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    Ilhan Omar Removed From Foreign Affairs Committee

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Cori Bush speak at the Mississippi River in Minneapolis asking for President Biden to stop Line 3 pipeline construction.

    The U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee in a Thursday afternoon vote.

    The vote came to the floor after Republican Reps. Ken Buck and Victoria Spartz reversed their decision to oppose the resolution to punish Omar for her history of antisemitic comments.

    The Washington Times has more:

    Ms. Omar, a Minnesota Democrat and member of the far-left “Squad,” was kicked off the committee in a party-line 218-211 vote.

    Ms. Omar, who came to the U.S. as a Somali refugee and was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, said she was being targeted by Republicans because she is an immigrant, a Black woman and a Muslim.

    “This debate today is about who is going to be an American,” Ms. Omar said in a floor speech before the vote. “There is an idea that you are suspect if you are an immigrant.”

    Ms. Omar has been vocal about her opposition to the Israeli government and its supporters, particularly on the issue of Palestinian rights, which led to the allegations of antisemitism.

    Omar’s rhetoric in the past has also offended some Democrats, who have on occasion spoken out against her.

    Every Democrat voted against today’s resolution.

    This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    Ex-ABC News Producer Arrested on Child Porn Charges

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    Federal authorities arrested former ABC News investigative journalist James Gordon Meek on criminal charges related to the alleged transportation of images of child sex abuse.

    According to the DOJ, the case against Meek was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the DOJ to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

    According to Fox News, the Justice Department issued a press release Wednesday that finally shed light on the mysterious raid of the journalist’s home last year.

    The 15-page affidavit includes extremely disturbing details, including a video found on Meek’s phone of the alleged rape of an infant.

    The DOJ announced an investigation into Meek initiated from a lead sent by Dropbox, which was eventually received by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. 

    “That lead ultimately led to a court-authorized search of Meek’s residence in April 2022 by members of the task force, where law enforcement seized multiple devices that allegedly contained evidence of the transportation of images of child sexual abuse,” the Justice Department announced. 

    “According to court documents, several of Meek’s devices allegedly contained images depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and multiple chat conversations with users engaged in sexually explicit conversations where the participants expressed enthusiasm for the sexual abuse of children. In two of those conversations, a username allegedly associated with Meek received and distributed child sexual abuse materials through an internet-based messaging platform,” the DOJ continued. 

    Meek is charged with transportation of child pornography and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.

    DeSantis Offers Cheeky Response to Trump Attacks

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Ron DeSantis is cool as a cucumber…

    The Florida governor, who is rumored to be considering a 2024 White House bid, seemed to brush off former President Trump’s latest attacks during a news conference.

    Former President Trump recently raised eyebrows with his criticism of DeSantis’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has widely been regarded as a major triumph of the DeSantis administration and what propelled him to becoming “America’s governor.”

    However, instead of trading barbs and criticisms with Trump DeSantis opted for the high road, with a reminder that he won reelection last year by the largest margin of any Republican Florida governor in the state’s modern history.

    According to The Hill, DeSantis defeated former Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) in November by a staggering 19-point margin. It was the largest spread in a Florida gubernatorial race in four decades.

    “When you’re an elected executive, you have to make all kinds of decisions’ you got to steer that ship. And the good thing is, is that the people are able to render a judgment on that – whether they reelect you or not,” DeSantis said. 

    “And I’m happy to say, you know, in my case, not only did we win reelection, we won with the highest percentage of the vote that any Republican governor candidate has in the history of the state of Florida,” he added. “We won by the largest raw vote margin – over 1.5 million votes – than any governor candidate has ever had in Florida history.”

    “I roll out of bed, I have people attacking me from all angles,” he said. “It’s been happening for many, many years.”

    Trump accused DeSantis of “trying to rewrite history” when it came to his early handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, arguing that Florida was “closed for a long period of time” at the outset of the pandemic. 

    In separate remarks to The Associated Press, Trump also took aim at DeSantis’s rumored presidential ambitions, saying that running for the White House would be a “great act of disloyalty.”

    Trump Sues Prominent Journalist Bob Woodward

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former President Donald Trump suing journalist Bob Woodward over interview recordings that Trump alleges he didn’t agree could be included in his audiobook, “the Trump Tapes.”

    The lawsuit, filed in the Pensacola division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, names Simon & Schuster Inc. and its parent company Paramount Global as defendants along with Woodward. Trump seeks more than $49 million in damages.

    According to The Hill, Trump noted that he consented to Woodward recording their conversations for the purpose of a book, and gave 19 interviews to the veteran journalist in 2019 and 2020, which Woodward included in his 2020 book “Rage” but did not agree to the interviews’ being published via audiobook.

    “This case centers on Mr. Woodward’s systematic usurpation, manipulation, and exploitation of audio of President Trump gathered in connection with a series of interviews conducted by Mr. Woodward,” Trump’s team argues in the filing.

    “The Defendants’ ongoing concerted efforts to profit off the protected audio recordings and the works they have distributed derived from the protected audio recordings have caused President Trump to sustain substantial damage,” the suit continues.

    The former president’s team is pursuing a number of counts against the defendants, including unjust enrichment, violation of Florida trade law and breach of contract. At one point, the filing also alleges that the audiobook misrepresented one of the pair’s interviews through editing. 

    Woodward, 79, is one of the two Post journalists that famously broke the Watergate scandal

    Paul Pelosi Hammer Attack Footage Released

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Image via Pixabay images

    Police have released the footage of a hammer-wielding intruder attacking former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in their San Fransisco home.

    The footage disclosure follows San Francisco Superior Court Judge Stephen M. Murphy’s ruling yesterday over prosecutors’ objections.

    Beware the video shows graphic and violent content.

    According to a sworn affidavit, David DePape broke into the Pelosis’ San Francisco estate shouting, “Where is Nancy?” DePape said he intended to break Pelosi’s kneecaps if she didn’t comply with his instructions.

    However, the House speaker had flown to Washington.

    Instead, DePape encountered her husband, Paul Pelosi, 82.

    This story is developing. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    Former Top FBI Official Charged with Violating Russia Sanctions

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Arrest image via Pixabay

    A former top FBI official involved in the investigation of alleged ties between Russia and Donald Trump has been charged with violating U.S. sanctions against Russia.

    Charles McGonigal, who previously worked as the counterintelligence director in the FBI’s New York field office, was arrested for violating U.S. sanctions against Russia over his work with Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned Russian oligarch.

    McGonigal was charged along with a court interpreter, Sergey Shestakov, who also had ties to Deripaska according to The Hill.

    According to the FBI, McGonigal took money from Deripaska in exchange for investigating a rival Russian oligarch. The indictment also alleges also claims that the duo was actively trying to conceal the identity of Deripaska when negotiating the deal.

    “They both previously worked with Deripaska to attempt to have his sanctions removed, and, as public servants, they should have known better,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement. “This Office will continue to prosecute those who violate U.S. sanctions enacted in response to Russian belligerence in Ukraine in order to line their own pockets”

    The FBI alleges that the two attempted to conceal Deripaska’s involvement by “not directly naming Deripaska in electronic communications, using shell companies as counterparties in the contract that outlined the services to be performed, using a forged signature on that contract, and using the same shell companies to send and receive payments from Deripaska.”

    The two were charged with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), one count of violating the IEEPA, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Shestakov is also charged with one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. 

    After leaving the FBI, McGonigal worked for Deripaska directly, making $42,000 a month.

    Georgia DA Teases ‘Imminent’ Charging Decisions in Trump Probe

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The Georgia prosecutor in charge of the investigation into former President Donald Trump‘s alleged interference in the 2020 election is seeking to keep the special grand jury’s finding a secret for now.

    On Tuesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis argued that the panel’s report which may include recommendations for indictments as well as other information from the special grand jury’s investigative work be kept from the public.

    “We want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and we think for future defendants to be treated fairly, it is not appropriate at this time to have this report released,” Willis said. She also told the judge, “decisions are imminent.”

    Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney was hearing arguments on whether the report is a presentment and is therefore required to be released under Georgia law because the grand jurors recommended their findings be publicized. In addition to the timing, the judge is expected to consider whether the report should be disclosed publicly in full or with redactions.

    A group of media organizations filed a brief supporting the release of the report. They called it a “matter of profound public interest that goes to the heart of the nation’s democratic forms of government,” according to The Washington Post. An attorney for the media intervenors, Tom Clyde, made arguments in favor of immediate disclosure during the hearing on Tuesday.

    Judge Willis concluded the day’s proceedings and promised to “circle back” on a decision, promising there would be advance notice if he decided in favor of disclosure.

    Trump’s attorneys said in a statement they were not attending the hearing Tuesday, saying Trump was not informed or asked to attend.

    The attorneys, Georgia-based Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg, added, “We can assume that the grand jury did their job and looked at the facts and the law, as we have, and concluded there were no violations of the law by President Trump.”

    The ongoing investigation in the Peach State after a phone call recording surfaced in which Trump pressed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” votes, enough to flip the state’s results from Joe Biden.

    Trump has defended the call and has broadly rejected any claims of wrongdoing. 

    Trump Drops Second Lawsuit Against New York Attorney General

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Donald Trump has dropped another lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

    On Tuesday, Trump dropped a second lawsuit against the New York Democrat which sought to block her investigations into him and the Trump Organization.

    According to reports from The Hill, Trump’s and James’s attorneys indicated in a one-page filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit that they agreed to end the former president’s suit.

    When reached for comment, Trump attorney Alina Habba said, “This appeal was voluntarily withdrawn for strategic purposes.”

    “I am pleased that Donald Trump has withdrawn both of his pending actions against my office. As we have shown all along, we have a legitimate legal case against him and his organization, and we cannot be bullied or dissuaded from pursuing it,” James said in a statement.

    Friday’s dismissal was made without prejudice, meaning Trump’s attorneys can refile the same claim again. Tuesday’s filing, meanwhile, was made with prejudice.

    Trump has long derided James’s efforts against him as a political witch-hunt motivated by a political vendetta.

    Service Member Fired For Refusing Vax Forced To Pay Back Most Of Signing Bonus

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    13
    President Donald J. Trump is presented with a 10th Combat Aviation Brigade challenge coin following an air assault and gun rain demonstration at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13. The demonstration was part of President Trump's visit to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) to sign the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, which increases the Army's authorized active-duty end strength by 4,000 enabling us to field critical capabilities in support of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Thomas Scaggs) 180813-A-TZ475-010

    A U.S. Army soldier who was fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine has been forced to pay back his signing bonus, totaling thousands of dollars.

    According to The Daily Wire, the veteran is among the more than 8,400 troops from the military, including some 3,300 Marines, 1,800 soldiers, 1,800 sailors, and 900 airmen who chose to decline the vaccine and be discharged by the Defense Department.

    “I’ve deployed multiple times, and I feel like the last thing I had was selling leave days that I earned and was never able to take due to me being deployed or needing that time to prepare for the training cycle,” the service member told Fox News Digital. “I was about to enter a new world with no income, and that extra bit would have been a nice buffer in my rainy day fund to keep me afloat until I was able to find new employment.”

    The soldier received a $7,000 bonus when he signed up to serve in the U.S. Army for six years. After he was canned for refusing the vaccine, he was reportedly notified by the U.S. Military that he had to pay back $4,000, a prorated figure of the bonus. The veteran said he was forced to sell 60 of his unused vacation days to make up for the debt.

    “The appalling treatment these individuals endured broke the trust that is owed to our citizens and our volunteers. America’s sons and daughters,” the Army member said in a statement. “Until true efforts are made to establish trust, the recruiting and retention shortfalls will only continue. The individuals who make public statements that they are unsure what has contributed to the current recruiting and retention shortfalls need to take a look in the mirror; and perhaps they should resign for the betterment of our Nation.”

    Another service member slammed the Department of Defense for falling short “on reestablishing trust for wrongdoings,” calling the signing bonus pay-back “icing on the cake.”

    Pentagon officials finally ended the coronavirus vaccine mandate for the U.S. Military in December.

    Earlier this year, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin signed a memo that will update records and remove letters of reprimand from troops whose exemption requests for the vaccine were denied.

    Republican Governor Blames Jan. 6 Panel After Phone Gets Hacked

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is furious after her personal phone number was leaked.

    The Republican Governor said her phone was hacked following the release of her and her family’s personal information, including her social security number, by the House Jan. 6 committee. 

    “Callous mishandling of personal information has real world consequences,” Noem said in a statement. “If you get such a phone call from my number, know that I had no involvement.”

    Noem said that South Dakota’s Fusion Center, a state agency that compiles criminal intelligence, has been notified of the cell phone hack.

    Noem said she also has asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Congress to investigate the leak.

    Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported nearly 2,000 Social Security numbers of former President Trump’s closest allies, including former Cabinet members and Republican governors, were disclosed in a spreadsheet that the committee posted along with a number of other records. The document has since been taken down.  

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