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Hegseth Slams Biden’s Admin as ‘Asleep at the Wheel, Credits Trump with Restoring Order
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Hegseth Slams Biden’s Admin as ‘Asleep at the Wheel, Credits Trump with Restoring Order

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Katie Miller and Pete Hegseth discussed recent U.S. military actions and the contrast between the current administration’s national security posture and that of its predecessor during an interview focused on American strength abroad and at home.

Miller began by praising recent actions taken to protect Americans.

She said, “You and the President have been doing amazing things to protect US citizens, both domestically and abroad. It was incredible to watch our b2 bombers and our F 35 right take out Iran’s nuclear capabilities. How much safer are we as a result of that?”

Hegseth responded by contrasting recent operations with earlier periods of national security concern.

He said, “I actually think it’s kind of hard to fully calculate the difference between an administration that where a balloon flew over the country and Afghanistan collapsed, and the Secretary of Defense was AWOL for a week, like I can’t go AWOL for 30 minutes, like someone knows where I am at all times. And you can attest to the idea that Lloyd Austin was gone for a week and nobody knew, shows you how asleep at the wheel. The previous administration was across the board, and the world knew it, and they were taking advantage of it.”

He tied that lack of leadership to global instability. Hegseth said, “And so you got the chaos. You got what happened in Ukraine. You got what happened on October 7, like that’s the way the world was turning.”

He then pointed to recent actions by the United States as evidence of renewed deterrence.

“And now you’ve got Europe paying up at 5% and you’ve got Iran on notice, and President said they wouldn’t get a bomb, and they won’t. And then you have a mission like that, which was so locked tight that the President was able to announce it on his truth that night without any information in the information space at all. 52 refuelers, 37 hours b2 is right on target. The world took notice,” Hegseth said.

He went on to describe other ongoing operations.

“And I think that, plus the Houthi campaign, where we can sail our ships wherever we want, between the southern border and now strikes on drug boats, where we know exactly who these guys are and trying to poison the American people, the world realizes that American leadership and strength is back,” he said.

Hegseth added that this shift has given the United States room to shape events abroad.

He said the change “gives the President United States more options to be able to expand peace around the world, which is exactly what he’s doing, and that’s cool to watch and support that.”

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Liberal News Channels Wouldn’t Cover Somali Fraud Until They Could Frame Them as Victims
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Liberal News Channels Wouldn’t Cover Somali Fraud Until They Could Frame Them as Victims

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A NewsNation segment featuring Batya Ungar-Sargon and video of President Donald Trump focused on federal charges involving nearly 90 individuals accused of embezzling up to $1 billion in COVID relief funds in Minnesota.

Ungar-Sargon said the case highlighted failures in media coverage and ongoing frustrations among working-class Americans over immigration and economic pressure.

Ungar-Sargon said, “It’s 2016 all over again,” adding that “hard working Americans are being called racist for objecting to having their generosity taken advantage of by overwhelming waves of immigrants.”

She continued, “Over the weekend, the New York Times revealed that a massive fraud had taken place in Minnesota’s Somali community posing as charitable NGOs, feeding the hungry or protecting the homeless, or servicing autistic kids.”

She said, “Nearly 90 Somalis have been charged with embezzling up to a billion dollars in government funding dispersed during the covid pandemic.”

According to Ungar-Sargon, “No children were fed, no homeless were housed. The money was spent instead on luxury cars, mansions and real estate overseas.”

She said that when officials attempted to investigate, “the Somali criminals threatened to sue and call them racist in stories that would be sprawled across the news.”

Ungar-Sargon asked, “Can you even imagine being gifted the greatest privilege on Earth, the gift of American citizenship, and then turning around and throwing that generosity back in our faces?”

She added, “It is galling,” and noted that major networks “refused to even cover the story until they could make the Somalis the victims of it all.”

Video of President Trump played during the segment. Trump said, “Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars.”

He added, “I don’t want them in our country. I’ll be honest.”

Trump continued, “Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks.” He said, “We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.”

Ungar-Sargon said the focus on Trump’s tone rather than the fraud itself served as a distraction.

“The outrage that the President is giving voice to is completely justified,” she said. She added that “focusing on his linguistic choices rather than the actual fraud is just a smoke screen for those complicit in it.”

She said this response from political and media figures was “exactly the kind of gaslighting that got Trump elected in the first and second place.”

Ungar-Sargon said, “For years, Americans who have been upset about the massive pressure mass migration put on their lives were called racist for wanting their government to think about what’s best for America’s children before thinking about everybody else’s.”

She said the media labeled them “a basket of deplorables, xenophobic Nativists and haters.”

She said wealthy commentators and elected officials criticized the working class while “struggling to make it by working three jobs,” and said many believed that “maybe if the labor market was tighter, they wouldn’t have to choose between chicken for dinner and soccer practice for their kids.”

Ungar-Sargon said, “Maybe if the government hadn’t plonked 80,000 migrants into their town, housing wouldn’t be as prohibitive,” and that “those factory jobs, well, maybe they would be theirs.”

She said the Minnesota case reflected this dynamic.

“The outrageous, massive fraud perpetrated by members of Minnesota’s Somali community is this exact scenario on steroids.”

She added, “They literally threaten to call Minnesotans racist if they dared to object to being stolen from.”

Ungar-Sargon concluded by saying, “To the left, the only outrage is how Trump talked about the scandal.”

She said, “That’s what we learned about America this week, the elites have learned nothing.”

She added that Trump won twice by telling Americans, “You’re not bad for wanting the most basic version of the American Dream for yourself and your children.”

She repeated his message: “This is your country. You come first.”

Ungar-Sargon said Democrats will not regain working-class voters “until they can bring themselves to choke out some version of this message, and maybe even actually believe it.”

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Viral Clip Shows Ilhan Omar Telling Her Radical Base a ‘Costly Price’ Must be Paid
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Viral Clip Shows Ilhan Omar Telling Her Radical Base a ‘Costly Price’ Must be Paid

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A video that began circulating widely on Thursday showed Rep. Ilhan Omar issuing comments to her audience about responding to political opponents.

WASHINGTON, DC – July 19, 2022. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) participates in an abortion protest near the U.S. Capitol.

In the recording, Omar said, “As much as Trump and his cronies want to act like we have no power to respond, the truth is we are more powerful than we think we are.”

Omar continued by saying: “And I want to [removed] the importance of using every single leverage that we have at our — at, at our arsenal, because we do have a lot of leverage. We need to make sure that those who are collaborating with the authoritarian regime pay a costly price.”

Her reference to a “costly price” drew attention amid ongoing national tensions.

Recent incidents include the murder of Charlie Kirk by an assailant described by authorities as motivated by political hostility, as well as past public statements by the incoming attorney general of Virginia expressing violent rhetoric toward the children of a political opponent.

Omar’s wording prompted renewed scrutiny of how such statements may be interpreted by followers.

President Donald Trump recently criticized Omar, saying she was “the worst ‘Congressman/woman’ in our Country.”

Trump added, “Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how ‘badly’ she is treated, when her place of origin is a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation, which is essentially not even a country for lack of Government, Military, Police, schools, etc.”

Omar has previously spoken publicly about her political priorities.

In 2024, she stated that she was “here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the US system.”

In an April address in Minneapolis, she described how Democrats would use their authority if they regained congressional control.

Omar said that “if Democrats were in control of the House and Senate they would grind actual work to a halt in Washington, D.C. with hearings and investigations about nothing specific.”

She also said at that event, “If we were in the majority, here’s what we would be doing. We would be holding nonstop oversight hearings about what the Trump administration is doing, carrying out investigations into the corruption and the abuses of power and illegal actions.”

During the same April appearance, Omar said, “The fate of our nantion hangs in the balance.”

The pronunciation drew attention online after viewers noted the phrasing in circulated video clips.

Utah Tech Basketball Player Punches Opponent in the Face After Getting Dunked on
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Utah Tech Basketball Player Punches Opponent in the Face After Getting Dunked on

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A late-game confrontation between Utah Tech and Santa Clara on Wednesday resulted in technical fouls after Utah Tech player Chance Trujillo struck Santa Clara’s Allen Graves following contact on the court.

The incident occurred in the final minutes of the second half and nearly led to a larger altercation before officials intervened.

According to the New York Post, the exchange took place after Graves scored with a dunk that put Santa Clara ahead 86-77 with 1:18 remaining.

As Graves landed, he collided with Trujillo. Trujillo responded by punching Graves in the face.

Graves stepped back after being hit and turned toward Trujillo before several teammates moved in to prevent a direct confrontation.

More Santa Clara players approached as tensions rose, but the situation did not escalate further.

Game officials acted quickly to separate both sides and prevent a broader fight between the teams.

After a brief review, referees issued technical fouls to Trujillo and Graves. Santa Clara’s Brenton Knapper also received a technical foul during the sequence.

The game resumed after the calls, and Santa Clara went on to defeat Utah Tech 90-80 at the final buzzer.

The matter may continue beyond Wednesday’s matchup.

The Western Athletic Conference has not yet released a statement regarding possible disciplinary action against Trujillo, and no comments have been made by team officials or Utah Tech head coach Jon Judkins.

Biden Policies Let Illegals Buy Homes with Taxpayer Money, HUD Sec Shuts it Down
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Biden Policies Let Illegals Buy Homes with Taxpayer Money, HUD Sec Shuts it Down

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Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said the Biden-Harris administration allowed illegal aliens to obtain housing benefits and access government-backed mortgages, contributing to rising housing costs and tightening supply.

Turner discussed the issue during an interview on Mornings with Maria, where he detailed recent actions taken by HUD and the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the misuse of taxpayer-funded housing programs.

Maria Bartiromo opened the discussion by addressing the impact of illegal immigration on housing availability.

“Probing how illegal immigrants have put a strain on the housing market. What can you tell us? You signed a memorandum with the DHS to end wasteful misappropriation of taxpayer money, absolutely, for, quote, illegal alien exploitation of housing programs. You’re also working with the Federal Housing Administration to crack down on government backed mortgages for illegals. How do they get a mortgage if you’re actually illegal in the country?” Bartiromo asked.

Turner said the problem intensified under the prior administration.

“Well, Maria, you know, during the Biden administration, there were over 12 million illegal aliens that came over the border, straining our housing supply and making the cost go up,” Turner said.

He added that HUD and DHS leadership had entered into a formal agreement to stop unlawful access to federal housing benefits.

“And so we work with Secretary known at DHS, as you alluded to, to make sure that only American citizens are living in HUD funded housing.”

Turner also said the department ended access to FHA-backed mortgages for individuals in the country illegally.

“We also took away FHA backed mortgages from illegal aliens during the Biden administration, they turned a blind eye, but we’re going to keep the law to make sure that these mortgages, which are backed by the taxpayer, go only to the American people.”

He emphasized that HUD is implementing new reporting requirements for public housing authorities to verify occupancy.

“And lastly, we are mandating that every public housing authority give us a comprehensive account who is living in every unit in taxpayer HUD funded housing.”

The memorandum between HUD and DHS directs federal agencies to prevent ineligible individuals from using taxpayer-supported housing programs and requires heightened verification standards across public housing authorities nationwide.

Turner said the goal is to ensure housing benefits are reserved for citizens and legal residents in accordance with federal law.

HUD’s recent initiatives come amid broader administration efforts to address the effects of high housing demand, constrained supply, and increased federal scrutiny of benefits programs.

Obama’s Legacy Takes a Major Hit as New Report Reveals Massive Obamacare Fraud
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Obama’s Legacy Takes a Major Hit as New Report Reveals Massive Obamacare Fraud

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A new Government Accountability Office report has found that the federal health insurance marketplace approved subsidies for the vast majority of fictitious applicants submitted during undercover testing, highlighting what investigators called significant “fraud risks” within the advance premium tax credit system.

The findings follow a series of political disputes over federal health care subsidies, including a government shutdown tied to preserving Affordable Care Act funding.

GAO investigators created fake applicants and submitted them through the federal marketplace system.

According to the report, “The federal Marketplace approved coverage for nearly all of GAO’s fictitious applicants in plan years 2024 and 2025, generally consistent with similar GAO testing in plan years 2014 through 2016.”

In plan year 2024, all four fictitious applicants used in the test received subsidized coverage, The New York Post reported.

The applicants were awarded $2,350 per month in total subsidies despite failing to submit “documentation to support Social Security numbers (SSN), citizenship, and reported income.”

GAO expanded testing for plan year 2025 to 20 fictitious applicants.

The report states that 18 of those applicants “remain actively covered as of September 2025.”

The subsidies approved for the 18 active enrollees totaled “over $10,000 per month.”

Investigators also reported evidence of potential misuse of Social Security numbers, including the use of numbers belonging to deceased individuals.

In plan year 2023, one Social Security number was used to obtain subsidized insurance coverage “for over 26,000 days (over 71 years of coverage) across over 125 insurance policies.”

In 2024, 66,000 Social Security numbers were associated with more than a year of subsidized coverage.

GAO compared the Social Security numbers of deceased individuals to those receiving tax credits.

The review identified more than 58,000 matches in 2023, including at least 7,000 people who died before their coverage began.

The report cited a structural issue within the enrollment process.

According to investigators, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows the same Social Security number to be used multiple times during enrollment, creating what GAO described as a major weakness open to fraud.

Republican lawmakers responded immediately to the findings. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said in a statement, “GAO’s troubling report is the smoking gun that shows how this broken system, shielded by Democrat policies, has led to the federal government shoveling tens of billions of tax dollars to insurance companies through identity fraud and caused health care costs to skyrocket for all Americans.”

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie said Republicans “have sounded the alarm on the flawed structural integrity of Obamacare,” adding that the system created opportunities for fraud, burdened taxpayers, and obscured underlying affordability challenges.

He said the watchdog’s findings support Republicans’ efforts to stabilize federal health programs and improve access to care.

The report has renewed scrutiny on the verification processes within the federal marketplace and on the oversight of taxpayer-funded health insurance subsidies.

‘WHO IS BEHIND IT ALL?’: Lara Logan Points to a ‘Hidden Command and Control System’
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‘WHO IS BEHIND IT ALL?’: Lara Logan Points to a ‘Hidden Command and Control System’

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Journalist Lara Logan is raising new allegations about what she describes as a coordinated command structure within the federal government that she says has influenced major investigations, protected powerful figures, and retaliated against whistleblowers across multiple agencies.

In a recent statement, Logan said the system operates through the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, known as CIGIE, which she notes was created during the Obama administration with bipartisan support.

Logan framed her remarks around a central question about how large and complex government operations can appear unified in suppressing information or advancing particular investigations.

“But there’s always this question of who’s behind it all, what’s the they because when you learn you know, when you learn about warfare, you learn about genocide, you learn about all these things, you begin to recognize that there are systems of command and control that have to be running these things for them to work,” Logan said.

She argued that coordinated actions across agencies require an overarching structure.

“Like how do you get all these different agencies to work together to suppress the truth. Well, you need a command and control system, because the command and control system that has been shutting down all of these things that we have seen, whether it’s fast and furious under Eric Holder, or it’s the IRS persecuting Christian and conservative organizations, or it’s the Russia collusion investigation that goes nowhere, or it’s the Ukraine impeachment trial.”

Logan asserted that the coordination she described is tied to CIGIE.

“These operations are being run out of an organization called the Council for the inspectors general on Integrity and Efficiency that was created under Barack Obama in 2008 and by the way, his partner in creating that, in having this brought into law, was none other than Chuck Grassley on the other side of the aisle, and then it was supported, you know, by people on both sides of the aisle. So they created this council which is in charge of the inspectors general.”

She questioned why more federal officials have not publicly resisted what she describes as systemic pressure.

“So what has been happening? You know, a lot of us are asking ourselves, why is there no one that’s willing to stand up in the federal government. We do hear about whistleblowers from time to time, but by and large, these people have been able to weaponize these agencies and walk all over the American people and commit crimes against the American people and get away with it.”

Logan also pointed to symbolic gestures she believes send signals to agency watchdogs.

“They do things like they have an annual gathering every year. Who do they have as their guest of honor? Not so long ago, they had Anthony Fauci. Well, what are they doing there? They’re sending a message to all of the inspector generals in like the National Institutes of Health, for example, and beyond, don’t touch this guy. He’s a made man. He belongs to us.”

She said the system has the ability both to initiate and to block investigations.

“And so what they do is, it’s not they investigate what they want to, such as when they, you know, they went after Donald Trump for Russia collusion, right? So when they want to do an investigation to reinforce an operation or a false narrative or to take out their political rivals, they have the power to do that. And when they don’t want something to be investigated or they want that investigation to die on the vine, they’re able to do that too.”

Logan emphasized her concerns about whistleblowers, arguing that even those with legal protections face internal obstacles.

“And then when you have people who are retaliated against whistleblowers who have legal protections against them. Well, where do they go? They all it all ends up in this clearing house of the inspectors general, where they have the ability to control whatever they want.”

Watch the full episode below:

Massive Election Integrity Update: Harmeet Dhillon Details What She Found So Far
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Massive Election Integrity Update: Harmeet Dhillon Details What She Found So Far

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Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon delivered an update on the Department of Justice’s review of voter rolls across the country, outlining the scope of ongoing federal enforcement actions and the results gathered so far.

Dhillon said the DOJ’s focus is ensuring that states comply with federal law requiring accurate and up-to-date voter records.

“Hi, I’m Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, and I’m here to share an important update about one of my many important duties here at the DOJ, which is enforcing our federal election laws,” she said.

Dhillon explained that the department contacted every state earlier this year.

“Here are some facts and figures for you. In the last eight months, the DOJ has reached out to all 50 states asking them to share their voter rolls with us so that we can help them comply with the Help America Vote Act, which requires states to maintain clean voter rolls.”

Dhillon said that four states provided their data voluntarily.

She noted that North Carolina was sued early in the process and is now reviewing records.

“We sued North Carolina early on, and they are checking the voter records of 100,000 voters who were improperly enrolled on their voter rolls, and they’re going to fix their problem voluntarily,” she said.

According to Dhillon, the DOJ is close to securing cooperation from additional jurisdictions.

“We have an agreement in place almost with another dozen states, and I expect very soon, we’ll be looking at their voter data and comparing it with our records and helping them clean up those voter rolls,” she said.

Litigation remains active in several states.

“Now we have 15 lawsuits pending against 14 states. That’s right, California got sued twice, and we are in litigation with them. They’re refusing to provide their records, even though many of these states voluntarily provide their voter rolls to nonprofit groups like Eric and and even other groups,” she said.

Dhillon added that the department intends to review the remaining states after resolving the current cases.

She also detailed the findings collected so far.

“So we’re engaged with nearly 30 states. Here’s what we found. So far, we’ve checked 47.5 million voter records. We’ve found 260,000 plus dead people enrolled in the state’s voter rolls, which is pretty concerning. They’re going to be removed with the help of the DOJ, and finally, that there are several 1000 non citizens who are enrolled to vote in federal elections,” Dhillon said.

Dhillon noted that the DOJ is working with local authorities where criminal conduct is identified.

“This is very concerning, and the DOJ is partnering with local law enforcement where appropriate to prosecute people who have unlawfully voted in our elections,” she said.

She emphasized that maintaining accurate voter rolls protects the value of individual ballots.

“Even one person voting who shouldn’t have voted is one too many, because every citizen is entitled to one person one vote, assumption that their vote is being counted equally and only with other American citizens.”

Dhillon closed by reaffirming the department’s commitment to completing the review under the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“We will not rest at this DOJ, with the leadership of the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, until we complete this project and provide confidence to all American voters that the roles are clean and the elections are free and fair. Thanks so much.”

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Top Obama DEA Official Indicted in Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy to Launder Millions
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Top Obama DEA Official Indicted in Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy to Launder Millions

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The Department of Justice announced Friday that a former senior Drug Enforcement Administration official has been indicted on charges that include conspiracy to engage in narcoterrorism, money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Federal prosecutors say the alleged conduct occurred after his retirement near the end of the Obama administration.

DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York released details of the indictment against Paul Campo, who previously served as Deputy Chief of the Office of Financial Operations at the DEA.

According to the DOJ, Campo agreed to assist the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in laundering $12 million in proceeds from drug trafficking.

Prosecutors say he also provided guidance to the cartel on obtaining drones and assault rifles after an associate, Robert Sensi, connected him with someone they believed represented the organization.

In the news release, Cole addressed the allegations directly.

“The alleged conduct occurred after he left DEA and was unrelated to his official duties here, but any former agent who chooses to engage in criminal activity dishonors the men and women who serve with integrity and undermines the public’s confidence in law enforcement,” Cole said.

“We will not look the other way simply because someone once wore this badge. There is no tolerance and no excuse for this kind of betrayal.”

The indictment outlines covert meetings between Campo, Sensi, and the person they believed to be a cartel representative.

Prosecutors say Campo and Sensi advised on laundering millions through cryptocurrency purchases, real estate investments, and pre-paid gift cards.

According to the DOJ, the pair participated in three transactions totaling $750,000 and believed the completion of the third transaction would trigger a shipment of approximately $5 million worth of cocaine.

The indictment alleges they expected to receive a portion of the proceeds. Unbeknownst to Campo and Sensi, the person they were advising was a confidential source working under law enforcement direction.

https://www.scribd.com/document/961911026/u-s-v-Campo-Et-Al-Indictment#fullscreen=1

The case comes as part of broader federal efforts to target transnational criminal organizations.

On January 20, after taking office, President Donald Trump issued executive orders to strengthen border security, address illegal immigration, and classify several violent groups — including the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, the El Salvadoran gang MS-13, and Mexican cartels such as CJNG — as foreign terrorist organizations.

In the DOJ announcement, Clayton said Campo’s actions ran directly counter to the responsibilities he held during his 25 years at the DEA.

“By participating in this scheme, Campo betrayed the mission he was entrusted with pursuing for his 25-year career with the DEA,” Clayton said.

“CJNG is a violent and corrupting criminal enterprise that New Yorkers want broken. I commend the extraordinary efforts of the DEA in aggressively pursuing CJNG and those who support their deadly and corrupt efforts, no matter who they may be.”

Campo and Sensi were taken into custody following the unsealing of the indictment.

If convicted on all counts, both men could face sentences of up to life in prison.

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Pentagon Shows Latest Strike; Critics Forget Obama Used Double Taps Too
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Pentagon Shows Latest Strike; Critics Forget Obama Used Double Taps Too

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The Pentagon on Thursday released video footage of the latest U.S. strike on a drug-trafficking vessel operating off the coast of Venezuela, marking the 22nd such operation since September.

The announcement came amid continued criticism from Democratic lawmakers who have accused the Trump administration of committing “war crimes” in connection with earlier maritime strikes.

Prior to Thursday’s operation, U.S. forces had conducted 21 strikes in the Caribbean region, resulting in 83 confirmed deaths, according to Pentagon figures and independent tracking.

The missions have relied primarily on MQ-9 drones and naval assets to destroy high-speed vessels departing Venezuelan waters along known narcotics routes.

The Pentagon said Thursday’s strike targeted a drug boat operating in the Eastern Pacific.

“On Dec. 4, at the direction of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization,” the department stated.

“Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-terrorists aboard the vessel were killed.” The release included aerial footage of the strike.

The operations have become the subject of ongoing debate in Congress after Democrats accused War Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. servicemembers of unlawful conduct during a September 2 strike.

Lawmakers cited concerns about what they described as a “double tap” tactic after a second missile was launched at the vessel following the initial strike.

Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, briefed lawmakers Thursday and said he had ordered the follow-up strike.

Bradley told members of Congress that the drug traffickers remained in communication with other traffickers and were attempting to salvage narcotics at the time of the second strike.

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas said after the briefing that the traffickers’ actions showed they were still engaged in the confrontation and that the strike was valid under what he described as the “fog of war.”

Some Democratic lawmakers have called the September strike one of the most troubling episodes they have encountered in Congress.

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut described the incident as one of the most “disturbing” events of his career and urged the public release of the footage.

President Donald Trump has endorsed releasing the video.

The debate over “double tap” strikes has prompted comparisons to prior administrations.

The tactic, now the subject of Democratic criticism, has appeared in past military operations, including strikes authorized under former President Barack Obama.

Three days into Obama’s presidency, two drone strikes were conducted three hours apart in Waziristan, Pakistan, marking the administration’s first use of double-tap methods.

At least 20 civilians were killed in the strikes.

In January 2012, another drone strike in Pakistan’s Shawal Valley targeted Taliban commander Sadiq Noor.

A second strike followed, killing up to 14 people, including potential first responders.

No calls for “war crimes” investigations were issued by Democratic lawmakers at that time.

The Pentagon continues to defend the ongoing maritime operations, citing intelligence assessments and narcotics interdiction objectives.


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