Big Cities

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani Begs For Millions in Cash Before He Takes Office
Big Cities

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani Begs For Millions in Cash Before He Takes Office

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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is asking supporters to contribute to his transition effort as he prepares to assume office.

In a video posted Tuesday, Mamdani urged viewers to donate through a website created for the transition.

“I hope very soon not to have to ask you for money. But until then, I’m askin’ for you to go to transition2025.com, give whatever you can …” Mamdani said in the video.

Mamdani noted that transition activities are not eligible for the city’s public matching funds program, which multiplies qualifying campaign donations.

He said that while campaign contributions can receive an eight-to-one match, transition expenses receive no such assistance.

“Now unlike the campaign, transitions do not get public matching funds from the city. So that eight-to-one match: gone. It’s up to us to raise the money. Usually campaigns take that as an opportunity to rely on wealthy donors, but that’s not us,” he said.

Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, stated that the transition team aims to raise $4 million before he takes office on January 1.

He said the intention is to have the full team and operational plans ready on day one rather than beginning preparations after inauguration.

According to figures shown in the video, the transition effort had raised more than $1 million as of November 14.

The data also showed 12,707 donors had contributed, with an average donation of $77.65.

Mamdani outlined several reasons for the fundraising push.

“We have to vet the 50,000 resumes we’ve received,” he said, referring to applicants seeking positions in the incoming administration. He also said funds were necessary to maintain staffing.

“We have to keep paying our incredible team.”

He added that the transition requires planning for both the inauguration and the policy agenda the administration intends to pursue once in office.

“And we have to plan not just our inauguration, but our policy implementation,” he said.

WATCH:

Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral race earlier this month.

The New York state assembly member secured victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the general election.

Big Money Moves: Massive Crypto Company Flees Blue State Red Tape
Big Cities

Big Money Moves: Massive Crypto Company Flees Blue State Red Tape

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Coinbase, the nation’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced plans to relocate its corporate registration from Delaware to Texas, citing what company leaders described as an increasingly restrictive environment in the blue-leaning state.

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, confirmed the move in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, stating the company had filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission to leave Delaware.

“It’s a shame that it has come to this, but Delaware has left us with little choice,” Grewal wrote.

“This choice is much bigger than Coinbase. It’s part of a movement of businesses choosing markets with favorable regulatory and judicial-review systems.”

The decision marks a significant shift away from a state long regarded as the country’s corporate hub.

For decades, Delaware has been known for its pro-business framework, streamlined legal processes, and the specialized Court of Chancery, which handles corporate disputes.

More than 60 percent of S&P 500 companies are incorporated there, and corporate fees generate roughly $2 billion annually — about one-third of Delaware’s total state budget.

In recent years, however, some corporations have begun questioning Delaware’s approach, arguing that its policies have tilted toward excessive litigation and burdensome oversight.

Coinbase’s relationship with the state has deteriorated amid a shareholder lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

The suit accuses top executives of selling nearly $3 billion in stock during the company’s 2021 public listing while allegedly possessing confidential information indicating shares were overvalued.

A judge has denied Coinbase’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to move forward.

Texas has positioned itself as a leading alternative.

The state, along with Nevada, has passed laws that limit shareholder lawsuits and offer broader legal protections for corporate boards and executives.

Business leaders view these changes as part of a broader trend of companies migrating toward jurisdictions with clearer and more predictable regulatory standards.

Coinbase’s announcement follows similar moves by high-profile companies.

In 2024, Tesla officially relocated its incorporation from Delaware to Texas following a series of lawsuits challenging CEO Elon Musk’s compensation. Musk had previously faced a high-profile 2018 case over his $56 billion pay package.

After reincorporating Tesla in Texas, he celebrated the decision on X, writing, “If your company is still incorporated in Delaware, I recommend moving to another state as soon as possible.”

He later moved SpaceX’s corporate registration to Texas as well.

Other major firms, including Dropbox, TripAdvisor, and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, have also transitioned away from Delaware in favor of the Lone Star State’s more favorable legal climate.

Executives from many of these companies have ties to the Trump administration or have publicly expressed support for its economic policies.

Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and a donor to his 2024 reelection campaign. Company leaders say their decision reflects confidence in the stability and fairness of Texas’s business environment.

“We’re ambitious. We believe we can drive forward our mission rapidly if given fair conditions,” Grewal said.

“Our decision to leave is about ensuring more predictable opportunities for the company, our shareholders, our customers, and the new on-chain ecosystem we’re building.”

Coinbase’s relocation adds momentum to a growing corporate migration trend, as major firms continue to move operations and legal registrations to states they view as more economically and judicially stable.

Texas, already home to a surge of financial and technology enterprises, appears poised to further strengthen its position as a national hub for innovation and business growth.

Letitia James’ ‘Corrupt, Dangerous Business Practices’ Have Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Fleeing NY
Big Cities

Letitia James’ ‘Corrupt, Dangerous Business Practices’ Have Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Fleeing NY

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Government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will close their New York offices following what federal officials describe as “corrupt and dangerous business practices” tied to New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to a source within the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

The FHFA, which oversees both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, confirmed the decision to reduce operations in the state.

“We are shutting down the two New York offices for Fannie and Freddie as a result of Letitia James’ corrupt and dangerous business practices in the state,” an FHFA source told Fox News.

The source added that while physical offices will be closed, the organizations will maintain operations involving New York residents.

“We’ll still employ New York residents, and we’ll still continue to do mortgage loans in New York, of course. But we are going to eliminate our physical presence. And to the extent that we have leases, we are going to be subleasing those,” the source said.

The decision follows an investigation by the Department of Justice into mortgages taken out by James.

FHFA Director Bill Pulte reportedly submitted a criminal referral to the DOJ in April regarding allegations that James falsified mortgage documents to secure favorable terms.

The investigation centers on a property James purchased in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2023.

According to reports, James identified the home as her primary residence on mortgage documents and forms filed with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

As New York’s elected attorney general, however, James is required to reside in the state.

The controversy has intensified scrutiny of James, who has played a prominent role in legal challenges against President Donald Trump.

During her 2018 campaign, James vowed to target Trump and subsequently led numerous lawsuits against his administration, with nearly 100 challenges filed during his first term.

She pledged to continue pursuing legal action against him following his second election victory.

In August, an appeals court threw out a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment against Trump, members of his family, and his company.

The court determined that although the New York Supreme Court and James “correctly found defendants liable,” the financial harm “was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the State.”

The FHFA’s move to close the New York offices of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac marks a significant shift for the housing finance industry in the state, where the two entities have long maintained a presence.

Federal officials emphasized that mortgage lending in New York will continue, but the withdrawal of physical operations signals a sharp rebuke of James as she faces ongoing scrutiny.

The Department of Justice has not yet released findings from its investigation into James’s mortgage dealings, and her office has not issued a public response regarding the FHFA’s decision.

Socialist Mayoral Hopeful Targets NYPD Tools, Wants to Eliminate Gang Database
Big Cities

Socialist Mayoral Hopeful Targets NYPD Tools, Wants to Eliminate Gang Database

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Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist positioned to become New York City’s next mayor, is under scrutiny after pledging to dismantle the New York Police Department’s gang database and advance measures critics argue will weaken law enforcement.

Mamdani, who has previously supported efforts to defund the police, said in late August that he would push to end all misdemeanor charges in the city.

Opponents described the plan as an “E-ZPass for criminals.”

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which Mamdani is a member, has long framed policing and incarceration as “instruments of class war” and characterizes misdemeanors as the “criminalization of working class survival.”

The push to end misdemeanor charges comes as Mamdani renews his criticism of the NYPD’s gang database, a tool law enforcement leaders say has been central to recent crime reductions.

According to the New York Post, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the database and other targeted enforcement efforts with helping to deliver a 7 percent decrease in major crimes last month compared to August 2024, marking the safest August on record for the city.

“In the first eight months of the year, the NYPD drove down shooting incidents and shooting victims to the lowest levels in city history,” Tisch said.

Mamdani has been campaigning against the gang database since 2022, arguing that it “racially profiles” suspects.

The database, which contains the names of approximately 13,000 individuals, predominantly includes Black and Latino gang members.

Critics of Mamdani’s position note that these groups make up the majority of gang-affiliated crime in the city, making the database reflective of criminal activity rather than biased targeting.

Rafael Mangual, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor of City Journal, strongly rejected Mamdani’s call to abolish the database.

He called the stance “disqualifying” and warned that removing the database would undermine public safety.

“The database contains some 13,000 names, which is less than two-tenths of 1% of the population,” Mangual said, emphasizing that its use allows police to focus resources on a small, crime-heavy subset of the city’s residents.

He pointed to a study published in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, which found that targeted policing strategies, like those enabled by the gang database, contributed to declines in gun violence.

Mangual further highlighted the direct connection between prosecutions supported by the database and reductions in violent crime.

“I’d bet the house that there’s a straight line between these prosecutions and the recent decline in shootings & homicides. Abolishing the database will destroy that progress,” he posted on X.

The debate over the future of the NYPD’s gang database underscores a larger divide in New York City politics over how to balance public safety with progressive criminal justice reforms.

Mamdani’s proposals align with the broader Democratic Socialist platform but have raised alarms among law enforcement officials and public safety advocates who warn that undoing current policing tools could reverse the city’s recent gains in reducing crime.

As the city considers its next mayor, Mamdani’s approach to law enforcement and criminal justice is expected to be a central issue, with supporters framing his proposals as reforms to systemic inequality and opponents warning of the risks to community safety.

Soros-Funded Philly DA Threatens to Arrest National Guard
Big Cities

Soros-Funded Philly DA Threatens to Arrest National Guard

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Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sharply criticized President Donald Trump during an interview on CNN’s Early Start Tuesday, accusing him of manufacturing crises for political purposes and warning against potential deployment of the National Guard in U.S. cities.

“The only crisis here is Donald Trump, and that’s because he wants a crisis,” Krasner said.

“He wants a crisis so he can roll tanks in big cities, make it look normal. And he wants that because he intends to try to carry out a coup.”

Krasner argued that any National Guard members accused of committing crimes while deployed in local jurisdictions could face prosecution under state law.

“If Guard troops start committing local crimes, they can be prosecuted locally. They should be prosecuted locally. And here’s the big part: Donald Trump cannot pardon a National Guard person who, unjustifiably killed someone, harmed someone, detained someone in violation of state law. He can’t do it,” he stated.

During the segment, Krasner also challenged Trump’s frequent criticism of crime rates in major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

“We’re talking about someone who lies all the time, and one of those lies is that these big cities are not doing well with public safety. In fact, as of this morning, Philly is at a 50-plus-year low in homicides. We’re down in 14 out of 18 categories and subcategories of crime,” Krasner said.

He continued, “This is just a lie. It’s a lie in D.C. It’s a lie in L.A. It’s a lie in Chicago. It’s a lie in Philly. And it’s a lie by a criminal who pardons criminals, insurrectionists, people who are basically engaging in treason against the United States.”

Krasner repeated his view that Trump’s strategy is to normalize the use of military forces in civilian settings.

“Simply put, the only crisis here is Donald Trump, and that’s because he wants a crisis. He wants a crisis so he can roll tanks in big cities, make it look normal. And he wants that because he intends to try to carry out a coup,” he said.

It is worth noting that Larry Krasner is another Soros-funded District Attorney:

CNN host MJ Lee pressed Krasner on the concern of residents in cities like Chicago or New York, who may feel that crime is a significant issue and could welcome additional enforcement.

Krasner responded by distinguishing between local law enforcement and the use of National Guard troops.

“It’s a typical Trumpian lie. It’s basically all that he does. National Guard is not law enforcement. This is not increasing law enforcement,” Krasner said.

He added that if more officers are needed, additional resources should go toward police departments and prevention programs.

“If you want to have more police in Philadelphia, Chicago, etc., then fund them, just like we should fund the safety net that prevents so much crime, which, of course, he doesn’t want to do,” Krasner said.

“But let’s not pretend that National Guard troops or U.S. military who are trained to kill the enemy are trained to be peacekeepers among the citizenry. That’s not real. We’ve seen the tragedies that can occur here, including at Kent State in the 1970s, when National Guard troops killed a bunch of students and shot a bunch of other students.”

Krasner described Trump’s approach as an effort to expand executive power.

“This is just a wannabe dictator trying to lay the groundwork so people think it’s normal to do stuff that is unconstitutional,” he said.

He further argued that constitutional protections limit what Trump could do in U.S. cities.

“D.C. is a place where Trump can get away with more because the law permits it. He cannot get away with this in big cities. It violates the 10th Amendment. It violates a variety of laws,” Krasner said.

“If those supposed anti-crime forces, which they’re not at all, if they show up and they start committing local crimes, they can be prosecuted locally. They should be prosecuted locally,” Krasner added.

“And here’s the big part: Donald Trump cannot pardon a National Guard person who, unjustifiably killed someone, harmed someone, detained someone in violation of state law. He can’t do it.”

WATCH:

New York City Could Be Facing a Mass Exodus if Mamdani Wins, Real Estate Experts Warn
Big Cities

New York City Could Be Facing a Mass Exodus if Mamdani Wins, Real Estate Experts Warn

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Mother-daughter real estate brokers Dolly and Jenny Lenz are warning that New York City could face an exodus of residents if Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral race this November.

Appearing on FOX Business’ The Claman Countdown on Tuesday, Dolly Lenz said her firm has been fielding calls from clients preparing to leave the city should Mamdani take office.

“There’d be no building,” she said.

“We’re getting so many calls … from people who say, ‘Look, if [Mamdani’s] in, I’m out.’ They’re going to vote with their feet, they’re going to list their apartments, and they’re moving.”

Mamdani, who defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary, has campaigned on making one of the nation’s most expensive cities more affordable.

His platform includes multi-year rent freezes and significant investment in public housing.

The Lenzes warned that such policies could effectively stall the city’s real estate market.

“They’re going to Greenwich, to New Jersey, to Florida,” Dolly Lenz said of clients preparing to relocate. “They are not going to be here.”

The pair noted that lower-tax states such as Texas and Florida remain the most popular relocation destinations for those leaving New York, while Californians are increasingly moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Jenny Lenz added, “Given all this Mamdani news, a lot of people are certainly on it.”

Mamdani’s candidacy has gained momentum in recent weeks. According to data from Interactive Brokers reviewed on Wednesday, he currently has an 81 percent chance of winning the November mayoral election.

“He’s winning by a lot,” Jenny Lenz said, highlighting his consistent lead.

Over the past week, Mamdani’s odds have held steady above 75 percent, while other candidates have struggled to gain ground.

Cuomo, who remains Mamdani’s strongest competitor, has just a 20 percent chance of victory, according to the same market data.

The Lenzes’ warnings come as housing affordability and crime continue to be central issues in the city’s political debate.

Real estate experts caution that any disruption in the market could further impact tax revenue, development, and the broader economic health of the city.

As the race moves closer to Election Day, the contest is shaping up as a referendum not only on housing policy but also on the city’s future economic stability.

With Mamdani holding a commanding lead and critics raising concerns about the potential impact of his proposals, the outcome of the election could have wide-ranging consequences for residents and businesses alike.

Eric Swalwell Tries to Blame Trump But Accidentally Proves Him Right
Big Cities

Eric Swalwell Tries to Blame Trump But Accidentally Proves Him Right

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President Donald Trump’s recent decision to bring federal assistance to Washington, D.C., has drawn sharp criticism from several Democratic lawmakers, despite his stated goal of reducing violent crime in the city.

The announcement, made earlier this week, outlined a plan for federal authorities to assume operational control over the Metropolitan Police Department and deploy additional law enforcement resources, including National Guard troops, into high-crime areas.

The move follows years of concerns from residents about public safety under city leadership.

One of the most vocal critics of the plan has been Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who posted on social media about a fatal shooting in D.C. on the same day Trump announced the initiative.

In his post, Swalwell claimed that “Trump owns it,” suggesting the President bore responsibility for the incident.

The shooting occurred prior to any implementation of the new measures.

Swalwell’s comments drew attention for appearing to acknowledge the existence of a crime problem in the city while criticizing Trump’s effort to address it.

The District of Columbia has been under Democratic leadership for decades, and the federal intervention follows longstanding debates over policing, resources, and crime prevention strategies in the nation’s capital.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) also voiced opposition to the move, joining other Democrats who have argued that the federal takeover represents an overreach.

Critics have questioned whether additional federal and National Guard presence will address the root causes of crime or lead to lasting improvements in public safety.

Some lawmakers and commentators, however, have acknowledged bipartisan concerns about crime levels in the city.

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said on his program “Morning Joe” that some Democrats privately supported Trump’s action, recognizing the need for additional law enforcement resources.

The D.C. Police Union has stated that long-term solutions must include increasing the number of officers on the force and reassessing policies they describe as overly lenient.

Union officials said the added manpower from federal agencies and the National Guard could help reduce violence in the short term.

Under Trump’s plan, approximately 800 National Guard troops will be authorized for duty in D.C., with 100 to 150 active at any given time.

They will be supplemented by FBI agents, who have been committed to the effort by FBI Director Kash Patel.

The initiative comes amid broader federal coordination intended to target violent offenders and illegal firearms in the District.

While the federal takeover has generated political debate, city residents continue to express concerns over public safety.

Monday’s shooting death, which occurred the same day as Trump’s announcement, underscored the challenges faced by law enforcement and community leaders.

The Department of Justice has emphasized that the federal action is aimed at restoring stability and ensuring that residents feel safe in their neighborhoods.

Officials have not announced how long the federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department will remain in place but have indicated that the deployment will continue until measurable progress is made in reducing crime.

What’s America Gonna Look Like? Shocking Vid from Rome Gives Preview
Big Cities, Illegal Immigration

What’s America Gonna Look Like? Shocking Vid from Rome Gives Preview

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Back in the mid 20th century, London was a quintessentially British city, with a population to match. About 97 percent of the population was native-born British, and white. Today, more than 40 percent of the city’s residents are foreign-born. Under mayor Sadiq Kahn, the once-great financial metropolis is careening toward a Muslim caliphate. Angry, violent third-world Muslim men are free to roam the streets screaming for death to the infidels and the west, and few if any are ever arrested. Meanwhile, native-born Brits like Lucy Connolly are sent to prison for years for “racist” social media posts. 

It looks like something similar is happening in the United States. The resentful, the disorderly, and the violent are given a free pass to burn buildings, assault police, and take over American cities. The Black Lives Matter riots of 2020 proved that. All of a sudden, it was perfectly fine–mandatory, even–to go outside and disturb the peace “for racial justice,” but if you wanted to take a walk on the beach you were arrested for being a Covid super-spreader. 

More recently, anti-Jewish “demonstrators” at liberal universities like Columbia in New York City were allowed to intimidate Jewish students and block their access to the campus. The authorities pretended they couldn’t see it. As long as you were a Muslim, or on the side of “the Palestinians,” anything you wanted to do was just fine. 

The rules of the game are clear, and simple. If you are native to a Western country, and white, you count for nothing. You’re an oppressor. Your legal and citizenship rights mean nothing. You get no protection. You get prosecuted for trying to protect yourself. 

But if you’re black, brown, foreign, and especially if you’re an aggressive third world Muslim, you can do anything. The streets are yours. The airwaves are yours. Feel like intimidating Jews? Go for it. Want to rape women and be confident you’ll get away with? Have a blast. 

The recent riots in Los Angeles, largely made up of illegal alien Mexicans, legal resident but foreign sympathizers, and young white hard leftists, show us exactly what we can expect in American cities. Not only did criminal rioters openly target Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers for violence, but Democrat politicians and the media ran cover for them. 

This grim travelogue video taken recently in Rome, Italy, looks like a preview of what New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles will probably look like in less than five years unless America wakes up. From his accent, the guy taking the video sounds Scottish. He’s apparently on holiday, and can’t believe what he’s seeing. In the middle of Rome, it looks like a street bazaar in Pakistan. As he walks down the street, third-worlders are lolling on dirty and crumbling stoops next to graffitied walls and trash-strewn sidewalks. 

A local Italian even confirms to the tourist that “we are not very welcome here.” He’s talking about white people. You know, the native population? 

Here’s a sampling of the reaction on X/Twitter:

It’s disturbing how many Westerners rush to defend the decline. 

Blue-Haired Manhattan Libs Nominate Muslim Socialist for Mayor
Big Cities, Democrats

Blue-Haired Manhattan Libs Nominate Muslim Socialist for Mayor

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What comes to mind when you think of New York City? Not that long ago, people would mention the Statue of Liberty, legendary pastrami sandwiches, tickets to see A Chorus Line on Broadway, and maybe the old Italian and Jewish neighborhoods. New York has long been a world-class city with the best of the arts and business in the original “city that never sleeps.”

These are not the things that actual New York City voters think of when they contemplate their home in the Big Apple, at least not Democrat voters. It’s true that lefty voters had two pretty appalling choices in this year’s primary for the mayoral elections. On one hand, Andrew Cuomo, a pugnacious lefty who seemed roundly despised for his Covid-era protocols that critics say led to the deaths of thousands of old folks in care homes. On the other hand, the “lefter” hand, if you will, there was Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani. 

That’s right. “Muslim socialist.” This is no longer a liability, but a boost, for left leaning voters, even in the city that was attacked by Islamic radicals on September 11, 2001. Or maybe it’s Mamdani’s dazzling smile and facility with switching accents to appear to be a different person that so charmed the average New York Democrat. This reporter called him out for putting on wildly different accents depending on which crowd he was trying to get attention from: 

Caught dead to rights faking his identity, and Mamdani didn’t even break stride. He just dismissed the question as if it were stupid. This was apparently enough for Democrat voters, because they just put this Ugandan-born American citizen (of only six years, mind you) at the top of the ticket, making him the Democrat nominee for this fall’s mayoral contest. 

Oh, what wonderful free goodies and treats Mamdani will bring to New Yorkers, all while defunding the police and further crippling the last vestiges of law enforcement in the crime-ridden city. Fox News reporter Bill Melugin rounded up a list of Mamdani’s promises, including the abolition of the city’s police department, city-owned grocery stores, the legalization of prostitution and hard drug use, and more. 

That’s joyful music to leftie voters in Manhattan. Watch them dance with joy at the electoral results:

Let’s see how Twitter users reacted to the shrieking young women and soy-faced men crying tears of electoral joy. 

Oh, there are a few worried libs who’ve realized that Muslims don’t really like gay people that much.

https://twitter.com/DRCarter_571/status/1937896441688776723

Wanna bet on whether these young libs will be able to connect the dots between their voting choices and the inevitable further decline of their city? 

FBI and IRS Put Riot Funders on Notice: “Imprisonment and Fines” Will Come 
Big Cities, Border

FBI and IRS Put Riot Funders on Notice: “Imprisonment and Fines” Will Come 

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Federal authorities are warning that individuals and organizations providing financial support for violent demonstrations, including recent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles, will face prosecution. The message was delivered in a video statement Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis, and IRS Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher.

In the video shared by the FBI’s Los Angeles office on X, officials emphasized that while peaceful protest is protected under U.S. law, violence and coordinated attacks against law enforcement will not be tolerated—especially when financially supported. “The right to assemble and protest peacefully is protected by the law,” Essayli said. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen individuals whose intentions are to cause damage and to assault law enforcement. For example, last week, we arrested an individual who was charged with conspiracy to commit and aiding and abetting civil disorders. These violent agitators put peaceful demonstrators at risk.”

Davis stated that federal law enforcement agencies are actively investigating “individuals and organizations who are knowingly funding or committing acts of violence against law enforcement as well as the destruction of property.” According to Hatcher, the IRS is currently tracing financial transactions to identify backers of recent riots. “Funding crime doesn’t just affect the criminals; it also disrupts entire communities,” he said. “Each dollar funneled into illegal operations fuels violence, undermines law and order, and perpetuates fear. Make no mistake, we will identify financial networks supporting these criminal activities.”

Essayli concluded the video message with a direct warning: “Think before you act. The legal consequences for financing or aiding and abetting these crimes are harsh. They include imprisonment and fines.”

Davis also urged the public to report information about those providing financial support to violent rioters.

“If you have information about individuals and/or organizations who are providing financial support to commit acts of violence or destruction of property, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or TIPS.FBI.GOV.”

The federal warning came on the heels of the arrest of Alejandro Theodoro Orellana, who was taken into custody last Thursday by the FBI. Orellana has been charged with Conspiracy to Commit Civil Disorders after allegedly distributing face shields to suspected rioters during the early stages of the anti-ICE unrest in Los Angeles.

According to federal prosecutors, the arrest is part of a broader operation to track and disrupt those organizing or materially supporting acts of civil disorder across the city. Federal law enforcement’s increased visibility comes amid claims from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom that law enforcement had the situation under control and that there was no need for assistance from federal resources, including the National Guard or U.S. Marines.

However, statements from Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell contradict those claims.

According to McDonnell, conditions during the unrest escalated quickly, and the protests turned violent with incidents including freeway blockages, the throwing of concrete at officers, and the burning of Waymo vehicles. The Department of Justice has not confirmed how many additional suspects are currently under investigation, but officials made clear that more arrests are expected as federal agencies work to disrupt the financial infrastructure behind violent civil unrest.

The crackdown marks a shift in how the federal government is approaching organized rioting, signaling that financial facilitators and logistical supporters will be held as accountable as those committing violence on the ground.


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