News

Stephen A. Smith Demands Answers From Democrats For Ignoring Epstein Documents During Biden Years
News

Stephen A. Smith Demands Answers From Democrats For Ignoring Epstein Documents During Biden Years

/

SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith criticized Democrats on Wednesday for demanding the release of Jeffrey Epstein–related files only after President Donald Trump returned to office, despite the documents being available during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Smith made the remarks on his show, “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.”

As The Independent Journal Review reported, a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing the files reached the necessary threshold on Wednesday after Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona was sworn in and added her signature. Smith raised questions about why Democrats reversed course on the matter.

“Ladies and gentlemen, keep in mind that the Epstein files were in existence and free to have been open during the Biden administration! You were there for four years!” Smith said.

“How come you didn’t open it as a Democratic party then!? What am I missing!? I’m not saying I know, it’s a legitimate question! Maybe I don’t remember the answer. Maybe my extraordinary producers should be able to help me during the commercial break.”

Smith continued pressing the issue, noting that the same files now at the center of debate could have been released earlier.

“But from my understanding, the same files that were open or being open now, with the 220 pages of documents or whatever it is, with various emails, that could have been done when Biden was in office!” he said.

“Well, why didn’t you do it if it’s so important now!? What were the Democrats doing at that particular moment in time? See, this is the kind of stuff that smells.”

Smith suggested that if damaging information about President Trump had been contained in the files, Democrats would have made it public during the Biden administration. “That’s just my thinking from a logical perspective,” he said. “But what do I know!?”

Later in the show, Smith said producers provided him with a possible reason for the lack of transparency during Biden’s tenure. He read an explanation citing legal restrictions.

“The Epstein files and the Biden DOJ — there may be more legal nuance, but the general thing was the DOJ didn’t release the full Epstein files primarily because federal law sharply restricts disclosure of grand jury materials,” Smith said.

“Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6E, grand jury evidence is kept secret to protect witnesses, informants, victims, and the integrity of ongoing or past investigations. And the Justice Department cannot unilaterally release this material either.”

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also questioned why the Biden administration did not disclose the files earlier.

Appearing on “Morning Joe” Thursday, Fetterman said, “[O]ne of my questions is like … we sat on those for four years, too. So, I mean, I don’t really understand, you know, either. I mean, there are a lot of questions.”

On September 2, the House Oversight Committee published thousands of subpoenaed records tied to Epstein that had been obtained during President Trump’s prior term.

Liberal Woman Escorted Off Plane After Outburst on Lawmaker-Filled Flight
News

Liberal Woman Escorted Off Plane After Outburst on Lawmaker-Filled Flight

/

An American Airlines flight traveling from Phoenix to Washington, D.C., made an emergency landing Wednesday after a passenger became disruptive midflight, shouting about living in a “fascist state” as crew members attempted to calm her.

The diversion occurred over Kansas City, where the aircraft landed so the woman could be removed.

Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona confirmed on X that he was aboard the flight along with fellow Arizona representatives Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar.

Stanton wrote that the plane was “making emergency stop in Kansas City to remove disruptive passenger,” and added that “none of my colleagues is the disruptor.”

He also commented that the House Freedom Caucus was “losing its mojo.”

Video posted by another passenger showed the unidentified woman being escorted off the plane.

In the footage, she apologized to other travelers and stated that they lived in a “fascist state.”

American Airlines issued a statement describing the incident as involving a “disruptive customer.”

Flight data indicated the diversion delayed the arrival in Washington by roughly an hour, with the flight landing at approximately 9 p.m.

All four Arizona lawmakers reached the Capitol before the scheduled vote on legislation to end the government shutdown.

Stanton voted against the measure, stating it “fails to lower health care costs.”

Crane, Biggs, and Gosar voted in favor of the bill.

The House approved the Senate-passed funding package by a vote of 222–209.

The legislation reinstated food assistance benefits for more than 40 million Americans, restored pay for federal employees including air traffic controllers, increased security funding for lawmakers, and provided for the rehiring of laid-off federal workers.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the legislation for not addressing health care cost increases, but the measure advanced through both chambers without delay.

President Trump signed the bill into law Wednesday night, formally ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

During remarks at the White House, President Trump appeared alongside Republican leaders and representatives from several business and labor groups.

He said, “I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this,” urging voters to keep the shutdown fight in mind.

President Trump also renewed his call to eliminate the filibuster, a position opposed by leadership in both parties.

The President thanked the Democrats who voted in favor of the bill, as well as organizations including the American Federation of Government Employees, the Farm Bureau, and the Fraternal Order of Police for supporting the agreement.

The shutdown’s conclusion allowed federal agencies to resume operations immediately, ending weeks of disruption to services and pay for government employees.

The emergency landing earlier in the day did not impact the timing of the vote, and all Arizona delegates involved in the flight were present on the House floor as the funding package moved forward.

Arctic Frost Bombshell: Jordan Probes DOJ Watchdog Over GOP Phone Sweep
News

Arctic Frost Bombshell: Jordan Probes DOJ Watchdog Over GOP Phone Sweep

/

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has opened a new inquiry into the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General, seeking details about the watchdog’s direct participation in the Biden DOJ’s “Arctic Frost” investigation and its involvement in the seizure and imaging of Rep. Scott Perry’s personal cellphone.

Jordan sent a letter Wednesday to Acting Inspector General Don Richard Berthiaume outlining concerns about the OIG’s cooperation with the FBI during the investigation.

According to the letter, FBI agents and an OIG agent seized Perry’s phone on August 9, 2022, while he was traveling with his family.

Jordan wrote that the seizure was tied to a joint investigation between the OIG and DOJ known as Arctic Frost.

Jordan stated that reports show the OIG used its own laboratory in Northern Virginia to assist the FBI with a forensic review of Perry’s device. His letter said Perry’s phone “was imaged after the search,” producing a complete forensic copy that included communications protected under common-law privileges and the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause.

Jordan wrote that the OIG’s willingness to assist with the phone’s imaging “raises serious concerns about why the OIG would be willing to sacrifice its independence to assist the FBI in advancing such a partisan investigation.”

Jordan said recently disclosed internal FBI documents reveal that Arctic Frost investigators collected call logs from nine Members of Congress, including eight Senators, covering the period from January 4 through January 7, 2021.

He also wrote that the Biden-Harris White House helped the FBI obtain government-issued devices previously used by President Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi detailed what investigators discovered.

Pam Bondi: “During the Arctic Frost Investigation, we found that Special Counsel seized President Trump’s government-issued phone. This means the Biden Administration turned over President Trump’s phone to Special Counsel—an UNPRECEDENTED action. In addition, Special Counsel subpoenaed all of President Trump’s PERSONAL phone records. We can never again allow this kind of government weaponization in America. I submitted these new documents to our partners on Capitol Hill. I commend our team at the FBI for working diligently to expose this.”

Other lawmakers have also raised concerns. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley previously released information showing that former Special Counsel Jack Smith targeted what he described as the “entire Republican apparatus.”

Grassley also made public documents indicating that Attorney General Merrick Garland, former FBI Director Chris Wray, and DOJ official Lisa Monaco authorized the opening of Arctic Frost.

Grassley stated that new disclosures show Smith issued 197 subpoenas to 34 individuals and 163 businesses, including financial institutions, and that conservative groups such as Turning Point USA and the Republican Attorneys General Association were among the entities examined.

“I’ve obtained through legally protected whistleblower disclosures,” Grassley said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“197 subpoenas were issued by Jack Smith and his team. These subpoenas were issued to 34 individuals and 163 businesses, including financial institutions.”

President Trump commented on the investigation last week, calling for accountability for those involved in Arctic Frost and in earlier investigations.

President Trump: “Former FBI Agent Walter Giardina is a DIRTY COP! He should be, along with Deranged Jack Smith, the sinister team of Lisa Monaco and Andrew Weissmann, Liddle’ Jay Bratt, Norm Eisen and his FAKE Charity, CREW, Christopher Wray, Merrick Garland, Thomas Windom, who dreamt up the corrupt J-6 Witch Hunt, should be investigated, immediately. They are a disgrace to our Nation. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Jordan’s inquiry seeks documents and communications detailing the OIG’s role, the decision-making process behind its involvement, and any internal discussions relating to Arctic Frost.

Democrats’ Trump-Epstein Narrative Evaporates as They Block Immediate Release of Files
News

Democrats’ Trump-Epstein Narrative Evaporates as They Block Immediate Release of Files

/

Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee moved for unanimous consent on Wednesday to bring all remaining Jeffrey Epstein files directly to the House floor for immediate release.

The request was blocked, preventing the measure from advancing.

Burchett said his goal was to avoid delays by sending the remaining documents straight to the full House.

In a video message recorded after leaving the chamber, he described the blocked request.

“To get the Epstein files, get it straight to the floor, just to cut out all this nonsense,” he said.

“They blocked it, oddly enough.”

He said the documents have been in Congress’s possession for several years.

“Now here, they’ve had it for four years, and… obviously, if there’s something there about Trump, they would have released it,” Burchett said.

Burchett added that House members who have recently said they support full transparency did not allow the motion to proceed.

“They’ve had it for four years, and they obviously, if there was something there about Trump, they would have released it. And now they’re all, ‘Let’s get it out! Let’s get it out!’ Well, I just made a motion to bring it straight to the dadgum floor, and they blocked it.”

“This is politics,” he said.

“It has nothing to do with doing what’s right. I mean, it’s Washington, D.C., to a T. And again, they ought to be ashamed of themselves, but they’re probably not.”

Members of Congress had recently released three emails related to the Epstein matter.

Following that release, House Republicans responded by making available a larger tranche of documents totaling approximately 20,000 pages.

The dispute over document releases followed competing interpretations of the contents of the initial emails.

Lawmakers who supported releasing them said they demonstrated the need for further transparency.

Other lawmakers argued that the emails had been taken out of context. The full set of documents was later published in response.

The sequence of releases has prompted calls from some members for all remaining materials to be made available at once rather than selectively.

Burchett said the full set of Epstein files should be disclosed without delay and that his unanimous consent request was intended to facilitate that process.

Seattle Socialist Wins Mayor Race After Late Ballot Dumps and Eight Days of Counting
News

Seattle Socialist Wins Mayor Race After Late Ballot Dumps and Eight Days of Counting

/

Democratic mayoral candidate Katie Wilson has defeated incumbent Democratic Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, according to projections released Wednesday by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

The call came eight days after polls closed, following a series of late-arriving ballots that shifted the race in Wilson’s favor.

Wilson received 50.2% of the vote, compared to Harrell’s 49.5%, DDHQ reported.

Harrell led in the early stages of vote counting, prompting DDHQ to initially project him as the winner on November 6.

At that time, the outlet believed roughly 100,000 ballots remained uncounted.

DDHQ rescinded its projection the next day after King County Elections clarified that the number of outstanding ballots was significantly higher than initially reported.

Washington is one of eight states that conducts elections entirely by mail, and the state does not require voter identification for mail-in ballots.

Wilson, an activist who has been compared to incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, described herself as a “socialist” in a September 13 interview with The Seattle Times.

She said she was downplaying the term during the campaign but added, “yes, I’m fine with being called a socialist.”

Wilson, 43, is the daughter of two academics.

Reports indicate that her parents financially support her and her unemployed husband.

In the August 5 nonpartisan primary, Wilson defeated Harrell with just over 50% of the vote.

Under Washington state law, both candidates advanced to the November 4 general election regardless of the primary outcome.

Wilson received the endorsement of the King County Democrats, while Harrell secured support from several prominent Democratic officials, including Gov. Bob Ferguson, Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Rep. Adam Smith, who represents part of Seattle in the House.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal endorsed Wilson on October 6, writing on X that she was “proud to endorse her.”

Jayapal said Wilson “will be a fighter for the principles of equity, immigrant justice, civil rights, and fundamental democratic rights that are all under threat right now.”

Jayapal cited Wilson’s primary performance as the basis for her support.

Jayapal had previously endorsed Harrell before the primary, and her endorsement remained listed on his campaign website.

Jayapal is a senior member of Congress who chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus for six years.

Wilson is the co-founder and leader of the Transit Riders’ Union, which describes itself as an “independent, democratic, member-run union of transit riders organizing for better public transit in Seattle, King County and beyond.”

Her campaign platform emphasized “climate action and environmental justice,” “police accountability,” “racial equity,” and increasing “new progressive revenue,” according to her campaign website.

She also pledged to “Trump-proof” Seattle, echoing language used by Mamdani in his own campaign in New York City.

Wilson’s campaign website recounts her political involvement in Seattle dating back to May 1, 2006.

“One of my first political acts in Seattle was joining the massive march for immigrants’ and workers’ rights on May 1, 2006,” the site states.

“That’s the Seattle I believe in. We stand up for the most vulnerable. We believe in democracy, climate action, robust public services, and good jobs. But all of that is under threat like never before.”

Seattle-based radio host Ari Hoffman commented on X as additional ballots were counted.

“Katie Wilson didn’t win an election, Bruce Harrell lost one,” Hoffman wrote Monday night.

He added, “In desperation to get re-elected rather than doing his job, he tried to out progressive a progressive. He had no ballot harvest or ballot curing operation & his social media was non existent.”

Hoffman also criticized Seattle’s election process, calling the “mail in ballot system” a “joke” and pointing to the slow pace of counting.

“King County elections claims they are ‘verifying’ each ballot,” he wrote.

“What are they ‘verifying’ when there is no voter ID or other safeguards?”

Dem Shutdown Boomerang: USDA Reveals Staggering Amounts of SNAP Fraud
News

Dem Shutdown Boomerang: USDA Reveals Staggering Amounts of SNAP Fraud

/

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency identified fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which served nearly 42 million people in fiscal year 2024 at a federal cost exceeding $100 billion.

Her remarks come as the federal government continues reform efforts, including restrictions on purchasing junk food and soda in several states.

SNAP benefits are used to buy approved food items at more than 261,000 authorized retailers.

Benefits are issued on electronic benefits transfer cards, and monthly amounts vary according to household size and financial conditions.

While states run the day-to-day operations of SNAP, federal authorities fund a portion of the program and supervise statewide administration.

Interest in reviewing and reducing errors in SNAP has persisted for years among policymakers.

Those concerns have intensified as federal reviews identify problems in multiple areas, including benefit trafficking, false information on retailer applications, applicant errors that lead to incorrect benefit amounts, mistakes by state agencies, and scams targeting benefit recipients.

Townhall reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uncovered a $66 million SNAP fraud scheme this year.

The case added to ongoing investigations into misuse of federal nutrition assistance and highlighted several categories of problems.

One category involves trafficking, where retailers or recipients illegally exchange benefits for cash or other prohibited transactions.

Another involves improper retailer applications, where businesses provide false or incomplete information to gain SNAP authorization.

Additional issues arise from household applications that lead to wrong benefit levels, whether caused by mistakes or intentional misstatements.

States also contribute to incorrect benefit amounts through administrative errors or other actions that fall outside program requirements.

A further area of concern involves outside actors who target recipients through scams that result in stolen benefits.

More than 20 states declined to provide SNAP data to the federal government.

The absence of full reporting limits the ability of federal officials to examine error rates, review compliance, and measure the scale of fraud across the entire program.

Federal oversight from fiscal year 2023 showed an estimated 11.7 percent of SNAP benefits—about $10.5 billion—were improper.

Improper payments include benefit amounts that were too high, too low, or issued to households that should not have received them. The figure reflects combined errors across state agencies, retailers, and households.

Federal administrators continue to evaluate SNAP’s structure while enforcing program integrity rules and conducting investigations in cooperation with states.

The mixed responsibilities between federal and state governments complicate oversight efforts, as the federal role includes funding support and supervisory authority, while states manage application procedures, eligibility determinations, and distribution of benefits.

Rollins said an announcement related to the program is expected next week.

New Docs Expose Jack Smith’s Direct Connection to Russia Collusion, Clinton Cover Up
News

New Docs Expose Jack Smith’s Direct Connection to Russia Collusion, Clinton Cover Up

/

Justice Department officials connected to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s work were involved in blocking an FBI inquiry into whether Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign violated federal campaign finance laws when it funded the Steele Dossier through intermediaries, according to emails released Thursday.

The documents add to a series of disclosures emerging as the Trump Justice Department pursues a sweeping investigation into alleged anti-Trump conduct inside federal agencies dating back a decade.

The emails appear to show DOJ officials advising the FBI against opening a probe into whether the Clinton campaign improperly used cutouts to finance Fusion GPS and former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele.

The FBI ultimately did not pursue the potential violations.

Two officials now tied to Smith’s investigation were linked to the decision.

The Trump DOJ and FBI have opened a wider inquiry into what investigators describe as an ongoing criminal conspiracy involving years of political activity inside federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

Congressional investigators have released information over recent months indicating that the FBI quietly began examining Democratic Party-aligned efforts dating back to the Trump-Russia allegations and extending to Smith’s pursuit of President Donald Trump.

Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to lead the Biden Justice Department’s investigations involving Trump.

Newly declassified materials connected to the Arctic Frost inquiry describe a broad set of legal actions targeting Trump and his allies beginning in 2022 as Trump considered another presidential run.

Before his selection as special counsel, Smith headed the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section from 2010 until early 2015.

During that period, the IRS controversy involving Lois Lerner unfolded, in which her division scrutinized conservative nonprofit groups.

Lerner apologized for the conduct but denied political motives. Records show Smith’s unit engaged with Lerner and the IRS during that time, and that the IRS transferred nonprofit tax records to the FBI, although no prosecutions followed.

Recent disclosures also include the FBI’s discovery of investigative documents kept inside “burn bags” at FBI headquarters.

According to court filings connected to the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, the records included materials on the Mar-a-Lago search, the January 6 Capitol breach, the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, and the classified appendix to Special Counsel John Durham’s work.

Just the News reported that more than two dozen Russiagate-related subpoenas are planned, coinciding with new information disclosed in the Comey prosecution.

Additional records show that long-standing investigative materials related to Trump had been retained inside the FBI without full disclosure.

The Federal Election Commission ruled in 2022 that there was “probable cause” to believe Hillary for America and the Democratic National Committee violated federal law by misreporting payments connected to Fusion GPS.

The DNC paid $849,407 and the Clinton campaign paid $175,000 to Perkins Coie.

The FEC said the campaign labeled the expenses as “legal services,” and the DNC described them as “legal and compliance consulting.”

Clinton campaign lawyer Marc Elias hired Fusion GPS in 2016, and Fusion hired Steele.

Elias testified he met with Steele during the campaign, knew Steele planned to brief reporters, and provided periodic updates to the Clinton campaign based on Fusion’s research.

Special Counsel John Durham later said campaign officials, Fusion GPS, and Perkins Coie acted jointly in advancing collusion claims during the 2016 race.

The FBI declined to open a criminal investigation into the campaign finance matter. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Thursday that emails show the decision was made by Richard Pilger, then a leader in the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, and J.P. Cooney, then with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

Grassley noted that Pilger later played a key role in approving the launch of Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation, and that Cooney served as Smith’s deputy special counsel.

An FBI communication dated July 2019, released Thursday, showed the bureau sought consultation from DOJ officials regarding “DNC and Fusion GPS FEC violations.”

The document indicated the FBI did not move forward after receiving input from Pilger and Cooney.

A federal grand jury is issuing more than 30 subpoenas related to Trump-Russia allegations.

Additional subpoenas involve former CIA Director John Brennan and his handling of Steele’s dossier and the 2016 intelligence community assessment.

A grand jury in South Florida is overseeing portions of the inquiry. CIA Director John Ratcliffe sent a referral on Brennan in July, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also delivered declassified evidence to the DOJ describing a “treasonous conspiracy.”

New information indicates Comey expected Clinton to win in 2016 and was aware of intelligence describing a Clinton plan linking Trump to Russia. Records also reference alleged leaks by Comey’s associate Daniel Richman.

Further disclosures show Smith and the FBI obtained phone records from eight Republican senators and one Republican House member during the Arctic Frost investigation.

A 2023 FBI record stated investigators conducted a limited toll analysis involving calls associated with Sens. Ron Johnson, Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Cynthia Lummis, Marsha Blackburn, and Rep. Mike Kelly. Lawyers for Smith defended the decision.

Grassley released documents showing Smith issued nearly 200 subpoenas seeking information from more than 400 Republican officials and groups.

Records further show that Garland, then-FBI Director Chris Wray, and then-Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco approved the Arctic Frost inquiry.

Emails also show coordination between the Biden White House Counsel’s Office and an FBI agent to transfer phones belonging to Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Arctic Frost extended to dozens of Republican officials and organizations, according to documents released earlier this year.

Smith’s earlier period at DOJ continues to receive scrutiny.

Congressional records show he arranged meetings between DOJ officials and IRS leadership in 2010 and 2013 to discuss campaign-finance enforcement.

Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Darrell Issa sought Smith’s testimony in 2014, citing concerns about DOJ involvement.

Smith testified that the Public Integrity Section debated possible investigations but did not open cases. Senate investigators reported that IRS and DOJ officials exchanged documents and explored potential theories for criminal charges involving tax-exempt organizations.

Senate records described follow-up contacts between DOJ officials and IRS leaders, including discussions about 501(c)(4) political activity.

An IRS official cautioned DOJ that the agency had not seen conduct warranting criminal investigation. Senate investigators later described DOJ’s interest as unusually aggressive compared with standard IRS enforcement practices.

Shocking Allegations: Wealthy Elites Paid to Shoot Civilians in Sarajevo
News

Shocking Allegations: Wealthy Elites Paid to Shoot Civilians in Sarajevo

/

Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into claims that wealthy foreigners paid tens of thousands of dollars to shoot civilians during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, an allegation described as one of the most disturbing to emerge from the Balkan Wars.

The probe was launched after Italian investigative writer Ezio Gavazzeni alleged that affluent gun enthusiasts, referred to as “sniper tourists,” paid Bosnian Serb forces up to $90,000 to take part in so-called “human safaris,” targeting residents of the besieged city between 1992 and 1996.

Additional fees were allegedly paid to shoot children, according to the claims first reported by The Guardian.

More than 10,000 people were killed in Sarajevo by sniper fire and shelling during the four-year siege, one of the longest and most devastating conflicts in modern European history.

Gavazzeni said his research suggests that some of those responsible were not soldiers, but civilians who traveled to Bosnia for sport.

“There were Germans, French, English … people from all Western countries who paid large sums of money to be taken there to shoot civilians,” Gavazzeni told reporters.

“There were no political or religious motivations. They were rich people who went there for fun and personal satisfaction. We are talking about people who love guns who perhaps go to shooting ranges or on safari in Africa.”

Gavazzeni said he first encountered reports of so-called sniper tourism in Italian media during the 1990s but began investigating the claims more thoroughly after viewing a 2022 documentary.

The film featured a former Bosnian Serb soldier who alleged that foreigners joined combatants in the hills surrounding Sarajevo to shoot at civilians trapped in the city below.

His current findings reportedly rely on testimony from a former Bosnian intelligence officer who claimed to have firsthand knowledge of foreign nationals participating in the attacks.

Gavazzeni said he has identified several individuals, including Italian citizens, who may have been involved.

Prosecutors in Milan are now examining the material and plan to question some of the individuals named in his investigation in the coming weeks.

The Milan prosecutor’s office has not publicly commented on the scope of the investigation but confirmed it is reviewing evidence related to possible war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.

Authorities are focused on whether any Italian citizens directly participated in sniper activities during the siege.

The Bosnian Consulate in Milan issued a statement welcoming the investigation and pledging cooperation.

“We are impatient to discover the truth about such a cruel matter in order to close a chapter of history,” a consulate spokesperson said.

“I am in possession of certain information I will be sharing with the investigators.”

While the allegations have not yet been independently verified, the case has drawn renewed attention to the atrocities committed during the siege of Sarajevo, where snipers routinely targeted civilians, including women and children, from elevated positions around the city.

Gavazzeni’s claims, if confirmed, would represent one of the most shocking revelations linked to the conflict, suggesting that foreign civilians may have paid to take part in war crimes for sport.

Italian prosecutors have indicated that the investigation will continue in coordination with Bosnian authorities and international legal bodies.

Gavin Newsom, California ‘Caught Red Handed,’ 17,000 Illegally Issued CDLs Revoked
News

Gavin Newsom, California ‘Caught Red Handed,’ 17,000 Illegally Issued CDLs Revoked

/

California has revoked 17,000 nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses following an order from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who accused the state of violating federal trucking regulations by issuing licenses to ineligible drivers.

The decision follows months of disagreement between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and California officials over the state’s compliance with federal commercial driving standards.

Duffy has made enforcement of those rules a top priority, particularly after a fatal semitruck crash last summer involving a non-English-proficient illegal immigrant whose license was issued in California.

“After weeks of claiming they did nothing wrong, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught red-handed,” Duffy said in a statement Wednesday.

“Now that we’ve exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked.”

According to the Transportation Department, the California Department of Motor Vehicles issued the nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) in violation of federal requirements.

Federal law mandates that all CDL applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet eligibility standards for legal residency or lawful presence in the United States.

Duffy warned that failure to correct the violations could result in California losing $160 million in federal transportation funding.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

“My team will continue to force California to prove they have removed every illegal immigrant from behind the wheel of semitrucks and school buses.”

In a previous statement to the outlet in late October, the agency maintained that its licensing practices were consistent with federal law, asserting that the Transportation Department had previously allowed the issuance of CDLs to asylum seekers and refugees.

In a September letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, Alicia Fowler, general counsel for the California State Transportation Agency, defended the state’s policies.

“California’s laws, regulations, standards, and orders are either identical to or have the same effect as the federal safety requirements—including the English language proficiency requirement,” Fowler wrote.

However, a recent audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that approximately 25 percent of nondomiciled CDLs in several states, including California, were issued out of compliance.

The audit identified “systemic non-compliance” in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

A DOT spokesperson said the agency “urges all states to revoke illegally issued CDLs,” and confirmed that California was the first state officially cited for noncompliance.

The Transportation Department said it has notified all 17,000 affected drivers that their licenses do not meet federal standards.

Those licenses are set to expire within 60 days.

California, one of the largest CDL-issuing states in the country, must demonstrate full compliance before any new nondomiciled licenses can be issued.

In response to the federal order, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office defended the state’s licensing record.

“Sounds like the federal Secretary of Transportation needs a lesson on his own road rules,” the governor’s office posted on X.

“The facts are plain and simple — California commercial driver’s license holders had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% LOWER than the national average.”

The revocation marks one of the largest federal interventions in state licensing oversight in recent years.

Duffy has emphasized that the action is part of a broader effort to ensure that commercial drivers meet national safety and language requirements designed to prevent accidents and protect U.S. highways.

The Transportation Department said additional reviews of other states identified in the FMCSA audit are underway to determine whether similar violations occurred elsewhere.

Climate Summit Turns Violent: Indigenous Protesters Breach U.N. ‘Blue Zone’
News

Climate Summit Turns Violent: Indigenous Protesters Breach U.N. ‘Blue Zone’

/

Security personnel clashed with protesters Tuesday night at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, after dozens of indigenous demonstrators forced their way into a restricted area demanding stronger environmental protections.

The disturbance occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. local time, shortly after a press conference presenting the day’s negotiations concluded, according to Brazilian outlet G1.

The group blocked the exit of the event’s “Blue Zone,” a secured section reserved for government ministers, diplomats, and official delegates.

Witnesses said protesters breached pavilion doors and attempted to move toward the restricted area before being stopped by security.

The confrontation prompted United Nations guards to form human chains, and in some cases, use wooden tables as barriers to prevent demonstrators from advancing further.

Footage from the scene showed one injured guard being taken away in a wheelchair, clutching his abdomen, while another—who suffered a cut above his eye—told Reuters he had been struck by “a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd.”

Security teams later reported confiscating several long, heavy sticks from protesters at the site.

A spokesperson for the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat said both Brazilian and U.N. security forces followed established safety protocols and brought the situation under control.

“The venue is completely secure, and conference negotiations are continuing as normal,” the spokesperson told G1.

“The incident caused minor injuries to two security guards and minor damage to the venue’s structure.”

In an official statement, the U.N. clarified that the group responsible for the confrontation had not been part of the event’s official organization.

“The group that went to the Blue Zone after the march ended was not part of the official organization or coordination of the event, having participated independently,” the statement read.

The organization added that the protesters’ stated objective was “to draw attention to the impacts of climate change on public health and the urgent need for policies that protect both people and the planet.”

After the clash, Brazilian security forces cleared the pavilion and reinforced the area with military police vehicles.

G1 reported that no arrests were immediately confirmed following the incident, though authorities have not ruled out further investigation.

Valter Correia, Brazil’s Extraordinary Secretary for COP30, told G1 that event organizers had been in contact with protest groups ahead of the summit and that U.N. security protocols were designed to handle such demonstrations.

“The U.N. has all its security protocols,” Correia said. “We make peaceful coexistence agreements with the movements, and they [U.N. security] are here to ensure security.”

The protesters who breached the Blue Zone reportedly came from a larger demonstration known as the “Global Health and Climate March,” which had taken place earlier in the day.

The rally covered approximately 1.5 kilometers through the streets of Belém before ending near the COP30 venue.

Organizers of the march said the group that attempted to storm the restricted zone acted independently and was not officially affiliated with their event.

The United Nations and Brazilian authorities confirmed that all official COP30 proceedings resumed later that evening without further disruptions.

The conference, which brings together world leaders, policymakers, and environmental activists, is scheduled to continue through the week with sessions focused on deforestation, emissions reduction, and global health impacts related to climate change.


Scroll to Top