This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Claims financial distress because of a plunge in income, lagging sales of his artwork
Hunter Biden, documented by congressional investigators to be among the Biden family recipients of tens of millions of dollars in a years-long influence peddling operation while Joe Biden was vice president, then president, now is claiming financial distress.
The claims appear in his demand to drop a lawsuit that he brought against a former White House aide to President Donald Trump.
A report in the New York Post explains that Hunter Biden, 55, cited plunging sales of his artwork and his book, as well as a California fire that burned a home he was renting.
And "significant debt."
He had sued Garrett Ziegler in 2023 with a long list of claims that he illegally accessed and circulated embarrassing contents of the laptop Biden had abandoned at a repair shop.
Ziegler obtained access to the information in the abandoned computer and published it on his website Marco Polo.
Hunter Biden's legal action accused Ziegler of violating data laws by accessing "tens of thousands of emails, thousands of photos, and dozens of videos and recordings" from the laptop.
In fact, it was the details in that laptop, which have been confirmed as true, that prompted the FBI to interfered in the 2020 presidential election by falsely claiming that the information was "Russian disinformation," when it was not. The bureau told media organizations to suppress the truth, they did, and a subsequent polling showed that likely was a key factor in Joe Biden's election win that year.
"[Hunter] has suffered a significant downturn in his income and has significant debt in the millions of dollars range," his court filing states.
"While I was aware that my financial position had significantly deteriorated over time, it was not until the past month that I realized I had to take drastic actions to alleviate this situation," Hunter Biden charged.
"In the 2 to 3 years prior to December 2023, I sold 27 pieces for art at an average price of $54,481.48, but since then I have only sold 1 piece of art for $36,000. Similarly, for my book sales, in the six month period before the statements (April 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023), based on the September 30, 2023 statement, 3,161 copies of my book were sold, but in the six months after the statements, only approximately 1,100 books were sold."
Even worse, he's not getting invitations, and paychecks, to talk to people.
"Given the positive feedback and reviews of my artwork and memoir, I was expecting to obtain paid speaking engagements and paid appearances, but that has not happened," he said.
He further complained about the work he must to do fto ind another residence, as his rental was torched by the Pacific Palisades fire.
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, a popular legal commentator and expert on the Constitution, was one of those who had been threatened by lawyers acting on behalf of Hunter Biden to suppress his own comments.
He explained, "Hunter spent years suggesting that the laptop images and emails might be Russian disinformation (with the help of obliging mainstream media), (but) the contents were found to be authentic by courts and agencies."
He explained, "Years ago, I wrote about how the Biden team had decided to use a scorched earth strategy to target critics. Various people, including myself, were threatened with lawsuits—actions that could drain the targets of hundreds of thousands of dollars and tie them up in court for years. In my case, I received a letter from [Bryan M.] Sullivan that I could face a defamation action if I do not retract (or if I repeat) my criticism of [lawyer Kevin] Morris's representational relationship with Hunter. I responded by immediately revealing the contents of his letter and repeating those allegations. Sullivan and Morris never sued."
Turley pointed out, "Hunter has reportedly received millions not just from alleged influence peddling over the years, but from friends in the forms of loans and support. Throughout those years, he has continued to live a relatively extravagant lifestyle. One line of income was created through his art sales. However, there were reports of a collapse in the value of Hunter's art with the departure of his father from office. With the loss in the value of his influence, there was a telling drop in the demand for his art."
He noted, "What they seem most concerned about is that Ziegler will now seek fees and costs from Hunter. (Previously, Hunter was able to secure such costs from Ziegler for a filing that the court found meritless.) The motion … provides new insights into how Hunter's financial situation has declined due to his father and his family's political influence."
Turley confirmed the filing also notes Hunter Biden may be reviewing other lawsuits "he has brought … against other targets."
Joe Biden issued a blanket pardon for Hunter for anything offense he committed over a period of some 11 years covering the time when Joe Biden was vice president and president.
Hunter Biden had been convicted of gun felonies, and had pleaded guilty to tax felonies.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Orders cutoff of federal contracts, security clearances, access
The Washington law firm of Perkins Coie long has been involved in "dishonest and dangerous" leftist ideologies – and practices, according to President Donald Trump.
And according to a new executive order from him, "The dishonest and dangerous activity of the law firm Perkins Coie LLP ('Perkins Coie') has affected this country for decades. Notably, in 2016 while representing failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Perkins Coie hired Fusion GPS, which then manufactured a false 'dossier' designed to steal an election.
"This egregious activity is part of a pattern. Perkins Coie has worked with activist donors including George Soros to judicially overturn popular, necessary, and democratically enacted election laws, including those requiring voter identification. In one such case, a court was forced to sanction Perkins Coie attorneys for an unethical lack of candor before the court," he said.
In fact, the firm was involved with the Steele "dossier," a made-up set of claims about President Trump that was given a high profile by legacy media during the 2016 presidential election. The wild claims made by the former British agency in the documents have not been supported by evidence.
Further, Trump pointed out that, "In addition to undermining democratic elections, the integrity of our courts, and honest law enforcement," the legal team has imposed racial quotas for hiring and promotion, and "proudly excluded applicants on the basis of race for its fellowships, and it maintained these discriminatory practices until applicants harmed by them finally sued to enforce change."
One of his presidential term goals is to end such discrimination, and crack down on organizations that exhibit "disrespect for the bedrock principle of equality" which, in fact, is "good cause to conclude that they neither have access to our nation's secrets nor be deemed responsible stewards of any federal funds."
His order, then, requests the attorney general, director of national intelligence and others to review and "take steps consistent with applicable law to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals at Perkins Coie."
Further, the Office of Management and Budget "shall identify all government goods, property, material, and services, including Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, provided for the benefit of Perkins Coie. The heads of all agencies providing such material or services shall, to the extent permitted by law, expeditiously cease such provision," he said.
And to further protect tax dollars, government contractors now will be required to "disclose any business they do with Perkins Coie and whether that business is related to the subject of the government contract."
Those contracts will, "to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law," be terminated.
"Within 30 days of the date of this order, all agencies shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an assessment of contracts with Perkins Coie or with entities that do business with Perkins Coie effective as of the date of this order and any actions taken with respect to those contracts in accordance with this order," he said.
Discrimination by race also shall be investigated, he said.
Perkins Coie employees also will be barred from federal buildings, "when such access would threaten the national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with the interests of the United States."
At Gateway Pundit was the comment, "Recall that Hillary Clinton and the DNC paid law firm Perkins Coie more than $1 million to hire oppo research firm Fusion GPS to peddle the bogus 'Trump-Russia' dossier during the 2016 election. Former British spy Christopher Steele compiled over a dozen memos alleging the Russians had blackmail on Trump and that his associates were conspiring with the Kremlin to win the 2016 election."
It reported, "In 2022, the FEC fined Clinton and said her campaign violated the rules because they failed to disclose payments funneled to Fusion GPS through DNC law firm Perkins Coie. Hillary Clinton got a light slap on the wrist for her crimes."
"This was a coordinated effort by Hillary Clinton Campaign officials, by executives who were working with them, lawyers who work for the campaign, all attempting to defraud the federal government… Defrauding the government is a felony, making false statements to federal investigators is a felony," John Ratcliffe said in 2022.
"And when multiple people do it together I think that is a conspiracy and I think that's what is being revealed in John Durham's filings… If multiple lawyers from a law firm are attempting to defraud the government or lie to the government, not just commit a campaign dirty trick but to peddle a false narrative to mislead investigators an entire law firm like Perkins Coie could be subject to indictment."
In her first public comments since her husband's inauguration, First Lady Melania Trump spoke out on Monday about the release of sexually explicit pictures created of minors.
She described the effects for victims as "heartbreaking" and referred to the climate on the internet as "toxic," as The Associated Press reported.
"It’s heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content, like deepfakes," said Melania Trump.
Trump was holding an event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where she was joined by lawmakers and victims of digital abuse in support of the Take it Down Act, which was unanimously passed by the Senate earlier this month.
"We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy," added Trump,
The first lady announced Tuesday that she would be joining President Donald Trump for his first joint congressional address of his second term.
The bill was passed by the Senate and proposed in August by Senators Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota.
The legislation makes it illegal to publish "non-consensual, sexually exploitative images, including deepfakes, including AI-generated deepfakes."
This law encompasses "digital forgeries" that are generated using AI software and necessitates that technology platforms eliminate reported content within 48 hours of receiving a valid request.
On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., a fervent Trump supporter who was present at the first lady's roundtable discussion, expressed his desire to see legislation passed that would address the subject.
"As the dark side of technology advances, these unspeakable evils become part of the culture. The law has to keep up," Johnson said.
"We are anxious to put it on the floor in the House to get it to President Trump's desk for signature cause we've gotta do what we can to stop this.”
Elliston Berry, a 15-year-old who was seated next to the first lady, recounted her experience of being "violated" on social media.
At the age of 14, a classmate utilized an AI application to affix a nude body to an Instagram photo of her, which was subsequently shared on social media.
"Fear, shock and disgust were just some of the many emotions I felt," Berry said. "I felt responsible and began to blame myself and was ashamed to tell my parents despite doing nothing wrong."
Republican Senator Joni Ernst's office is forcefully denying recent reports of alleged improper relationships with high-ranking military officials, dismissing them as "a slanderous lie."
The allegations, initially reported by ProPublica, have stirred ethical concerns due to Ernst's significant role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Daily Mail reported.
Senator Ernst's office has firmly rebutted claims that she engaged in unauthorized romantic relationships with Major General Christopher Finerty and a Navy legislative affairs official around 2019.
The allegations raised by ProPublica suggest a conflict of interest given Ernst's position overseeing military matters in the Senate, but her team argues that the accusations are based on misinformation.
According to ProPublica, concerns arose because of Ernst's alleged ties with Finerty, who was later implicated in a separate scandal following an Air Force inspector general’s investigation. The report detailed his inappropriate relationships with several women linked to Capitol Hill. The investigation has delved into Finerty's conduct, originating from a complaint lodged in January 2023.
Last year, the inspector general completed an extensive examination of Finerty's actions, with the findings becoming public through a records request this year. Text messages included in the report reportedly support claims of improper conduct, revealing explicit sexual discussions that further the claims against him.
Finerty's lawyer, however, disputes the findings, asserting the report found no indications of conflicts of interest or undue influence concerning Finerty's Capitol Hill associations. The lawyer argued that no existing rules were breached by Finerty's personal relationships.
Senator Ernst was reportedly not married during the purported affairs, a factor that contributes to the complexity of the situation but does not inherently violate Senate regulations. The conservative nature of her political stance adds scrutiny, particularly considering the ethical experts from ProPublica warning that such relationships can create potential conflicts.
Amidst the swirling controversy, Ernst's office maintains a staunch defense, labeling the media coverage as devotion to "gossip" instead of actual news. A written statement emphasized Ernst's commitment to her duties, guided solely by her constituents and constitutional obligations.
The narrative shifts to involve Ernst's purported influence in political appointments, notably with the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. This aspect adds another layer to the ongoing dialogue, questioning the interconnectedness of political and personal spheres.
Ernst's team argues that these distractions are hindering the senator's efforts toward military reforms aimed at cutting excessive expenditure within the Pentagon. These are central tenets of her legislative focus, according to her office's statements.
Despite the report's revelations, it should be noted that DailyMail.com has yet to independently corroborate the claims laid out by ProPublica. This uncertainty adds a layer of complexity to interpreting the unfolding situation.
The public disclosure of the inspector general's findings soon after their completion in September 2023 also coincides with a larger movement toward transparency within military investigatory procedures. It highlights the increased emphasis on accountability and oversight in contexts involving significant military figures.
In conclusion, the unfolding story of Senator Joni Ernst, Major General Finerty, and the entwined allegations continues to develop, shaped by differing interpretations of report findings, the absence of confirmation from additional media entities, and the impact on Ernst's political role.
The fundamental question remains not only about potential personal misconduct but also about the ramifications for public trust in the Senate's oversight mechanisms and the boundaries of personal relationships within political duties.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem touted new arrests of criminal aliens following a recent ICE operation in northern Virginia.
Sporting a tactical vest, Noem highlighted the arrests of gang members and sex offenders in a video shared on her X account.
We will not be deterred by leaks. If you come to this country and break our laws, we will hunt you down.
Successful enforcement operation this morning—getting MS-13 members, 18th Street gang members and perpetrators of sexual crimes off our streets. pic.twitter.com/67iqcFJw6x
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 4, 2025
Noem also warned of "consequences" in an interview with ABC News, which tagged along for the operation in Virginia.
ABC reported that the raids led to the arrest of at least two men, an 18th Street gang member and another man who was convicted of sexual battery, although the exact scale of the roundup is uncertain.
"By policy and due to officer safety, we don’t comment on ongoing operations,” an ICE spokesman told the Washington Post. “The number of arrests is ongoing."
President Trump has asked Congress to provide more funding to help ramp up his deportation efforts, which have so far fallen short of expectations.
Border crossings have plummeted since President Trump returned to the White House, but interior enforcement has lagged, reportedly leaving Trump frustrated.
ICE's efforts have been plagued by internal leaks, which have provided advance warning to illegal aliens in cities like Los Angeles and Aurora, a suburb of Denver.
Noem last week said that she fired some individuals within DHS responsible for leaking information, but the problem has persisted, with pro-immigration groups publicizing the raids in Virginia beforehand.
"Starting Monday 3/March, ICE activity expected in Northern VA (Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun) & surrounding areas that could result in several arrests. Please be aware of your surroundings, tell your friends/family too," Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid wrote on X.
While deportations remain a challenge, illegal border crossings hit their lowest point in decades during Trump's first full month back in office.
Crossings fell to 8,300 in February as Trump toughened immigration policy and the government's messaging to foreigners.
Trump touted the decrease during his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, with Trump blasting his predecessor, Joe Biden, for letting a historic influx of people into the nation's interior.
"The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation, we must have legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president," Trump said.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Following his campaign promise to "seal the border on Day 1," President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 22 to "suspend the physical entry of aliens engaged in an invasion of the United States through the southern border."
Then calling upon the U.S. military to help fulfill his promise, over 9,000 U.S. troops were deployed at the southern border. But on March 1, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also ordered the deployment of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team and General Support Aviation Battalion to the southwestern border of the United States. According to Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, these forces will "reinforce and expand current border security operations to seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States."
Each Stryker Brigade Combat Team is a mechanized infantry force comprising approximately 4,400 soldiers. The aviation component of the deployment will bring about 650 additional personnel to the region, along with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for command and medical evacuation, and CH-47 Chinooks for heavy lifting.
"These forces," said Parnell, "will arrive in the coming weeks, and their deployment underscores the department's unwavering dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to secure our southern border and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the United States under President Trump's leadership."
WorldNetDaily spoke to Ben Varlese, a global security expert and former Stryker brigade sniper. He described each variant of the eight-wheeled armored vehicle as "phenomenal," noting a number of different variants, ranging from mortar carriers to reconnaissance or infantry carrier vehicles.
Close-up view of the M1126 Stryker and its capabilities:
Most standard Strykers, he told WorldNetDaily, house a crew of 11, to include a driver, vehicle commander and two fire teams. "While I don't think we're calling for fire, mortars or artillery quite yet at the southern border," he noted, "the Stryker is definitely a force multiplier."
While operating from Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq in 2004-2005, Varlese was able to experience the tremendous value of the armored fighting vehicle. "A lot of the terrain was very similar to the southwest U.S.," he said, explaining, "they offer great mobility platforms for not only desert-type environments, but also for urban operations."
What's more, he told WND, "It's a big green beast, and there's no denying what it is or what it's capable of doing. Its presence alone is a passive deterrent."
With regard to its capabilities, said Varlese, "They often have a free mounted weapon system like a 50-caliber machine gun, Mk 19 (pronounced Mark 19) 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, or a videogame-like Remote Weapon System." Additionally, some also feature the long-range advanced scout surveillance system, or LRASSS, with standard or thermal viewing. And according to Varlese, "You could read somebody's name tape from a kilometer away."
"Remarkably, they're really quiet, too," he added. "We used to be able to pretty much park right in front of somebody's front door, and they didn't even know we were there until they heard the clank of the ramp dropping." Should these Strykers ever be used for conducting raids, the quietness feature is a big benefit.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A proposal in Colorado's leftist legislature is moving "deadnaming" to an extreme.
That's the offense, to LGBT promoters, of calling someone by their name when they have chosen another name as part of their agenda for transgenderism.
Actually, according to the science, being male or female is embedded into the human body down to the DNA level and doesn't change, no matter the chemical or surgical "treatments" that may be employed.
However, a transgender person's decision to adopt a different name is recognized by many jurisdictions and using the old name, "deadnaming," actually is an offense in some of those locations.
Now a report in Westword explains how Colorado is planning to take the fight against "deadnaming" to an extreme.
It would demand "accurate" references to a person on a death certificate.
The report explained, "Before Laura MacWaters transitioned, she spent years worrying about what would happen after she died. Would anyone ever know her for the woman she was? How would she be remembered? Would her identity and existence remain invisible forever? Today, MacWaters is proudly out as a transgender woman, but a concern remains: Will her identity be accurately reflected on her death certificate?"
The report noted that Coloradans already can change their birth certificate, driver's license and state ID to match what they claim to be. That is a male like MacWaters can change "male" references to "female."
The new plan would also allow a death certificate to identify a person by their gender ideology.
"When a person's gender identity is stripped from them in their vital records, it is more than a clerical error. It is an act of erasure, a denial of who they are and of their legacy," MacWaters claimed.
"This bill ensures that the respect we fight for in life will not disappear the moment we pass. I have seen how easy it is for trans people, especially older trans people, to have their identity questioned, dismissed, erased. …I've seen the pain of those who feared they would be misgendered, even in death."
The plan already has been adopted by the state House Health & Human Services Committee.
The move comes in a national discourse for which President Donald Trump has explained the federal government recognizes only male and female.
Agenda promoters claim that they are being targeted because their documents are reflecting now their "sex they were assigned at birth."
A Democrat in the House, Kyle Brown, said, it's important to "promote dignity and accuracy in our vital records," in sponsoring the bill that would mislabel men as women and women as men on their demand.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Democrats attending President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday entered the room with frowns, consulted each other with pursed lips and glares at the GOP majority, and held signs expressing their politics, which often was at odds with what the American people have chosen.
But the real test of what they are for, and significant, what they are against, came in their actions during Trump's speech.
For example, the declined to applaud when Trump announced the capture of the terrorist who masterminded the Abbey Gate attack during Joe Biden's ill-executed withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. It left 13 American service members dead.
They refused to applaud a young boy fighting brain cancer as he was made an honorary member of the U.S. Secret Service.
They declined to applaud a call for lower taxes for middle-class Americans.
The White House took note of their performance, explain, "Tonight, President Donald J. Trump delivered bold, forward-looking remarks before a joint session of Congress — highlighting the historic accomplishments already achieved in his second term and setting the course for four years of prosperity and strength.
"Unfortunately, Congressional Democrats were too consumed by their own hatred of President Trump, refusing to show support for lowering taxes, fighting childhood cancer, capturing terrorists, protecting women and girls in sports, or law and order — to name only a few."
The White House statement noted the comment from former White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, now a network commentator, who said, "The Democratic Party still has no common sense. They have no ideas and they have no heart. They couldn't even stand for the most inspiring moments of the speech."
The rest of the White House list of topics where Democrats, by and large in unanimity, remained silent:
Social media took note:
One commenter concluded the Democrats were "demons" and "gremlins."
One Democrat, Al Green, was ejected by the sergeant at arms for belligerently badgering the president while he was trying to speak.
Mark Halperin, a political analyst, pointed out the especially egregious refusal by Democrats to stand when Trump honored a 13-year-old boy fighting cancer. Trump's address noted that D.J. Daniel would be made an honorary Secret Service agent.
Halperin explained Democrats' attacks on Trump lose credibility when they act in an "aberrant" way.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
After President Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, establishment media tried to push back on a specific claim about experiments on "transgender" mice funded by American taxpayers.
In response, the White House hit back at the president's detractors.
"The Fake News losers at CNN immediately tried to fact check [the president's statement], but President Trump was right (as usual)," noted White House staff in a press release.
The referenced CNN story, without a byline, claimed, "In his speech, just under one hour and 40 minutes, Trump also made a number of false claims about his predecessor, Joe Biden."
The White House included links to specific information at the website of the National Institutes of Health about federally funded experiments on animals, including:
The statement pointed out that the total cost of just the above referenced experiments is $8,290,053.
Emails received by Reuters indicate that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services informed employees on Monday that they may apply for early retirement within 10 days and should provide details on their successes over the preceding week.
Republican President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk, who runs the Department of Government Efficiency, are leading a historic federal bureaucracy reduction, including job cutbacks, as Reuters reported.
The HHS informed employees via email that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management authorized early retirement under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, affecting agencies undergoing significant restructuring, reshaping, downsizing, function transfers, or reorganization.
According to OMP's website, eligible personnel must be 50 years old with 20 years of federal service or any age with 25 years, among other qualifications. The email indicated the promotion ends March 14 at 5 pm EST.
The management sent a second set of emails last week requesting employees to list five weekly successes in bullet points.
HHS employees, including the FDA and CDC, were previously told there was "no impact to your employment with the agency if you choose not to respond."
FBI, State Department, and other U.S. agencies advised staff not to comply with DOGE's request.
HHS instructed staff to respond to DOGE's email by midnight without providing sensitive information, such as their medicine and device names, in a Monday email seen by Reuters.
Employees were previously warned by HHS that their responses to the Department of Defense's request could "be read by malign foreign actors."
Both versions of the department's email were sent out on Monday, with the second version removing the reference to the previous version.
In an email that reporters saw the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which is the union that represents workers at the Department of Health and Human Services, informed its members that they are required to cooperate with the agency's decision to proceed with the "ill-advised exercise."
In an email sent by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), employees were instructed to follow the guidelines provided by their supervisors for how to answer and respond in a manner that would not identify grants, grantees, contracts, or contractors, nor information that might distinguish the precise nature of scientific experiments, research, or evaluations.
"I feel I will spend the whole day writing these five bullets in a way that does not contain sensitive information while also providing information that my job is important. I don't know if this can be called efficiency," said an FDA source who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Nobody needs to answer if they're on leave, can't make it to the office because of work, or have signed a deferred resignation agreement, says the email.