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Sen. Ron Johnson Says His Team Was Offered Hunter Biden’s Laptop in 2020 but Declined After FBI Warning
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Sen. Ron Johnson Says His Team Was Offered Hunter Biden’s Laptop in 2020 but Declined After FBI Warning

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Sen. Ron Johnson said his team was offered a copy of Hunter Biden’s laptop weeks before the New York Post published its October 2020 report, but he chose not to accept it due to concerns about the circumstances and an FBI briefing he later described as an “ambush.”

Johnson discussed the episode during an interview on “Pod Force One” with The Post’s Miranda Devine, as reported by The New York Post.

“You got the one that was going to be given to us, but we couldn’t accept,” Johnson said, recalling how the offer first came to his staff.

Hunter Biden leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, after jury selection in his federal gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware on Monday June 3, 2024.

“It did sound like a suspicious story. I mean, something you had to be careful. You had to properly vet it. You had to do your due diligence on it. So, we thought it could have been stolen property. I had no idea. So, we had to kind of follow our rules of integrity.”

The laptop, abandoned in 2019 at a Delaware repair shop, was believed by the shop owner, John Paul Mac Isaac, to have been dropped off by Hunter Biden, although he could not be completely certain.

Copies of the hard drive were circulated before ultimately reaching The Post, which published its report on Oct. 14, 2020, three weeks before the election.

The story included an email suggesting Hunter Biden introduced Burisma adviser Vadym Pozharskyi to his father, then–Vice President Joe Biden.

Following publication, the story was suppressed by Facebook and X, which restricted sharing of the report and temporarily blocked The Post from its account.

Additionally, 51 current and former intelligence officials publicly questioned the authenticity of the laptop material at the time. The device was later cited by federal prosecutors in Hunter Biden’s firearms case.

“The FBI, obviously got Hunter Biden’s laptop in December of 2019. So, they could authenticate it, they knew it was real,” Johnson said.

Johnson described how, in August 2020, shortly before his team was offered the hard drive, the FBI summoned him and Sen. Chuck Grassley for briefings warning them about potential Russian and Ukrainian disinformation.

He recalled being told, “you got to be careful about what you hear out of Russia and out of Ukraine, and spread disinformation.”

Johnson said agents also suggested that negative information about Hunter Biden could be part of such efforts.

He said he became “quite livid,” arguing that the briefing contained nothing new and questioning the motivations behind it.

When asked if it was an ambush, he responded, “Yes, it absolutely was. It was meant to throw us off the track.”

Johnson said his team received the offered laptop copy in late September 2020 and contacted the FBI, only to be met with weeks of delays. The FBI already had the device in its possession.

Johnson, who chairs the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, noted that he did not originally run for office to conduct inquiries.

“I didn’t come to the Senate to investigate,” he said, explaining that his focus had been on issues such as Obamacare and the national debt. He became involved in investigative work after becoming chairman of the Homeland Security Committee in 2015.

“When the Hillary Clinton email scandal broke, not only is it my responsibility to investigate corruption within government, but specifically, this had to do with federal records and the law she probably broke in terms of the Federal Records Act,” he said.

“So, that began my investigatory career.”

Trump’s DOT Drops the Hammer: Thousands of CDL Trainers Shut Down
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Trump’s DOT Drops the Hammer: Thousands of CDL Trainers Shut Down

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The Trump administration’s Department of Transportation announced a broad enforcement action on Monday aimed at tightening oversight of commercial driver training programs and ensuring compliance with federal safety standards.

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said the department revoked nearly 3,000 of the approximately 16,000 commercial driver’s license (CDL) training providers listed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry.

The Training Provider Registry includes all organizations authorized to offer entry-level driver instruction for CDL applicants.

According to a DOT press release, the providers removed from the registry were cited for “failing to equip trainees with the Trump administration’s standards of readiness.”

The department listed several reasons for removal, including “falsifying or manipulating training data”; “neglecting to meet required curriculum standards, facility conditions, or instructor qualifications”; and “failing to maintain accurate, complete documentation or refusing to provide records during federal audits or investigations.”

DOT officials said that in addition to the revoked providers, another 4,500 organizations were issued warnings for potential non-compliance and given 30 days to submit evidence demonstrating compliance with federal rules.

Providers that fail to do so may also be removed from the registry.

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said the department’s action is intended to prevent unqualified drivers from entering the country’s commercial trucking workforce.

“If you are unwilling to follow the rules, you have no place training America’s commercial drivers. We will not tolerate negligence,” Barrs said.

Secretary Duffy said the enforcement effort is part of a broader crackdown on “corrupt operators” in the trucking sector.

“This administration is cracking down on every link in the illegal trucking chain,” Duffy said.

“Under Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, bad actors were able to game the system and let unqualified drivers flood our roadways. Their negligence endangered every family on America’s roadways, and it ends today.”

He added, “Under President Trump, we are reigning [sic] in illegal and reckless practices that let poorly trained drivers get behind the wheel of semi-trucks and school buses.”

Also on Monday, the DOT released findings from a federal audit of Minnesota’s CDL program.

According to the department, one-third of the state’s non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses were issued illegally.

DOT officials said Minnesota has 30 days to correct the violations and revoke licenses issued in violation of federal rules.

If the state does not comply, up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding may be withheld.

Barrs said Minnesota “openly and blatantly” violated federal requirements.

“Under the Trump administration, states have two choices: Meet our standards or face the consequences. Following the law is not optional,” he said.

Duffy said the audit results reflect broader issues in the state’s licensing system.

“Our audit exposes yet another example of foreigners taking advantage of Minnesota services under Governor Walz’s watch,” Duffy said.

“Minnesota failed to follow the law and illegally doled out trucking licenses to unsafe, unqualified noncitizens — endangering American families on the road.”

The warning to Minnesota follows earlier enforcement actions by the DOT.

The department previously took similar steps against Pennsylvania and has already announced plans to withhold federal funding from California after determining the state failed to comply with CDL issuance regulations.

New York Pastor Announces Gender Transition During Sunday Service
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New York Pastor Announces Gender Transition During Sunday Service

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A pastor in upstate New York publicly announced a gender transition during a Nov. 23 Sunday service, telling the congregation that pastoral duties will continue unchanged despite the personal update.

Rev. Phillip Phaneuf of North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester informed church members that the transition process has already begun and that the 51-year-old now identifies as asexual, as reported by The New York Post.

Phaneuf delivered the announcement from the pulpit while wearing a rainbow stole. “So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning,” Phaneuf told the congregation.

“I’m affirming to all of you that I am transgender. The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man. This is a process, and it may be shocking for some as to what this all means.”

Phaneuf went on to say that the pastor now identifies as asexual. “I’m in the category of what they call asexual,” Phaneuf said.

“I’ve been that way since we’ve all been together, in that I am not living my life in a way that involves looking for romance.”

The pastor said a name change to Phillippa is forthcoming and requested the use of she/her pronouns.

Phaneuf confirmed that hormone replacement therapy has been underway for three months and that changes in appearance, voice, and hair are expected as part of the process.

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, Phaneuf said the details of the transition are accurate and added that the congregation has responded positively.

“Since coming out to my congregation, they have been overwhelmingly affirming!” Phaneuf said.

Phaneuf also said that the transition has the support of the bishop, church, and theology. According to Phaneuf, the bishop was consulted before the announcement and pastoral responsibilities will not change.

“What will stay the same is my deepening love for all of you,” Phaneuf told congregants.

Phaneuf noted during the sermon that the pastor’s parents do not support the decision. “They asked me to tell you all that they do not support me,” Phaneuf said. “They asked me to tell you this.”

The announcement comes after the United Methodist Church updated its position last year, reversing rules that condemned LGBTQ+ identities.

According to the denomination’s official website, the church now affirms human sexuality “as a sacred gift” applicable to “all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The UMC also states, “The United Methodist Church commits to befriending and caring for all persons, including LGBTQ persons in our churches and communities.”

NJ School District Sued Over Alleged ‘Pedophile Parties,’ Retaliation Claims by Former Teacher
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NJ School District Sued Over Alleged ‘Pedophile Parties,’ Retaliation Claims by Former Teacher

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A former special education teacher in the Pinelands Regional School District has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging that district staff members participated in “pedophile parties” and that administrators retaliated against her after she reported misconduct involving a paraprofessional and an underage female student, as reported by The New York Post.

The lawsuit, filed in Ocean County, resurfaced this week after being circulated by multiple news outlets.

According to the complaint, the paraprofessional and several other staff members held more than one “dress as your favorite pedophile” party around August 2023.

The lawsuit states that while details of the gatherings were not included, the paraprofessional’s involvement reflected an “egregious glorification of pedophiles,” according to plaintiff Melissa Pomphrey, who worked as a special education teacher in the district.

Pomphrey alleged in the filing that the paraprofessional was himself a pedophile and that he “would frequently invite this underage student to hang out with him after school.”

The student was described as a junior at the high school. The lawsuit further states that the paraprofessional endangered the female student by bringing her around an 18-year-old autistic male student in a special needs classroom who could be “sexually violent toward females.”

Pomphrey said she reported the alleged parties, the suspected inappropriate relationship between the paraprofessional and the student, and broader safety concerns to district administrators.

The lawsuit claims administrators conducted what she described as a “sham” investigation before reassigning her from her high school classroom to a middle school role, which she said was widely regarded within the district as a demotion. The paraprofessional remained employed.

“Therefore, it was abundantly clear that Defendants [Pinelands’ administrators] assigned Plaintiff (Pomphrey) this classroom in pure retaliation for her complaints of the unlawful, unsafe, and neglectful environment fostered by Defendants,” the lawsuit states.

Following the reassignment, Pomphrey said she developed severe anxiety and depression.

The filing says she spent the period between May and September 2024 experiencing anxiety, depression, nausea, and uncontrollable vomiting due to stress.

According to the lawsuit, Pomphrey continued submitting complaints to administrators, but the district “continued to sweep the same under the rug in an effort to force Plaintiff out of her position.”

By November 2024, her symptoms had intensified to the point where both her doctor and psychiatrist placed her on disability leave, which she took unpaid.

While she was on medical leave, she said she was informed her contract would not be renewed. Her lawsuit alleges this decision constituted discrimination based on her medical condition and retaliation for her repeated complaints.

Pomphrey is seeking reinstatement, back pay, legal fees, and court-ordered anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation training for district officials.

The lawsuit, filed in late August, names High School Principal Troy Henderson, Director of Special Services Marisa Elwood, and special education teacher Scott Beaton, in addition to the district.

The Pinelands Regional School District has denied the claims in court filings. Superintendent Melissa A. McCooley previously told NJ.com that the district would not “dignify the baseless lawsuit.”

“The Pinelands Regional School District takes all matters involving the safety and well-being of our students with the utmost seriousness. However, we will not dignify this baseless lawsuit with a response,” McCooley said.

A trial date has not been set.

Florida Officer Shot in Face During Service Call; Suspect Killed
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Florida Officer Shot in Face During Service Call; Suspect Killed

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A Port St. Lucie police sergeant was shot in the face Monday evening while responding to a service call connected to what authorities say was a dispute involving mental health issues, as reported by Fox News.

After shooting the crime scene-
Polk County Sheriff’s Office

The suspect was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers.

Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said six officers arrived around 6 p.m. at a home on the 11000 block of SW Lake Park Drive. According to Niemczyk, less than a minute after they approached the residence, an adult male armed with an assault rifle appeared outside and opened fire. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect at the scene.

Niemczyk identified the injured officer as Sgt. Erik LeVasseur, a 27-year veteran of the Port St. Lucie Police Department. No other officers were hurt.

Though the investigation remains in its early stages, Niemczyk said the incident stemmed from a situation involving neighbors and a mental health-related call.

“It’s the notification that you just dread every day, but it’s always in the back of your mind, as a police chief, as a leader in law enforcement. It’s something that you’re always very aware of, afraid of, concerned for, and then it happens,” Niemczyk said.

Sgt. LeVasseur was transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where he underwent surgery Monday night.

“We’re very optimistic for his prognosis. And at this time, we’re just asking for prayers,” Niemczyk added.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Port St. Lucie Police Department are continuing to investigate the shooting.

Hillary Clinton Blames TikTok for Rising Anti-Israel Sentiment Among Young Americans
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Hillary Clinton Blames TikTok for Rising Anti-Israel Sentiment Among Young Americans

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Hillary Clinton said this week that rising hostility toward Israel among younger Americans is being fueled by what she described as misleading and false content circulating widely on social media platforms, as reported by The New York Post.

Clinton made the remarks Tuesday during a New York conference hosted by the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom.

Clinton said many young people — including those she described as “smart, well-educated, young people from our own country, from around the world” — were turning to platforms like TikTok for information about the Israel-Hamas war.

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

“Where were they getting their information?” she asked. “They were getting their information from social media, particularly TikTok.”

She said short-form videos became the primary source of information for many young Americans about “what happened on October 7th, what happened in the days, weeks, and months to follow.”

Clinton told the audience that reliance on social media for updates about the conflict poses what she called a serious concern.

“That’s a serious problem. It’s a serious problem for democracy, whether it’s Israel or the United States, and it’s a serious problem for our young people,” she said.

Clinton also argued that young Americans were encountering narratives about the conflict that she said were misleading.

She described the online content as one-sided “pure propaganda,” and said some videos circulating widely were “totally made up” or not representative of the events they claimed to depict.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers the keynote address during the twelfth annual Evangelina Menendez women’s history month celebration at Montclair State University on Sunday, March 26, 2023. News Sen Menendez S Women S History Month Event W Keynote Speaker Secretary Clinton

She said these dynamics have made discussions about the conflict more difficult among younger Americans. According to Clinton, many do not have background knowledge about the region’s history, including young Jewish Americans.

“It’s not just the usual suspects. It’s a lot of young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand,” she said.

Clinton said the information environment itself is a major factor. “A lot of the challenge is with younger people. More than 50% of young people in America get their news from social media,” she said.

She added that the nature of the content being consumed is part of the problem.

“So just pause on that for a second. They are seeing short-form videos, some of them totally made up, some of them not at all representing what they claim to be showing, and that’s where they get their information,” Clinton said.

Clinton’s remarks come amid ongoing debate over how platforms should handle content related to global conflicts and political events, as well as questions about the influence short-form digital media wields over younger generations.

Dems Pete Hegseth Narrative Blows Up Faster Than A Cartel Boat in the Gulf of America
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Dems Pete Hegseth Narrative Blows Up Faster Than A Cartel Boat in the Gulf of America

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A growing narrative alleging that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered a second strike on a narcoterrorist boat targeted by the Trump administration on Sept. 2 is facing new scrutiny following additional reporting from the New York Times.

The Washington Post had previously claimed, citing unnamed sources, that a Special Operations commander “ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions,” asserting that the action was intended to kill two survivors clinging to the wreckage.

Hegseth denied the allegation, calling it “fabricated.”

The White House Press Secretary also stated that Hegseth never issued any order for a second strike on the vessel.

According to the Washington Post report, the alleged order was described as part of what the outlet called the administration’s “war on suspected drug traffickers in the Western Hemisphere.”

The claim centered on the assertion that two individuals in the water were targeted because of instructions from Hegseth.

New reporting from the New York Times, citing five U.S. officials familiar with the operation, supports the administration’s position that Hegseth ordered the initial strike but did not direct any subsequent action.

The officials spoke separately on condition of anonymity because the matter remains under investigation.

The New York Times reported: “According to five U.S. officials, who spoke separately and on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter that is under investigation, Mr. Hegseth, ahead of the Sept. 2 attack, ordered a strike that would kill the people on the boat and destroy the vessel and its purported cargo of drugs. But, each official said, Mr. Hegseth’s directive did not specifically address what should happen if a first missile turned out not to fully accomplish all of those things. And, the officials said, his order was not a response to surveillance footage showing that at least two people on the boat survived the first blast.”

The Times further reported that Admiral Bradley ordered the initial missile strike and “then several follow-up strikes that killed the initial survivors and sank the disabled boat.”

The officials told the Times that “as that operation unfolded,” Hegseth did not give Bradley any further orders.

The additional reporting presents a different sequence of decision-making than what was originally suggested.

The Times also noted that two officials “questioned whether the surviving people were Admiral Bradley’s intended target in the second strike, as opposed to the purported drugs and the disabled vessel.”

According to those officials, the cargo “remained a threat and a lawful military target because another cartel-associated boat might have come to retrieve it.”

This account directly contradicts the portrayal that Hegseth ordered the killing of survivors floating in the water.

Instead, the officials cited by the Times indicated that Bradley exercised operational authority during the unfolding situation, while Hegseth issued no further direction beyond authorizing the initial strike.

Hegseth said Admiral Bradley had his “100 percent support.”

21 Blue States Enter the ‘Find Out’ Phase as USDA Moves to Clamp Down on SNAP Fraud
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21 Blue States Enter the ‘Find Out’ Phase as USDA Moves to Clamp Down on SNAP Fraud

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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Department of Agriculture will halt federal funding to states that decline to provide data needed to investigate fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Rollins detailed the decision during a cabinet meeting of the Trump administration as she reviewed the agency’s recent findings and ongoing efforts to address misuse within the program.

Rollins said that in February the USDA asked all states to “turn over their data to the federal government to let the USDA partner with them to root out” fraud, but only 29 states complied.

She noted that the noncompliant states were predominantly blue states.

“The third thing — we have so much great things to talk about at USDA, but the third thing which became very much a part of the national conversation during the Democrat shutdown was SNAP reform, food stamp reform,” Rollins said during the meeting.

“When all of America saw, which so many of us know, and have been working on — but when you have so much rampant fraud in a program that 42 million Americans participate in.”

Rollins said the agency’s review uncovered several categories of misuse.

She reported that since President Donald Trump took office, 800,000 of the 42 million Americans enrolled in the program have “moved off of food stamps.”

She added that the USDA discovered that 186,000 dead individuals’ Social Security numbers were “being used,” and that 500,000 people were receiving “benefits more than twice.”

“In February of this year, we asked for all the states — for the first time, to turn over their data to the federal government to let the USDA partner with them to root out this fraud. To make sure that those who really need food stamps are getting them,” Rollins said.

“But, also to ensure that the American taxpayer is protected. Twenty-nine states said yes, not surprisingly the red states, and that’s where all of that data — that fraud comes from.”

She said 21 states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, declined to share their data.

According to Rollins, “as of next week” the USDA will “stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply.”

Rollins discussed the findings further in an interview with Newsmax, where she reiterated the scale of the fraud uncovered through the data provided so far.

She said the USDA found that 186,000 “deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check,” adding that “this is just data from those 29 mostly red states.”

“Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re gonna find?” Rollins said in the interview.

She pointed to additional irregularities first reported by Breitbart News.

As Rollins continued analyzing information from the 29 cooperating states, she discovered electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards with unusually high balances, including some exceeding $10,000.

Other cards had not been used for several years, and some had reportedly been “issued to people who never existed.”

Rollins said the USDA’s goal is to ensure that individuals in need receive assistance while preventing continued misuse of federal funds.

She emphasized that the cooperation of all states is necessary to complete the agency’s fraud review and carry out reforms intended to protect taxpayers and strengthen program integrity.

Obama, with a Straight Face, Says Mainstream News Does a Good Job of Presenting Facts
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Obama, with a Straight Face, Says Mainstream News Does a Good Job of Presenting Facts

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Former President Barack Obama defended legacy media outlets during a Monday appearance at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, telling attendees he believes mainstream news organizations “still do a very good job of just presenting facts.”

His comments came in response to a question from museum chairperson Olivia Walton about which media outlets he relies on.

Obama’s remarks followed renewed national discussion about corporate media credibility and reporting standards.

A Wall Street Journal article published Dec. 19, 2024, reported that White House aides had “insulated” Joe Biden, including from members of his own Cabinet, as his health declined.

The story echoed earlier reporting from the outlet that drew criticism from some media organizations at the time.

Obama said cable news outlets, regardless of political alignment, had “fallen prey” to economic incentives.

“I actually think — I actually think that the mainstream news still does a very good job of just presenting facts,” Obama said.

“I think cable, regardless of the cable station, has fallen prey to the same economic imperatives that we’re seeing in every other type of news, which is, you are deliberately controversial, deliberately aggressive, deliberately trying to make people feel angry and aggrieved, because that attracts attention.”

Questions about the White House’s public statements regarding Biden’s health persisted throughout his final year in office.

Biden referenced speaking with individuals who had been deceased for years, including former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died in 2017, and former French President Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996.

Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich discussed press hesitation on “America’s Newsroom” in May 2025.

Heinrich told host Bill Hemmer that many reporters avoided the topic of Biden’s health.

“Well, you know, for about three years they would go like this: They don’t want to be associated,” Heinrich said while leaning away from Hemmer.

When Hemmer asked, “Who?” she answered, “The rest of the press, because the White House was very effective in maligning anyone who was skeptical about the president’s age and abilities as a bad actor, as someone who is not a good journalist.”

Heinrich later added that the White House press office “abused” reporters who asked those questions “with sourcing.”

The White House unveiled a new feature on its website Friday calling out what it described as “fake news” coverage.

The update followed several high-profile corrections and controversies involving corporate media reporting on President Donald Trump in recent years.

The British Broadcasting Corporation faced criticism after The Telegraph reported that a documentary used clips from Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech that were 54 minutes apart, edited in a way that suggested he encouraged the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Following the report, two senior BBC officials resigned.

BBC chairman Samir Shah issued an apology to Trump in a Nov. 13 letter and said the documentary would not air again.

Trump reached a $15 million settlement with ABC in December 2024 after suing the network on March 19, 2024.

The lawsuit centered on a March 10, 2024, interview in which “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos told Republican Rep. Nancy Mace that Trump had been found “liable for rape,” a claim Trump disputed.

ABC agreed to settle after weeks of legal proceedings.

In July 2025, Paramount announced it had resolved a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump over the editing of an October 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump alleged that the broadcast misrepresented statements made during the interview.

Paramount confirmed the settlement but did not disclose additional terms.

‘Greggy’s Cult’ Terrorized, Blackmailed Kids into Sexual Acts, Instructed Suicide
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‘Greggy’s Cult’ Terrorized, Blackmailed Kids into Sexual Acts, Instructed Suicide

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Federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, that a Queens man and four other individuals linked to a disturbing online cult terrorized and blackmailed children on gaming platforms, coercing them into performing sexual acts on camera and instructing them to kill themselves.

The group, known as “Greggy’s Cult,” operated from 2019 to 2021, targeting children as young as 11 using Discord, Roblox, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Hector Bermudez, 29, from Queens, was arrested and arraigned in federal court on Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York detailed the group’s activities, which involved exploiting children nationwide.

“No child should ever be terrorized or exploited online, and no online platform should give refuge to predators,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

“The Department of Justice will continue to protect children, support survivors, and hold accountable anyone who preys on the vulnerable — online or offline — with every tool we have.”

According to court documents, the suspects conducted video calls on these digital platforms, forcing children to perform sexually explicit acts, sometimes using household objects.

The group recorded or screenshot these acts and shared them online or among themselves.

Victims were further coerced into marking their bodies with cult members’ names and creating videos where they begged for forgiveness, declaring themselves “owned” to demonstrate loyalty.

The accused continued their scheme by urging several victims to take their own lives, including one instance where a child was told to overdose or hang themselves from a ceiling fan.

Authorities revealed that the cult employed malware to lock minors out of their computers until they complied with the group’s demands.

The youngest victim identified in the case was 11 years old.

The investigation uncovered a pattern of exploitation that spanned multiple states, with the FBI and NYPD collaborating to dismantle the operation.

In addition to Bermudez, the federal indictment named Zachary Dosch, 26, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Rumaldo Valdez, 22, of Honolulu, Hawaii; David Brilhante, 28, of San Diego, California; and Camden Rodriguez, 22, of Longmont, Colorado.

Valdez is currently serving a sentence for another federal case.

Each suspect faces charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, access with intent to view child pornography, and conspiracy to communicate interstate threats.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch commented on the case, stating, “This case underscores how easily predators can embed themselves in the digital platforms that minors use.”

She added, “The NYPD and our federal partners have been focused on uncovering and dismantling online groups that prey on children, and today’s indictment reflects the progress of that work.”

The FBI has opened a hotline, 1-800-CALL-FBI, encouraging potential victims to come forward.

Prosecutors noted that the investigation remains ongoing, with additional evidence being reviewed.

The court documents provide a detailed account of the group’s methods, including the use of gaming networks to target vulnerable children.

The case has drawn attention to the risks posed by online platforms, with law enforcement emphasizing their commitment to addressing such crimes.


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