As the five-year deadline approaches, the Justice Department appears ready to pursue a perjury indictment against former FBI Director James Comey for his congressional testimony, Fox News reported.
The case revolves around whether Comey misled lawmakers in September 2020 about his management of the FBI's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, with a grand jury in Virginia now reviewing the matter for potential charges.
Back in 2016, the FBI opened an investigation into possible Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election, an effort that drew sharp scrutiny for its handling under Comey's leadership.
That probe, known internally as Crossfire Hurricane, examined alleged ties between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, setting off years of political tension.
Trump, who won the election, repeatedly denounced the inquiry as a "Russia hoax" and a "rigged witch hunt" that harmed America's relations with Russia.
From his perspective, figures like Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan had politicized intelligence agencies to target his presidency, a claim that resonated with many skeptical of bureaucratic overreach.
In May 2017, Trump fired Comey, later stating he had done the country "a great service" by removing him from the FBI helm.
Trump's critics saw the dismissal as obstruction, but supporters viewed it as a necessary step to restore trust in law enforcement institutions long plagued by perceived biases.
The investigation then shifted to special counsel Robert Mueller, who after extensive review found no sufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.
During Trump's first term, the Justice Department tapped special counsel John Durham to examine potential FBI mishandling in the Crossfire Hurricane operation.
Durham's findings led to charges against three lower-level FBI officials and highlighted serious bureau errors, though he concluded no illegal actions by top leaders like Comey.
Yet, those revelations fueled ongoing debates about accountability, reminding us that even well-intentioned probes can veer into problematic territory without proper oversight.
Fast forward to Sept. 30, 2020, when Comey testified before Congress about his role in the 2016 Russia investigation, statements now at the heart of the perjury allegations.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia is overseeing the current case, with the statute of limitations expiring next Tuesday under federal law's five-year window.
DOJ officials are nearing a decision on prosecution, as a source noted, with uncertainty lingering over which specific parts of Comey's testimony might trigger charges.
Trump has lambasted Comey for years, accusing him of dishonesty in handling the probe and related issues.
"I think they're very dishonest people. I think they're crooked as hell," Trump said in July about Comey and Brennan. "And maybe they have to pay a price for that."
Such pointed remarks, while blunt, underscore a broader conservative frustration with what many see as selective enforcement in Washington, where accountability often seems reserved for the politically inconvenient.
Secret Service agents are very concerned by the slow response to an incident that occurred at the United Nations on Tuesday, according to a report.
Agents should have moved to protect President Trump and his wife Melania right away after an escalator froze under their feet, sources told reporter Susan Crabtree of RealClearPolitics.
The delayed reaction from Trump's bodyguards has alarmed Secret Service insiders, who say the incident was a perfect set-up for a would-be assassin.
🚨🚨 Why did the @SecretService allow Pres. Trump and Melania to get stalled on an escalator today at the @UN General Assembly before his speech without moving quickly to protect the leader of the free world and his wife?
The stalled escalator with President Trump and first lady… https://t.co/mFvxGVXDQN
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) September 23, 2025
First Lady Melania Trump briefly lost her footing after the escalator suddenly turned off while she and her husband were on it. Melania was right in front of the president.
“This is not hard. Don’t just stand there,” former agent Rich Staropoli told Crabtree, who added agents "should have closed ranks right around there, as close as you can be.”
“Somebody’s got to make a call. We’re going to stand here like a bunch of morons, like we did in Butler. Or are we going to scoop up the first lady and POTUS and either go down or go up?”
Secret Service agents were similarly slow to get Trump off the stage after he narrowly survived an assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year.
The Secret Service is probing the cause of the escalator issue including the possibility that it was sabotage, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, UN staffers had "joked" about turning off the escalators to pressure Trump to restore funding to the global institution.
The United Nations has said the escalator stopped after a built-in safety mechanism was inadvertently triggered by someone further up on the escalator.
NOW - Escalator at UN headquarters immediately stops as Trump and Melania step on it shortly after arriving. pic.twitter.com/8nlUkDoQxm
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 23, 2025
The escalator incident occurred on the same day that would-be assassin Ryan Routh was convicted for trying to kill Trump at his Florida golf course last September.
Concerns about political violence are also heightened after the assassination of Trump's friend Charlie Kirk by a radical leftist.
Trump made light of the frozen escalator in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly, but Trump struck a more serious tone in a Truth Social post the next day, calling the event part of a "sinister" pattern that needs to be investigated. Trump also cited his teleprompter not working and audio issues during the speech.
“It’s amazing that Melania and I didn’t fall forward onto the sharp edges of these steel steps, face first,” Trump posted. “It was only that we were each holding the handrail tightly or, it would have been a disaster.”
“No wonder the United Nations hasn’t been able to do the job that they were put in existence to do,” he added. “All security tapes at the escalator should be saved, especially the emergency stop button. The Secret Service is involved.”
In a stunning turn of events, White House border czar Tom Homan has found himself at the center of controversy over allegations of accepting $50,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents.
The allegations, which surfaced over the weekend, claim Homan accepted cash from agents posing as business executives, though both he and White House officials have denied any criminal activity and labeled the incident as an entrapment scheme, the Washington Examiner reported.
Reports of the alleged incident first emerged over the weekend when MSNBC broke the story, later confirmed by the Associated Press.
According to the reports, FBI agents, operating under the administration of former President Joe Biden, posed as business executives and recorded Homan accepting $50,000 in cash.
The money was allegedly offered in exchange for assistance in securing a government contract, though specific details of the interaction remain unclear.
Homan has neither confirmed nor denied the specifics of the cash exchange but has repeatedly asserted that no illegal actions took place.
On Monday, Homan addressed the allegations during an interview on Fox News with host Laura Ingraham.
He emphasized that the Department of Justice and the FBI investigated the matter and found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Homan declared, “I did nothing criminal. I did nothing illegal. And this is hit piece after hit piece after hit piece.”
He continued, “And I'm glad the FBI and DOJ came out and said ... that nothing illegal happened and ... no criminal activity.”
Homan also spoke about the personal toll of his role, stating, “Not only did I sacrifice ... my family sacrifices. I make sacrifices every day. I get more death threats than anybody.”
He added, “So after all the sacrifices, after serving my nation for all these years, they want to come out and dirty me up. And it's not going to end. There's a hit piece on me every two weeks.”
Homan remained defiant, saying, “But keep coming because you know what? Tom Homan is not going anywhere.”
He further asserted, “Tom Homan isn't shutting up and Tom Homan is going to keep doing what he's doing because working with President Trump is the greatest job of my life. We're making this country safer again every day.”
Throughout the interview, Homan portrayed himself as a dedicated public servant who has endured significant personal and professional challenges to serve in his current position.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
FORT PIERCE, Florida – Would-be assassin Ryan Routh tried stabbing himself in the neck Tuesday after a jury found him guilty on all charges in last year's attempted murder of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Republican's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The verdict came just two hours after closing arguments Tuesday, as Routh acted as his own defense attorney on charges of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
"Today's guilty verdict against would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh illustrates the Department of Justice's commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence," said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on X.
"This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself. "
"I am grateful to @USAO_SDFL Jason Quinones, his entire trial team, and our law enforcement partners for protecting President Trump and securing this important verdict."
Danamarie McNicholl of Fox News reported Routh tried stabbing himself in the neck upon learning the verdicts.
"It is quite shocking. As the verdict was read, it appeared to our producers inside the courtroom that Routh tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen," said McNicholl.
"Then four marshals dragged him out of the courtroom, took his coat off, they then shackled him at the waist and ankles and then they brought him back in the courtroom."
President Trump reacted to the verdicts, saying on Truth Social: "Congratulations to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the entire DOJ team on the conviction, in Florida, of the person who attempted an assassination on my life.
"The trial was meticulously handled, and I would like to thank the Judge and Jury for their time, professionalism, and patience. This was an evil man with an evil intention, and they caught him.
"I would also like to thank the Secret Service, Department of Florida Law Enforcement, and the wonderful person who spotted him running from the site of the crime, and acted by following him, and getting all information on car type and license plate to the Sheriff's Office, IMMEDIATELY, which led to his arrest and conviction. What incredible instinct and foresight this person had – A very big moment for JUSTICE IN AMERICA!"
Former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker said the message the guilty verdicts send is: "If you do this in America, you will face the consequence and it is a heavy consequence. There is a life sentence on the first count of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate."
"I have no doubt he will be likely serving life in jail for the rest of his life."
Parker opined that Routh "thinks he's the victim."
"He just thinks the world is against him and he had the right to do what he did. In is mind, he didn't fire a shot, so he didn't do anything wrong."
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 18, and Trump could potentially give a victim-impact statement in the case if he so chooses.
Jonathan Turley, constitutional law attorney at George Washington University told Fox News: "This is sort of the shortest game of Clue in history. They found him at the scene, they chased him from the scene with a weapon. He wrote that he was intending to kill the president.
"It's pretty hard to make out any discernible or viable defense. And in some ways, the trial was as bizarre as he is. He seemed to confuse a jury of your peers as with 12 equally delusional people. That's not what you get."
Routh was arrested on Sept. 15, 2024, heading north on Interstate 95 in Martin County, Florida, after being spotted pointing a gun through a fence as Trump was golfing in West Palm Beach. A citizen was able to give authorities a description of the getaway vehicle, helping his capture once he left Palm Beach County.
"The guy's a dangerous guy, there's no two ways about it. His intention was to harm the president," Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told Will Cain of Fox News.
"It's unfortunate in today's environment these people are out there. Unless the temperature in this United States comes down a little bit in the political environment, we're gonna see more of it unfortunately."
The attempted assassination in Florida was the second against Trump in 2024, as he was struck in the ear by a bullet during a July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania,.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump has delivered on his promise to designate Antifa, the leftist organization that has orchestrated dozens, maybe hundreds, of riots in opposition to MAGA in recent years, as a domestic terror organization.
"Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law," he said in his signed order on Monday.
"It uses illegal means to organize and execute a campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide to accomplish these goals. This campaign involves coordinated efforts to obstruct enforcement of Federal laws through armed standoffs with law enforcement, organized riots, violent assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement officers, and routine doxing of and other threats against political figures and activists.
"Antifa recruits, trains, and radicalizes young Americans to engage in this violence and suppression of political activity, then employs elaborate means and mechanisms to shield the identities of its operatives, conceal its funding sources and operations in an effort to frustrate law enforcement, and recruit additional members. Individuals associated with and acting on behalf of Antifa further coordinate with other organizations and entities for the purpose of spreading, fomenting, and advancing political violence and suppressing lawful political speech. This organized effort designed to achieve policy objectives by coercion and intimidation is domestic terrorism."
Trump said because of Antifa's "pattern of political violence designed to suppress lawful political activity and obstruct the rule of law," he designated it a "domestic terrorist organization."
Trump had announced his plan shortly after Charlie Kirk, a titan of the conservative movement often targeted by Antifa and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated by an alleged left-winger radicalized by transgender ideologies.
Tyler Robinson, the suspect, is accused of engraving bullet casings with slogans like, "Hey fascist! Catch!" and more.
There already had been a proposal in Congress to impose that declaration, and leaders now have endorsed it.
Fox News reported House Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and other Republican lawmakers expressed strong support for Trump's plan.
They also supported the idea of investigating those who fund the protests and riots.
Antifa, which erupted across the United States at the time of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis several years ago, at the time was blamed for the billions of dollars in damages Antifa riots and violence cost American families, business and cities.
One leftist network, in fact, had a reporter stand in front of a city block engulfed in flames and describe the destruction as fiery but mostly peaceful.
Reports reveal an alleged Antifa cell tried to assassinate police officers in July.
And in Georgia, more than 60 individuals were accused in 2023 of domestic terrorism and material support charges "over Antifa and eco-terrorist violence," according to a report in the Federalist.
At the time it apparently was, the report said, the "first known Antifa case where law enforcement successfully 'followed the money,' raiding the Atlanta Solidarity Fund and its fiscal sponsor, The Network for Strong Communities, over charity fraud allegations for their alleged role in backing violent protests."
Going forward, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security could make such local groups, leaders and even those funders a priority for their work against domestic terrorism.
WND had reported that the House of Representatives was at work on a parallel plan.
It is expediting legislation brought by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., to designate Antifa.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
While Minnesota is hardly a stronghold for MAGA supporters, that was the location of the first Turning Point USA rally since the death of its founder and driving force, Charlie Kirk.
The campus-outreach organization went to the University of Minnesota Monday and drew at least 2,000 attendees, according to Townhall. The national tour has been renamed "This is the Turning Point."
"[The event] was 100% sold out. They are carrying Charlie's torch! This is AMAZING," posted Eric Daugherty about the Minneapolis event.
At one point, hundreds of students stood, many wearing red caps, and chanted, "Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!"
The event, which was originally to feature Kirk, was led by commentator and author Michael Knowles.
"Charlie accomplished more in his 31 years than most people could accomplish in many lifetimes," said Knowles. "His most public accomplishments were political. His most important were religious. He wanted to be remembered for his faith."
MPR News spoke to Keane Pfeifer of St. Paul, a high-school senior.
He said he hadn't heard of Kirk until the lead-up to the 2024 election and liked that Kirk was willing to talk with liberals – "and I also just agree with him on most of his points."
"Charlie was an inspiration for me to speak out and be confident in what I believe in. He started Turning Point USA when he was 18 years old," which is how old Pfeifer is now. "It has shown that youth can make a difference … if we come together and work together."
The tour's next stop is Wednesday night at Virginia Tech, where Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is slated to be one of the speakers.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
As President Donald Trump prepares to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York City Tuesday, the U.S. Secret Service announced it "dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency's protective operations."
The agency says this protective intelligence investigation led to the discovery of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites.
"In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks," according to a news release.
"This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.
"While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement."
Secret Service Director Sean Curran indicated: "The potential for disruption to our country's telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated."
The Secret Service says the devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting of the United Nations General Assembly now underway in New York City.
"Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network," the agency said.
The U.S. Secret Service thwarted what could have been a significant attack on telecommunications systems in New York City during the UN General Assembly meeting this week, the New York Post reported. Officials announced on Tuesday that they had found several devices capable of jamming 911 calls and disabling cell towers throughout the Big Apple.
The agency found "more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites," stemming from an investigation beginning this spring. “The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said.
Matt McCool, who is the special agent in charge of the New York field office for the Secret Service, said the impact would have been profound. The devices had the capacity to plunge the city into a communications gridlock comparable to what followed the 9/11 attacks with cell service and 911 networks jammed.
Due to the timing of the findings, the Secret Service is investigating whether the attack was specifically targeted at the UN General Assembly. Officials are not saying who is responsible for these devices and networks, but it's clear some foreign criminal networks may have been using them to send encrypted messages.
The Department of Homeland Security released a video on X, formerly Twitter, featuring McCool's remarks about the investigation's findings. "Today, the @SecretService announced the dismantling of a network of electronic devices—located within 35 miles of the United Nations General Assembly—used to carry out a wide range of telecommunications attacks," the caption read.
"The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down, and dismantled," the post explained. McCool's video shared information about the aim and scope of the investigation.
Today, the @SecretService announced the dismantling of a network of electronic devices—located within 35 miles of the United Nations General Assembly—used to carry out a wide range of telecommunications attacks.
The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications… pic.twitter.com/frh4scsVAF
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 23, 2025
The top agent explained that the Secret Service was sharing the findings "as a matter of public interest, given the timing, amount, and concentration of material recovered during a recent Secret Service Protective Intelligence investigation." McCool said "multiple telecommunications-related imminent threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials" earlier this year prompted the Secret Service to conduct a "protective intelligence investigation" of the threat.
"This was a difficult and complex effort to identify the source of fraudulent calls and their impact on the Secret Service protection mission. During that period, we leveraged technical assistance and support of federal partners, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, and the Director of National Intelligence," as well as the New York Police Department, McCool said.
The probe uncovered the vast network "capable of carrying out nefarious telecommunications attacks," McCool said. "These Devices allowed anonymous encrypted communications between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises, enabling criminal organizations to operate undetected. This network had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City," he added.
McCool said that "the timing, location, proximity, and potential for significant disruptions to the New-York Telecom system" prompted the Secret Service's rapid response. "To be clear, these recovered devices no longer pose a threat to the New York Tri-State area," McCool said.
"We will continue working towards identifying those responsible and their intent, including whether their plan was to disrupt the UN General Assembly and communications of government, and emergency personnel during the official visit of world leaders in and around New York City. Forensic examinations of the equivalent of 100,000 cell phones' worth of data are underway," McCool assured the public.
The top agent also made it clear that these were "cellular communications between foreign actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement" and therefore already on their radar. "Given the sensitivity and complexity of this investigation, we are not able to go into specifics at this time," McCool added, noting that the Secret Service's investigation will continue.
The Secret Service has saved New York City from a consequential attack with its investigation and swift action. Unfortunately, one neutralized threat does not mean that the the city or the nation are safe from such attacks in the future.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A transgender activist has issued a graphic call to assassinate other Americans who think like Charlie Kirk, the Christian conservative champion who was gunned down Sept. 10.
Video of the activist, whom social media users identify as Kimberly McNeely, a purported tarot-card reader from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, reveals a disturbing call for blood recorded a day after Kirk was struck by a bullet while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
"F*** Charlie Kirk," the individual begins. "I don't want to see people hurt. Nobody deserves that. Some people do deserve that. People whose lives are causing death and harm to others, they f***ing deserve it.
"I hope he's the first of many because it's not like our kindness, our empathy is keeping our people from getting killed. It's not."
"It's time for minorities to stop being small, to stop being quiet, to stop being digestible. It's time for minorities to rise the f*** up, to fight f***ing back. And sometimes fighting is messy, sometimes it's bloody. And that's the f***ing way it has to be. I'm not gonna apologize for that. I will die on this f***ing hill.
"Show me a better way, because nothing so far is working," the activist continues.
"Capitalism is growing and growing. Patriarchy is growing and growing. Nothing's getting better. I think people are afraid to do what it takes, you know? Like even when you're not the one getting your hands dirty, don't condemn those who are so f***ing done that they did what they had to do to take a stand."
"No, killing one person isn't gonna fix things. But making people afraid to speak that kind of rhetoric, making people think twice, making people feel not empowered, yeah, that will."
Libs of TikTok noted: "Lgbtq+ t*rrorism is a massive problem."
Others indicated: "This is terrorism and should be treated as such."
"This is just unacceptable. Conservatives are being told they cant live their lives at all, let alone be safe, or exercise their rights. This is absolutely incitement to violence and from the same radicalized subgroup of people who have been disproportionately violently killing people."
"I wonder if this guy knows what he's really asking for. I wonder if he understands how much skilled firepower the right could bring against transtifa? Does he really want to find out?"
Others have been sharing Turning Point USA clips demonstrating Kirk's kindness and empathy toward transgender individuals.
In one video, speaking to a 19-year-old biological male who was transitioning to female, Kirk said: "I'm gonna have an opinion that very few people will ever tell you, which is I want you to be very cautious putting drugs into your system int he pursuit of changing your body.
"I instead encourage you to work on what's going on in your brain first. I think what you need first and foremost is just a diagnosis, just someone that is going to listen to what you'e gone through, listen to what else is going on."
"My prayer for you, and again, very few people will say this, I actually want to see you be comfortable in how you were born. I know that you might not feel that way, but I think that is something that you can achieve."
"I think that with the right team and the right people, you don't have to wage war on your body. You can learn to love your body."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
On the same day Americans honored slain civil-rights leader Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel on Sunday said the bureau is investigating all theories concerning the assassination, including "hand gestures observed as potential 'signals'" immediately prior to the shooting.
Patel said: "We are meticulously investigating theories and questions, including the location from where the shot was taken, the possibility of accomplices, the text message confession and related conversations, Discord chats, the angle of the shot and bullet impact, how the weapon was transported, hand gestures observed as potential 'signals' near Charlie at the time of his assassination, and visitors to the alleged shooter's residence in the hours and days leading up to September 10, 2025."
Videos have emerged of hand gestures, with some claiming they are military-style signals.
"Some details are known today, while others are still being pursued to ensure every possibility is considered," Patel said.
"Our primary focus is to complete this investigation and deliver justice. To protect the integrity of the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we cannot release every piece of information we have to the public right now. We will ensure every question is addressed at the appropriate moment.
"Regarding specific details, such as questions about the plane that allegedly turned off its transponder after departing from an airport near the assassination site, we can share updates when answers are confirmed. After interviews with the pilot and consultation with the FAA, we determined the transponder was not turned off. Incomplete flight data in rural areas caused the apparent gap."
Patel said as the bureau's director, "I am committed to ensuring the investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination is thorough and exhaustive, pursuing every lead to its conclusion.
"The full weight of America's law enforcement agencies are actively following the evidence that has emerged, but our efforts extend beyond initial findings. We are examining every facet of this assassination."
"The entire FBI mourns the loss of Charlie Kirk," Patel concluded.
"We will not rest until justice is served, and our investigation into this assassination will continue until every question is answered."