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DOJ Reveals Number Of Confidential Sources Present For Jan. 6 Riot

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Tyler Merbler, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said there were more than two dozen confidential human sources in the crowd on Jan. 6, but noted only three were assigned by the FBI to be present for the event.

The IG also said none of the sources were authorized or directed by the bureau to “break the law” or “encourage others to commit illegal acts.”

The conclusion rejects theories that undercover FBI agents provoked the attack on the Capitol, which has since prompted charges for more than 1,500 figures involved in the riot.

Horowitz on Thursday released his highly anticipated report on the FBI’s Handling of its Confidential Human Sources and Intelligence Collection Efforts in the Lead Up to the Jan. 6, 2021 Electoral Certification. 

 “Today’s report also details our findings regarding FBI CHSs who were in Washington, D.C., on January 6,” the report states. “Our review determined that none of these FBI CHSs was authorized by the FBI to enter the Capitol or a restricted area or to otherwise break the law on January 6, nor was any CHS directed by the FBI to encourage others to commit illegal acts on January 6.” 

The report revealed that the FBI had a minor supporting role in responding on Jan. 6, 2021—largely because the event was not deemed at the highest security level by the Department of Homeland Security. 

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According to the report, there were a total of 26 confidential human sources in the crowd that day, but only three of them were assigned by the bureau to be there. 

One of the three confidential human sources tasked by the FBI to attend the rally entered the Capitol building, while the other two entered the restricted area around the Capitol. 

If a confidential human source is directed to be at a certain event, they are paid by the FBI for their time.

“One FBI field office tasked a CHS to travel to DC to report on the activities of a predicated domestic terrorism subject who was separately planning to travel to DC for the January 6 Electoral Certification; a second FBI field office tasked a CHS to travel to DC to potentially report on two domestic terrorism (DT) subjects from another FBI field office who were planning to travel to DC for the events of January 6; and a third CHS, who had informed their handling agent that they intended to travel to DC on their own initiative for the events of January 6, was similarly tasked by their field office to potentially report on two DT subjects from other FBI field offices who were planning to travel to DC for the events of January 6,” the report states.

Twenty-three of the confidential human sources present on Jan. 6 came to Washington, D.C., to the Capitol on their own. Of that group, three entered the Capitol during the riot, and an additional 11 sources entered the restricted area around the Capitol. 

But Horowitz said that investigators “found no evidence in the materials we reviewed or the testimony we received showing or suggesting that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6.” 

Report: Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Donates $1M To Trump Inaugural Fund

By
Madeleine Jackson
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© European Union, 2024, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund.

The move comes as Zuckerberg has sought to strengthen his relationship with Trump over the years as the Republican emphasized his plan to focus on business and the economy upon returning to the White House.

Zuckerberg’s efforts to strengthen ties with the Republican leader included a November dinner with Trump on the patio of his private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., that focused on general relationship-building.

Zuckerberg’s team told the inaugural fund before the dinner that Meta planned to donate, one of the people told the Wall Street Journal.

Federal campaign finance reports show Zuckerberg has supported congressional candidates in both parties over the years and has largely stayed out of presidential races.

Neither Zuckerberg nor Meta donated to Trump’s inaugural fund in 2017 or to President Biden’s fund in 2021, according to public records. Both of those funds drew in $1 million in donations from fewer than a dozen major corporations, including many of the same companies.

The Zuckerberg-Trump relationship has shifted back and forth over the years. In January 2017, FWD.us, a lobbying group founded by Zuckerberg and other tech leaders supporting immigration reform, contributed $5,000 to Trump’s transition, according to public records. Weeks later, Zuckerberg criticized Trump’s executive orders around immigration, writing in a Facebook post: “Like many of you, I’m concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump.”

After Trump supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Facebook suspended Trump from posting, as did several other social-media platforms. Following that, Trump issued a statement saying: “Next time I’m in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife. It will be all business!”

After Trump’s election victory in November, Zuckerberg congratulated Trump in a social-media post and said he was looking forward to working with the president-elect.

Trump Invites China’s Xi Jinping To Inauguration Day

By
Madeleine Jackson
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5
By The White House from Washington, DC - President Trump at the G20, Public Domain,

World leaders will be flocking to Washington, D.C. next month…

President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to his inauguration, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

In an appearance on “Fox and Friends,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who will serve as press secretary in the new administration, confirmed a CBS News report that Trump invited Xi to attend his inauguration.

“This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors too,” Leavitt said. “We saw this in the first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around the world. He is willing to talk to anyone. He will always put America’s interest first.”

Leavitt did not say whether Xi had yet accepted the invitation to attend the inauguration, saying “to be determined” when asked by the panel of Fox hosts.

The invitation comes as Trump has vowed to impose new tariffs on China and tow a tough line on Beijing. That said, Trump has shown indications he wants to discuss matters with the U.S. adversary, he and Xi spoke on the phone shortly after Trump was declared the winner of the November election.

Trump Reveals Plan To Pardon J6 Defendants On ‘Day 1’

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Trump has big plans…

President-elect Donald Trump shared that he plans to immediately pardon “most” rioters accused or convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 after his inauguration.

“It’s going to start in the first hour,” Trump told Time Magazine Thursday, during an interview for his feature as the publication’s 2024 Person of the Year. “Maybe the first nine minutes.”

However, Trump has remained vague on the exact details. More than 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, their conduct ranging from trespassing misdemeanors to assaulting police and seditious conspiracy against the U.S. government.

In court filings, many rioters have expressed they expect immediate relief once Trump returns to the White House. Their lawyers have asked judges to delay sentencing, trials and other proceedings as Inauguration Day nears. However, Judges have largely denied those requests.

Top leaders of the right-wing extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, many convicted of sedition, face decades in prison for their roles in the riot, leading to questions about just how far Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons will go.

Prosecutors in court filings Wednesday argued to a judge that, although Trump’s pardons might erase the penalties for Jan. 6 rioters, they won’t “unring the bell of conviction.”

“In fact, quite the opposite,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Holvey wrote. “The defendant would first have to accept the pardon, which necessitates a confession of guilt.”

On Thursday, President Biden commuted jail sentences for nearly 1,500 people and granted 39 pardons, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

Sentences were commuted for inmates placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and who “have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities,” according to the announcement. The 39 individuals pardoned were convicted of non-violent crimes, the White House said.

“I will take more steps in the weeks ahead. My Administration will continue reviewing clemency petitions to advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances,” Biden said.

Thursday’s pardons come as the president has faced bipartisan criticism for pardoning his son, Hunter, of felony gun and tax charges.

Trump Named TIME Person Of The Year

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Gage Skidmore Flickr

An honor…

After surviving two assassination attempts and a landslide election victory Donald J. Trump has had a big year, to put it mildly.

“For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 Person of the Year,” the magazine wrote.

It was widely expected Time would pick Trump; the magazine has bestowed the honor on the winner of that year’s presidential election in every race since George W. Bush in 2000. Trump was also named Person of the Year in 2016 when he first won the White House.

“Since he began running for President in 2015, perhaps no single individual has played a larger role in changing the course of politics and history than Trump,” Time wrote. “Trump is once again at the center of the world, and in as strong a position as he has ever been.”

Trump became just the second U.S. president after Grover Cleveland to win non-consecutive terms after he defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

Trump also became the first former president to ever be convicted of a crime in May. He was found guilty in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to covering up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. His sentencing has since been repeatedly delayed and Trump has sought to have the case thrown out.

Other criminal cases against him in Georgia and on the federal level have either been dismissed or are in limbo as he returns to the White House.

The other Time finalists this year included Harris, billionaire Elon Musk – who was named Person of the Year in 2021 – podcasting giant Joe Rogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Outgoing Representative Successfully Sabotages Gaetz, Violates Oath: Report

By
Patrick Houck
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Governor Tom Wolf from Harrisburg, PA, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee…

Outgoing Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, has admitted to leaking confidential details of the panel’s investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to the press, a move that violated her sworn oath of office.

The leaks played an integral role in disrupting Gaetz’s path to becoming the Trump administration‘s attorney general. According to multiple sources, Wild was absent from the Ethics Committee’s meeting last week, after being identified as the source of the leaks that underpinned press reports on the investigation.

The Hill continues:

It remains unclear if Wild voluntarily skipped the Thursday gathering or was asked not to attend, what information she leaked and to whom, and how the panel tracked her back as being the leaker. Two sources said Wild ultimately acknowledged to the panel that she had leaked information.

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) served as acting ranking member during Thursday’s meeting, according to a source, who noted that any time a member of the panel is absent, there is an acting ranking member in their place.

It also remains unclear if the Pennsylvania Democrat, who is leaving Congress at the end of the year, will be present at Ethics Committee meetings in the future. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), the chair of the panel, told reporters that Thursday’s meeting was not the last for the group.

In a statement to The Hill, Wild’s chief of staff, Jed Ober, said the congresswoman skipped last week’s meeting because she was “frustrated” with how the Gaetz report had been handled, and said characterizing her absence as anything more was “inaccurate.”

“Rep. Wild was frustrated by the manner in which the report was handled and didn’t feel it was fruitful to participate in any further meetings on its ‘potential’ release. Characterizing it as anything more is inaccurate. There will be no further statement,” Ober said in curt, precise sentences.

A Leak with Consequences

The situation first came to light when The New York Times reported that an anonymous hacker had obtained transcripts containing sensitive testimony that cast aspersions on Gaetz, then President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee for attorney general.

Amid growing scrutiny and political fallout, Gaetz voluntarily withdrew his name from attorney general consideration on Nov. 21. The decision was made in part to avoid controversy for Trump ahead of his administration’s transition to power. Gaetz later announced he would not seek a return to Congress in 2025, despite being reelected to his seat.

The fallout from the leaks coincided with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) urging Senate Republicans to expedite the confirmation process for Trump’s cabinet picks. “I trust, we trust, and hope that Senate Republicans and the whole Senate will perform their constitutional responsibility to advise and consent on President Trump’s nominees and to do that in a speedy, expeditious manner,” Johnson stated.

Following Gaetz’s withdrawal, Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as attorney general.

Wild’s Legacy and Exit

Wild, who has represented Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District since 2019, will leave office in January 2025 after losing her reelection bid to Republican Ryan Mackenzie. The district, a political bellwether encompassing Allentown and Bethlehem, has consistently been a pivotal battleground in presidential elections.

Notably, as the ranking member of the Ethics Committee, she would be acutely aware that all members and their staff are required to take an oath stating:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not disclose, to any person or entity outside the Committee on Ethics, any information received in the course of my service with the Committee, except as authorized by the Committee or in accordance with its rules.”

Gaetz’s Next Chapter

Meanwhile, Gaetz is poised to transition to a new role in the media. He is set to launch The Matt Gaetz Show on One America News (OAN) in January 2025, where he will host a nightly program airing at 9 p.m.

This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. It is republished with permission.

READ NEXT: Female Republican Leader Attacked – Women’s Freedom Under Siege

Nancy Mace Attacked Amid Fight To Protect Women’s Rights

By
Patrick Houck
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Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) revealed that she was physically attacked Tuesday evening on Capitol grounds, an alarming incident that underscores the contentious debate surrounding her efforts to protect women’s spaces.

“I was physically accosted tonight on Capitol grounds over my fight to protect women,” Mace announced on X. “Capitol police have arrested him.” The U.S. Capitol Police confirmed the arrest of 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois, who now faces charges of assaulting a government official.

The assault occurred just before 6 p.m. inside the Rayburn House Office Building, a federal government office on Capitol Hill. Capitol Police and Threat Assessment Section agents quickly apprehended McIntyre, who had entered the building after passing through routine security checks.

While the police statement did not explicitly name Mace, her public account of the attack has reignited focus on her uncompromising legislative push. Mace has introduced a bill aimed at barring transgender women from using women’s restrooms and locker rooms on Capitol Hill, arguing it’s a necessary safeguard for biological women’s safety and privacy.

“All the violence and threats keep proving our point,” Mace declared. “Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women!”

Battling Backlash and Violence

Mace’s advocacy has drawn fierce opposition from LGBTQ+ groups, who argue her legislation is discriminatory. Despite this, Mace remains steadfast, framing the debate as one about safeguarding women’s rights.

Her resolve is deeply personal. “Look, I am a rape survivor, a survivor of sexual violence and abuse,” Mace shared in a recent interview with NewsNation. “I know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces. At the end of the day, the question is: do women have rights or not?”

Mace also highlighted concerns about the Capitol’s shared spaces, noting her discomfort with the potential presence of biological men in women’s locker rooms and restrooms. “If I’m in the women’s gym in D.C., changing clothes, and a man shows up with his genitalia in the room, that’s not okay. This is about protecting privacy and safety.”

Speaker’s Support Amid Controversy

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently affirmed Mace’s position, announcing that biological men would no longer be permitted in women’s bathrooms and locker rooms on Capitol grounds. “Women deserve women’s-only spaces,” Johnson stated, providing legislative backing to Mace’s campaign.

The congresswoman, previously known for her socially moderate views, has drawn a definitive “red line” in this debate. “At some point, we have to draw a line with this insanity,” she stated firmly. “This is about protecting the rights and safety of women everywhere.”

As the dust settles on this latest chapter in Mace’s fight, one thing remains clear: the debate over women’s spaces and privacy is far from over.

READ NEXT: Matt Gaetz Reveals Major Career Move – January Will Be Huge

Matt Gaetz To Launch Show On One America News Next Year

By
Patrick Houck
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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz (R) is set to debut his own program, The Matt Gaetz Show, on One America News (OAN) starting January 2025 and airing weeknights at 9 p.m.

The announcement follows Gaetz’s decision earlier this year to step away from Congress, a choice he explained during a recent appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show. Gaetz, who served in the House of Representatives since winning his first election in 2016, stated, “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” underscoring his desire to prioritize his family and his role in supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Tuesday’s development marks a significant career shift for Gaetz, who had previously been considered for attorney general in the incoming Trump administration. That opportunity, however, did not materialize, prompting speculation about whether he might return to Capitol Hill. Gaetz put such rumors to rest last month when he reaffirmed his intention to focus on media opportunities and other ways to assist the Trump White House outside of Congress.

Gaetz’s new show is expected to cover a range of conservative topics, including policy discussions and commentary on the Trump administration’s agenda.

Politico has additional details:

It is yet another high-profile, public platform for Gaetz, a firebrand Republican who made no shortage of enemies in the House before President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to nominate him to be attorney general. Gaetz immediately resigned from the House after Trump’s announcement, a move that also came just before the House Ethics Committee planned to meet regarding a probe into allegations against him regarding illegal drug use and sex with a 17-year-old.

Gaetz has consistently denied the allegations and a Department of Justice investigation into him resulted in no charges. But the accusations quickly dogged his confirmation process, prompting him to drop out of consideration one week after Trump first announced plans to nominate him. The early withdrawal precluded what would have been a deeply personal and brutal confirmation hearing.

At OAN, Gaetz will also co-host a video podcast with Dan Ball, host of “Real America with Dan Ball,” that the network said would feature “unfiltered conversations” for Gen Z, Millennials and early Gen Xers.

Gaetz praised the network in a statement for embracing platforms like streaming, apps, podcasts and social media, which he called places “where Americans are going.” Trump during his 2024 run similarly embraced alternative media sources to reach voters.

Known for its strong conservative viewpoints, OAN has been steadily expanding its roster of opinion-driven programming, and Gaetz’s high-profile presence is likely to attract loyal viewers from his political base and other cable news networks.

READ NEXT: New Health Scare? Medics Rush To Treat Top Republican Senator

Joni Ernst Backs Hegseth For Defense Secretary After Pressure From Team Trump

By
Patrick Houck
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By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced her support for Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense Monday evening, marking a reversal from her earlier reluctance to back the embattled nominee. Ernst’s decision came just days after she indicated skepticism about Hegseth’s qualifications for the role.

According to Politico, Ernst’s shift followed a concerted effort by President-elect Trump’s allies to persuade her. The report describes an intense pressure campaign that reportedly left the senator’s political life “extremely uncomfortable.”

Mediaite further reports:

Last Thursday, after meeting with Hegseth, who has been accused of sexual assault and alcohol abuse, Ernst, a veteran and sexual assault survivor, told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer that she was undecided on his nomination.

“I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared, and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process,” she said at the time.

On Monday, after another meeting with Hegseth, Ernst changed her tune in a statement:

I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.

However, sources close to the matter strongly implied Ernst’s change of heart went beyond a productive discussion with Hegseth. One Trump ally, speaking to Politico, emphasized the role of grassroots activism, saying Ernst faced “an onslaught of criticism from MAGA activists” and “got the message loud and clear.”

In recent days, allies of Trump adopted an approach that is not novel for the president-elect and his followers: Make life extremely uncomfortable for anyone who dares to oppose him. The swarm of MAGA attacks that Sen. Joni Ernst has experienced is a warning of what’s in store for others who express skepticism of his personnel choices.

Days after signaling she continued to have serious concerns about confirming Hegseth, Ernst on Monday sounded a different note. She described their conversation Monday afternoon as “encouraging,” said she would “support” Hegseth through the process, touted some of the commitments he made to her about what he would do in the role, and suggested she would only take allegations against him seriously if they come from named accusers.

The change in tune followed an aggressive push for Hegseth by top Trump allies and supporters, as well as a defiant performance by the Defense secretary nominee that has Trump’s team bullish on him getting confirmed. But it’s not just Hegseth. Trump allies believe his choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, and his nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, are in a stronger position as well.

With a narrow Senate majority, endorsements from key Republican senators like Ernst are critical to the prospects of Trump’s nominees.

READ NEXT: Trump Gives Jaw Dropping Response Over Potential Biden Revenge Scheme

Trump Gives Surprising Response When Asked About Prosecuting Biden

By
Madeleine Jackson
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3
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Will the Trump administration prosecute Joe Biden? It does not seem likely…

President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News anchor Kristen Welker he would be open to prosecuting President Joe Biden if “I find something that I think is reasonable.”

Trump sat for an exclusive interview that aired on Sunday morning’s edition of NBC’s Meet the Press, during which Welker asked Trump about the “retribution” he has publicly demanded for years, and specifically his promise to appoint a special prosecutor to “go after” Joe Biden.

KRISTEN WELKER: Well, let me ask you this. You said, President Biden, quote, that you’re going to appoint a real special prosecutor to go after Joe Biden. You said that during –

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: Where did I say that?

KRISTEN WELKER: — the campaign

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: Where?

KRISTEN WELKER: You said that on Truth Social, June 12, 2023: “I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States, Joe Biden –

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: Well, that part is true.

KRISTEN WELKER: — and the entire Biden crime family.” Are you going to do that? Are you going to go after Joe Biden?

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: I’m really looking to make our country successful. I’m not looking to go back into the past.

Trump said he’d only consider going after Biden if “I find something that I think is reasonable” — but claimed it wouldn’t be his decision:

KRISTEN WELKER: I want to pause here, because what you’re saying is significant. Because you wrote on Truth Social in 2023 that you’re going to appoint a real special prosecutor to go after Joe Biden. Now you’re saying you’re not going to do that.

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: I will say this, no, I’m not doing that unless I find something that I think is reasonable, but that’s not going to be my decision. That’s going to be Pam Bondi’s decision, and, to a different extent, Kash Patel, assuming they’re both there, and I think they’re both going to get approved. But I — I — you know, while you ask me that, what they’ve done to me with weaponization is a disgrace.

KRISTEN WELKER: We’ll get to some of that, sir —

PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: No, no, wait, wait, wait, you can’t do one without the other. In the history of our country, nothing like this has ever happened. And I’ve won these cases. I’ve won every one and the rest are in the process of being won. Deranged Jack Smith is on his way back to The Hague where he can execute people. This is where he should have stayed. I don’t — I think he’s dangerous even being there. But I’ll tell you what, what they’ve done to me in terms of weaponization, indictments, impeachments and everything else. And in the end, it probably helped, because I got the biggest vote, the most votes any Republican’s ever gotten in history.

Watch the whole interview:

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