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Maine Official Refuses to Apologize After Calling Opponents of Trans Policy ‘Pedophilic’
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Maine Official Refuses to Apologize After Calling Opponents of Trans Policy ‘Pedophilic’

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A Kennebunk, Maine, town official has stepped down from her liaison role with the local school board following intense backlash over comments suggesting that critics of a transgender athlete policy have “pedophilic tendencies.”

As reported by Fox News, Vice Chair Leslie Trentalange of the Kennebunk Select Board made the remarks during an Oct. 20 Regional School Unit (RSU) 21 meeting, which focused on a policy allowing transgender students to join sports teams and use facilities aligning with their gender identity, in accordance with Maine state law.

During the meeting, Trentalange said she was speaking as a “concerned community member” and accused opponents of the policy of harboring inappropriate interests.

“The majority in this district knows that all students are welcome,” she said. “Their obsession with what is sitting in between the private parts of our students is nothing less than creepy and should absolutely be raising eyebrows in and around our school district.”

She continued, “Their obsession with genitalia points not to caring for the students in this district, but perhaps toward an underlying guilt for their own pedophilic tendencies. There is a registry for that.”

Her statements prompted audible gasps from attendees and an immediate rebuke from RSU 21 School Board Chair Matthew Stratford, who called the comments “inappropriate.”

Trentalange refused to retract her remarks, responding, “I don’t think that was inappropriate, and I stand by my comments.”

The remarks drew sharp criticism from community members and local officials, leading to letters to the Kennebunk Select Board and widespread debate online.

At an Oct. 28 Select Board meeting, John Salamone, a Republican candidate for Maine Senate District 31, accused Trentalange of violating the town’s code of conduct and demanded her censure.

“When an elected official uses her platform to publicly slander citizens, she undermines the integrity of this board and erodes public trust in local government,” Salamone said.

Some residents supported Salamone’s call for accountability, while others defended Trentalange’s right to express her views under free speech protections. Former RSU 21 Board member Lesley Stoeffler said, “Ms. Trentalange does not owe anyone an apology.”

Other residents echoed similar sentiments. “Vote them out, that is how democracy works,” resident Karen Plattes said. “Stifling free speech is not the way. And that doesn’t matter what side you are on.”

Select Board member Kortney Nedeau said, “I personally feel that Leslie had 100% the right and the freedom of speech to say what she feels about any topic, just like any of us do, and I will always support my fellow board members. I just know that as an elected official, for me, it is an ethical decision to never cross that line.”

At the Oct. 28 meeting, Trentalange said she understood her comments had “pushed some boundaries” but refused to apologize to her critics. Instead, she expressed regret only to members of the “queer community” who might have been hurt by her remarks.

“If there are folks in the marginalized, queer community who feel my message did not serve them or hurt them in any way, it is that which I regret,” she said.

Trentalange also said she would step down from her liaison role to avoid confusion about her capacity when attending school board meetings, but confirmed she would remain vice chair of the Kennebunk Select Board.

In an Oct. 27 Facebook statement, RSU 21 Chair Matthew Stratford said the district’s transgender policy complies with the Maine Human Rights Act and would not be revisited this school year.

He also called for “civility” at future meetings and reminded attendees that harassment and disrespectful language would not be tolerated.

RSU 21, Trentalange, and the Kennebunk Select Board did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Families Sue Camp Mystic Over Deadly Texas Flood, Alleging Negligence and Profit Motive
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Families Sue Camp Mystic Over Deadly Texas Flood, Alleging Negligence and Profit Motive

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Families of seven young girls and two counselors who died in the July 4 flood at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, have filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit, accusing the camp’s owners of ignoring repeated flood warnings and state safety regulations to protect profits.

The 75-page lawsuit, filed Nov. 10 in Travis County District Court by attorney R. Paul Yetter of Yetter Coleman LLP, lists the families of Anna Margaret Bellows, Lila Bonner, Chloe Childress, Molly DeWitt, Katherine Ferruzzo, Lainey Landry, and Blakely McCrory as plaintiffs.

All seven victims were killed in the flood that swept through the camp along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country, as reported by The New York Post.

The complaint alleges Camp Mystic and its owners “put profit over safety” and “chose to house young girls in flood-prone areas to avoid the cost of relocating cabins.”

The filing also accuses camp leadership of violating state requirements by failing to establish or follow an emergency evacuation plan.

“Just such a tragedy hit our State on July 4, 2025,” the lawsuit states. “When 25 campers and two counselors needlessly and tragically died in the floodwaters at Camp Mystic.”

Camp Mystic occupies 725 acres along the Guadalupe River, a region known for dangerous flash floods.

The lawsuit cites a 1990 interview with then-director Richard Eastland, who reportedly told the Austin-American Statesman, “I’m sure there will be other drownings. People don’t heed the warnings.”

According to the lawsuit, the camp ignored multiple warnings leading up to the disaster — including National Weather Service alerts and staff pleas to evacuate. Counselors allegedly begged to move campers to higher ground but were told to “stay put because that’s the plan.”

Timeline Detailed in the Lawsuit
• 1:14 a.m. – The National Weather Service issued a “life-threatening flash flood” warning.
• 1:45–2:13 a.m. – Camp leaders Richard and Edward Eastland allegedly worked to move equipment rather than evacuate cabins.
• 2:20 a.m. – Counselors reported water entering cabins but were instructed to remain inside.
• 2:30–3:30 a.m. – Five cabins were evacuated to the Rec Hall; six others were left behind, including Nut Hut, Chatter Box, Wiggle Inn, Giggle Box, Twins, and Bubble Inn.
• 3:35–3:51 a.m. – Richard Eastland’s SUV was swept away while he tried to rescue girls from Bubble Inn. All 13 campers and two counselors inside drowned.
• 3:35–4:09 a.m. – Eleven campers died in Twins Cabin after being told to stay because “the water would go back down.”

The petition argues that the girls could have safely reached higher ground within 60 seconds if not ordered to remain in their cabins. It accuses the camp of gross negligence, premises liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The filing also cites a written Camp Mystic policy stating: “In case of flood, all campers on Senior Hill must stay in their cabins… All cabins are constructed on safe, high locations.” Families argue this policy was inaccurate and led to preventable deaths.

The lawsuit further alleges that camp administrators misled parents after the disaster, initially claiming the girls were “unaccounted for” hours after the floodwaters subsided.

Nick Fazio and Noel Padilla, Westchester County DPW workers, clear clogged drains on the flooded Bronx River Parkway in White Plains July 15, 2025. Sections of the parkway remain closed after Monday night’s flash flooding.

Families also condemned the camp’s decision to announce its reopening for the next summer season while one camper, Cile Steward, remained missing.

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $1 million in damages, including compensation for wrongful death and exemplary damages, and have requested a jury trial.

Rudy Giuliani Delivers Great ‘Advice’ to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani After New York City Victory
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Rudy Giuliani Delivers Great ‘Advice’ to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani After New York City Victory

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani offered sharp criticism and pointed “advice” to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Monday, suggesting the incoming Democratic Socialist leader should decline to take office, as reported by The New York Post.

“My advice to him is to step down and do something else,” Giuliani told The New York Post of Mamdani, whom he described as “a Communist — right out of Karl Marx.”

Zohran Mamdani speaks to the press at the 2025 NYC Pride March, Jun 29, 2025, NYC, NY, USA. Yannick Peterhans/NorthJersey.com

Giuliani, a Republican who served two terms as mayor and earned national recognition for his leadership during and after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, accused Mamdani of being unfit to lead the city.

He claimed the mayor-elect’s ties to controversial figures and his views on Israel reveal troubling sympathies.

Giuliani specifically criticized a photo taken during Mamdani’s campaign in which he appeared with Imam Suraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn-based cleric once accused of radical associations.

“The imam he was with is a strong supporter of terrorism,” Giuliani said.

“I’m not worried that he’s a Muslim. I’m worried that he supports Muslim extremism.”

Mamdani, who will be New York City’s first Muslim mayor, has not yet commented on Giuliani’s remarks.

Giuliani went on to question whether the incoming mayor could pass a federal background check.

“You think the federal government will give this guy a security clearance?” he said.

“Zohran Mamdani is a serious security threat to the United States of America. He’s a Communist and a sympathizer for Muslim terrorism.”

The former mayor also condemned Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Israel seems like an obsession with him,” Giuliani said, citing Mamdani’s support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a New York State Assemblymember and democratic socialist running for Mayor. New York, US – 04 July 2025

“The BDS movement wants to wipe out the state of Israel. Mamdani is one of the best-known antisemites in the country,” he claimed.

Giuliani’s comments come days after Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral race, which marked a historic win for progressives in the city.

The 32-year-old Democrat and state assemblyman from Queens campaigned on policies rooted in Democratic socialism, including housing reform and police oversight.

In his closing remarks, Giuliani offered one additional piece of advice to his successor: “Love America.”

Neither Mamdani nor his campaign team have issued a statement in response to Giuliani’s comments.

Giuliani, who later served as an attorney for President Donald Trump, was pardoned by the Trump administration for his involvement in the disputed events surrounding the 2020 presidential election.

President Trump, who returned to office after winning the 2024 election, has not publicly commented on Giuliani’s remarks about Mamdani.

White House Brutally Taunts Ilhan Omar, Suggests She Can Return to Somalia
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White House Brutally Taunts Ilhan Omar, Suggests She Can Return to Somalia

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The White House appeared to take aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Monday with a social media post implying that she could return to Somalia after she dismissed concerns about being deported, as reported by The New York Post.

The post on X featured a photo of President Donald Trump waving from a McDonald’s drive-thru window, accompanied by a caption responding to a video of Omar downplaying the idea of deportation.

WASHINGTON – February 22, 2025: President Donald Trump arrives at the White House South Lawn on Marine One after his visit to CPAC.

The image, taken in October 2024 during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, showed President Trump greeting customers while working briefly at the fry station.

In the clip the White House was responding to, Omar said she was unconcerned about the notion of losing her citizenship or being deported. “I have no worry, I don’t know how they’d take away my citizenship and like deport me,” Omar said during an October appearance on “The Dean Obeidallah Show.”

“But I don’t even know like why that’s such a scary threat. Like I’m not the 8-year-old who escaped war anymore. I’m grown, my kids are grown. Like I could go live wherever I want.”

Omar’s office and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Omar, who was born in Somalia, came to the United States as a refugee after her family fled the country’s civil war in 1991. The family spent several years in a refugee camp in Kenya before being granted asylum in the U.S. in 1995.

They first settled in Arlington, Virginia, before moving to Minneapolis in 1997. Omar became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000.

President Trump has been publicly critical of Omar for years, often questioning her loyalty to the United States and calling for her to “go back” to Somalia. On Nov. 1, Trump shared a video of Omar speaking Somali on Truth Social, writing, “She should go back!”

In remarks to reporters in September, Trump recounted a conversation with Somalia’s head of state. “You know, I met the head of Somalia, did you know that?” he said. “And I suggested that maybe he’d like to take her back. He said, ‘I don’t want her.’”

Omar responded by accusing the president of fabricating the story. “From denying Somalia had a president to making up a story, President Trump is a lying buffoon,” Omar said. “No one should take this embarrassing fool seriously.”

The exchange is the latest in a long-running feud between Omar and President Trump that began during his first term. In 2019, Trump criticized Omar and other members of “The Squad,” saying they should return to their “broken and crime infested” countries. Omar, in response, accused Trump of “stoking white nationalism” and promoting a “hate-filled agenda.”

Omar was elected to Congress in 2018 after serving two years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. She was the first Somali–American woman and one of the first Muslim women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Influential House Republican Announces Retirement After Nearly a Decade
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Influential House Republican Announces Retirement After Nearly a Decade

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House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, a key member of the Republican leadership from Texas, announced that he will not seek reelection after his current term ends. The 53-year-old congressman, first elected in 2016, confirmed his decision in a statement reported by Fox News.

“I have a firm conviction, much like our founders did, that public service is a lifetime commitment, but public office is and should be a temporary stint in stewardship, not a career,” Arrington said.

Arrington, who has served nearly a decade in Congress, described his decision as the right time to conclude his public office tenure following what he called a “generational impact opportunity” — the passage of President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” earlier this year.

“It was a very unique, generational impact opportunity, to be almost ten years into this and to have the budget chairmanship, and to lead the charge to successfully pass that and to help this president fulfill his mandate from the people,” Arrington said.

“It just seems like a good and right place to leave it.”

During his time in office, Arrington prioritized elevating the concerns of rural Americans, which he cited as one of his proudest accomplishments.

“I’m from a rural district, and I can tell you, raising the profile among urban and suburban members as to the unique challenges of rural America and the unique contributions of rural America — like food security and energy independence and how much the nation depends on these plow boys and cowboys in rural areas — that’s another thing I’m proud of,” he said.

Arrington also praised President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson for continuing efforts to reduce the national debt, calling both men “committed” to fiscal responsibility.

“The president’s committed to it; he talks about it all the time. He’s actually doing something about it with very difficult decisions, not politically popular decisions. This is all about political will,” Arrington said.

“Trump’s doing it. Mike Johnson is committed to it … And we have a growing number of fiscal hawks who are absolutely dogged on this issue.”

Before leaving office, Arrington said he hopes to advance a budget reconciliation bill that complements President Trump’s legislative agenda.

“I don’t know where the Senate Republicans are. I don’t know where the president is and can’t speak for the White House. But the House is at the ready,” he said.

Arrington added that his next focus will be on family life and faith after years in Washington. “My next goal is quality time with my wife and kids and focusing on my leadership and service, not in the people’s house, but in my own house,” he said.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for his time in Congress. “I’m thankful that God called me and gave me the grace to succeed and to achieve the things that we’ve achieved,” Arrington said.

“Did I make my share of mistakes? You bet. Did I learn along the way? You bet I did. But we left [the country] better than we found it, and it gives me great satisfaction.”

Pam Bondi and Kash Patel Unveil ‘Clinton Corruption Files’ Detailing Foundation Donations
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Pam Bondi and Kash Patel Unveil ‘Clinton Corruption Files’ Detailing Foundation Donations

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Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have delivered to Congress a newly compiled set of documents, described by officials as the “Clinton Corruption Files,” containing evidence that foreign and domestic donors sought influence through contributions to the Clinton Foundation, as reported by Just the News.

The material, transmitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee in recent days, raises renewed concerns that federal investigators were blocked from pursuing key corruption evidence during prior probes.

National Harbor, MD US – Mar 3, 2023: Kash Patel, former Pentagon Chief of Staff at the 2023 Conservative Action Conference (CPAC). Credit: Ron Sachs – CNP

According to officials who spoke with Just the News, the files include records showing that foreign nationals and at least one U.S. defense contractor made donations to the Clinton Foundation during periods when they had interests pending before the U.S. government.

Some of these contributions occurred while Hillary Clinton was serving as Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – November 3, 2022: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addresses a campaign rally at Barnard College in New York City.

Bill Clinton, who served as President of the United States from 1993 to 2001, continued to engage in global speaking and philanthropic activities during the same period.

Officials said the newly surfaced evidence could provide additional insight into whether donors attempted to use the foundation as a channel to secure access or favor with government officials.

Sources familiar with the files said some of the records originated from whistleblowers who alleged that critical evidence was withheld from prosecutors working on a 2015 corruption investigation at the U.S. attorney’s office in Little Rock, Arkansas.

That investigation, which sought to determine whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in pay-to-play activities, was reportedly shut down under the direction of the Obama Justice Department.

“The documents will make clear that there was an effort to obstruct legitimate inquiries into the Foundation by blocking real investigation by line-level FBI agents and DOJ field prosecutors and keeping them from following the money,” one official directly familiar with the documents told Just the News.

Bondi and Patel have reportedly been collecting the records for several weeks and plan to make them public as early as the end of this week, once whistleblower identities have been redacted. Officials said the documents are being organized for public release in stages.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi waving to Florida delegates while rehearsing from the stage before the start of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena.

In addition, officials expect related evidence to surface in the ongoing Arctic Frost investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The expected disclosures could include new records detailing communications between Smith and senior FBI officials, including former Director Christopher Wray, as well as efforts to obtain phone records of members of Congress.

Earlier reporting indicated that the FBI opened three separate investigations into potential pay-to-play schemes involving the Clinton Foundation between 2014 and 2016.

All were ordered closed by then–Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, who directed agents to “shut it down,” according to internal accounts.

Officials said the newly obtained files reveal that lower-level FBI agents and field prosecutors had collected information pointing to possible financial misconduct and influence operations, but that key findings never reached higher levels of the Department of Justice.

Bondi and Patel’s handover of the “Clinton Corruption Files” marks the most substantial new development in the years-long effort to uncover whether the former first family’s charitable foundation served as a vehicle for political and financial influence.

John Fetterman Says ‘No One Really Knows’ Who’s Running the Democratic Party
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John Fetterman Says ‘No One Really Knows’ Who’s Running the Democratic Party

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Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) admitted Tuesday that “no one really knows” who is leading the Democratic Party on Capitol Hill and revealed that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) never spoke to him about the recent government shutdown, as reported by The New York Post.

Fetterman, 56, made the comments during an appearance on Fox & Friends, where he discussed a report from Axios alleging that Schumer privately urged a group of moderate Democrats in mid-October to prolong the shutdown until the start of ObamaCare open enrollment on Nov. 1.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA, speaks at a rally with Tim Walz at the York Expo Center.

“I was not in a conversation or I never got any outreach,” Fetterman said, adding that “everyone understood” his stance on reopening the government.

“I really kind of led the charge [to keep the government open] back in March,” he said. “And then I said, ‘I know we’ll be back in September.’ And I said, ‘I know where my vote will be then, too.’”

Fetterman was among eight Democrats and Democrat-aligned independents who voted Monday night to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, without demanding that Republicans agree to extend ObamaCare subsidies beyond this year.

“It’s always a hard yes to keep our government open,” Fetterman explained.

“I mean, that’s my principle, because it’s wrong to shut our government down. And now we knew that we would put [at risk] those 42 million Americans for SNAP and paying our military and, you know, the Capitol Police. I mean, people have went five weeks without being paid. I mean, that’s a violation of my core values. And I think it’s [a violation of] our party’s [values] as well.”

When co-host Lawrence Jones asked who was “running the show now in the Democratic Party,” Fetterman replied bluntly, “No one really knows.”

“My values are reflected in my vote and the things that I support here,” he said, “and if that might put me at odds with parts of my party, I’m okay with that. I mean, we need to be a … big tent party.”

Fetterman, who has distanced himself from the progressive wing on several issues, has repeatedly voiced support for Israel and criticized the hardline tactics favored by the far-left base.

He said he could not support allowing programs like SNAP or military pay to lapse during the shutdown.

“I think my party crossed a line of now putting 42 million Americans with — with their SNAP benefits [expiring],” Fetterman said.

“And making flying less safe and that kind of chaos and not paying our military. I mean, that was a red line for me that I can’t cross as a Democrat.”

The revised government funding bill passed by the Senate would fund federal operations until Jan. 30, 2026, and provide money for SNAP, veterans programs, and congressional operations through Sept. 30. The House is expected to vote on the measure Wednesday.

Fetterman also discussed his new memoir, Unfettered, which was released Tuesday. The book details his public service career and his recovery from depression.

“For me, you know, my message was very, very simple: if anyone feels lost or they’re in the throes of depression, you know, I beg people, please, please stay in this game, because I promise you — you will get better,” Fetterman said.

“Three years ago, you know, I was in the depths of that depression, and now I’ve emerged as a [U.S.] senator.”

Police Called Two Dozen Times to Letitia James’ Virginia Homes Since Purchase
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Police Called Two Dozen Times to Letitia James’ Virginia Homes Since Purchase

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Police have been called more than two dozen times to two Virginia houses owned by New York Attorney General Letitia James since she purchased them, according to public records reviewed by The New York Post.

Both homes — occupied by members of James’ extended family — have been linked to repeated disturbances, arrests, and ongoing criminal investigations.

James bought the first home in August 2020 for $137,000. Her grandniece, 36-year-old Nakia Thompson, moved into the property soon afterward with her three children.

Nov 6, 2023; New York, NY, USA; New York Attorney General Letitia James arrives as Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to testify for his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 in New York City, NY. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Altman-USA TODAY

Since then, Norfolk police have been called to the residence 12 times for various incidents, including warrant and subpoena service, vandalism reports, domestic disputes, and suspicious activity. In some cases, officers were dispatched multiple times in a single day.

The police activity at the property escalated sharply in early October after James was indicted on federal bank fraud charges.

The indictment alleges that she misrepresented the intended use of the home when applying for a mortgage, claiming she would occupy it herself despite working and residing in New York — more than 300 miles away.

James has denied the allegations but faces up to 60 years in federal prison if convicted.

Thompson, who testified before a grand jury in June that she was living rent-free in the house, is currently wanted in Forsyth County, North Carolina, for failing to complete probation in a separate criminal case.

Court records show she was previously charged with malicious conduct by a prisoner, assault of a government official, and resisting a public officer.

Since moving into the Norfolk home, Thompson has also been arrested or cited in Virginia on multiple charges, including possession of burglary tools, grand larceny, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

In 2020, she was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to petit and grand larceny related to the theft of nearly $2,000 worth of merchandise from department stores in Chesapeake.

Late last month, Thompson was charged with using profane, threatening, or indecent language over public airways after allegedly threatening to punch her child’s assistant principal during a phone call.

New York Attorney General Letitia James talks about the ongoing investigation into the death of Daniel Prude during a press conference held at the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church on Genesee Street in Rochester Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020.
Sd 092020 Attorney General E Metro

James’ second Norfolk property, purchased in 2023 for $219,780, has also drawn repeated police attention. Records show 10 calls for service between April 2024 and April 2025, including reports of domestic disputes, an assault, and warrant service.

That home is occupied by another grandniece, 21-year-old Cayla Thompson-Hairston, an OnlyFans content creator, along with her mother, Shamice, and sister, Courtney.

In April 2024, Cayla was charged with providing false information on a federal form while attempting to buy a firearm in Suffolk, Virginia.

Court documents show she was legally barred from purchasing a gun because of a prior felony charge of malicious wounding from 2020, when she was a juvenile.

She also faced grand larceny charges in 2024 after stealing more than $1,600 in merchandise from a Walmart in Norfolk, later pleading guilty to misdemeanor petit larceny.

Both homes remain under investigation as part of the federal fraud case against James, who maintains that her property purchases were legitimate and intended to support her relatives.

President Trump Lays Wreath on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Honors America’s Fallen Heroes
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President Trump Lays Wreath on Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Honors America’s Fallen Heroes

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President Donald Trump led a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and delivering remarks honoring America’s fallen and living service members, as reported by Fox News.

The President was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins for the annual observance, held at the Memorial Amphitheater before an audience of veterans, military families, and active-duty personnel.

“This morning on these hallowed grounds where generations of American heroes rest in eternal glory, we gather to fulfill the sacred duty of every free man and woman,” Trump said.

“On Veterans Day, we honor those who have worn the uniform, who have borne the battle, who have stood to watch, and whose ranks have formed the mighty wall of flesh and blood, bravery and devotion that has defended our freedom for 250 years.”

The President expressed his gratitude to veterans across the country, saying their service “will never be forgotten.”
“Today, to every veteran, we love our veterans,” Trump said.

“We say the words too often left unsaid — thank you for your service. Thank you very much. And we want to also say thank you for carrying America’s fate on your strong, very broad, proud shoulders. Each of you has earned the respect and the gratitude of our entire nation. We love you, we salute you, and we will never forget what you have done to keep America safe, sovereign, and free.”

Vice President Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, urged Americans to express their appreciation personally.

“During my four years of the Marine Corps, I met the very best of America,” he said. “People who are willing to put on a uniform and risk their lives for their entire country.”

Vance also shared reflections from his recent visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

“Just yesterday morning, I met people who lost limbs, who lost very, very important family members, who lost their psychological health,” he said, adding that every veteran’s sacrifice deserves recognition and gratitude.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins highlighted progress made under the Trump administration to improve services for veterans. “The VA now understands that we do nothing else except take care of the veteran and do things for them,” Collins said.

He noted that the department has reduced backlogs, improved access to care, and expanded options for veterans seeking treatment within their communities.

Collins reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring veterans receive the support and benefits they have earned.

“We are making sure they have everything they need from this administration because they have earned everything that they are getting,” he said.

The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence as President Trump placed the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by the playing of “Taps.”

J.D. Vance Cracks Up Room During Veterans Visit Ahead of Holiday
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J.D. Vance Cracks Up Room During Veterans Visit Ahead of Holiday

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Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday to meet with veterans and medical staff ahead of Veterans Day. The visit, which included several stops to speak with patients and caregivers, offered a mix of lighthearted moments and heartfelt discussions about service, sacrifice, and recovery, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The Vice President and Second Lady spent time with military personnel undergoing rehabilitation, listening to their stories and thanking them for their service. The couple also distributed challenge coins to patients and staff as a gesture of appreciation.

Feb 20, 2025; National Harbor, MD, USA; Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

At one point, Vance shared an especially candid and humorous exchange while visiting a rehabilitation session for combat-wounded U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Carlos Evans. As the Vice President observed Evans performing physical therapy exercises, a therapist tossed a ball to the Marine — who then threw it unexpectedly toward the Vice President.

Catching the ball off-guard, Vance laughed as the room joined in on the fun. “Really put me on the spot!” he said, prompting Evans to apologize with a quick “Sorry, sorry!”

Still laughing, Vance added, “If I had dropped it, man, what a dipshit I would have looked like here.” The Vice President then turned to others in the room and joked, “Somebody call the Secret Service on this guy!”

The light moment drew smiles and laughter before the visit turned back to more serious discussion about Sgt. Evans’ recovery and ongoing treatment.

Throughout the visit, Vance spoke with patients about their progress and shared words of encouragement. “We’ll be rooting for you,” he told one recovering veteran. “It’s seriously amazing. I really admire your spirit. Every time I’m bitching about my job, I’ll remember this guy.”

He also noted the dedication and perseverance of those he met, saying the visit served as a reminder of the resilience of America’s service members. “This is all a conspiracy to shame me for not going to the gym more,” Vance joked. “You have all these guys who have rough injuries and they’re all busting their ass…no excuses anymore.”

The Vice President’s visit came as part of a broader initiative to honor military personnel ahead of Veterans Day and highlight the administration’s ongoing support for wounded service members and their families.

Vance and his wife concluded their tour by meeting with hospital staff to discuss care programs and resources available for veterans recovering from combat injuries. Officials at Walter Reed said the Vice President’s visit was well received and provided a morale boost to both patients and caregivers.


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