Speculation on Capitol Hill is building that Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who is currently facing federal corruption charges, might consider switching parties if granted a presidential pardon. The potential shift has set political tongues wagging, fueled by Cuellar’s complicated legal battle and reactions from both sides of the aisle.
Who’s ready for some more tea on Capitol Hill?
I have some interesting news coming your way tomorrow…
It’s alleged someone is going to receive a pardon and flip from blue to red in the House of Representatives.
Now I fully believe that this person has only gotten indicted because of his wide open criticism of the current admin and his opposition to… https://t.co/WjCOGNNbca— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) December 26, 2024
Cuellar, a conservative Democrat, was indicted in May following a two-year investigation by the Department of Justice. The probe, linked to an ongoing corruption case, began after FBI agents raided his South Texas home and campaign office. While initial details were sparse, reports alleged that Cuellar cultivated relationships with Azerbaijani and Mexican business leaders, leveraging his congressional position to advance their interests in U.S. policy.
The indictment, if accurate, presents a damning picture. Between 2014 and 2021, Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, allegedly accepted $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an Azerbaijani state-owned oil and gas company and a Mexico City-based bank. Federal prosecutors claim these payments were funneled through bogus consulting contracts to shell companies under Imelda Cuellar’s name, with little to no actual work performed.
In exchange, Cuellar allegedly influenced U.S. foreign policy to benefit Azerbaijan and supported legislative activities favorable to the Mexican bank. The charges against the Cuellars are sweeping, with potential penalties stacking up as follows:
Two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery and acting as an unregistered foreign agent (up to 5 years each).
Two counts of bribery of a federal official (up to 15 years each).
Two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud (up to 20 years each).
Two counts of violating laws against unregistered foreign agents (up to two years each).
One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering (up to 20 years).
Five counts of money laundering (up to 20 years each).
Both Henry and Imelda Cuellar have pleaded not guilty, with the congressman insisting his actions were focused on serving South Texans. Despite the charges, Cuellar secured an 11th term in November, showcasing his political resilience among his constituents.
President-elect Donald Trump has eagerly weighed in on the case. Writing on Truth Social shortly after the indictment, Trump accused the Biden administration of targeting Cuellar and his wife for his conservative stance on border policy.
“Biden just indicted Henry Cuellar because the respected Democrat Congressman wouldn’t play Crooked Joe’s open border game. He was for Border Control, so they said, ‘Let’s use the FBI and DOJ to take him out!’” Trump wrote, calling the administration “D.C. Thugs” and labeling President Biden a “threat to democracy.”
The drama surrounding Cuellar’s case, coupled with rumors of a potential party switch, has heightened tensions in Washington. Inside the Beltway, all eyes are on the congressman to see whether he will stay the course or make a stunning shift in a historically narrowly divided Congress.
Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is in hot water over her recent book and it could cause a major dent in her career.
Noem’s new memoir No Going Back has sparked several controversies over its content, including an anecdote about Noem killing her 14-month-old dog and a story about the governor meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un which the Republican has yet to corroborate.
Interrogating Noem over the book on Newsmax’s Wake Up America, Rob Finnerty assessed that Donald Trump likely won’t invite the Republican to be his running mate due to the recent scandal.
Finnerty then said, “Governor, if you asked me a month ago who’s at the top of the list to run with Donald Trump, I would have said your name. If you asked me that same question this morning, I don’t even think you’re on the list.”
The host went on to say that the content within Noem’s book, specifically her allegedly fabricated meeting with Kim Jong-un, is likely what spoiled her chances of becoming Trump’s running mate.
Kristi Noem crashes and burns this morning on Newsmax 👇
NEWSMAX HOST ROB FINNERTY: If you asked me a month ago who's at the top of the list to run with Donald Trump, I would've said your name. If you asked me that same question this morning, I don't even think you're on the… pic.twitter.com/3sKHpo3pFY
“I should not have put that anecdote in the book,” conceded Noem, to which Finnerty shot back, “But an anecdote indicates that it happened, right?”
“I’m not going to talk about my conversations with world leaders,” Noem bluntly declared – a statement she has made repeatedly when pressed about the alleged meeting with Kim Jong-un.
Finnerty snapped, “Governor, I’m not asking you about the details of this alleged meeting. I’m asking if the meeting actually happened. I don’t think it did and I think if it did, you’d be able to confirm for me that, ‘Yes, it did, and here’s when it happened.’ It happened, say, at such and such a date or a month or you don’t have to be specific.”
After Noem refused yet again to say whether the alleged meeting actually took place, Finnerty continued, “Again, I think at one point you were at the top of that list, but you’re going to get questions a lot more difficult than that.”
Despite endorsing Noem’s book, Trump allegedly told several people he was “disgusted” by the governor’s anecdote about killing her 14-month-old dog Cricket in a gravel pit.
According to unnamed sources, Trump was baffled by Noem’s confession that she shot her dog after it proved “less than worthless” as a hunting dog and questioned, “Why would she do that?” and “What is wrong with her?”
President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
The Wall Street Journalreported Tuesday that Elon Musk is quietly backing away from his “America Party” effort — the political project he unveiled in July after souring on the Trump administration over its “One Big Beautiful Bill” legislation.
But Musk isn’t having it.
“Nothing @WSJ says should ever be thought of as true,” he posted bluntly on X, slamming the Journal’s reporting and casting doubt on their unnamed sources.
Crypto outlet Binance Squarehas more on Musk’s candid remarks:
This is the clearest confirmation yet that Musk remains committed to his political initiative and is actively pushing for the formation of the America Party—despite growing media speculation and political opposition.
The original WSJ story, which claimed Musk was “quietly stepping down” from the Republican project, was widely circulated in financial and political circles. The story, citing unnamed sources, alleged internal concerns and strategic recalculations at Tesla, SpaceX, and Musk’s advisory group.
But Musk quickly denied the X report, accusing the Wall Street Journal of fabricating the story. His response sparked a strong reaction online, particularly from America Party supporters and holders of the community-run America Party Token (AP).
Musk’s public denial of the WSJ report suggests that the America Party launch is not only still on track, but imminent.
The Journal claims Musk is cooling on the America Party idea, refocusing on his businesses, and wary of upsetting top Republicans — including Vice President JD Vance. One source said Musk might even support Vance in a 2028 presidential run.
To back that up, it points to Musk canceling strategy sessions with third-party political consultants, ghosting political figures like Andrew Yang and Mark Cuban, and not engaging with groups such as the Libertarian Party, which had shown interest in joining forces.
On paper, it does look like a pause — or at least a pivot. But Musk’s direct denial raises the question: Is he regrouping, or just playing his cards closer to the chest?
Either way, if he is rethinking the America Party, it’s not something he’s ready to admit.
Fox News host Geraldo Rivera might be regretting his endorsement.
Days after backing the Democrat nominee the Fox News host was left stunned after her lack of preparation for her interview with anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday.
Rivera and Sean Spicer joined NewsNation’s Dan Abrams, founder of Mediaite, on Wednesday to break down Harris’s interview and despite Rivera’s public support for Harris, he was left mostly unimpressed with her appearance.
“I am baffled by the lack of preparation going into the highest profile interview she has,” Rivera said, calling the interview “a wash.”
He argued that Harris’s weak point was in terms of immigration and the southern border.
“For example, she knew, they knew, the Democrats knew that it was going to be all about immigration. Bret was going to come out smoking on immigration and he would culminate his lament over how awful the situation is with pictures of the victims. That’s the Republican playbook, it’s obvious that it was coming. How could she not be ready to answer Laken Riley and Mollie Tibbetts and so forth?” he said.
The southern border, he added, will continue to be the weak point for Harris and her campaign.
“From this moment on, I advise them to not be the doormat when it comes to this issue,” he said. “It’s their biggest Achilles heel.”
Donald Trump released a statement after Kamala’s interview:
“Kamala Harris’ interview with Bret Baier was a TRAIN WRECK. Kamala was angry, defensive, and once again abdicated any responsibility for the problems Americans are facing. She couldn’t give a straight answer to a single question because she has no answers. Kamala’s entire campaign is based on lies about President Trump. Kamala can’t handle the pressure of an interview with Fox News—she certainly can’t handle the pressure of being President of the United States.”
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) is poised to betray the Republican Party yet again.
The Anti-Trump Senator told Axios that he would be willing to dismiss articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. However, Romney included one stipulation for this vote, there must be a debate.
In the report by Stef W. Kight and Stephen Neukam, Romney indicated that he could vote with his Democrat colleagues in the Senate to end the historic impeachment by House Republicans. However, while he was skeptical about whether the allegations rose to a constitutional standard, Romney did insist that there should be a debate, even a brief one, to address the charges:
I don’t believe there’s a constitutional standard met. But at the same time, I think the Senate should give a chance for debate, even if it’s limited to two hours.
He added:
So if there’s a motion just to table without any discussion, that’s something I would oppose. If there’s a provision that allows debate, it’s something I’d be open to.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has publicly opposed the politically-motivated impeachment, but has not made clear what he plans to do. It takes a two-thirds majority to convict someone who has been impeached, and in the Democratic-led Senate, such a vote is highly unlikely.
The Florida Republican Party is seriously considering turning its back on current Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, who is currently seeking re-election.
According to Politico, Former state Rep. Anthony Sabatini, the newly-elected chair of the Lake County Republican Party and an avid Trump supporter, secured enough signatures from party officials to call a special meeting to decide whether McDaniel should be terminated as RNC chair.
“Ronna McDaniel failed in her position as RNC Chair in the 2022 election cycle and has yielded extremely unimpressive election results for the GOP in the last 3 election cycles,” read the petition for a special meeting.
Republican Party of Florida Chair Joe Gruters is now obligated to at least call a special meeting because 30 members of the executive committee signed onto the petition. It does not guarantee a vote would be taken. Gruters on Wednesday endorsed McDaniel in a letter to party officials, calling her a “successful RNC Chair & the party would be well served by her continued leadership.”
Sabatini previously served in the state House before losing this year’s bid to represent Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
The RNC’s leadership election is scheduled for Jan. 27.
So far Trump has stayed away from commenting on the RNC leadership contest, however, some of his top advisers have announced their support for McDaniel serving for another two-year term.
Among the biggest names who signed onto Sabatini’s push for a special meeting is Rep. Matt Gaetzone of Trump’s biggest congressional allies.
“Look what we’ve got from Ronna McDaniel?” Gaetz said last weekend at Turning Point USA’s Americafest 2022 conference in Arizona. “Someone who probably spent more of their time promoting their own podcast.”
A Democrat Senator defended his recent meeting with President Trump after his recent bipartisan efforts have sparked criticism.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said on Monday that President Trump was “kind” and “cordial” at a Mar-a-Lago meeting that sparked scrutiny
“Overall, it was a positive experience. I mean, he was kind, he was cordial. It wasn’t in any kind of theater. It wasn’t trying to get your picture taken to kind of put something out on social media. It was just, really, a conversation. We actually spoke for over an hour,” Fetterman told “The View.”
Fetterman met with Trump at his Palm Beach resort earlier this month, ahead of the inauguration, and Trump left with praise for the Pennsylvania senator.
“He’s a commonsense person. He’s not liberal or conservative. He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful,” Trump said in an interview with the Washington Examiner.
Fetterman’s open-minded approach to Trump and Capitol Hill Republicans has stirred speculation about the first-term senator’s motives, including questions about whether he was preparing to change parties.
Sen. @JohnFetterman to #TheView: "[Trump] has been doing essentially what he actually campaigned on."
"There's things I'm going to agree with, I'm going to disagree with, but I'm in the business of finding wins for Pennsylvania and for the nation and engaging the president." pic.twitter.com/96VIQ6N3is
During Monday’s episode of The View, Sunny Hostin ran back a clip of former police officer Michael Fanone, who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, on MSNBC this week. Fanone name-dropped Fetterman, having publicly endorsed his run for office, as a lawmaker who “ran for the hills” and abandoned law enforcement when Trump pardoned rioters.
Hostin added that critics “on the left” have called out the senator for undergoing a “rightward shift.”
“What do you say to those who are now, in a sense, questioning your commitment to the Democratic Party?” she asked.
Fetterman began by refuting the idea he had changed and underscoring his disgust at the Jan. 6 pardons.
First, I just want to say I am so sorry for what happened to that officer. I mean, he’s had a heart attack. His life – he almost died. I mean, I have had a stroke, same thing. Absolute empathy, and just appalled for witnessing what happened on January 6th, and I absolutely would reject pardoning people that were involved in that.
As for rightward? That’s just… that just happens not to be true. I have been on record too saying I am not going to become a Republican, you know? Although maybe some people might be happy on one side, but I would make a pretty terrible Republican because, you know, pro-choice, pro-really strong immigration, pro-LGBTQ, you know, just pretty, like… I don’t think I would be a good fit.
So I’m not going to change my party, and if I am going to do, I’m going to show up. I’ll give you the exclusive. I can announce. So I can’t keep chasing down every last thing that’s online because they just happen not to be true. Just look at my votes. Look at the things… I haven’t changed in a way.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing on Friday, July 30, 2021, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Erin Scott)
A number of Biden-era officials were stunned that former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed she has decided to abandon the Democrat Party despite serving under two administrations.
KJP’s revelation has been met with immense criticism from party insiders, including ex-Biden policy advisor Tim Wu who called the former press secretary “kinda dumb.”
In a blistering post that has now been deleted on X on Thursday, Wu wrote: “From WH policy staff perspective, the real problem with Karine Jean-Pierre was that she was kinda dumb. No interest in understanding harder topics. Just gave random incoherent answers on policy.”
Jean-Pierre, who served as former President Joe Biden’s press secretary for more than two years, revealed this week she is leaving the Democratic Party and releasing a memoir titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines. The book promises a scathing assessment of Biden’s final years in office, detailing what she calls “the betrayal by the Democratic Party” that led to his aborted re-election bid. (RELATED:Ex-Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Announces Switch To Independent)
Jean-Pierre’s pivot, according to Axios, drew immediate backlash from those she previously worked with.
“One of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I’ve ever worked with,” one former colleague told the outlet. “She had meltdowns after any interview that asked about a topic not sent over by producers.”
One ex-official put it bluntly in conversation with Axios: “Today Karine lost the only constituency that ever supported her – party line Democrats.”
One White House reporter sarcastically called the project “amazing,” and suggested Jean-Pierre’s book won’t carry much weight.
“Did she find the manuscript somewhere in that fat binder she toted around? If I were a historian writing about the Biden White House, I wouldn’t ignore what Karine has to say, but it’s not an account in which much weight will be invested — just like her briefings,” the White House reporter told Fox News Digital.
A second White House reporter said they wouldn’t have even realized Jean-Pierre was in the news if Fox News Digital didn’t ask about it.
“She left the Democratic Party? I honestly didn’t see that story and probably wouldn’t have even noticed. I turned off my KJP Google Alert on Inauguration Day,” the reporter reacted, before joking, “Has anyone circled back with Jen Psaki?”
A third White House reporter was “shocked” that Jean-Pierre had left the Democratic Party.
“I have to pick my jaw up from the floor. It is unbelievable that she, of all people, would choose this path,” the reporter told Fox News Digital.
“Just take a look at her entire career and identity,” they said. “You can’t change who you are just because you check a different box on a registration form. It’s also disappointing to see that she would turn her back on her party just because it’s hit a really rough patch… it speaks to character.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene -Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, via Wikimedia Commons
Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) is coming to the defense of disgraced former Congressman George Santos, who is currently serving out his prison sentence.
On Monday, Greene called on President Trump to issue a pardon to Santos, who began his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey last month after being sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud and identity theft. (RELATED:Disgraced Former Rep. George Santos Gets Over 7 Years In Prison)
In a letter to President Trump’s U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, Greene wrote:
I am writing to request that your office urge the President to commute the sentence of former Congressman George Santos. In April 2025, Mr. Santos was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. I wholeheartedly believe in justice and the rule of the law, and I understand the gravity of such actions. However, I believe a seven-year sentence for such campaign-related matters for an individual with no prior criminal record extends far beyond what is warranted.
As a Member of Congress, I worked with Mr. Santos on many issues and can attest to his willingness and dedication to serve the people of New York who elected him to office. He committed himself to serving his constituents and did whatever it took to represent their interests in Washington, D.C. He is sincerely remorseful and has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, my office has spoken with a pastor of his who discussed the regret and remorse of Mr. Santos, agreeing that the sentence imposed is a grave injustice.
While his crimes warrant punishment, many of my colleagues who I serve with have committed far worse offenses than Mr. Santos yet have faced zero criminal charges. I strongly believe in accountability for one’s actions, but I believe the sentencing of Mr. Santos is an abusive overreach by the judicial system.
Commuting his sentence would acknowledge the severity of his actions and simultaneously provide a path forward in allowing him to make amends for his crimes and strive to better serve the people in his community.
🚨 BREAKING: I just sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging President Trump to commute the sentence of former Congressman @MrSantosNY.
A 7-year prison sentence for campaign-related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse… pic.twitter.com/Isj2mxlhsd
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 4, 2025
In May, Santos teared up on Piers Morgan Uncensored and pleaded with Trump for a pardon, “commutation, clemency, whatever the president is willing to give me,” after being sentenced.
The former congressman also requested protective custody after expressing fear of being “brutalized” in prison.
“I’m not fearful of dying in there, I’m more fearful of being severely brutalized and harmed, if you get my drift,” he said.
Watch:
Last month, during an interview with Tucker Carlson, Santos also expressed concern that his time in prison could be a “death sentence.”
“Tucker, can I be honest with you?” Santos asked Carlson, who called Santos’s prison sentence unfair compared to lesser sentences handed to violent criminals.
“I hope you will,” Carlson responded.
“I don’t know that I survive it. They’re putting me in a violent prison. It’s a medium facility. I’m not a street-wise guy. I don’t know how to fight. I’m a gay man. We– statistics tell you what happens to gay men in prison. I didn’t know I survived this. I, I’m being honest. I mean, I can’t change that,” Santos said, later saying his only hope is prayer and a longshot pardon from President Donald Trump.
When Carlson pressed Santos on whether he was being serious, Santos insisted he is not “exaggerating” his fear, saying he’s lived a “sheltered” life that in no way prepared him for prison.
I’m heading to prison, folks and I need you to hear this loud and clear:
I’m not suicidal. I’m not depressed. I have no intentions of harming myself, and I will not willingly engage in any sexual activity while I’m in there.
If anything comes out suggesting otherwise, consider…
President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
President Donald Trump will deliver a prime-time “Speech to the Nation” from the White House on Thursday evening, with senior administration officials saying the address is expected to cover a variety of topics — including election integrity and the ongoing confrontation with Iran.
Trump announced the address Monday on Truth Social, saying it will begin at 9 p.m. ET. While he did not outline the full agenda, a senior adviser described the speech as a “potpourri” of issues the president considers most important.
Iran expected to be a major focus
According to a senior White House adviser, Trump is expected to provide an update on the administration’s response to Iran following weeks of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The address comes after the United States launched additional military strikes against Iranian targets in response to renewed threats against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has repeatedly vowed to keep the strategic waterway open and has warned Tehran of further consequences if it interferes with international maritime traffic.
Election integrity also on agenda
The adviser said election integrity is also expected to feature prominently in the speech.
Online speculation suggested Trump might revisit the 2020 Georgia Senate runoff elections, but the White House adviser rejected those reports, saying the president does not plan to focus specifically on those contests.
Instead, the president is expected to discuss election security more broadly as he continues pushing for stricter voter identification requirements and other election reforms ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump wants more prime-time addresses
Although Trump frequently speaks with reporters and holds campaign-style events, he has delivered relatively few formal, direct-to-camera prime-time addresses from the White House during his second term.
According to the senior adviser, the president wants to make such speeches a more regular part of his communications strategy, allowing him to address Americans directly on issues he considers significant.
The White House has not released additional details about the speech’s format or confirmed where on the White House grounds Trump will deliver the remarks.
With Iran, election security and other major issues expected to be discussed, Thursday’s address is shaping up to be one of the administration’s highest-profile televised events in recent months.
