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Trump Floats Deploying National Guard To Help Fix Airport ‘Mess’

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Presidentย Donald Trumpย announced he is considering deploying the National Guard into Americaโ€™s airports as he urged Americans to โ€œblame Democratsโ€ for the security โ€œmessโ€ at some travel hubs.

Taking toย his Truth Socialย platform in the morning, Trump accused Democrats of cheering for โ€œour Country to do badlyโ€ and โ€œfail.โ€

He then thanked the โ€œpatriotsโ€ of ICE, and floated the possibility of sending in the National Guard โ€œfor more help.โ€

A little over an hour later, Trump doubled down, fawning over the agency for โ€œhelping people with bags, even picking up and cleaning areas.โ€

โ€œI am so proud of our ICE Patriots!โ€ he posted. โ€œThey were unfairly maligned by the Lunatic Democrats for years, and now, at the Airports, in addition to what they are supposed to be doing, they are helping people with bags, even picking up and cleaning areas. They are so proud to be there!โ€

He added: โ€œThe fact is, they shouldnโ€™t have to do this, but they are rehabbing a fake image given to them by Radical Left Democrat politicians. The Public is loving ICE, so the Democrats, unwittingly, did us a favor โ€” They are Great American Patriots, they just happen to have much larger, and harder, muscles than most โ€” which is what theyโ€™re supposed to have. Thank you to ICE for the GREAT job you are doing. America very much appreciates it!โ€

The partial government shutdown affecting DHS funding and the TSA has been going on for over 40 days, with little end in sight. Lawmakers areย scrambling to endย the partial government shutdown ahead of a planned two-week recess as both Democrats and Republicans find fault with a compromise plan.

President Trump indicated earlier this week that he was open to funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without new money for federal immigration enforcement.

As a result of the stalemate, some airports have been plagued with hours-longย security linesย and canceled flights.

President Donald Trump warned last week that he could deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports to arrest illegal immigrants if Democrats refuse to meet his budget demands to end the shutdown. Republicans have pushed for full Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, while Democrats have advocated for narrower measures that would fund agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) without supporting immigration enforcement operations.

On Wednesday, George Soros-backed Philadelphia District Attorneyย Larry Krasner threatened to arrest agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deployed to the cityโ€™s airport to help with security amid Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages.ย 

โ€œThis is how it works. You commit crimes within the jurisdiction that is the city and county of Philadelphia, I prosecute you. That is how it works. No, I donโ€™t take a phone call from president saying, โ€˜Let them go.โ€™ No, the president cannot pardon you,โ€ Krasner said during a Wednesday press conference.

โ€œIโ€™ll say it again. The president cannot pardon you. And yes, I will put you in handcuffs and I will put you in a courtroom and, if necessary, I will put you in a jail cell if you decide to make the terrazzo floor of this airport, anything like what you did in the streets of Minneapolis, which involved the criminal homicide of unarmed, innocent people. We are not having that,โ€ he added.

Without directly commenting on Krasner’s remarks, the White House lambasted separate comments from Krasner as he stood in front of a “Wooder Ice” mural for a video message.

Backed by ominous music, Krasner said Philadelphians enjoy Water Ice because it “doesn’t break the law [nor] bother us at an airport.” The “Rapid Response 47” team called Krasner’s video “sick and deranged,” adding, “If you don’t like it, Larry, tell your fellow Democrats to fund DHS.”

Trump FCC Chair Confirms Heโ€™s Started โ€˜Enforcement Proceedingsโ€™ Against The View

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By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/191819781@N02/53626268079/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147209317

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed Wednesday that the agency has opened enforcement proceedings involving ABCโ€™s daytime talk show The View, citing concerns over whether the program qualifies for an exemption under federal โ€œequal timeโ€ rules for political candidates.

Carr made the comments during an appearance on Fox Newsโ€™ The Ingraham Angle, where he discussed recent scrutiny surrounding political interviews on broadcast television and the FCCโ€™s role in ensuring fairness during election cycles.

โ€œDisney has a program called The View,โ€ Carr said. โ€œAnd theyโ€™ve been asserting the position that The View is what is known as โ€˜bona fide newsโ€™ in the statute. If you are bona fide news, you donโ€™t have to give candidates equal air time.โ€

โ€œBut Disney and The View have not established that that program is, in fact, bona fide news,โ€ Carr added. โ€œWeโ€™ve started enforcement proceedings, taking a look at that.โ€

Investigation Comes Amid Colbert Controversy

Carrโ€™s remarks came after late-night host Stephen Colbert claimed CBS lawyers discouraged The Late Show from airing an interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat running in the stateโ€™s U.S. Senate primary.

Colbert suggested the network was concerned about new FCC guidance regarding the equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters using public airwaves to provide equal opportunities to opposing political candidates.

โ€œThis was Democrat-on-Democrat violence,โ€ Carr told Fox News host Laura Ingraham. He argued CBS did not block the interview outright, but instead warned that airing it could trigger equal-time requirements for other candidates.

โ€œCBS was very clear that Colbert could run the interview that he wanted with that political candidate,โ€ Carr said. โ€œThey just said, you may have to comply with equal timeโ€ฆ But instead of doing that, they claimed that they were victims.โ€

CBS later issued a statement denying it barred the interview.

โ€œThe Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,โ€ the network said. โ€œThe show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidatesโ€ฆ and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.โ€

Carr Says FCC Will Hold Broadcasters Accountable

Carr framed the enforcement action as part of a broader effort to prevent what he described as legacy media influence over elections and public opinion.

โ€œThe equal-time rule at its core is about stopping legacy media from picking winners and losers in elections,โ€ Carr said. โ€œItโ€™s so that the American people can decide.โ€

He added that the FCC intends to ensure broadcasters follow existing law.

โ€œWeโ€™re going to enforce the law and hold broadcasters accountable,โ€ Carr said. โ€œThe days that these legacy media broadcasters get to decide what we can say, what we can think, who we can vote for are over.โ€

Carr did not confirm reports suggesting the investigation into The View was triggered by the showโ€™s own interview with Talarico earlier this year, but reiterated that the agency is reviewing whether the program legitimately qualifies as โ€œbona fide newsโ€ under federal statute.

Carr also said the FCC would continue administering the equal-time rule in accordance with current law, particularly as political campaigns intensify ahead of upcoming elections.

โ€œPerhaps Colbert and other establishment Democrats want to put the thumb on the scaleโ€ฆ but weโ€™re going to enforce the law,โ€ he said.

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 Hannityโ€™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.

โ€œI gave up everything for this,โ€ Bongino said at the time.

First Appearance Back Focuses on High-Profile Disappearance

Bonginoโ€™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.

โ€œThe first [possibility] would be, obviously, it’s a kidnapping. That was an intended kidnapping for a ransom paymentโ€ฆโ€ he said.

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

โ€œThe 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 โ€” in other words, requesting a ransom for something you didn’t do just to take advantage of a situation like this.โ€

Bonginoโ€™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 Guthrieโ€™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 โ€” no DNA, no license plate hits, no cellphone activity, and no surveillance leads โ€” 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.

โ€œThe story youโ€™ve been told, or you may have believed may not be the story,โ€ 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 โ€” 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 โ€œhour of desperation.โ€

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 โ€” 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 wasnโ€™t surprised by Bonginoโ€™s departure, noting that he โ€œloved his lucrative media lifeโ€ and wanted to โ€œget back to it.โ€

President Trump joined Bonginoโ€™s first show back on Rumble.

The president made headlines during his appearance when he saidย Republicansย should โ€œnationalizeโ€ the voting processย in order to block โ€œcrookedโ€ Democrat-led states from allowing illegal immigrants to vote.

โ€œThese people were brought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally,โ€ Trump said. โ€œAnd itโ€™s amazing the Republicans arenโ€™t tougher on it. The Republicans should say, โ€˜We want to take over, we should take over the voting in at least 15 places.โ€™โ€

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

โ€œIf states canโ€™t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over,โ€ Trump said. โ€œThe federal government should get involved.โ€

Trump framed his argument as a response to what he described as โ€œcorruptionโ€ 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 โ€œnationalizeโ€ or โ€œtake overโ€ state-run election systems ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Blue City Prosecutor Vows To Pursue Federal Agents Criminally After Trump Term Ends

By U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/ero, Public Domain,

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Soros-backed progressive prosecutor, is facing mounting bipartisan criticism after making fiery remarks comparing federal immigration agents to Nazis and suggesting they should be โ€œhunted down.โ€

Speaking last week, Krasner denounced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as โ€œa small bunch of wannabe Nazis,โ€ adding, โ€œIf we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities.โ€

The comments prompted swift backlash from Republicans, with Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) a member of the House Intelligence Committee, urging the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation.

Steube cited federal statutes that make threatening a federal law enforcement officer a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

โ€œThe DOJ should absolutely arrest and convict this guy,โ€ Steube said.

Krasner has a history of antagonism toward federal immigration enforcement. He previously claimed he would seek to arrest and prosecute federal agents who โ€œcome to Philly to commit crimes,โ€ an apparent reference to controversial law enforcement actions during a Minnesota operation in which a woman was shot after allegedly attempting to ram officers with her vehicle.

In the speech that drew Steubeโ€™s condemnation, Krasner boasted that the 350 million Americans living in the United States vastly outnumber ICE agents, and he floated the idea of coordinating with prosecutors in other states to pursue them criminally after President Donald Trumpโ€™s term ends.

Even prominent Democrats distanced themselves from Krasnerโ€™s rhetoric. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called the remarks โ€œunacceptableโ€ฆ abhorrent and it is wrong; period; hard-stop; end of sentence.โ€

Republicans were far less restrained.

โ€œWe have a psychopath with a badge,โ€ Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa) said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Meuser blasted Krasner for what he described as chronic failures to prosecute violent crime, pointing to reports that the district attorneyโ€™s office prosecutes only about 30% of violent crime arrests.

โ€œEvery responsible Democrat must condemn this behavior,โ€ Meuser said. โ€œFailure to do so only increases the temperature in an already volatile situation, endangering federal law enforcement and communities alike.โ€

Meuser also accused Senate Democrats of borrowing Krasnerโ€™s โ€œreckless political playbookโ€ by using Department of Homeland Security funding as leverage in government shutdown negotiations.

Critics have long dubbed Krasner โ€œLet โ€™Em Go Larryโ€ for his lenient prosecution policiesโ€”an approach Meuser contrasted sharply with Krasnerโ€™s aggressive posture toward federal immigration officers.

Meuser has authored the Holding Prosecutors Accountable Act, legislation that would strip Justice Department grant eligibility from district attorney offices that fail to prosecute at least two-thirds of arrests.

The Department of Homeland Security weighed in as well. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called Krasnerโ€™s comments โ€œvile,โ€ accusing him of encouraging violence and doxing of law enforcement officers.

โ€œHe is intentionally stoking the flames of hatred and division in this country for political gain,โ€ McLaughlin said, citing a reported 1,300% increase in assaults against ICE agents. โ€œThe violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.โ€

McLaughlin argued that Krasner should instead be thanking ICE for removing dangerous criminals from the Philadelphia region, including Yehi Badawi of Egypt, convicted of aggravated assault and robbery; Cuban national Alan De Armas-Tundidor, a convicted drug trafficker; and Thanh Long Huynh of Vietnam, convicted of rape and cocaine distribution.

Other Pennsylvania Republicans emphasized that Krasnerโ€™s threats are legally hollow.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Gettysburg) who taught constitutional law at the U.S. Army War College, noted that the federal supremacy clause would override any attempt by Philadelphia officials to interfere with lawful federal immigration enforcement.

โ€œThe Constitution is not optional,โ€ Mastriano said bluntly.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-Allentown) chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, echoed that warning, calling claims that city officials can block ICE โ€œempty threats.โ€

โ€œIf they do obstruct federal law enforcement efforts, the Pennsylvania Senate will be the least of their worries,โ€ Coleman said, adding that if Krasner focused more on prosecuting violent offenders, โ€œPhiladelphia wouldnโ€™t be such a s—hole.โ€

As criticism intensifies, Krasnerโ€™s remarks have reignited a broader debate over progressive prosecutors, public safety, and the limits of local resistance to federal law enforcementโ€”one that now may draw scrutiny from the Justice Department itself.

Noem Impeachment Calls Escalate As ICE Shooting Fallout Continues

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem receives a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center CECOT with the Minister of Justice and Public Security Gustavo Villatoro in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 26, 2025. (DHS photo by Tia Dufour)

Prominent Democrats are escalating calls to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing her of rushing to defend federal officers involved in two separate fatal shootings โ€” a push that Republicans are likely to view as more partisan pressure on law enforcement than a serious, evidence-based accountability process.

According to Axios, a House Democratic caucus phone call on Sunday โ€œlit upโ€ with demands to impeach Noem after the death of Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) reportedly warned colleagues that if Noem refuses to step down, โ€œwe will have no other option but to begin impeachment,โ€ according to anonymous sources cited by Axios.

House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) โ€” โ€œwho was once reticent about impeachmentโ€ โ€” also called for Noem to be impeached during the same call, Axios reported.

Outside Washington, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) also demanded Noemโ€™s removal, writing, โ€œ@Sec_Noem has forfeited her right to lead. Iโ€™m calling on her to resign.โ€

Hochul went further, adding, โ€œGregory Bovino must also be fired,โ€ referring to a senior Border Patrol official who publicly defended the shooting at a press conference Sunday.

Democrats point to pattern; Republicans see familiar impeachment politics

Democrats argue Noem is showing a troubling pattern of defending federal officers before facts are fully established, pointing to a similar incident earlier this year.

The article notes that Renee Good was โ€œshot four times and killedโ€ on Jan. 7 by โ€œofficer Jonathan Ross,โ€ and that Noem also immediately said the officer acted in self-defense.

Noemโ€™s supporters โ€” and many Republicans โ€” are likely to counter that federal officers operating in volatile environments, including protests and border-related enforcement actions, deserve the presumption that they were responding to a real threat until evidence proves otherwise, especially amid increasingly aggressive anti-police rhetoric.

Republicans have also criticized Democrats for using impeachment as a political weapon in recent years, arguing that removing Cabinet officials should be reserved for clear misconduct, not disputed narratives still under investigation.

Border Patrol official calls Pretti โ€œassaultive,โ€ claims he interfered with federal action

At Sundayโ€™s press conference, Bovino described Pretti as an โ€œassaultive subjectโ€ who was โ€œassaultingโ€ officers and interfering with a federal action โ€” language that underscores how federal officials are framing the encounter as a fast-moving confrontation rather than an unprovoked shooting.

Bovinoโ€™s comments, however, are now being disputed by Democrats and major media outlets that reviewed video from the scene.

Video review raises questions about the Trump administrationโ€™s initial account

Major news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, reviewed bystander footage and reported that โ€œBystander footage appears to tell a different storyโ€ than the Trump administrationโ€™s claims.

The Journal reported: โ€œA frame-by-frame review by The Wall Street Journal shows a federal officer pulling a handgun away from Pretti. Less than a second later, an agent fires several rounds. Pretti died at the scene.โ€

Both The Journal and The New York Times concluded that โ€œAt least 10 shots appear to have been fired within five seconds.โ€

Political fallout likely to intensify as facts emerge

The dispute is now shifting into familiar political territory: Democrats are pressing for impeachment and firings, while Republicans are likely to insist that the federal government should not allow high-pressure incidents involving officers to be immediately adjudicated by political opponents โ€” especially before investigators have fully reviewed evidence, witness statements, and body camera footage, if available.

Suspect Detained After Vandalism At Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati Home

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Police image via Pixabay free images

One suspect is in custody Monday morning after vandalizing Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home.

U.S. Secret Service agents assigned to Vanceโ€™s protective detail detained a man on the property shortly after midnight after finding several broken windows at the home. The suspect was later turned over to the Cincinnati Police Department.

Authorities said Vance and his family were not home at the time of the incident and were not in Ohio.

Multiple news outlets have confirmed the vandalism, but officials have not released the suspect’s identity or a possible motive. No injuries were reported.

In a post on X, Vance thanked law enforcement and supporters for their responses and messages of concern.

โ€œI appreciate everyone’s well wishes about the attack at our home,โ€ Vance wrote. โ€œAs far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the Secret Service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.โ€

Vance also urged the media to exercise restraint in covering the incident, citing concerns for his children.

โ€œWe try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service,โ€ he wrote. โ€œIn that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows.โ€

The Secret Service has not indicated whether the damage was targeted or random, and the investigation remains ongoing.

While agents responded quickly, the incident is likely to raise fresh questions about the security vulnerabilities of high-level government officials, including the president and the vice president.

READ NEXT: Sec. Of War Moves To Censure Senator Mark Kelly

Report: Dan Bongino Quietly Clearing Out His Office in Preparation for FBI Exit

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is reportedly preparing to leave the Bureau in the coming weeks, fueling speculation that he may soon return to the conservative media landscape where he built a powerful national following. According to The New York Times, several individuals familiar with the situation say Bongino is already packing up his office and sending personal items back to Floridaโ€”an indication that an official announcement may be imminent.

These sources told the Times that Bongino could depart โ€œas soon as this week or as late as mid-January,โ€ though he has not yet publicly confirmed his plans. The former Secret Service agent and best-selling author was appointed to the FBI leadership team earlier this year by President Donald Trump, who tasked him with bringing greater transparency, accountability, and ideological clarity to an agency long accused by conservatives of political bias.

Dan Bongino via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Conflicting Signals About Bonginoโ€™s Plans

Other reports offer mixed signals. Fox News Digital, citing its own sources, noted Monday that Bongino has โ€œnot made a final decisionโ€ and disputed claims that his office was already empty. However, Foxโ€™s sources did acknowledge that he is expected to clarify his future โ€œin the coming weeks.โ€

If Bongino does leave the Bureau, many expect him to reenter the conservative media sphere in time for the 2026 midterm elections, when Republican strategists anticipate a major national referendum on the direction of the country.

Potentially Strategic Timing for His Exit

According to the Times, Bongino has privately floated the idea of aligning his departure with a major law-enforcement developmentโ€”specifically a press conference connected to the long-running federal investigation into the pipe bombs planted near the DNC and RNC headquarters on January 5, 2021.

The incident, still unsolved after nearly four years, remains a source of public frustration. Conservatives argue the lack of progress underscores deep institutional failures at the FBIโ€”failures Bongino has long criticized both before and during his time at the agency.

Repairing Tensions With Attorney General Pam Bondi

Behind the scenes, Bongino is also said to be smoothing tensions with Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom he sharply criticized earlier this year. In July, Bondiโ€™s office released a memo stating that the much-discussed โ€œEpstein client listโ€ did not exist, contradicting years of speculation amplified in part through Bonginoโ€™s own podcast prior to his government service.

The Times reports that Bongino was so dissatisfied with Bondiโ€™s handling of that matter that he threatened to resign at the time. Since then, he has reportedly worked to repair the relationshipโ€”an indication that he may be trying to ensure a clean exit from the Bureau, should he choose to move on.

Broader Political Context

Bonginoโ€™s potential departure comes at a pivotal moment for federal law enforcement. Republicans continue to push for sweeping reforms at the FBI, citing concerns about political motivations behind high-profile investigations dating back to the Russia probe. Bongino, viewed by many grassroots conservatives as a no-nonsense reformer, entered the FBI leadership at a time when trust in federal agencies has been sharply divided along partisan lines.

A return to broadcasting would position him once again as one of the most influential voices in conservative politicsโ€”a role he previously used to energize Republican voters, challenge media narratives, and champion pro-Trump policy priorities.

For now, the timeline remains unclear. But by all accounts, Bonginoโ€™s next moveโ€”whether announced this week or early in the new yearโ€”will be closely watched

Report: FBI Doubted Probable Cause For Mar-a-Lago Raid, Pushed Ahead Under Biden’s Pressure

Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

Newly declassified documents reviewed by Fox News Digital show that FBI officials repeatedly questioned whether they had probable cause to raid President Donald Trumpโ€™s Mar-a-Lago home in 2022โ€”yet the operation moved forward under pressure from the Biden Justice Department. One DOJ official reportedly dismissed concerns about political optics, saying he did not โ€œgive a damn about the opticsโ€ of the search.

Fox News Digital obtained internal email exchanges between FBI and DOJ personnel from the months leading up to the unprecedented raid. The emails reveal deep internal hesitation about whether the facts supported such an intrusive action against a former president.

In one email, an assistant special agent in charge wrote to colleague Anthony Riedlinger:

โ€œVery little has been developed related to who might be culpable for mishandling the documents. From the interviews, WFO has gathered information suggesting that there may be additional boxes (presumably of the same type as were sent back to NARA in January) at Mar-a-Lago.โ€

He continued, explaining that the Washington Field Office was struggling to build a reliable affidavit:

โ€œWFO has been drafting a search warrant affidavit related to these potential boxes, but has some concerns that the information is single source, has not been corroborated, and may be dated. DOJ CES opines, however, that the SWโ€™s meet the probable cause standard.โ€

The agent also suggested pursuing a voluntary approach rather than immediately resorting to a search warrant:

โ€œEven as we continue down the path towards a search warrant, WFO believes that a reasonable conversation with the former presidentโ€™s attorneyโ€ฆought not to be discounted.โ€

He added that even if Trump believed the documents were declassified, they could still be secured cooperatively:

โ€œAt a minimumโ€ฆ it can be reasonably argued that the documents remain sensitive and should be properly secured until the matter of classification is sorted out.โ€

Weeks later, another agent expressed frustration that the FBI still lacked new evidence:

โ€œWe havenโ€™t generated any new facts, but keep being given draft after draft after draft. Absent a witness coming forward with recent information about classified on site, at what point is it fair to table this? It is time consuming for the team, and not productive if there are no new facts supporting PC (probable cause)?โ€

Another internal message was even more direct:

โ€œWFO does not believe (and has articulated to DOJ CES), that we have established probable cause for the search warrant for classified records at Mar-a-Lago.โ€

Despite the FBIโ€™s objections, the DOJ insisted probable cause existed and pushed for a broad search scope.

The FBI also warned leadership that a raid would likely be โ€œcounterproductiveโ€ and recommended โ€œalternative, less intrusive and likelier quicker options for resolution.โ€ Those concerns were ultimately overruled.

On Aug. 4, 2022โ€”days before the raidโ€”one agent described the plan:

โ€œThe FBI intends for the execution of the warrant to be handled in a professional, low key manner, and to be mindful of the optics of the search.โ€

Nevertheless, the August 2022 raid went ahead, leading to the seizure of boxes of materials that included documents potentially protected by attorney-client and executive privilege. Trumpโ€™s attorneys said they were not allowed to observe the search and questioned how agents were determining which items belonged to Trump personally.


Deadly Force Policy Included in DOJโ€™s Operations Order

Fox News previously reported that the Biden administration authorized standard DOJ โ€œuse of deadly forceโ€ language in the operations order for the raidโ€”language also used when searching President Joe Bidenโ€™s home in a separate classified documents review.

According to a court filing, the operations order stated:

โ€œLaw Enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary.โ€

The order also showed that agents planned to bring:

โ€œStandard Issue Weapons,โ€ โ€œAmmo,โ€ โ€œHandcuffs,โ€ and โ€œmedium and large sized bolt cutters,โ€

while being instructed to wear โ€œunmarked polo or collared shirtsโ€ and keep โ€œlaw enforcement equipment concealed.โ€


Legal Aftermath

Special Counsel Jack Smith ultimately charged Trump with 37 felony counts related to alleged improper retention of classified material, later adding three more counts in a superseding indictment. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. After Trump won the 2024 presidential election, Smith dropped the case.

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

Suspects Charged In Plot To Kill Top Noem Deputy

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Two brothers from Absecon, New Jersey, were arrested Tuesday and charged in connection with alleged online threats targeting Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Securityโ€™s Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and a top public-facing spokesperson for Secretary Kristi Noem, authorities said.

Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores and Emilio Roman-Flores, who are twins, were taken into custody after investigators alleged they posted violent statements on X about McLaughlin and federal immigration officers, including an alleged call to โ€œShoot ICE on sight,โ€ according to the account of the case shared by law enforcement officials.

Investigators allege one brother responded to McLaughlin with: โ€œ[The Second] Amendment is in place for moments like this. Shoot ICE on sight,โ€ followed by: โ€œWe Americans should find you, tar you, feather you, and hang you as we did to anyone serving tyrants before the Revolutionary War.โ€ A second, partially redacted post attributed to the other brother reportedly read: โ€œShoot ICE on sight.โ€

Prosecutors say the threats went furtherโ€”allegedly escalating to talk of torturing and killing McLaughlin โ€œin a medieval fashion.โ€ McLaughlin has been front-and-center defending DHS enforcement actions on TV and online, and sheโ€™s repeatedly framed threats against officers as downstream of increasingly incendiary politics around immigration.

The charge sheet, as described, splits like this:

  • Emilio: unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy, terroristic threats, criminal coercion and cyber harassment.
  • Ricardo: one count of conspiracyโ€”terroristic threats.

ICE Director Todd Lyons said the arrests came within three days of the alleged posts and warned that threats against federal officials will be prosecuted. โ€œWe will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are not afraid of you,โ€ Lyons told Fox News Digital. He added: โ€œIf you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.โ€

DHS is trying to make a broader point: this isnโ€™t just one ugly thread onlineโ€”itโ€™s part of a threat environment they say has intensified alongside the administrationโ€™s border crackdown. In a DHS release dated Oct. 30, 2025, the department claimed ICE personnel have faced an โ€œ8,000% increase in death threats,โ€ citing harassment and threats aimed at officers and their families.

The issue has also surfaced in recent disputes over whether public-facing tools that track immigration enforcement activity endanger federal officers. In a Reuters report published Monday, a developer sued the Trump administration after an app that let users share locations of immigration agents was removed from Appleโ€™s store; the administration cited safety concerns for federal officers, while the developer argued the app relied on public observations.

Mother Of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavittโ€™s Nephew Nabbed By ICE

Federal immigration authorities have detained the mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavittโ€™s nephew, a woman who officials say overstayed a decades-old tourist visa. Bruna Caroline Ferreira was taken into custody in Revere, Massachusetts, after allegedly remaining in the United States illegally since her B2 visa expired in June 1999, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson quoted by NBC News.

Ferreira, originally from Brazil, shares an 11-year-old son with Leavittโ€™s older brother, Michael Leavitt. In a statement to New Hampshire outlet WMUR, Michael emphasized his sonโ€™s welfare amid the situation. โ€œThe only concern has always been the safety, well-being, and privacy of my son,โ€ he said.

Karoline Leavitt, 28, the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, declined to comment on the arrest. However, a source told WMUR that Ferreira and Leavitt have not been in contact โ€œfor many years,โ€ adding that the child โ€œhas lived full-time in New Hampshire with his father since he was born. He has never resided with his mother.โ€

According to DHS, Ferreira entered the United States legally in 1998 but failed to depart when required. โ€œShe entered the US on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart the US by June 6, 1999,โ€ the agency said. โ€œShe is currently at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center and is in removal proceedings. Under President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem, all individuals unlawfully present in the United States are subject to deportation.โ€

NBC News reported that Ferreira had previously been arrested on suspicion of battery, though the outcome of that case is unclear. No charges appear in Massachusettsโ€™ online court records.

Ferreiraโ€™s attorney, Todd Pomerleau, strongly disputes DHSโ€™s characterization of his client, arguing she should not be facing deportation. He said she has โ€œmaintained her legal statusโ€ through the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and was actively working toward obtaining a green card before her arrest.

โ€œSheโ€™s in the process of actually getting her green card and she was abruptly arrested and taken from her young child right before Thanksgiving,โ€ Pomerleau told WCVB. โ€œBruna has no criminal record whatsoever. I donโ€™t know where that is coming from. Show us the proof. Thereโ€™s no charges out there. Sheโ€™s not a criminal illegal alien.โ€

Pomerleau said the family has been struggling with the distance, noting that Ferreiraโ€™s son has not spoken to her since she was taken into custody. โ€œIโ€™m just trying to fight to get her out of jail,โ€ he said. โ€œShe should not be sitting in a jail hours away from her family and from her childโ€™s life. Sheโ€™s a great mom, and from what I heard, I think heโ€™s been a pretty good dad.โ€

He added, โ€œHis mother is locked up in Louisiana, where she should have never been in the first place.โ€

The case comes as the Trump administration carries out what it describes as a broad โ€œmass deportation campaign,โ€ emphasizing stricter enforcement of existing immigration laws. The initiative includes encouraging voluntary return for those in the country illegally and increasing operations by ICE, the Border Patrol, and state National Guard units.

A relative of Ferreira has launched a GoFundMe campaign, stating she was brought to the U.S. as a child and โ€œfollowed all protocols.โ€ The fundraiser says, โ€œSince then, she has done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life here. She has maintained her legal status through DACA, followed every requirement, and has always strived to do the right thing.โ€

Ferreira remains in federal custody as her removal proceedings continue.