FIFA awarded President Donald Trump a newly established peace prize during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, D.C., marking the first time the international soccer organization has issued such an honor.
FIFA has awarded Donald Trump their first-ever Peace Prize during the World Cup draw. pic.twitter.com/LjvFrDzkKm
The event took place at the Kennedy Center, where FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the award, titled the “FIFA Peace Prize: Football Unites the World.”
Infantino addressed Trump directly while presenting the honor.
“You can always count, Mr President, on my support and the entire football community … to help you make peace … all over the world,” he said.
PEACE PRESIDENT. ️@FIFAWorldCup President Gianni Infantino awards President Donald J. Trump the inaugural 2025 FIFA Peace Prize, dedicated to an individual who achieved exceptional and extraordinary action to promote peace and unity around the world. pic.twitter.com/mfKKDb9w59
The prize was announced in early November, shortly after Trump was not selected for the Nobel Peace Prize.
This year’s Nobel went to Venezuelan democracy advocate Maria Corina Machado.
Prior to that decision, Infantino had suggested on Instagram that Trump was deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize following the Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement.
FIFA did not release information regarding how the new award was created, who was considered for it, or what criteria guided the selection.
.@POTUS on receiving the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize: “This is truly one of the great honors of my life. Beyond awards… we saved millions and millions of lives.” ️ pic.twitter.com/6H6qSUmvKC
According to officials within the organization, the matter was not brought before the FIFA Council, which typically evaluates significant proposals or reforms within FIFA’s structure.
Infantino described the purpose of the prize as recognizing “individuals who unite people” and “bring hope for future generations.”
His public support for Trump has become more visible as preparations continue for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump has also spoken positively about the FIFA president, referring to Infantino as “a great leader in sports and a great gentleman.”
The announcement drew attention beyond the sports world.
Human Rights Watch sent a letter to FIFA asking for clarification on the creation of the award.
The organization asked what formal criteria would be used to evaluate future nominees and who would serve as decision-makers in selecting recipients, according to reporting from the Independent.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily approved Texas’ redistricting map for the upcoming midterm elections, clearing the way for Republicans to move forward with a plan expected to increase the party’s representation in the U.S. House.
The 5-3 ruling blocked a lower court injunction and allows the map to be used as candidate qualifying begins across the state.
BREAKING – MASSIVE VICTORY: Supreme Court UPHOLDS Texas’ 2026 Congressional redistricting map in a 6-3 ruling
The Court has not issued a final decision on the underlying lawsuit, which argues that the Republican-led redistricting effort is discriminatory and violates federal law.
For now, however, the ruling enables Texas to proceed with the map while litigation continues.
Republican officials have projected that the new district lines could result in five additional GOP seats.
Democrats are pursuing their own redistricting strategies elsewhere, including a prominent effort in California backed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Biden-era map in California is already facing a legal challenge from the Trump administration, which has argued that the state’s redistricting process was unconstitutional.
In the Texas case, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown previously wrote that the state’s map involved considerations beyond typical partisan maneuvering.
“To be sure, politics played a role in drawing the 2025 Map,” Brown wrote.
“But it was much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map.”
BREAKING: Supreme Court UPHOLDS the Texas redistricting map, allowing Texas to use the map for the 2026 Midterms!
U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi praised the Supreme Court’s temporary approval of the map, framing the decision as a reaffirmation of states’ authority over redistricting.
“Federal courts have no right to interfere with a State’s decision to redraw legislative maps for partisan reasons,” she said.
Bondi criticized the lower court’s earlier ruling in the case, stating, “A federal district court ignored that principle two weeks ago, and the Supreme Court correctly stayed that overreaching decision tonight.”
Bondi also congratulated Texas officials following the ruling.
“Congratulations to Texas for advancing the rule of law, my Solicitor General John Sauer, and our team of lawyers for their excellent brief supporting Texas in this important case,” she said.
Federal courts have no right to interfere with a State’s decision to redraw legislative maps for partisan reasons. A federal district court ignored that principle two weeks ago, and the Supreme Court correctly stayed that overreaching decision tonight.
The dispute reflects broader nationwide battles over congressional district lines, with both parties pursuing strategies that could influence control of the House for years to come.
In California, Newsom promoted the state’s redistricting proposition as an opportunity for voters to counter President Donald Trump’s agenda. The measure passed easily.
President Trump sharply criticized the California initiative, arguing that the process and the state’s voting system unfairly disadvantaged Republicans.
“The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED,” Trump said.
“All ‘Mail-In’ Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are ‘Shut Out,’ is under very serious legal and criminal review.”
Legal challenges in both states are expected to continue, with further rulings likely as courts weigh partisan considerations, allegations of racial gerrymandering, and the extent of state authority in congressional mapmaking.
The Supreme Court’s temporary approval of the Texas map allows the midterm election cycle to proceed, even as the broader fight over redistricting remains unresolved.
CBS News moved quickly on Thursday to finalize a deal with “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil to anchor “CBS Evening News,” following Maurice DuBois’ unexpected announcement that he will leave the network later this month, as reported by The New York Post.
Multiple sources said negotiations accelerated after DuBois disclosed his departure on Instagram, a move that caught network executives off guard.
Dokoupil has been considered a leading contender for the role and is viewed as a top choice of Editor in Chief Bari Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski.
“CBS Evening News” anchor Maurice DuBois is departing CBS News.
DuBois announced on Instagram Thursday that his last day will be Dec. 18. His exit comes after a revamp of the “CBS Evening News” format spurred noticeable ratings declines.https://t.co/2a2RTAejeapic.twitter.com/K2nUsjpPhF
While sources said the deal is not yet final, the network was working to renegotiate Dokoupil’s contract with his agent, UTA’s Jay Sures, after DuBois publicly revealed his plans.
According to sources familiar with the matter, DuBois was told last week that he was not “the future” of “CBS Evening News.”
One source said the discussion prompted him to go “off-script” by announcing his exit earlier than expected.
The network had intended to announce his departure alongside the announcement of his replacement, originally planned for the New Year.
Cibrowski disputed the characterization that DuBois acted independently. In a statement late Thursday, he said he had “worked directly with Maurice for 2 weeks, who is a complete professional, on announcing his departure.”
Earlier in the day, however, other insiders insisted the opposite. “He went rogue,” one CBS insider said, adding that DuBois’ announcement forced the company to speed up its timeline.
DuBois said his last day at CBS, where he has worked for 21 years, will be December 18. He joined “CBS Evening News” in January as co-anchor alongside John Dickerson.
Dickerson announced in October that he planned to leave the network at the end of the year, with his final day scheduled for December 19.
While Cibrowski released a memo thanking DuBois for his service, CBS did not address who will assume control of the “Evening News” broadcast.
Sources said an announcement naming Dokoupil as the new anchor is expected in the coming days.
Weiss had previously considered a broader list of potential replacements, including Fox News’ Bret Baier and Dana Perino, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman.
However, those candidates remain under long-term contracts and would require more substantial financial commitments than the network is currently positioned to make.
Dokoupil’s comparatively lower salary reportedly made him a more realistic choice for CBS as it balances budget constraints.
His possible move raises questions about how the network will restructure its morning show lineup. Some insiders have speculated about potential changes involving Gayle King or Nate Burleson.
King’s $13 million salary has drawn internal scrutiny, though one source suggested her future at the network could depend on whether management can reduce that compensation.
Burleson, who also earns a multimillion-dollar salary, has been mentioned as another possible departure.
“It’s a game of chess,” a second CBS source said. “It all depends on where the chips fall.”
Federal officials say a sweeping fraud investigation in Minnesota has revealed what they describe as the largest theft of taxpayer money in United States history, involving more than $1 billion in public funds and at least 86 suspects.
The case centers largely on Somali refugee communities in the state and has drawn national attention following comments from senior White House officials and escalating questions for state and federal leaders.
Authorities announced that the suspects allegedly created or operated companies that billed Minnesota for social services that were never provided.
According to federal investigators, the schemes touched programs intended to feed children, provide homeless services, and support autism therapy. Officials say the fraud was carried out across three separate operations that submitted millions in false invoices.
Public records and photographs show that some of the individuals charged had appeared in images with Representative Ilhan Omar and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Both were photographed with Abdul Dahir Ibrahim, who was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on Friday.
Fox News reported that he had previously been convicted in Canada of asylum and welfare fraud.
BREAKING: Photos show Abdul Dahir Ibrahim, a Somali ILLEGAL ALIEN convicted in the Minnesota fraud scheme, posing alongside Ilhan Omar and Tim Walz.
Ibrahim had orders for removal in 2004 AND had prior convictions in Canada for asylum and welfare fraud.pic.twitter.com/UIaniZ7sCs
White House Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller said Friday that evidence gathered by prosecutors points to significant failures inside state government.
“We believe the state government is fully complicit in this scheme, and we believe that what we uncover is going to shock the American people,” he said.
Miller also stated that prosecutors believe “the Somali fraud operation in Minnesota is the single greatest theft of taxpayer dollars through welfare fraud in American history.”
Speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Miller said investigators “believe that we’ve only scratched the very top of the surface of how deep this goes,” adding that the Trump administration is examining whether any of the stolen funds were funneled to terrorist groups, including Somalia-based Al-Shabaab.
He said current figures suggest that 75 percent of the Somali population in Minnesota is on welfare, calling that estimate an understated picture of the financial burden on public systems.
BREAKING: Stephen Miller announced the Trump admin has launched a FULL-SCALE investigation into Somali fraud in Tim Walz’s Minnesota
“We believe that the Somali fraud operation in Minnesota is the single greatest theft of taxpayer dollars, through welfare fraud, in American… pic.twitter.com/hCnnchkOba
Following the revelations, President Donald Trump announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, and Ibrahim was subsequently taken into custody.
Officials say he entered the United States through the Canadian border in 1995.
Seven years later, he was arrested for providing false information to police and driving without a valid license, receiving a fine and one year of probation.
Records show he accumulated additional traffic and parking violations over the years while repeatedly seeking asylum.
Court filings cited by the New York Post note that Ibrahim once listed his sister and her five children as his spouse and his own children as part of his asylum claim.
A judge rejected the application, citing his “complete lack of credibility.”
Despite a deportation order issued in 2004, he received temporary protected status for a decade.
The Department of Homeland Security stated Friday that Ibrahim “has been linked to Minnesota’s top sanctuary politicians,” concluding its announcement with, “Bye-bye, Abdul.”
BREAKING: ICE is now ARRESTING Somali fraudsters in Minnesota.
Abdul’s asylum request got DENIED because of the “fraud on his record.”
He got temporary protected status for 10 YEARS, despite an order for removal.
Another individual tied to the broader investigation is Salim Ahmed Said, the 33-year-old owner of Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis.
Omar held her 2018 victory party at the establishment.
Prosecutors say Said took $5 million by claiming to have provided tens of thousands of meals to children during the pandemic through the nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
Authorities allege the restaurant received over $16 million for “phantom meals,” and say Said used the money to purchase a $2 million Minneapolis home and spend $9,000 a month at Nordstrom.
Federal investigators also linked Guhaad Hashi Said, a former Omar campaign staffer and community organizer, to similar food-fund fraud.
Prosecutors say he falsely claimed to serve 5,000 meals per day through Advance Youth Athletic Development and diverted millions into his own accounts.
He pleaded guilty in August 2025.
Said worked on Omar’s 2018 and 2020 campaigns and appeared with her in several Facebook photos.
Campaign filings show Omar received $7,400 in donations from individuals now convicted in the fraud scheme.
She returned the contributions when the case surfaced in 2022. Omar has denied any knowledge of criminal activity and is not accused of wrongdoing.
She previously introduced the 2020 MEALS Act, which expanded funding later exploited in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud.
Governor Walz has acknowledged failures in oversight during the pandemic, telling The Times that his administration “erred on the side of generosity” and moved money quickly to residents.
“The programs are set up to move the money to people,” he said.
“The programs are set up to improve people’s lives, and in many cases, the criminals find the loopholes.”
Walz has launched a task force to investigate systemic fraud and plans to use AI-based tools to detect suspicious activity.
“The message here in Minnesota is if you commit a crime, if you commit fraud against public dollars, you are going to go to prison,” he said.
President Trump, however, criticized Walz for allowing Minnesota to become “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity,” saying those responsible should be “sent back to where they came from.”
BREAKING: In a massive move, President Trump TERMINATES temporary status for SOMALIANS in Minnesota after massive Medicaid fraud exposed
“Send them back to where they came from.”
“Minnesota, under Governor Waltz, is a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity. I am, as… pic.twitter.com/aML2Yl1GU3
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also challenged the governor’s handling of state programs at a Cabinet meeting, saying that visa and benefit fraud rates show that “that wacko Governor Walz either is an idiot or he did it on purpose — and I think he’s both.”
We don’t complain about problems, we fix them.
Under the leadership of President Trump, DHS is taking on the incessant immigration fraud in Minnesota that has robbed billions of dollars from U.S. taxpayers.
Reports from the New York Times said civil-service reluctance may have contributed to the size of the fraud, noting that workers feared appearing discriminatory when reviewing Somali-owned businesses.
By 2020, Minnesota Department of Education officials were facing an influx of applications for new feeding sites.
As invoices rose, staff began to question claims that tens of thousands of meals were being provided.
Feeding Our Future, the largest nonprofit in the program, warned the state that delays in approvals for “minority-owned businesses” could result in discrimination lawsuits.
The state responded by easing approval processes, but the group sued regardless.
Despite warning signs, reimbursements continued for months before the scheme collapsed and federal raids began.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Wednesday that the department has launched an investigation into what he described as a “troubling incident” involving a Midwestern school that allegedly vaccinated a child without parental consent, as reported by Fox News.
Kennedy made the announcement in a video statement released on X, saying the department is taking steps to enforce federal requirements that protect parental authority in medical decisions involving their children.
Jan 29, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee during a confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services on Jan. 29, 2025 in Washington.. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
Kennedy said the incident involved a school administering a federally funded vaccine despite a legally recognized state exemption.
“A school administered a federally funded vaccine to a child without the parent’s consent and despite a legally recognized state exemption,” he said.
“When any institution — a school, a doctor’s office, a clinic — disregards a religious exemption, it doesn’t just break trust, it also breaks the law.” He added:
“We’re not going to tolerate it.”
Kennedy did not identify the name of the school, the state where the incident occurred, or the type of vaccine involved. He said the Trump administration intends to ensure that health care providers and institutions comply with federal protections relating to parental rights.
“We will use every tool we have to protect families and restore accountability,” he said.
According to Kennedy, HHS is beginning compliance reviews of major health care providers and systems to determine whether they are giving parents timely access to their children’s health information.
He said that providers will receive a letter reminding them of “their clear legal duty” to share medical records with parents, adding that the department expects “no delays, no secrets, no excuses.”
A separate letter from the Health Resources and Services Administration was issued to HRSA grant recipients.
Kennedy said that the letter reiterates that federal funding requires adherence to laws safeguarding parental rights, and that program participants must comply with those standards.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies on Jan. 29, 2025, at his Senate hearing on his nomination to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS is also examining how states and school districts handle medical and religious exemptions as part of its oversight of the federally funded Vaccines for Children program.
Kennedy said the review aims to ensure that program operations are consistent with federal and state law.
Kennedy encouraged parents to file complaints with the HHS Office for Civil Rights if they believe their rights have been violated or if they believe their child received medical treatment without proper consent.
Federal authorities have arrested a suspect believed to have planted two pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee on January 5, 2021, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with Fox News Digital on Thursday, as reported by Fox News.
The arrest was made early Thursday morning in Virginia.
The FBI had been searching for the individual since the explosives were discovered on Jan. 6, 2021, as thousands of protesters began gathering near the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the 2020 election results.
Man arrested this morning for planting the J6 pipe bombs.
The arrest comes after reviewing information the FBI had already had for years.
The pipe bombs were found just blocks away from the Capitol building, prompting evacuations and drawing significant federal resources during an already volatile day.
Authorities released surveillance footage shortly after the incident that showed an unidentified person placing the devices more than 16 hours before they were located.
The individual, identified as Virginia man Brian Cole, was seen wearing a gray hoodie, Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers, gloves, glasses, and a face covering. Despite widespread circulation of the images, the identity of the person remained unknown for years.
A congressional report later noted that the investigation slowed significantly within two months of the discovery, suggesting that credible early leads may have run out.
The lack of resolution fueled persistent questions among some supporters of President Donald Trump regarding the timing, purpose, and handling of the incident.
Others questioned whether the Biden administration had been fully transparent about developments in the case.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, prior to joining the bureau, had publicly raised concerns over whether the planting of the devices could have been an “inside job.”
In May, Bongino told Fox News that investigators were “closing in” on suspects.
Law enforcement officials have not publicly released the name of the suspect arrested Thursday or disclosed details about what led them to identify the individual after such a lengthy investigation.
Officials described the case as ongoing and said additional information will be released as available.
BREAKING: The FBI has just made an arrest in the 2021 RNC and DNC pipe bomb investigation.
“We don’t have an ID of that person yet from the FBI or from the Justice Department but from everything we know it seems to indicate this is not someone who is an insider.” pic.twitter.com/Oh5OLl5E1e
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is drawing attention for remarks made during a recent appearance on MSNOW in which he suggested that the uniformed military “may help save us from this president.”
The comments circulated widely on Wednesday and prompted questions about whether the senator was implying that military leadership should intervene against President Donald Trump.
The discussion followed criticism from several Democratic lawmakers regarding the administration’s decision to target narcoterrorist boats in the Caribbean.
Members of a group referred to by critics as the “Seditious Six,” including Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, have led objections to the operation. Warner, though not associated with that group, has been among the most vocal Democrats challenging the policy.
Warner began his interview by referencing what he described as Trump’s treatment of senior military officials, saying the president showed “unprecedented disrespect when they were all brought to get a pep rally in front of Hegseth and Trump.”
The senator was referring to a meeting in which officials were reminded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of the military’s role in national defense.
Warner also criticized personnel changes within the administration.
“This is an administration that’s fired, you know, uniformed generals from the head of the NSA, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and I think, um, uh, in many ways, the uniformed military may help save us from this president and his lame people like Hegseth, because I think their commitment is to the Constitution and obviously not to Trump, and I expect Bradley would adhere to that.”
Sen. Mark Warner: “I think, in many ways, the uniformed military may help save us from this President.”
Warner was referring to Adm. Frank Bradley, who was identified by Hegseth as the officer responsible for authorizing a second strike on a narcoterrorist vessel.
The Constitution outlines impeachment by Congress as the mechanism for removing a president, and the military plays no role in that process.
Warner did not elaborate on what actions he believed military leaders might take, leaving the meaning of his remarks open to interpretation.
Warner continued his criticism by faulting the administration’s handling of senior military and intelligence officials.
He said Hegseth was “trying to throw the admiral [Bradley], who is in charge of Socom, under the bus. This is the worst kind of action. I’ve never met Adm. Bradley. Everything I’ve known about him is that this has been an American hero. He’s done the right things. He has supervised special operations for a long time. My fear is this guy is getting thrown under the bus, the same way this administration fired the general head of the NSA, the general that was head of the Defense Intelligence Agency — not for legitimate reasons, but for political purposes. This has never happened in America, this undermining of our intelligence community, undermining of our uniformed military. This is beyond outrageous.”
Warner also said, “This is the biggest ‘ you’ve ever seen,” referring to Trump, Hegseth, and others in the administration.
Hegseth has gotta be one of the biggest wimps I’ve ever seen. It’s time for him to release the full video of the strike. pic.twitter.com/RATZSu4JP0
The senator’s statements come as Democrats continue to question the administration’s approach to military policy and intelligence leadership.
His remarks also arrive in the broader context of ongoing disputes between lawmakers and the White House over national security decisions, including operations targeting narcoterrorist activity in the Caribbean.
BREAKING: Democrats are PLOTTING a MILITARY COUP… not of Dictator Maduro, but of TRUMP
OBAMA’S Trigger-Puller Leon Panetta is FUMING over the DOUBLE-TAP HOAX… he wants to SEND Secretary of War Hegseth to the HAGUE
Federal authorities arrested a previously convicted illegal immigrant in Georgia after seizing nearly 1,600 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in commercial blackberry shipments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday, as reported by The New York Post.
Prosecutors said the drugs carried an estimated value in the tens of millions of dollars.
Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, 44, a Mexican national, was indicted Tuesday on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Solorio-Alvarado previously served 17 years in federal prison after being convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a gun in a drug trafficking crime. Officials said he remains unlawfully present in the United States.
His alleged accomplice, Nelson Enrique Sorto, 36, of Atlanta, was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sorto is currently on probation following a 2024 conviction for felony possession of methamphetamine.
The investigation unfolded on Nov. 20, when federal agents and Hall County sheriff’s deputies conducting surveillance at a cold storage warehouse in Fulton County observed three refrigerated box trucks parked outside the facility.
Agents followed one of the trucks to a gas station in Gainesville, where Solorio-Alvarado allegedly picked up the driver and abandoned the vehicle.
A K-9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the abandoned truck. Agents found approximately 661 pounds of methamphetamine concealed among pallets of blackberries.
Authorities later arrested Solorio-Alvarado after he attempted to escape from the back of his Gainesville home. Deputies recovered keys to the truck inside the residence.
A second team of agents followed another refrigerated truck as it traveled with an SUV to a home in southeast Atlanta. Sorto was allegedly driving the SUV.
Shortly after midnight, Sorto left the home with two passengers, and Georgia State Patrol troopers conducted a traffic stop. Inside the SUV, officers found two firearms and several containers of blackberries.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, working with the FBI, searched the box truck parked outside the Atlanta home and recovered approximately 924 pounds of methamphetamine hidden within additional blackberry pallets.
In total, the two seizures amounted to 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine.
“Solorio-Alvarado was convicted in federal court for drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and he served nearly two decades in federal prison for those offenses. He was then, and he remains, an illegal alien, unlawfully present in the United States,” U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said during a press conference.
Hertzberg added that drug cartels have a pattern of hiding meth in produce shipments.
“We’ve seen the cartels operate this way before. … We have seen massive methamphetamine seizures of drugs that were smuggled in with cucumbers, celery or jalapeño peppers. And now … blackberries.”
Both suspects remain in state custody and will be transferred to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Investigators are examining whether Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House on November 26, was acting under pressure from the Taliban.
The shooting left one soldier dead and another critically injured. Lakanwal, 29, is charged with first-degree murder.
Sources familiar with the investigation told The Daily Beast that intelligence officials are looking into whether a Taliban hit squad threatened Lakanwal’s family in Afghanistan.
According to the report, officials are assessing claims that his relatives could have faced severe retaliation, including beatings, execution or beheading, if he did not carry out an attack in the United States.
The source emphasized that this is one area of focus among multiple investigative threads.
“It is by no means our only line of inquiry,” the intelligence official said, adding that U.S. personnel have worked extensively to protect Afghans targeted for assisting American forces.
“People in this country have no idea about the level of stress these people are under.”
Lakanwal, a married father of five, has been publicly denounced by President Donald Trump and other political figures who described him as a “monster” and “terrorist.”
They have argued that the ambush in Washington should result in the defendant facing the federal death penalty.
Reports indicated that Lakanwal had been anxious about financial issues and concerned that an immigration crackdown could affect his Green Card application.
Officials have noted that despite these concerns, they are still evaluating how he could have carried out a cross-country trip with only a revolver while targeting trained National Guard soldiers.
Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden-era initiative to relocate Afghans who had worked with U.S. forces.
His visa later expired, and he applied for asylum in 2024.
Questions have circulated regarding whether Lakanwal faced possible removal proceedings, but a White House official told the Daily Mail that his status would not have led to deportation.
“This Afghan national was paroled into the US by the Biden Admin,” the official said.
“After that, Joe Biden signed into law that parole program, and entered into the 2023 Ahmed Court Settlement, which bound USCIS to adjudicate his asylum claim on an expedited bases. Regardless of asylum status, this monster would not have been removed due to his parole status, granted by Joe Biden.”
Further background on Lakanwal’s history in Afghanistan has been confirmed by U.S. officials.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that Lakanwal worked directly with the agency as a GPS-tracking specialist and had been embedded with U.S. Special Forces during operations in Afghanistan.
Lakanwal remains in custody as the investigation continues to collect evidence about the circumstances leading to the shooting.
Federal and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating inquiries into the attack, Lakanwal’s movements in the days beforehand and any potential communications that may support or disprove the possibility of outside coercion.
A Port St. Lucie police sergeant was shot in the face Monday evening while responding to a service call connected to what authorities say was a dispute involving mental health issues, as reported by Fox News.
After shooting the crime scene- Polk County Sheriff’s Office
The suspect was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers.
🚨 URGENT PRAYERS NEEDED FOR SGT ERIK LEVASSEUR🚨
Around 6:08 PM on December 1st, PSLPD officers responded to a disturbance in the Tradition Town Park community. When they arrived, they were immediately met by an armed suspect with a rifle. Despite repeated commands from… pic.twitter.com/MdJasV9jSO
Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said six officers arrived around 6 p.m. at a home on the 11000 block of SW Lake Park Drive. According to Niemczyk, less than a minute after they approached the residence, an adult male armed with an assault rifle appeared outside and opened fire. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect at the scene.
Niemczyk identified the injured officer as Sgt. Erik LeVasseur, a 27-year veteran of the Port St. Lucie Police Department. No other officers were hurt.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. LeVasseur, his family, and our brothers and sisters at Port St. Lucie Police Department as he continues to receive care following this tragic officer-involved shooting. This is a sad reminder of the uncertainty officers face every time they… pic.twitter.com/nxs2DB2ww5
Though the investigation remains in its early stages, Niemczyk said the incident stemmed from a situation involving neighbors and a mental health-related call.
“It’s the notification that you just dread every day, but it’s always in the back of your mind, as a police chief, as a leader in law enforcement. It’s something that you’re always very aware of, afraid of, concerned for, and then it happens,” Niemczyk said.
Sgt. LeVasseur was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where he underwent surgery Monday night.
“We’re very optimistic for his prognosis. And at this time, we’re just asking for prayers,” Niemczyk added.
Port St. Lucie, Florida: 27-yr veteran Sgt. Erik LeVasseur shot in face during mental health neighbor dispute at Town Park near I-95. #shooting
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Port St. Lucie Police Department are continuing to investigate the shooting.
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