavirus

“I am willing to sacrificially kill this POTUS by disemboweling him and cutting out his trachea with Liz Cheney and all The Affirmation present,” an Aug. 6 post directed at the FBI states.

The next day, Jones voluntarily agreed to an interview with the Secret Service, during which she called Trump a “terrorist” and a “nazi,” authorities said. 

She said that if she had the opportunity, she would kill Trump at “the compound” if she had to and that she had a “bladed object,” which she said was the weapon she would use to “carry out her mission of killing” the president.

Following the protest in Washington, D.C on Aug. 16, Jones was interviewed again by the Secret Service, during which she admitted that she had made threats towards Trump during her interview the previous day. 

She was charged with threatening to kill, kidnap, or seriously hurt the president and sending messages across state lines that contained threats to kidnap or harm someone.

However, Jonesโ€™s lawyers argued their client was unarmed and had no real desire to follow through with the threats, appealed Upadhyayaโ€™s detention decision, and Boasberg overturned Upadhyayaโ€™s detention order.

U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.,ย Jeanine Pirro, whose office pushed for the indictment, blasted the juryโ€™s refusal on Tuesday.

“A Washington D.C. grand jury refused to indict someone who threatened to kill the President of the United States. Her intent was clear, traveling through five states to do so,” Pirro told Fox News in an exclusive statement. 

“She even confirmed the same to the U.S. Secret Service. This is the essence of a politicized jury. The system here is broken on many levels. Instead of the outrage that should be engendered by a specific threat to kill the president, the grand jury in D.C. refuses to even let the judicial process begin. Justice should not depend on politics,” Pirro added.

Judge Boasbergโ€™s Background
Judge Boasberg, a Barack Obama appointee, has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration. In March, he issued a restraining order halting deportations of Venezuelans under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, ordering planes to return to U.S. soil and demanding an investigation into compliance. He later threatened contempt proceedings, prompting appellate review and momentum that led to Supreme Court rulings affirming dueโ€‘process requirements. Trump publicly labeled Boasberg a โ€œRadical Left Lunaticโ€ and sought his impeachment. Additionally, Trumpโ€‘aligned officials, including AG Pam Bondi, filed a complaint over Boasbergโ€™s remarks warning of a constitutional crisis and criticizing the administrationโ€”remarks Bondi argued had no factual basis and undermined judicial impartiality. (RELATED: DOJ Files Complaint Against Judge Boasberg Over Anti-Trump Comments, Deportation Case Actions)

Recent Assassination Attempts Targeting Donald Trump

1. Butler, Pennsylvania Rally โ€” July 13, 2024

  • What happened: Former President Trump was addressed at a campaign rally near Butler, PA, when 20โ€‘yearโ€‘old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a nearby rooftop with an ARโ€‘15โ€‘style rifle. Trump was grazed in the upper right ear; one attendee, firefighter Corey Comperatore, was killed, and two others critically injured. Secret Service counterโ€‘snipers neutralized Crooks seconds after he began firing.

Aftermath & investigations: A House task force released a report by December 2024. A Government Accountability Office audit (July 2025) found that the Secret Service failed to share vital threat intelligence internally, and suffered planning and communication breakdowns. Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley criticized entrenched mismanagement and cited funding under a recent bill to help rebuild the agency. Meanwhile, six Secret Service agents received suspensionsโ€”the longest up to 42 daysโ€”for their roles in the security failure. The agency has since overhauled protocols, including deploying drones and increasing law enforcement coordination.

2. West Palm Beach, Florida Golf Course โ€” September 15, 2024

  • What happened: While golfing at his Trump International Golf Club, Trump was threatened by 59-yearโ€‘old Ryan Wesley Routh. The suspect was seen aiming a rifle from shrubbery. A Secret Service agent intervened, no shots were fired at Trump, and Routh fled but was later detained.
  • Legal proceedings: Routh faces federal charges including attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate. He remains in custody, and a federal trial is scheduled to begin September 8, 2025.

READ NEXT: Trump Calls for RICO as the Answer to Sanctuary City Chaos

Nancy Pelosi Claims Republicans May Hack Voting Machines and Create โ€˜Fake Countโ€™ in Midterms

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

In a sit-down interview with MSNBCโ€™s Ali Vitali, the former House Speakerโ€”long one of Trumpโ€™s most vocal criticsโ€”predicted Democratic success in the upcoming elections but cautioned supporters to stay vigilant against what she suggested could be underhanded GOP tactics.

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

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

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

Pelosi didnโ€™t hold back in her assessment of Republicansโ€™ motivations.

โ€œPelosi accused Republicans of having โ€˜no commitment to the rule of law and doing things the appropriate way.โ€™โ€

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

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

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

โ€œShe turned out so many more people than who would have voted,โ€ Pelosi said.

Watch:

Rosie O’Donnell Asks For Prayers As Daughter Chelsea Faces ‘Scary Future’ In Prison

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By David Shankbone - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3937757

TV personality Rosie Oโ€™Donnell is appealing for prayers as her daughter Chelsea faces what she calls a โ€œscary future.โ€

Oโ€™Donnell posted on Instagram: โ€œMy child Chelsea Belle โ€“ before addiction took over her life โ€“ I loved her then, I love her now as she faces a scary future โ€“ prayers welcomed. #addiction awareness #love #family.โ€

According to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Chelsea had her probation revoked on October 22 and was sentenced to serve time in prison.

In a written statement, Oโ€™Donnell said, โ€œI have compassion for those struggling with addiction โ€” Chelsea was born into addiction and it has been a painful journey for her and her four young children. We continue to love and support her through these horrible times. Prayers welcomed.โ€

Last year, authorities charged Chelsea with two counts of felony possession of methamphetamine and felony possession of narcotic drugs, along with two counts of possession/illegally obtaining prescription drugs and resisting or obstructing an officer. Her arrest followed a traffic stop in Niagara, Wisconsin, where officers pulled over a vehicle for loud exhaust โ€” they recovered a clear smoking device on Chelseaโ€™s person that tested positive for methamphetamine, and a prescription pill bottle containing a handful of pills and a crystal-like substance was found in her possession. At the time, Chelsea was out on bond for separate charges including child neglect and drug possession.

Oโ€™Donnellโ€™s Instagram post on December 3 responding to Chelseaโ€™s earlier arrest read: โ€œSo yes this is true โ€“ after being bailed out by her birth mother โ€“ Chelsea was arrested again โ€“ and is facing many charges related to her drug addiction โ€“ we all hope she is able to get the help she needs to turn her life around.โ€


Bring in the Trump context

Itโ€™s worth noting that Rosie Oโ€™Donnell has for years been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, and the public feud between them has become almost legendary. Back in December 2006, while hosting the daytime talk show The View, Oโ€™Donnell called Trump out over his handling of the Miss USA controversy and mocked him as no moral authority for young people โ€” saying, โ€œThis is not a self-made manโ€ฆ left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affairโ€ฆโ€ People.com+2The List+2

Trump responded with scorn, calling Oโ€™Donnell โ€œa woman out of controlโ€ and a โ€œloser,โ€ threatening legal action though he never followed through. People.com+1 Over the years he repeatedly used her name as a punchline โ€” during the 2016 Republican primary debate when asked about his language toward women he quipped, โ€œOnly Rosie Oโ€™Donnell.โ€ The New Daily+1

In recent years their feud escalated further: After Oโ€™Donnell announced she had moved to Ireland following Trumpโ€™s second inauguration (January 2025), Trump publicly floated the idea of revoking her U.S. citizenship, calling her โ€œa Threat to Humanityโ€ and saying โ€œshe should remain in the wonderful country of Ireland, if they want her.โ€

Democrat Senator Warns Trump Planning a โ€˜Coordinated Effort to Try to Interfereโ€™ in the Midterms

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Missvain, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is raising concerns about what he claims could be an effort by President Donald Trump and his allies to influence the 2026 midterm elections.

Speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday, Warner suggested that Trumpโ€™s recent comments about Republicans needing to โ€œtake overโ€ elections from the states could signal broader plans to challenge state-run election systems.

โ€œIt appears there may be a coordinated effort to try to interfere in the โ€˜26 midterms,โ€ Warner said. He added that he is concerned, โ€œThey may even start to interfere in the primaries.โ€

Watch:

Trump and many Republicans have argued for years that election administration should be strengthened through tighter oversight and more uniform standards, particularly after disputes over voting procedures in 2020. Democrats, however, have increasingly framed these efforts as threats to democracy.

Warner Criticizes Tulsi Gabbardโ€™s Role in Georgia Investigation

Warner also expressed anger over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbardโ€™s reported involvement in a federal raid in Fulton County, Georgia, where officials seized ballots and voter information as part of an investigation.

While details surrounding the raid remain unclear, Warner compared the situation to Watergate-era abuses of power โ€” an analogy Democrats have frequently used in recent years when criticizing Trump.

In a clip posted to social media, Warner said:

โ€œThe Nixon era is back. What do I mean? Richard Nixon is most infamously known for Watergate, where he intervened in a domestic political effort under the guise of the Watergate break-in. He knew what was going on before the fact. Well, it appears the same is true.โ€

Warner claimed testimony suggested Gabbard traveled to Atlanta because Trump personally asked her to.

โ€œIt appears the same is true. We got testimony yesterday that Tulsi Gabbard was down in Atlanta for that crazy raid on the voting machines because Trump asked her to go.โ€

Warner then questioned how Trump would have known about the investigation ahead of time:

โ€œWell, how the hell did Trump know there was about to be a warrant issued in a lame criminal investigation before the act took place? How did he let Gabbard know to go there?โ€

He also criticized reports that Trump spoke directly with FBI agents involved in the case:

โ€œThis is not how American justice should work. When, when, when will any of my Republican colleagues find a spine?โ€

Democrats Claim Raid May Have Been Improper

In another clip posted Wednesday, Warner suggested the FBI raid itself may have been unlawful, pointing to leadership changes under FBI Director Kash Patel.

โ€œWe have seen Kash Patel basically decimate the leadership of the FBI to the point that that raidโ€ฆ the FBI agent in charge of that office got fired because I donโ€™t believe he felt this was legal.โ€

Warner also argued that Gabbard, as DNI, should not have been involved in what he called a โ€œdomestic criminal investigation.โ€

โ€œThe director of national intelligence, who showed up at that domestic criminal investigation where she had no right to be thereโ€ฆโ€

He continued by questioning whether anyone in the administration attempted to stop Trump from contacting agents directly:

โ€œI know Trump doesnโ€™t know the law, but wasnโ€™t there anybody in the White House Counsel that said, โ€˜Mr. President, you shouldnโ€™t be talking to FBI agentsโ€ฆโ€™โ€

Warner concluded with a sharp personal attack on Gabbard:

โ€œThis is a guy thatโ€™s being enhanced by a rogue DNI whoโ€™s way over her skis in terms of knowledge or competency.โ€

Political Stakes Rising as 2026 Approaches

Warnerโ€™s comments come as Democrats increasingly warn of authoritarianism and election manipulation, themes expected to dominate campaign messaging heading into 2026.

Republicans, meanwhile, have argued that ensuring election integrity โ€” including investigating irregularities and enforcing stricter standards โ€” is a legitimate government responsibility, not โ€œinterference.โ€

Report: Melania Trump Statue In Slovenia Sawed Off, Stolen

By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54426560683/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=163105965

Police in Slovenia are investigating the disappearance of a bronze statue of U.S.ย first lady Melania Trump.

Theย life-size sculptureย was unveiled in 2020 during Presidentย Donald Trumpโ€™sย first term in office near Sevnica in central Slovenia, where Melania Knavs was born in 1970. It replaced a wooden statue that had beenย set on fireย earlier that year.

According to Slovenian media reports, the bronze replica was sawed off at the ankles and removed.

The original wooden statue was torched in July 2020. The rustic figure was cut from the trunk of a linden tree, showing her in a pale blue dress like the one she wore at Trumpโ€™s presidential inauguration in 2017.

The replica bronze statue has no obvious resemblance to the first lady.

State Prosecutors Hint At Possible New Charges After Trump Commutes Santos Sentence

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Arrest image via Pixabay

Former New York Republican congressman George Santos walked free on Friday after President Donald Trump commuted his federal sentence โ€” but the move may not end his legal ordeal. A local prosecutor on Long Island appeared to signal that state-level charges could be used to sidestep the presidentโ€™s act of clemency.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said on the social platform X that her office had been โ€œat the forefrontโ€ of the effort to โ€œbring Santos to justice.โ€ Donnellyโ€™s jurisdiction includes part of the district Santos once represented in Congress.

โ€œI am proud of the work my office has done, and the conviction achieved in partnership with the U.S. Attorneyโ€™s office,โ€ Donnelly said. โ€œWhile the office cannot comment on ongoing investigations, suffice it to say that I remain focused on prosecuting political corruption wherever it exists regardless of political affiliation.โ€

Her statement โ€” vague but pointed โ€” has fueled speculation that prosecutors could seek state charges mirroring the federal case, a move critics say would effectively undermine Trumpโ€™s commutation and keep Santos entangled in the court system despite his early release.

A spokesperson for the Nassau County D.A.โ€™s office declined to elaborate when asked whether an investigation was ongoing.

Trumpโ€™s Message: โ€œUnequal Justiceโ€ and Political Targeting

Announcing the commutation on Truth Social, President Trump praised Santosโ€™s โ€œCourage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN,โ€ suggesting the former lawmakerโ€™s punishment was disproportionate.

โ€œGeorge Santos was somewhat of a โ€˜rogue,โ€™ but there are many rogues throughout our Country that arenโ€™t forced to serve seven years in prison,โ€ Trump wrote.

Santos had served just 84 days of a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty last summer to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors had accused him of multiple financial and campaign-related offenses โ€” including money laundering and falsifying records โ€” but supporters argue that he faced harsher treatment because of his party affiliation and outspoken loyalty to Trump.

Possible State Move Seen as Political

Republicans are already warning that a state prosecution would represent another example of โ€œlawfareโ€ โ€” the use of legal mechanisms to target political opponents.

Santos himself, who had initially said he wouldnโ€™t seek clemency before later telling interviewer Piers Morgan heโ€™d accept โ€œwhatever the president is willing to give me,โ€ has yet to comment on Donnellyโ€™s remarks.

For now, the former congressman is free โ€” but the signals from Nassau County suggest that the battle between Trumpโ€™s justice reform message and New Yorkโ€™s prosecutors may be far from over.