This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Pam Bondi, the longtime Florida attorney general nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the nation's top cop, took the concept of the politicization of the Department of Justice directly to Democrats during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
Specifically, it was Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse who was described by an online commentary at Twitchy as having "stepped on his own rake" while questioning her.
He brought up the incorrect law-enforcement concept of starting with a name, then hunting for a crime for that name.
That concept commonly has been attributed to Stalinist-era Soviet jurist Andrey Vyshinsky, Soviet secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria or even Stalin himself, who formulated the ideology of "Give me the man and I will give you the crime."
Whitehouse said, "It would not be appropriate for a prosecutor to start with a name and look for a crime? It's a prosecutor's job to start with a crime and look for a name, correct?"
Bondi's response, "Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we've seen the last four years and what's been happening with Donald Trump."
In fact, Democrats have engaged in a years-long lawfare campaign against Trump in which he was charged for his opinions and statements after the 2020 election, he was charged for having government documents, even though Joe Biden was given a pass for the same circumstances, he was accused of fraud in his businesses even though no one was defrauded, he was accused of business reporting felonies for calling legal expenses legal expenses. He even was accused of running an organized crime scheme.
Bondi explains that when allegations are made, the evidence is reviewed and the law applied – equally to all.
When Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., raised the question of "birthright" citizenship, she scolded him that she was not there "to do his homework," and again for cutting her off.
She says she'll meet and discuss the issue of birthright citizenship.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A Deep Stater in the Washington federal government complex who boasted about secret meetings with retired military members to "protect" the American people from President-elect Donald Trump, in fact, orchestrating a resistance, has been fired.
Confirmation comes from O'Keefe Media Group with had released an undercover video of Jamie Mannina, an "adviser" to the Department of Defense, who revealed the skullduggery that was going on.
Mannina explained he works, now worked, at a "top consulting firm" for the Pentagon, after time in the FBI.
"During the meeting with an undercover journalist, Mannina revealed that he had a 'huge, huge meeting with military leaders in a very secure room called the Tank,'" reported the Gateway Pundit.
"So we have a Tank meeting with all of the top, top leaders of the United States' Military tomorrow on my topic that I prepared," he said, explaining he's "a little worried," and he'll try to do what he can with retired generals to "stop the Trump administration."
Mannina was recorded explain the information was "sensitive" and would have to be kept "between us."
It wasn't long before the next chapter in the scandal was released by OMG:
Mannina had lashed out at Trump, calling him a "sociopathic narcissist who is only interested in advancing his name, his wealth, and his fame."
Incidentally, Trump has confirmed plans that he will "redirect," his $400,000 presidential salary, donating it to various government program recipients, during his second term as he did during his first.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Joe Biden has released a "farewell" letter, given that his term in the White House expires on Monday, and he also had his tax-paid staffers compile some 26,000 words of talking points about which he brags.
He also takes a swipe at President-elect Donald Trump, claiming the protest-turned-riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was the "worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War."
In fact, a few hundred Trump fans, concerned about irregularities in the 2020 election, rioted and did vandalism in the building, and members of Congress retreated, only to take up their regular business hours later.
Biden, who campaigned on bringing America together in recovery from the pandemic of the COVID-19 China virus but then imposed multiple divisive agendas on the people, said "we came together as Americans, and we braved through it."
He claims America now is "stronger, more prosperous and more secure."
The letter includes Biden's claims, "I have given my heart and my soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people."
A congressional report also confirmed that the Biden family has profited by tens of millions of dollars in what essentially was described as an influence peddling operation that apparently has been in existence during his years as vice president, then as president.
Biden said, "Wages are up. Inflation continues to come down. The racial wealth gap is the lowest it's been in 20 years. We're rebuilding our entire nation—urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities. Manufacturing is coming back to America. We're leading the world again in science and innovation, including the semiconductor industry."
Biden, who once delivered a special address in Philadelphia to talk about the "soul" of America, said that's still his concern because "the very nature of who we are" was at stake.
He also charged that America "never" has lived up to the idea that "we are all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
His staff, he said, compiled a list of his accomplishments, which he posted online. It was described in one published report as "massive lies."
In it, he claims credit for imposing COVID shots, which now are known to cause side effects up to and including death, on 230 million Americans.
And he spent trillions of tax dollars on his "recovery" efforts, triggering inflation that reached 9.1% at one point, and has accumulated to more than 20% over his tenure, although his list does not include those facts.
He claims to have "added" 16.6 million jobs, although millions of those simply were restored from what was precipitously lost because of government shutdown orders during COVID.
The Biden checklist includes claims for "improvements on over 200,00 miles of roads," "450 rail projects," and massive spending for his climate change agenda, which tried to force American industry and residents into electric vehicles, a move that is collapsing now.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
An organization that promoted an abortion amendment for Florida's constitution, a campaign that failed, has been fined more than $186,000 after a multitude of complaints alleging fraud in its work.
A report from CBN explains a recent memo from Florida Deputy Secretary of State for Legal Affairs and Election Integrity Brad McVay revealed the issues involved "reports of paid FPF petition circulators signing petitions on behalf of deceased individuals, forging or misrepresenting elector signatures on petitions, using electors' personal identifying information without consent, and perjury/false swearing."
The organization is "Floridians Protecting Freedom," a pro-abortion organization that submitted signatures for a petition to put on the election ballot the constitutional change.
The report noted multiple FPF petition circulators were arrested and charged with felonies over the last year. And evern now more than 100 criminal investigations are continuing.
The failed proposal would have created a constitutional "right" to abortion before viability or any time someone said it was "necessary to protect the patient's health."
"The (state) report details how the group enlisted PCI Consultants, a California-based corporation, and paid them $27 million in 2023 and 2024 to collect and submit Florida signatures," CBN documented. "PCI is accused of using 'unregistered out-of-state entities' and unlawfully paying signature gatherers per signature."
While some petition signatures were rejected, actually "a large number of signatures were 'mistakenly validated' and counted," the report said.
In fact, in some districts, audits showed more than 25% of signatures were submitted by "known or suspected fraudsters."
Each fraudulent signature would mean a case of felony election fraud.
The fine was the result of a settlement agreement.
The state report said, "The fraud outlined in this report is unacceptable, and it is imperative that the state consider major reforms to the initiative petition process to prevent groups from doing this ever again in Florida."
Liberty Counsel chief Mat Staver commented on the investigation stating, "Election fraud is reprehensible and undermines every citizen's right to vote. The fines and penalties against Floridians Protecting Freedom may not go far enough to prevent groups from doing the same thing again in Florida. Strong laws and enforcement are the best defense against fraud. Floridians deserve an honest and legal ballot process."
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) sunk to a new low by bringing Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's young daughter into the discussion during his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Fox News reported. The former vice presidential candidate faced backlash on social media for the stunt.
Kaine was hammering Hegseth about alleged extramarital affairs. Kaine goaded Hegseth, saying he had just "fathered a child" at the time of his dalliances, including a sexual harassment claim that Hegseth pointed out he was "completely cleared" of in the courts.
"Senator, her child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God. She’s 7 years old, and I am glad she’s here," Hegseth told Kaine after several mentions of his daughter without using her name.
While trying to dredge up his marital history, Kaine struck a nerve with Hegseth by including his daughter's birth in the timeline. Hegseth was accused of sexual assault in October 2017 but was later cleared due to evidence that it was consensual.
"I was fully investigated and completely cleared," Hegseth said. Kaine latched onto that to make his attack on Hegseth's family. "So you think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime?" Kaine said.
"That's your definition of cleared. You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife. I am shocked that you would stand here and say you're completely cleared," Kaine leaned into the line of questioning.
"Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child who had been born two months before? And you tell us you are completely cleared? How is that completely cleared?" he pushed.
"As I've acknowledged to everyone in this committee, I’m not a perfect person," Hegseth responded. "I'm not claiming to be," he said before Kaine again cut him off.
Kaine faced intense backlash for this exchange. "Senator Tim Kaine really did try to use Pete Hegseth’s 7-year-old daughter against him, despicable," Drew Hernandez, conservative commentator, said on X, formerly Twitter.
Will Chamberlain, co-owner of Human Events, pointed out the hypocrisy in Kaine's use of Hegseth's affairs. "Tim Kaine has a lot to say about Pete Hegseth’s conduct during his marriage. Here’s Tim Kaine campaigning with Doug Emhoff, who - while married - impregnated his nanny and forced her to get an abortion," Chamberlain captioned a photo of Kaine with the first gentleman.
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly slammed Kaine for hypocrisy after being Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016. "This guy with his holier than thou on the cheating allegations of what he did … [He] was Hillary Clinton’s running mate," she said on her Megyn Kelly Show podcast, The Wrap reported.
"So this, this man was fine with Bill Clinton," Kelly said of the former president and infamous philanderer. "This man who wants us to believe any extramarital activity is abhorrent to him. He’s disgusted by it; that’s the same Tim Kaine," Kelly added.
The people in Congress who so often look the other way as colleagues engage in the worst behavior now believe they have the moral high ground. Unfortunately, the standards of character have long since fallen by the wayside in both parties, making this line of questioning using Hegseth's daughter just despicable.
Melania Trump said she will live primarily at the White House after her husband, President-elect Donald Trump, is inaugurated, The Economic Times reported. The notoriously tight-lipped first lady spoke with host Ainsley Earhardt on Fox&Friends Monday about the transition back to her role and her new documentary.
Eager to dispel rumors that Melania Trump was not planning to live at the White House, Earhardt asked Melania Trump about her intentions. "I will be in the White House. And you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York; when I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach," Melania Trump said.
"But my my first priority is, you know, to be a mom, to be a first lady, to be a wife. And once we’re in on January 22nd, you serve the country," Melania Trump added.
Earhardt also asked Melania Trump about moving into the White House again and whether she has changed since her husband became president in 2016. "Do you feel like you’re in a different space now than you were eight years ago?" the host asked.
"I feel I was always me the first time, as well. I just feel that people didn’t accept me," Melania Trump added.
"Maybe they didn’t understand me the way maybe they do now. And I didn’t have much support," Melania Trump added. That's an understatement, considering that Donald Trump called the media's treatment of his wife "vicious" in 2018, Axios reported.
“Maybe some people — they see me as just the wife of the president, but I’m standing on my own two feet independent," she went on. "I have my own thoughts. I have my own Yes and no. I don’t always agree with my husband is saying or doing. And that’s okay."
Earhardt asked if Melania Trump could "disagree" outwardly with Donald Trump. "I give him my advice, and sometimes he listens. Sometimes he doesn’t. And that’s okay," Melania Trump added.
The First Lady is the subject of a new documentary currently in production for Amazon. "We started the production in November," Melania Trump shared.
She added that they "are shooting right now," so it will follow her through the transition to her new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "So it’s a day-to-day life, what I’m doing, what kind of responsibilities I have," Melania Trump went on.
"People, they don’t really know, and they will see it. It’s day to day, from transition team to moving to the White House, packing, establishing my team, the First Lady office, moving into the White House, what it takes to make the residence your home, to hire the people that you need," the first lady shared.
When asked if she would make changes to the White House, Melania Trump said she would update things "a little bit" but that it would mostly stay the same. The first lady also said she would continue with her "Be Better" initiative she started during her husband's first White House stint.
Melania Trump is a woman of class and grace, but the media has always disparaged her and intentionally painted her as a villain. Now, she is using her voice to dispel rumors and a documentary to show her side of things, and it's about time.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing backlash for traveling abroad at a time when the city she governs is grappling with devastating wildfires, leading to significant loss of life and widespread destruction.
The mayor, who had previously vowed during her campaign to restrict her travels to within the country, made several international trips, igniting public dismay amid California's ongoing crisis, the Daily Caller reported.
Karen Bass initially campaigned in 2021 with a commitment to predominantly remain in the U.S., specifically focusing on major cities such as Washington, D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco, and New York. She pledged not to travel internationally, emphasizing her dedication to staying engaged and accessible in Los Angeles, especially during crucial times.
Yet, despite these campaign assurances, the mayor found herself abroad on a significant international trip to Ghana. This visit was to attend the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, even as wildfires began wreaking havoc in Los Angeles. The fires resulted in at least 24 deaths, ravaged approximately 12,000 structures, and forced around 150,000 city residents to flee their homes.
In the last year, Bass's travels extended beyond Ghana, as she also visited Mexico for President Claudia Sheinbaum's inauguration. She further journeyed to Paris three times in connection with the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games, all with financial backing from taxpayer money. These excursions, during a time of severe local crisis, have led to widespread public discontent and criticism.
Her office responded to the rising outrage, stating that Bass remains fully focused on safeguarding Los Angeles residents and their properties. Efforts, they insist, have been placed on securing necessary resources and developing a comprehensive plan for recovery.
Questions have arisen regarding the necessity of Bass's presence in international events amid Los Angeles’s challenges. This was attributed by an aide as a miscommunication, highlighting the city’s role as a crucial international trade hub and noting the diverse international roots of its population, with around a third of its residents born abroad. The aide pointed out that the routine international travel of Los Angeles mayors stems from the city's global prominence and significance.
Additionally, reports surfaced suggesting that Bass’s trip to Ghana came at the request of the Biden administration. Throughout her visit, the mayor remained communicative with city officials concerning the wildfire situation, ensuring she was informed despite the physical distance.
The financial aspect of the city's firefighting capabilities has also come under scrutiny. Bass had proposed significant budget cuts initially, namely a $23 million reduction for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). This proposal was later adjusted, resulting in an actual cut of $17.6 million. In contrast to these budgetary constraints, unallocated city funds ultimately allowed the fire department to receive an additional $53 million compared to the previous fiscal year.
Despite this funding increase, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley issued warnings as early as December, citing that the earlier budget considerations threatened to impair emergency preparedness significantly. This statement added to the growing unease about the mayor's approach to resource management amid an environmentally vulnerable period.
The crisis has accentuated public frustration over both the mayor's absence during critical times and the allocation of city resources. Residents are grappling with the toll these fires continue to take on their communities, heightening emotions around leadership decisions perceived as disconnected.
Reacting to the international travels, Los Angeles citizens have voiced the need for local presence and immediate action from their leadership. The sentiment reflects a broader expectation that elected officials maintain a visible and active role when disasters strike their jurisdiction.
As fires persistently ravage parts of California, Mayor Bass and her administration are under increasing pressure to address the continuing emergency's immediate and long-term implications. The devastation wrought by these natural disasters calls for comprehensive strategies to bolster the city's resiliency and recovery efforts.
Bass’s current and future approaches to disaster management, fiscal planning, and public engagement will remain under sharp scrutiny as Los Angeles works to rebuild and fortify its communities in the aftermath of these fires.
The balancing act between fulfilling international commitments and ensuring domestic security has posed a complex challenge for Bass. Her tenure as mayor during this period may largely be defined by how effectively these competing responsibilities are managed in the eyes of her constituents.
Joe Biden shared "devastating" news with the families of three American hostages being held in Afghanistan during a phone call on Sunday.
Anna Corbett, the wife of captive Ryan Corbett, told Fox News that she was crushed to hear from Biden that her husband is not coming home.
It's yet another black mark on Biden's dismal foreign policy record, which was marred early in his term by the disastrous and bloody withdrawal from Afghanistan in which 13 American troops were slaughtered in a terror attack.
Ryan Corbett was kidnapped on a business trip a year after the Taliban took back control of Afghanistan. His wife Anna has been fighting desperately for his return, but to no avail.
"He was very kind and empathetic, but what I heard him say is that he is not bringing Ryan home, and that was absolutely devastating because, as you just said, I have been advocating fiercely on Ryan's behalf, on my family's behalf. Ryan just keeps missing milestones," she said.
The Biden administration was in talks with the Taliban about releasing a Guantanamo Bay detainee with ties to Al-Qaeda in exchange for Corbett and two other American captives, but the negotiations broke down over the status of one of the hostages.
The Taliban disputes that dual U.S.-Afghan citizen Mahmood Habibi is wrongfully detained, but the Biden administration is reportedly refusing to agree to any deal unless Habibi is let go.
Habibi's brother has thanked Biden for his commitment to bringing him home, but the families of Ryan Corbett and George Glezmann are frustrated with Biden's position.
“President Biden and his national security adviser are choosing to leave George Glezmann in Afghanistan. A deal is available to bring him home. The White House’s inaction in this case is inhumane," the Glezmann family said in a statement.
Anna Corbett similarly called the administration's inaction "crushing."
"To hear after all this effort, there is a deal on the table, there is a way to bring Ryan home, and it's not being taken, is incredibly crushing to our family," she continued.
The slow progress from the current administration led Corbett to meet with a member of President-elect Trump's team, incoming national security adviser Michael Waltz, at Mar-A-Lago over the weekend.
Corbett said she is "extremely encouraged" by the Trump team's swift response, while noting she could not get a hold of the current administration for 16 months.
"It was just mind-blowing because it took 16 months to actually get a meeting where I traveled to DC to meet with the current national security adviser, Jake Sullivan," she said. "This shows that President Trump is very concerned, is wanting to prioritize our family. I know he's tough. He wants to make deals."
"I am extremely encouraged, and the contrast of my experience is just mind-blowing right now," she continued.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President-elect Donald Trump, to be inaugurated and take office on Monday, has announced a new "External Revenue Service" that he says will start making those "who make money off of us" pay into the revenue stream for the nation.
"For far too long, we have relied on taxing our Great People using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Through soft and pathetically weak Trade agreements, the American Economy has delivered growth and prosperity to the World, while taxing ourselves," he wrote on his Truth Social website.
"It is time for that to change. I am today announcing that I will create the EXTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE to collect our Tariffs, Duties, and all Revenue that come from Foreign sources. We will begin charging those that make money off of us with Trade, and they will start paying, FINALLY, their fair share. January 20, 2025, will be the birth date of the External Revenue Service. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
The Hill reported Trump had pledged during the 2024 campaign to create taxes of 10% to 20% on foreign goods, with rates of up to 60% for Chinese goods.
In his statement, he specifically mentioned tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, too."
In fact, those tariffs could appear beginning Monday, when he takes office.
The report said collecting tariffs now is the responsibility of Customs and Border Protection, within the Department of Homeland Security.
"Under the current system, CBP collects tariffs from U.S.-based importers of foreign goods subject to import taxes. The importer — not the foreign country or company from which the product was exported — must pay the tax to CBP," the report said.
"In his first term in office, Trump imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, including from Canada and Mexico, and compelled both countries to renegotiate the North American free trade agreement with terms meant to boost U.S. manufacturing and improve compliance with labor laws."
According to the Gateway Pundit, Trump has discussed relacing the revenue from the income taxes paid by Americans, but it was unclear if the announcement directly would affect the Internal Revenue Service, which does that collection.
However, that agency already is scheduled for an audit, under Trump, according to Elon Musk, who is working with Trump's plans for a Department of Government Efficiency.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Planned Parenthood, the biggest player in America's abortion industry, is being accused of violating federal tax law by helping Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the Democrat nominees in last year's presidential race, in Florida.
Fox News reports a complaint has been filed by the organization "40 Days for Life" with the Internal Revenue Service charging the abortion corporation provided office space to the Democrats.
That would violate the restrictions to which the organization agreed for being given a tax-exempt status.
"40 Days" is one of the nation's leading pro-life organizations, and it contacted the IRS just weeks ago with its information about "potentially prohibited political activities that may impact the tax-exempt status" of Planned Parenthood in Florida.
"This is one of the many violations we've seen Planned Parenthood do, because we're physically at these abortion facilities, holding peaceful vigils and offering medical alternatives to abortion. And so because we're out there, you know, at over 1700 locations, we see a lot of things that Planned Parenthood does," "40 Days" spokesman Shawn Carney said in an interview with Fox.
Fox News Digital said it did not get a response to its inquiries of Planned Parenthood Florida.
"This was clearly noticeable. They were giving out flyers that said Tim Walz Tuesdays, which doesn't sound like the greatest time in the world, but nevertheless, they were promoting all these events of hosting Walt Harris campaign events and providing their space to do that, which, of course, they did not do for the Republicans. And you just can't do that as a 501c3. This is very, very basic," the pro-life organization explained.
Carney said his group hopes that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump will review the facts, given that this is the second offense that has been reported.
"Last summer, Carney's group filed a separate complaint about Planned Parenthood's mobile abortion bus that was operating a few miles from where the Democratic National Convention was taking place," the Fox report said.
"The pro-abortion angle of running on celebrating abortion was a dismal failure for the Harris-Waltz campaign, but when we filed that, we did get a response that they had received it, and we are hoping and pushing the Trump administration to take up that investigation, because now we have two violations, both of which were obviously against the Trump administration and were heavily politically partisan towards the Democrats, which, of course, as nonprofits, you just can't do," Carney charged.
The complaint notes that the abortion company's actions served "as a clear indicator of political endorsement or opposition of particular candidates and parties."