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Trump Heads to Situation Room as Iran Deal Decision Appears Imminent

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

President Trump signaled Friday that a final decision on a potential agreement with Iran could be just hours away, announcing he was heading to the White House Situation Room to make what he called a “final determination” on a proposed deal that would dramatically reshape U.S.-Iran relations.

“I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination,” Trump wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post outlining the terms he says Iran must accept before any agreement moves forward.

The president’s announcement immediately fueled speculation that a major breakthrough could be nearing after months of negotiations following the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran earlier this year.

Among Trump’s non-negotiable demands: Iran must permanently abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons.

“Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” Trump declared.

Trump also outlined provisions that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted international shipping, eliminate any remaining naval mines in the waterway, and potentially end the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

“Ships caught in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented Naval Blockade, which will now be lifted, may start the process of ‘heading home!’” Trump wrote. “Say HELLO to your wives, husbands, parents, and families from me, your favorite President!”

Perhaps the most striking element of Trump’s proposal involves Iran’s remaining stockpile of enriched uranium.

According to the president, the United States would work alongside Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to excavate and destroy what he described as enriched nuclear material buried beneath mountains damaged during U.S. B-2 bomber strikes nearly a year ago.

“The enriched material, sometimes referred to as ‘Nuclear Dust,’ … will be unearthed by the United States … and DESTROYED,” Trump wrote, adding that only the U.S. and China possess the capability to carry out such an operation.

As Fox News reported, it remains unclear whether the removal and destruction of Iran’s enriched uranium is formally included in the draft agreement currently under discussion. The White House confirmed Thursday that negotiations are ongoing, but details of the final arrangement remain unresolved.

Iranian officials have responded cautiously. The semi-official Fars News Agency characterized Trump’s statements as a “mixture of truth and falsehood” intended to portray a “fabricated victory.”

Meanwhile, Iranian parliamentary speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf emphasized Friday that Tehran remains skeptical of American assurances.

“We do not trust guarantees and words, only actions are the criterion,” Qalibaf wrote on X.

According to reporting from Fox News, the proposed framework would extend the current cease-fire for 60 days while allowing both sides to negotiate remaining disputes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and regional security concerns.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear activities are intended solely for peaceful purposes. Trump, however, has repeatedly argued that any deal must go beyond previous agreements — including President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear accord — by permanently eliminating Iran’s ability to enrich uranium and preventing any future path to a nuclear weapon.

The president also hinted that economic concessions could be addressed in later negotiations.

“No money will be exchanged, until further notice,” Trump wrote.

Trump’s decision to convene in the Situation Room — traditionally reserved for the nation’s most consequential military and national security deliberations — suggests the administration believes a pivotal moment in the negotiations has arrived.

Whether the talks ultimately produce a historic diplomatic breakthrough or collapse at the finish line may soon be decided behind the secure doors of the White House’s most closely watched room.

Judge Greenlights Trump Push to Tighten Mail-In Voting Rules

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    Missvain, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    A federal judge on Thursday refused to block President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in voting, handing Democrats an early defeat in a growing legal battle over election security and ballot access.

    According to The Hill, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols — a Trump appointee — ruled that Democrat groups and voting rights activists moved too soon in asking the court to stop the order before the federal government has actually implemented it.

    “Given that the Executive Order does not command Plaintiffs to do anything, and that no agency has yet acted pursuant to the Order in a way that could harm Plaintiffs, they have not suffered any harm at present,” Nichols wrote in his ruling.

    The executive order, signed by Trump on March 31, directs the Department of Homeland Security to create lists of adult U.S. citizens in every state. Under the order, the U.S. Postal Service would only deliver mail ballots to individuals appearing on those citizenship lists.

    Democrats and voting rights organizations argued the move could disenfranchise millions of voters and claimed Trump lacks constitutional authority to regulate federal elections through executive action.

    They also warned that the administration plans to rely on Social Security Administration data that may contain inaccuracies, potentially preventing eligible voters from receiving ballots.

    Nichols, however, said those concerns remain speculative for now because the administration has not yet finalized or implemented the system.

    “The Court recognizes that the Postal Service may ultimately issue a final rule that directly affects Plaintiffs or their members,” Nichols wrote, adding that Democrats could renew their request for an injunction later if the order begins causing specific harm.

    Trump has defended the executive order as a necessary step to enforce existing federal voting laws and strengthen election integrity.

    The order gives states and individuals opportunities to correct errors on the citizenship lists before federal elections, with updated data required to be sent to states within 60 days of Election Day.

    The ruling marks an early courtroom victory for Trump as Democrats continue challenging several election-related actions from his administration.

    Trump has repeatedly argued that mail-in voting creates opportunities for fraud, while election officials and voting experts maintain that widespread voter fraud remains rare.

    Still, mail voting has become a flashpoint in national politics since the 2020 election, with Democrats generally embracing expanded absentee voting while Republicans push for tighter safeguards and voter verification requirements.

    Newly Unsealed Complaint Reveals Disturbing Threat Against Ivanka Trump

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    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.

    Trump Marks Memorial Day With Arlington Ceremony Honoring U.S. Heroes

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      Gage Skidmore Flickr

      President Donald Trump is set to spend Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, where he will participate in ceremonies honoring fallen U.S. service members, according to reporting first shared by The Daily Wire.

      Trump is expected to join members of his administration, Gold Star families, and military personnel at the Virginia cemetery on Monday. His schedule includes a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier followed by remarks nearby commemorating those who died in service to the country.

      Several top administration officials are expected to attend alongside the president, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.

      White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told The Daily Wire that Trump would honor “our fallen heroes whose sacrifice has kept our nation free,” adding that the president would express “the enduring gratitude of our entire nation.”

      Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington have long served as a centerpiece for presidents from both parties, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier carrying particular symbolic significance. The monument honors unidentified American service members and sits on one of the highest points in the cemetery overlooking Washington, D.C.

      More than 430,000 people are buried at Arlington National Cemetery, including military veterans, service members, and eligible family members.

      Trump marked Memorial Day there last year as well, taking part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with members of his administration.

      During remarks at the event, Trump praised U.S. service members who “left behind the blessings of home and family” to answer the country’s call, while acknowledging the sacrifices made by military families.

      Arlington itself has a long and complex history. The cemetery occupies land once connected to the family of Confederate General Robert E. Lee before it was seized by the U.S. government during the American Civil War and converted into a national cemetery amid the war’s heavy casualties.

      This year’s appearance comes as Trump continues using ceremonial presidential events to emphasize themes of military service, patriotism, and national identity during his second term.

      Bolton Warns Trump Could Try to ‘Snatch’ Raúl Castro as Cuba Tensions Escalate

      The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      Former National Security Adviser John Bolton is sounding alarms over growing speculation that the Trump administration could take dramatic action against Cuba’s communist leadership — warning officials not to repeat what he called the “Venezuela game plan.”

      Bolton, who has long advocated for hardline policies against authoritarian governments in Latin America, said Thursday he fears the administration could use newly filed criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro as justification for a high-risk operation targeting the aging strongman.

      “I’m a little worried that they’re going to try and run the Venezuela game plan and kidnap or snatch Raúl Castro, who’s 94 years old, under this indictment, which is perfectly justified, but it won’t change anything in Cuba, as it really hasn’t changed anything politically in Venezuela,” Bolton said during an appearance on NewsNation’s On Balance.

      His comments come as tensions surrounding Cuba have intensified after the Justice Department announced murder charges against Castro and five others tied to the 1996 shootdown of two civilian humanitarian aircraft over international waters.

      Federal prosecutors allege Castro authorized the Cuban military operation that destroyed the planes, killing four men — including three American citizens. The aircraft were operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based humanitarian group that searched for Cuban migrants attempting to flee the island.

      The indictment represents one of the most aggressive legal moves taken against senior Cuban officials in decades and has fueled growing speculation about whether the Trump administration is preparing a broader strategy aimed at regime change.

      Bolton, despite supporting political change in Cuba, argued that removing a single figure would do little to dismantle the country’s entrenched communist system.

      “In Cuba, you need the top echelon of government to depart the island, maybe for exile in Mexico or wherever they want to go, and we have to have a way to bring the government back under the control of the people,” he said, adding that such a process would “take some time.”

      The administration has steadily increased pressure on Havana in recent months through legal, diplomatic, and economic measures.

      A U.S. oil embargo implemented earlier this year has reportedly worsened Cuba’s already severe energy shortages. The island nation of roughly 10 million people has faced repeated rolling blackouts, while shortages of food, fuel, and medicine continue to strain daily life.

      President Donald Trump has also declined to rule out military action. Asked this week about possible intervention in Cuba, Trump told reporters he would “be happy to do it.”

      Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomatic solutions remain the administration’s preferred option but suggested hopes for peaceful negotiations are fading.

      “The president’s preference is always a negotiated agreement that’s peaceful. That’s always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba,” Rubio said in Miami before departing on an overseas trip.

      “I’m just being honest with you. You know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high.”

      Fueling further speculation, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its strike group recently arrived in the Caribbean, leading some observers to question whether Washington could be positioning military assets closer to Cuba.

      Trump has dismissed suggestions that the deployment was intended as intimidation.

      Bolton, however, questioned whether the administration had fully thought through what comes next.

      “Is the Nimitz carrier strike group really equipped to take military action?” Bolton asked. “I mean, we have a real advantage in Cuba we didn’t have in Venezuela, we have the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base right there on the island, so that’s a, that’s a step forward, but this is something clearly we need to be talking to key figures in the opposition in Cuba, the Cuban American community, I’m sure can be extremely helpful here.”

      “Let’s just think this through before we force it into something that could be very detrimental to the people of Cuba, if the army and the police stick with the regime,” he added.

      The escalating rhetoric comes as questions continue to swirl over whether Washington’s pressure campaign is designed primarily to force concessions from Havana — or whether the administration is laying groundwork for something much larger.

      Report: Mike Lindell To File ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund Claim

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      Mike Lindell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

      President Trump ally Mike Lindell said Wednesday that he plans to seek compensation through the Department of Justice’s newly created “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” arguing that his company suffered massive financial losses after he became one of the most prominent supporters of Trump’s claims about the 2020 election.

      Lindell made the announcement during an appearance on Lindell TV, saying his company and employees were financially devastated following years of legal battles, public backlash, and scrutiny tied to his election-related activism.

      “We had three third parties look and do an evaluation of MyPillow, what it was prior to all these attacks and what it is now,” Lindell said during the broadcast. “And all of them averaged $400 million that it cost the brand and cost MyPillow. And it’s just horrific that our own government could do this to the American dream.”

      He continued, “This company was built on the American dream and made in the USA and to have this happen. It will be a blessing to actually get some of these, my employees made whole that were stockholders in MyPillow. And even a lot of them that have lost their jobs, you know, that were affected then and all this.”

      Lindell’s comments come just days after the Department of Justice announced a $1.776 billion compensation fund intended to provide relief for individuals who claim they were victims of government “weaponization” or “lawfare.” The five-member commission overseeing the fund will be empowered to issue formal apologies and monetary compensation to qualifying applicants, though the administration has not yet clearly defined eligibility standards.

      The program emerged from a settlement involving President Trump’s now-withdrawn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and has generated controversy because of questions surrounding who may ultimately benefit. Critics have questioned whether the fund could become a vehicle for compensating Trump allies, while supporters argue it provides a mechanism for individuals who believe they were improperly targeted by the federal government.

      Lindell appears to be among the first high-profile figures publicly announcing plans to pursue compensation.

      According to reports, other Trump allies considering claims include Michael Caputo and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. Vice President J. D. Vance also suggested Tuesday that Tina Peters could potentially qualify for compensation.

      Lindell spent years aggressively promoting claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from Trump, despite courts repeatedly rejecting allegations of widespread fraud and election officials finding no evidence that fraud altered the outcome of the race.

      The MyPillow CEO said he personally spent approximately $25 million supporting election-fraud claims and financed a three-hour programming block on One America News Network that aired a documentary promoting election conspiracy theories.

      His activism led to a wave of fallout extending beyond politics.

      Multiple major retailers, including several national chains, pulled MyPillow products from their stores amid consumer and political pressure campaigns. Lindell also became the target of multiple defamation lawsuits related to his claims about voting systems and election technology.

      In one of the most notable cases, voting technology company Dominion Voting Systems sued Lindell for defamation, alleging he spread false claims accusing the company of manipulating election results. Smartmatic also filed litigation against him over similar allegations.

      Lindell additionally drew scrutiny from congressional investigators over his involvement surrounding the events of Jan. 6, 2021. He helped organize activities surrounding Trump’s efforts to challenge the election outcome and later had his phone records subpoenaed by the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol attack.

      The DOJ fund itself continues to face mounting legal and political challenges. Former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn criticized the program this week, arguing it could create incentives for individuals involved in Jan. 6-related activity.

      “Donald Trump is putting a retainer on a mob, on a militia that’s already showed the violence that they’re willing to enact on his behalf. And he’s incentivizing it, too,” Dunn said during an appearance on CNN.

      Dunn and D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges have since filed suit seeking to block the Justice Department from moving forward with the payouts.

      Vanessa Trump Announces Cancer Diagnosis

      The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      Former Trump family member Vanessa Trump revealed Wednesday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting an outpouring of support from relatives, friends, and supporters connected to President Donald Trump’s extended family circle.

      The 48-year-old former model and television personality shared the news in an emotional Instagram statement, describing the diagnosis as an unexpected challenge while emphasizing that she remains optimistic.

      “I’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Vanessa wrote. “While this isn’t news anyone expects, I’m working closely with my medical team on a treatment plan.”

      Vanessa also revealed that doctors performed a procedure earlier this week, though she did not provide additional details regarding the nature of the procedure or the stage of her diagnosis. She said she is relying heavily on her family and close loved ones as she begins treatment.

      “I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me,” she wrote.

      Vanessa concluded the statement by thanking supporters for their encouragement and asking for privacy while she focuses on recovery.

      The announcement quickly drew public reactions from members of the Trump family.

      President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, posted a heartfelt response beneath Vanessa’s announcement.

      “Praying for your continued strength and a swift recovery. Love you mama,” Ivanka wrote.

      Vanessa’s daughter, Kai Trump, also shared an emotional message, calling her mother “the strongest person I know” in a social media tribute that resonated with supporters.

      Additional support reportedly came through social media engagement from other members of the Trump family as Vanessa’s announcement spread online.

      Vanessa was married to Donald Trump Jr. for more than a decade before the pair divorced in 2018. The former couple share five children together and have largely maintained a cooperative relationship centered around family matters.

      In recent years, Vanessa has kept a lower public profile compared to many members of the Trump family. However, she returned to headlines after legendary golfer Tiger Woods publicly confirmed their relationship in 2025. The two have since been seen together at family events and golf-related appearances.

      Her diagnosis sparked an immediate wave of support online, with many supporters offering prayers and well wishes as she begins what could be a difficult health battle.

      Boebert Returns To Trump With Tail Between Her Legs

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      Rep. Lauren Boebert appeared to be making peace with President Donald Trump this week after finding herself in his crosshairs over her support for ousted Rep. Thomas Massie.

      Just days after Trump publicly threatened to yank his endorsement and potentially back a primary challenger against her, Boebert was back on social media loudly reaffirming her loyalty.

      “Trump is my President! Jesus is Lord!” she posted Tuesday night.

      The timing raised eyebrows.

      Boebert’s declaration came only hours after Massie — one of Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics in Congress — was defeated in Kentucky’s high-profile GOP primary by Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein.

      For many Republicans watching the race, the message was hard to miss: crossing Trump can carry a political price.

      The blowup started after Boebert traveled to Kentucky to campaign for Massie, a libertarian-leaning conservative who has repeatedly broken with Trump and Republican leadership on spending battles, surveillance issues, foreign policy fights, and the push to release files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

      Trump did not take kindly to seeing one of his longtime congressional allies standing shoulder-to-shoulder with one of his most frequent internal critics.

      “Anybody who can be that dumb deserves a good Primary fight!” Trump wrote over the weekend, before raising the possibility of pulling his own support for Boebert if the “right person” entered the race against her.

      For a politician long viewed as one of Trump’s fiercest defenders on Capitol Hill, it was a rare public dressing-down.

      Boebert initially tried to shrug off the clash.

      “Yes, I saw the President’s post. No, I’m not mad or offended,” she wrote after Trump’s comments. “I knew the risks when I agreed to stand by my friend Thomas Massie.”

      But after Massie’s defeat, Boebert’s latest message sounded less like defiance and more like a quick political reset.

      The dust-up highlights a reality becoming increasingly clear inside today’s GOP: policy disagreements may come and go, but Trump’s influence over Republican primaries remains a force few lawmakers seem eager to test.

      Massie’s defeat already is being viewed by many inside Republican circles as another reminder that even longtime conservatives with strong grassroots support can face serious trouble when Trump decides to make a race personal.

      Boebert appears to have gotten that message.

      And she didn’t wait long to send one back.

      JD Vance Confirms DOJ Is Probing Squad Democrat For Immigration Fraud

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      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.

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      Republicans Question Trump Over $1.8B DOJ ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund

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      The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

      President Trump’s newly created “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is already triggering backlash on Capitol Hill, including from some Republicans, as critics question whether the unprecedented program could become a vehicle for rewarding political allies under the banner of correcting alleged government abuses.

      The Department of Justice announced Monday that it would establish a $1.776 billion compensation fund designed to provide relief for individuals who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the federal government under the Biden administration.

      Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the fund is intended to create a formal process for people who believe they were victims of government “weaponization” or “lawfare.”

      “The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Blanche said in a DOJ statement. “As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

      According to the DOJ, the fund will be authorized to issue both formal apologies and financial compensation to approved claimants. The department stated that there is “no partisan requirement” to file claims, and any unspent funds will eventually return to the federal government.

      The five-member commission overseeing the fund will be appointed by the DOJ, with one member selected in consultation with congressional leadership. President Trump will also retain the authority to remove members and appoint replacements through the attorney general.

      Exactly who qualifies for compensation remains unclear.

      The administration has not outlined specific eligibility standards, nor has it identified who may ultimately benefit from the program. Questions have also surfaced regarding whether individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot — including those later pardoned or whose sentences were commuted by Trump — could receive compensation.

      Asked Monday whether Jan. 6 defendants could potentially benefit, Trump deferred to the commission.

      “I didn’t do this deal,” Trump told reporters. “It was told to me yesterday.”

      The new program emerged from a settlement involving Trump’s now-withdrawn $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. Trump sued the agency after a contractor leaked portions of his tax records to media outlets.

      As part of the agreement, Trump, his family members and the Trump Organization reportedly will receive no direct monetary damages and instead accepted a formal apology while withdrawing multiple legal claims, including administrative complaints tied to the Mar-a-Lago investigation and allegations surrounding the Russia investigation.

      The DOJ defended the structure of the fund by pointing to the Obama-era Keepseagle v. Vilsack settlement, “where the Obama administration created a $760 million fund to redress various claims alleging racism against the federal government over a period of decades.”

      But critics argue the comparison does not hold up.

      Joseph Sellers, an attorney involved in the Keepseagle case, told CNN the situations are fundamentally different.

      “That really is the critical issue,” Sellers said. “You have to serve the same community whose interests were at stake in the litigation that was brought.”

      The administration’s rollout has also generated rare public resistance from Republicans.

      According to Mediaite, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) criticized the proposal on Tuesday.

      “Yeah, not a big fan,” Thune told reporters. “I’m not sure exactly how they intend to use it. … But yeah, I don’t see a purpose for it.”

      Mediaite also reported that Sen. John Kennedy (R- La.) expressed skepticism while saying he remained open to the concept.

      “I need to know where the money is going to come from. I need to know who would qualify. I need to know the definition of weaponization. I need to know who’s been weaponized against?” Kennedy said Monday.

      Democrats have gone considerably further in their criticism.

      A group of 93 House Democrats filed an amicus brief seeking to block the settlement, arguing that it violates constitutional requirements and improperly redirects taxpayer money.

      Separately, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) condemned the fund as “a racket” intended to channel taxpayer dollars toward Trump allies.

      The issue also surfaced during a Senate Appropriations hearing Tuesday, where Sen. Chris Coons (D-Ct.) pressed Blanche over the unusual nature of the settlement arrangement.

      Coons noted that no previous president had sued his own administration and then settled the case while serving in office.

      Blanche pushed back on suggestions that Trump directed the process and rejected comparisons between the underlying litigation and the Keepseagle case, arguing that only the commission structure itself was similar.

      Still, when Coons asked whether Trump campaign donors could ultimately receive payments from the fund, Blanche declined to provide assurances.

      “I am not committing to anything beyond the settlement agreement itself,” Blanche said. “They are not excluded from seeking compensation if they are recognized.”

      With the fund’s eligibility standards still undefined and its commission not yet assembled, many of the biggest questions surrounding who receives compensation — and whether political allies of the president could benefit — remain unanswered.