Politics

Home Politics

Report: Bondi Accused Of ‘Serious Professional Misconduct’

2

Attorney General Pam Bondi is accused of “serious professional misconduct” in a Florida Bar complaint.

According to a report from The Miami Herald, in the complaint the group alleges Bondi has breached ethical duties in her current role and that “serious professional misconduct that threatens the rule of law and the administration of justice” has been carried out by the attorney general, the Herald reported.

Bondi is from Florida and previously served as the Sunshine State’s first female attorney general. A “Pamela Jo Bondi” is listed as a member of the Florida Bar “in Good Standing.”

A few months ago, Democrats pressed Bondi amid her confirmation hearing over her ability to push back against Trump, who had repeatedly stated he would come for his enemies and that he has the “absolute right” to do what he wants with her department.

Bondi is also stated in the complaint to have “sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of ‘zealous advocacy,’” according to the Herald.

In a statement, Justice Department chief of staff Chad Mizelle told the Herald that “the Florida Bar has twice rejected performative attempts by these out-of-state lawyers to weaponize the bar complaint process against AG Bondi.”

Bondi has faced an onslaught of criticism from Democrat lawmakers and progressive groups since being confirmed as the Trump administration’s Attorney General.

Last month, the Justice Department pointed out the leftist bias of the American Bar Association (ABA) and ordered that it will bo longer have access to non-public information, including bar records.

The ABA uses a ratings process in which their Standing Committee rates each nominee “Well Qualified,” “Qualified” or “Not Qualified.” “Unanimous committee ratings appear as a single rating. In other situations, the rating from the majority or substantial majority (2/3 or more of those voting) of the Committee is recorded first, followed by the rating or ratings of a minority of the Committee. The majority rating is the rating of the committee,” the ABA notes on its website.

The Daily Wire continues:

“The ABA has a history of taking liberal positions on issues including abortion, the death penalty, same-sex marriage, affirmative action, and the Second Amendment,” National Review stated in 2019. “The organization’s ideological bias has long tainted its ratings of judicial nominees. An entire book on the subject was written as early as 1965, Joel B. Grossman’s Lawyers and Judges: The ABA and the Politics of Judicial Selection.”

Of the 15 members on the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary in 2019, five donated to Barack Obama’s campaign, three to that of Hillary Clinton, and none to the three Republican nominees between 2008-2016. Incredibly, the ABA gave a minority “Not Qualified” rating to iconic Judge Robert Bork and other conservative legal scholars, including Richard A. Posner, Edith H. Jones, and William H. Pryor, among others.

“For several decades, the American Bar Association has received special treatment and enjoyed special access to judicial nominees,” Bondi wrote in a letter to ABA President William Bay. “In some administrations, the ABA received notice of nominees before a nomination was announced to the public. Some administrations would even decide whether to nominate an individual based on a rating assigned by the ABA.”

Federal Judge Appointed By Trump Quits Prominent Judicial Group

1
Gavel via Wikimedia Commons Image

He’s had enough…

A federal judge who was appointed by President Donald Trump recently resigned from the largest association of federal judges, decrying how the group issued a rare statement last week condemning recent alleged threats against judges but stayed quiet for years while conservative members of the judiciary faced scrutiny and attack.

Judge James C. Ho, of the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, announced his departure from the Federal Judges Association during a speaking event Saturday hosted by the conservative Federalist Society at the University of Michigan Law School. It comes in response to the 1,100-member group issuing a statement on March 5 saying in part that “judges must be permitted to do their jobs without fear of violence or intimidation of any kind.” Trump and his allies have grown increasingly critical of judges who have blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and other aspects of the administration’s agenda, while DOGE leader Elon Musk last month called for an “immediate wave of judicial impeachments.” 

“I was very surprised by that statement. And the next morning, I sent an email to the organization saying that I wanted to resign,” Ho said of the Federal Judges Association. “I researched for myself, and I also asked the association if they ever issued any such statements when Justice Thomas received attacks, or Justice Alito. Justice Kavanaugh dealt with an assassination attempt. We’ve had federal district judges in Texas and in Florida – as well as, I’m sure, other states, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately – all faced the kinds of things that that statement was complaining about and more. Did we see these statements in 2024 or 2023 or 2022? From what I can tell, no.” 

“You can’t say that you’re in favor of judicial independence only when it comes to decisions that you like. That’s not protecting the judiciary, that’s politicizing the judiciary,” Ho said, arguing that such statements actually harm the cause they try to further. “Because one of two things turns out to be true when you’re selective in this way. And either of these options, I think, is a bad thing. Option number one is that you’re basically lying, that you actually don’t care about this principle because you didn’t stand up for it when the shoe was on the other foot, and so you’re telling the world essentially we’re not seriously committed to judicial independence.” 

“The alternative is perhaps even worse, which is that you are telling the truth – you do care about this, this principle, whether it’s judicial independence or free speech. I think this concept applies to a lot of things,” Ho continued. “If you’re telling the truth, you really care about this principle, but there are just some people who have views that are so anathema to you that you don’t think they are worthy of this principle that you expound on.” 

“And so what you may think is a statement born of righteousness I think is perceived by a lot of people as merely sanctimonious,” he concluded. 

The president of the Federal Judges Association, U.S. Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, wrote in an email to members last week that the “judiciary faces growing threats, including violence, intimidation, disinformation, and unprecedented impeachments that challenge its independence,” according to Reuters. 

The Federal Judges Association then released a lengthier public statement the next day that did not elaborate on specific threats against specific judges. 

Trump Calls For Investigation Into Iowa Pollster

5
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

President-elect Donald Trump called for an investigation into retired Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer as he accused her of undermining trust in the 2024 election.

Selzer’s (inaccurate) Iowa reporting threatened to upend the state’s results, however Trump went on toe decisively win the Buckeye State.

“A totally Fake poll that caused great distrust and uncertainty at a very critical time. She knew exactly what she was doing,” Trump posted to his Truth Social site.

In the post, Trump thanked the “GREAT PEOPLE OF IOWA” for their votes, despite alleged possible “ELECTION FRAUD” by Selzer and the newspaper that published the poll, The Des Moines Register.

“An investigation is fully called for!” Trump added.

Just days before the election, Selzer’s survey, which found Vice President Harris leading Trump in Iowa, sent shockwaves nationwide. Trump went on to win the state by more than 20,000 votes.

Selzer announced in a column on Sunday that she will retire from the Register’s Iowa Poll.

Selzer, who has worked on a contract basis for the Register since 1997, said she would have liked to have made the announcement after polling lined up with the election results and admitted “it’s ironic” that it’s the opposite.

Selzer’s poll was widely cited during the final days of the campaign, raising questions about whether its projections shaped voter sentiment or campaign strategies.

McConnell Breaks From Trump On ‘Vilifying’ Biden

3
Mitch McConnell via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) notably diverged from former President Donald Trump’s harsh rhetoric toward President Joe Biden on Tuesday, calling the incumbent commander-in-chief a “good guy.”

The Kentucky Republican’s remarks stand in contrast to Trump’s persistent portrayal of Biden as a corrupt figure intent on manipulating elections and targeting political adversaries.

“I know Joe Biden pretty well. He’s a good guy; I like him personally,” McConnell shared with an audience in Louisville on Tuesday.

Despite stylistic differences with Trump, McConnell maintains there are significant policy-driven arguments for opposing Biden. Other Republicans are encouraging Trump to focus on Biden’s job performance rather than personal attacks tonight.

Moreover, McConnell remains critical of Biden’s policies. “I never thought he was moderate in the Senate, but he ran as a moderate,” he stated. “But as soon as the president got elected, he pretty much signed up with the far left of the Democratic Party, which has created another set of problems for all of you who are in business. This has been a regulatory nightmare by this administration.”

A Tactical Endorsement

On March 6, 2024, McConnell endorsed Trump for the upcoming presidential race. This endorsement followed Trump’s decisive victories on Super Tuesday, which solidified his position as the GOP front-runner. McConnell acknowledged the substantial support Trump had garnered from Republican voters, expressing his backing for Trump’s nomination in a strategic move to unite the party.

The Path Forward?

As the debate rapidly approaches, McConnell’s tempered tone towards Biden could offer Trump a blueprint for a more policy-focused campaign. By addressing Biden’s track record and regulatory policies, Trump might find a path to appeal to undecided voters and moderate Republicans, who McConnell seemed to be addressing.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

Trump Names Two People When Asked About Potential VP Picks

0

Trump is narrowing down his search for his next running mate…

During a weekend interview, former President Donald Trump said he has two potential candidates in mind.

Trump mentioned Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem when asked during a Sunday interview with Maria Bartiromo

“Well, I have a lot of good people. We have a lot of really good people,” Trump said. “I have a lot of good ideas, but I haven’t — and there’s no reason to do that quickly.”

“I speak to everybody,” he said. “I called Tim Scott … and I said, ‘you’re a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself.’ When I watched Tim, he was fine, he was good, but he was very low-key, et cetera, et cetera.”

However, Trump admitted he’s still a ways off from making any final decisions on a running mate. The GOP frontrunner told Bartiromo that his priority in choosing a running mate will be choosing “someone who would be a good president.”

“I watched him in the last week defending me and sticking up for me and fighting for me,” he continued. “I said, man, I said, ‘you’re a much better person for me than you are for yourself’, because, for himself, he was low-key. For me, he’s been a real tiger. He’s been incredible. And others have too.”

“Kristi Noem has been incredible fighting for me,” Trump added. “She said, I’d never run against him because I can’t beat him. That was a very nice thing to say.”

On Monday, former Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway advised the President to consider choosing a person of color for VP during an op-ed published in The New York Times.

“With a crisis on the border, economic dissatisfaction, fears about crime, a parents’ rights renaissance and multiple wars and threats across the globe, Mr. Trump’s deputy must be able to navigate chaos and challenges at home and abroad,” Conway wrote.

“Taking all of this into consideration, if I were advising Mr. Trump, I would suggest he choose a person of color as his running mate, depending on vetting of all possibilities and satisfaction of procedural issues like dual residency in Florida,” Conway wrote. “Not for identity politics a la the Democrats, but as an equal helping to lead an America First movement that includes more union workers, independents, first-time voters, veterans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans.”

Conway listed Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) among the potential options.

This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

Bernie Sanders Addressed Claims He And AOC Are Trying To Launch Third Party

6
By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & Bernie Sanders, CC BY-SA 2.0,

Self-proclaimed Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) recently aired his grievances with the Democrat Party saying the party lacks a vision for the future but denied claims he’s planning to launch a new political party with the help of progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Sanders recently told the New York Times one of the goals of his tour of rallies across the country with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was to encourage progressive candidates to run as independents and not as Democrats – denied that he was attempting to start a third party when asked by NBC’s “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker. 

“We’re not trying to start a third party. What we are trying to do is strengthen American Democracy where faith in both the Democratic and Republican Parties is extremely low,” Sanders said.

“You want to run as a Democrat? Great. You want to run as an independent? That’s great, but you’ve got to get involved in the political process,” he added. 

Sanders continued, “What Democrats lack right now is a vision for the future… The two-party system is failing the working class of this country.” 

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have been barnstorming the country on what they call their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. The duo have attracted large crowds at their rallies, which have been held in Arizona, Utah, California and other states, but have also attracted criticism. 

Fox News noted that the pair of progressive lawmakers were spotted exiting a private jet costing a staggering $15,000 an hour in Sacramento, California on April 17. The self-identified Democratic Socialists chartered the jet to transport them to several West Coast stops on the tour.

An April Fox News poll found that Democrats are at their lowest favorability rating ever, with just 41% of those surveyed having a favorable view of the party and 56% of respondents having an unfavorable view, leaving the party at a negative 15% rating. Democrats are still favored over the Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, however. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has been rumored as a potential 2028 primary opponent to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but has yet to make any announcement.

However, a government accountability nonprofit is calling on the House to launch a probe into whether Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., misappropriated her taxpayer-funded member allowance.

Americans for Public Trust, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) on Tuesday, questioning “several troubling expenses” from AOC’s disbursements, which they claim are “in contravention of federal law and the standards of the House of Representatives.”

Each member of Congess receives a Member Representational Allowance (“MRA”), a budget for official duties that “may not be used for personal or campaign purposes,” according to the Congressional Research Service. However, the “Squad” member is being accused of using these funds for “campaign purposes.”

AOC reportedly made a payment of $3,700 to a “Juan D Gonzalez” and another for $850 to “Bombazo Dance Co Inc.,” with both expenditures described as being used for “training.”

Trump Injured At Rally, Possibly Shot – Suspect Down

1
Gage Skidmore Flickr

UPDATE: 8:25 pm

The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reports that Donald Trump Jr. said, “I just spoke to my father on the phone, and he is in great spirits.”

UPDATE: 8:15 pm

Two sources briefed The New York Times that a rally attendee was killed in the assassination attempt.

UPDATE: 7:36 pm

New video footage from the Butler Farm Show grounds shows the body of the attempted assassin on the roof of building approximately 400 feet from where President Trump was speaking. Gunfire from Secret Service agents killed him. The suspect’s identity remains unknown.

The shooter on the roof fired at Trump from outside the security perimeter, using the elevated position for a clear line of sight.

A witness on a nearby building informed a BBC reporter that he had seen the shooter crawling onto the roof with a rifle and had tried to warn law enforcement for “two or three minutes” prior to the shooting.

UPDATE: 7:31 pm

The Secret Service has confirmed that former President Donald Trump is safe and under protective measures following the shooting at today’s rally. A spokesperson stated that Trump is “fine” and described the incident as a “heinous act.” However, specific details about what transpired at the event remain scant.

The suspect has been “neutralized,” according to law enforcement sources.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

A retired two-star general standing behind the president was shot, too…

Former President Donald Trump defiantly raised his fist following an apparent assassination attempt at today’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Moments after the first shot rang out, Trump reached toward his ear and blood streaked across his face.

The shots came as Trump began discussing immigration in his stump speech. Bystanders said the sound resembled that of a small-caliber weapon.

Secret Service agents quickly whisked Trump off the stage, but not before he signaled to the crowd and appeared to shout the word “fight” multiple times.

Billionaire Elon Musk voiced his support for Trump following the attack. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk said.

The entrepreneur made a substantial donation to a pro-Trump super PAC backing the Republican nominee in swing states, according to a report from Bloomberg on Friday. The exact amount of the donation was not disclosed.

Commenters on X praised the 45th president’s response, suggesting it might have secured his victory in the election.

Additional reactions poured in.

The alleged gunman is down, according to the county prosecutor.

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

Obama Reveals The Small Issue That Will Keep Pete Buttigieg from the Presidency

0
The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A new book reveals why former President Barack Obama says former South Bend mayor-turned Biden cabinet member, Pete Buttigieg will not make it to the White House. The former commander in chief who still holds a celebrity-like presence among Democrats says Buttigieg’s height is a big problem.

According to The Washington Free Beacon:

“Obama had actually been impressed by the brains, charisma, and chutzpah of the thirty-something mayor of a small midwestern city,” writes New York magazine correspondent Gabriel Debenedetti in The Long Alliance. “Obama just doubted it would all add up to viability in a presidential campaign where image and fame mattered immensely—he thought Buttigieg was too short and, as a former volunteer for Obama in 2008, seemed too young—and where such a large field would make breaking through that much harder.”

Trump wasted no time calling attention to Mr. Buttigieg’s height during the 2020 election, spurring tons of memes and viral reactions on Twitter to the mayor’s short stature.

Every single commander in chief since William McKinley (1897-1901) has been at least 5 foot 9 inches tall. It’s never going to happen, but height isn’t the only reason. Debenedetti also notes that Obama was rightfully “turned off by Buttigieg’s apparent inability to win over nonwhite voters” in the Democratic primary.

Biden was similarly impressed by Buttigieg’s “gay Obama” schtick but “also thought everyone was kidding themselves” about his viability as a candidate. “The guy had gotten destroyed in the piddling race for DNC chair in 2017, so how was he going to be the party’s presidential nominee?” Debenedetti writes of Biden’s thinking at the time. The former VP was particularly annoyed when a bunch of former Obama staffers started lining up behind Buttigieg and Beto O’Rourke, another candidate with no shot at winning. “You believe this shit?” Biden would often vent to aides and associates.

Of course, Obama didn’t even want Biden to run in 2020 (or 2016). “You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t,” he reportedly told his former vice president before Biden declared his candidacy. As the Democratic primary wore on, Obama tried to warn his fellow Democrats not to “underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up.”

There have already been some rumors Buttigieg may seriously be considering making another run for president in the near future, however without the support of past presidents like Obama it’s doubtful he would be successful enough to gain the party’s nomination.

BBC Chiefs Quit After Accusations Of Deep-Rooted Bias

1
The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

LONDON — The BBC’s top two executives are stepping down amid mounting pressure over editorial credibility, shaking confidence in the U.K.’s national broadcaster just as it faces critical decisions on funding and governance.

On Sunday, BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness announced their resignations. The dual departure follows weeks of mounting backlash over allegations of systemic bias in the network’s coverage — from President Donald Trump and the war in Gaza to debates over transgender rights.

Pressure Built After Leaked Memo

The tipping point came with a leaked internal memo from former BBC adviser Michael Prescott. The memo accused the broadcaster of “serious and systemic bias” across a range of politically charged topics.

Chief among them: an episode of Panorama that aired selectively edited footage of Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech. Critics said the edits gave the false impression that Trump directly called on supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol. The full version of the speech did not support that claim.

Controversy also surrounded the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict. Accusations included overreliance on anti-Israel voices, sourcing from extremists on its Arabic service, and distorted portrayals of children and wartime suffering.

In a separate thread of concern, BBC staff raised red flags over the network’s handling of trans-related issues, arguing its reporting often lacked balance and downplayed the contested nature of the debates.

Davie and Turness Respond

In a message to BBC staff, Davie acknowledged the broadcaster’s imperfections.

“Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect,” he wrote. “While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.”

Turness, while taking responsibility for the news division, rejected claims of structural bias.

“While mistakes have been made,” she wrote, “I want to be absolutely clear: recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”

BBC Chairman Samir Shah called it a “sad day,” affirming the board’s support for Davie but conceding the strain he had been under.

A Deeper Governance Crisis

The BBC, funded by the public through license fees, is required by charter to deliver impartial journalism. The resignations expose a deeper institutional crisis at a time when the broadcaster’s mandate and funding model are under review.

The current Royal Charter is set to expire in 2027. Debates about the future of the license fee, the role of public media, and political interference are already in motion. The timing of this leadership vacuum could have significant downstream effects.

What Comes Next

The BBC board now faces the task of finding replacements for two of its most senior posts. The outcome will shape the editorial tone and strategic direction of the broadcaster for years to come.

Internal reviews are expected, especially around how the Panorama episode was handled and whether internal warnings were ignored. Broader investigations may follow, probing the extent of bias across the BBC’s output.

In the near term, the corporation faces reputational damage. With over 100 BBC employees and 200 industry professionals having signed an open letter last year criticizing Gaza coverage, pressure is mounting not just from the public but also from within.

Regulators and government officials may push for increased oversight, new editorial controls, or funding reforms as part of the charter renewal debate.

Looking Ahead

Davie, who took over in 2020, exits during one of the BBC’s most fraught moments in recent history. His successor will inherit a broadcaster under siege — from all sides — and with a shrinking window to restore public trust before the next charter review begins in earnest.

What happens next at the BBC won’t just shape a news organization — it will help define the future of public broadcasting in a divided media landscape.

Cook Political Report Shifts Multiple Races Toward Republicans

1

The Cook Political Report has adjusted its ratings in two key mid-Atlantic congressional races, shifting both in favor of the Republican Party.

The nonpartisan election forecaster made its first change in the race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, shifting its classification from “Lean D” to “Toss Up.” The race is for an open seat, following the announced departure of Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is leaving the House in January to run for governor. It now sees a competitive matchup between Eugene Vindman, brother of Alexander Vindman—who played a central role as a witness during Donald Trump’s first impeachment—and Derrick Anderson, a former Green Beret.

Despite Vindman significantly outspending Anderson on campaign ads, the race appears to have tightened.

The district covers a substantial portion of Central and Northern Virginia, including areas like Orange, Culpeper, Spotsylvania and Prince William counties, with Fredericksburg and Culpeper among its largest cities. It has a slight Democratic lean with a D+1 partisan voter index, which Cook’s Erin Covey notes may be Vindman’s saving grace in a presidential election year.

In another update, New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Thomas Kean Jr., has shifted from “Toss Up” to “Lean R.” This change is significant as Kean’s seat is one of only 16 Republican-held districts that President Joe Biden carried in the 2020 election.

Kean may benefit from the favorable reputation of his father, former Governor Tom Kean, among his Northern New Jersey constituents. Moreover, his opponent, Democrat Sue Altman, has struggled to gain visibility in the costly New York City media market.

Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News