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Eric Swalwell Sues Trump Admin After Criminal Referrals for Mortgage Fraud Hit
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Eric Swalwell Sues Trump Admin After Criminal Referrals for Mortgage Fraud Hit

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Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California filed a federal civil lawsuit against Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, alleging that Pulte violated privacy protections while seeking criminal referrals against political figures.

Swalwell, who is running for governor of California, submitted the 19-page complaint in federal court and accused Pulte of misusing confidential financial information.

According to the lawsuit, Pulte referred Swalwell to the Department of Justice for alleged mortgage and tax fraud after obtaining records tied to federally backed housing programs.

The filing said the information involved mortgage data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“Pulte’s brazen practice of obtaining confidential mortgage records from Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac and then using them as a basis for referring individual homeowners to DOJ for prosecution is unprecedented and unlawful,” the lawsuit stated.

Swalwell addressed the filing on social media.

“Today I have filed a civil lawsuit against FHA director Bill Pulte for violating the Privacy Act and First Amendment,” he wrote.

He added that “Director Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents. To silence them. There’s a reason the First Amendment — the freedom of speech — comes before all others.”

The lawsuit said the referral against Swalwell was sent at the same time he was preparing to announce his gubernatorial campaign.

Swalwell claimed the referral came “at a critical juncture in his career: the very moment when he had planned to announce his campaign for Governor of California.”

Pulte has played a role in several high-profile criminal referral efforts.

He was involved in the referrals brought against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Those charges were dismissed by a federal judge on Monday, though officials in the Trump administration said they would appeal the ruling.

The filing noted that Pulte also supported criminal referrals targeting Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook.

Swalwell’s lawsuit pointed to these actions as part of what he described as an effort by Pulte to pursue charges against individuals who opposed the administration.

The congressman said the practice involved accessing and reviewing loan information that would normally remain protected under federal privacy laws.

CBS News reported that the Federal Housing Finance Agency did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit or the allegations involving mortgage data.

In addition to his formal court filing and social media remarks, Swalwell included a quote from author George Orwell, writing, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

The quotation appeared at the end of his public statement and was included in coverage of the lawsuit.

The filing marks the latest legal dispute involving public officials in California ahead of the state’s gubernatorial race.

Swalwell’s complaint will move forward in federal court, where the parties are expected to address the questions raised about mortgage data, the Privacy Act, and the circumstances surrounding the Justice Department referral.

Pete Hegseth Claps Back Hard on the ‘Seditious Six’s’ Mark Kelly with One Epic Tweet
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Pete Hegseth Claps Back Hard on the ‘Seditious Six’s’ Mark Kelly with One Epic Tweet

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War Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized a group of Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday after they appeared in a video telling military service members to refuse orders they believed to be unlawful.

Hegseth issued the remarks in a social media statement, describing the message as harmful to military cohesion and the chain of command.

The lawmakers included Reps. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania’s 17th District, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania’s 6th District, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire’s 2nd District, and Jason Crow of Colorado’s 6th District.

Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona also participated.

Hegseth referred to the group as the “Seditious Six.”

“In the military, vague rhetoric and ambiguity undermines trust, creates hesitation in the chain of command, and erodes cohesion,” Hegseth said on X.

“The military already has clear procedures for handling unlawful orders. It does not need political actors injecting doubt into an already clear chain of command.”

He said the individuals involved understood the implications of directing their message toward service members.

“As veterans of various sorts, the Seditious Six knew exactly what they were doing—sowing doubt through a politically-motivated influence operation,” he said. “The [Department of War] won’t fall for it or stand for it.”

According to Hegseth, none of the lawmakers in the video identified a specific unlawful order.

Slotkin was asked during an appearance on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” to cite one.

“To my knowledge, I — I am not aware of things that are illegal, but certainly there are some legal gymnastics that are going on with these Caribbean strikes and everything related to Venezuela,” Slotkin said.

Crow also did not identify an unlawful order when asked in subsequent interviews.

A spokesperson for Vice President J.D. Vance has previously stated that interpreting routine federal directives—such as immigration enforcement, crime response in major cities, or operations against narco-terrorist elements—as unlawful is itself a violation of duty.

Hegseth has said the video’s message risks encouraging service members to make individual judgments that conflict with established legal procedures.

The Department of War has opened an investigation into Kelly, who served as a Navy pilot before entering public office.

A statement released Monday said he had been accused of “serious allegations of misconduct” and that officials were considering responses ranging from administrative measures to potential court-martial proceedings.

Kelly posted an image showing his military uniform and decorations, saying he would not be intimidated.

Hegseth responded with additional comments.

“So ‘Captain’ Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & discipline…but you can’t even display your uniform correctly,” Hegseth wrote.

“Your medals are out of order & rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection.”

Democratic lawmakers have defended Kelly and criticized the investigation.

Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona warned military personnel against participating in actions targeting sitting members of Congress.

“If you’re part of the military that is going after sitting senators, sitting members of Congress, and part of the weaponization of government, there will be consequences, without a doubt,” Gallego said.

Stefanik Demands Hochul Act After Mamdani Adds Cop Killer Supporter
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Stefanik Demands Hochul Act After Mamdani Adds Cop Killer Supporter

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Rep. Elise Stefanik challenged Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday over the inclusion of Lumumba Bandele on Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team, citing Bandele’s past support for individuals convicted of killing police officers in New York and New Jersey.

Mamdani selected Bandele to serve on the incoming administration’s Committee on Community Organizing, as reported by The New York Post.

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

Stefanik, who is preparing for a potential run against Hochul in next year’s gubernatorial election, released a statement criticizing the appointment and calling on the governor to intervene.

“Kathy Hochul’s endorsed Mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, just picked a man who supports the killers of cops in New York and New Jersey to serve on his transition team,” she said in a statement to The Post.

Stefanik added, “Mamdani’s vision for New York is getting very clear, and it’s starting to look like a nightmare. Kathy Hochul must immediately call on Mamdani to fire Lumumba Bandele from his transition team.”

Bandele, currently associated with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, has a documented history of publicly aligning with individuals linked to the Black Liberation Army.

According to Workers World, he attended a March 2018 rally advocating for the release of Herman Bell. Bell, along with two others, was convicted of luring two NYPD officers to a Harlem housing project in 1971 and fatally shooting them.

Bell was granted parole in 2018 after the parole board stated he had demonstrated reform and remorse.

Bandele has also spoken about meeting several times with Assata Shakur, who was serving a life sentence for the killing of a New Jersey state trooper before escaping from prison and fleeing to Cuba, where she received political asylum.

Shakur died in September. Bandele discussed their relationship in a video earlier this month and offered praise for Shakur, as well as Bell, in remarks delivered on Veterans Day 2024.

In those Veterans Day comments, Bandele referred to Shakur and Bell as among the “many soldiers that served valiantly in the people’s military to defend our communities.”

The statement appeared multiple times across his public messaging, emphasizing Shakur and Bell’s roles within movements he has spoken about supporting.

The questions surrounding Bandele’s past associations have prompted criticism from elected officials, with Stefanik pressing Hochul to use her influence as a supporter of Mamdani’s mayoral bid.

Gov. Kathy Hochul tours the Homes for Heroes housing development in Tappan July 10, 2024.

The governor has not issued a response to Stefanik’s challenge.

The decision by Mamdani to place Bandele on the Committee on Community Organizing marks one of the first major flashpoints surrounding his transition process. The mayor-elect has not withdrawn the appointment or commented publicly on the matter since the concerns were raised.

The debate over Bandele’s role comes as the 2026 statewide political landscape begins to take shape, with Stefanik positioning herself as a challenger to Hochul. Bandele has continued serving on grassroots and activist projects tied to his current organization while also appearing in public discussions reflecting on his connections to figures such as Shakur and Bell.

Donald Trump Hilariously Roasts Pelosi and Schumer While Pardoning Thanksgiving Turkeys
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Donald Trump Hilariously Roasts Pelosi and Schumer While Pardoning Thanksgiving Turkeys

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President Trump delivered the 78th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony on Tuesday, using the moment to make a series of jokes aimed at Democratic leaders and to highlight the accomplishments of his administration, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.

The President pardoned two turkeys named Gobble and Waddle, calling them “record-setting” birds and noting their unusual size.

President Donald Trump laughs as supporters cheer during a Make America Great Again rally at the warren County Fair Grounds in Lebanon, Ohio, on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. Trump In Cincinnati

As the ceremony began, Trump joked that Waddle was “missing in action” and said Gobble “looks like a rather violent bird.” When he officially granted the pardon, the bird responded with a loud gobble that drew laughter from the crowd.

During his remarks, Trump continued the long-standing tradition of delivering lighthearted jokes but added pointed comments toward his political opponents.

He referenced Joe Biden’s Thanksgiving pardons from the previous year, saying those pardons were invalid. “But they’re hereby null and void,” Trump said.

“The turkeys known as Peach and Blossom last year have been located, and they were on their way to be processed. In other words, to be killed! But I have stopped that journey, and I am officially pardoning them. And they will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner. We saved them in the nick of time.”

Trump then turned his attention to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy. But then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them,” he said.

He added, “I would never pardon those two people. I wouldn’t pardon them. I wouldn’t care what Melania told me, ‘Darling, I think it would be a nice thing to do,’ I won’t do it, darling!”

The President described Gobble and Waddle as “MAHA” turkeys — a reference to his political branding — and noted their weight of more than 50 pounds each.

“These are two of the largest turkeys ever presented to an American president, over 50 pounds each. That’s the largest we’ve ever had,” Trump said.

He asked the handlers whether the oversized birds were “as good as the normal-sized turkey” and whether they tended to be “a little fatty.” The handler responded no.

Trump also recognized several individuals involved in preparing the birds for the ceremony, including National Turkey Federation Chairman Jay Jandrain, his wife Leslie, their children, and Travis Pittman, the farmer who raised Gobble and Waddle in Wayne County, North Carolina.

“I won Wayne County by a lot,” Trump said. “I think I won by 92%. I like Wayne County. They’re doing all right, right?”

The President said the birds were fed a range of foods leading up to the ceremony. “They’ve been fattened on a steady diet of grass, beef, to allow the smoothies and all of the other things that they’ve been eating for this occasion,” he said.

He added that the event was significant and that the birds had been prepared accordingly. “They’ve eaten every fattening food that you can eat. We wanted to really make them special, and they really are.”

Trump closed by asking whether the birds might become aggressive. “Are they violent at all? Will they attack as I walk over? Because if they were, I’ll stay right up here.”

Police Video Shows Ukrainian Refugee Murderer’s Erratic Rant Months Before Stabbing
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Police Video Shows Ukrainian Refugee Murderer’s Erratic Rant Months Before Stabbing

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have released bodycam footage showing Decarlos Brown, the man charged with killing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, during a welfare check months before the fatal attack, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The footage, recorded in January 2025, captures Brown shouting at officers and insisting he was being controlled by an unknown foreign substance.

According to police, Brown called 911 multiple times that night. In the video, he repeatedly claims that a “man-made material” had been placed inside his body.

During the welfare check, an officer is heard asking Brown whether he had ever been diagnosed with an illness. Brown responded, “They tried to diagnose me with schizophrenia, but what the f*ck is that?”

When asked if he was taking any medication, he replied, “Man, no!” Brown then said, “Why would I take any type of medicine if my body got exposed to ‘man-made materials?’”

The footage shows Brown continuing to insist something foreign was affecting him, with officers attempting to determine whether he posed a danger to himself or others.

Police confirmed Brown was ultimately left in the care of medical personnel that night.

Several months later, in August, Brown fatally stabbed 35-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train.

Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was seated and scrolling through her phone when Brown attacked her, stabbing her multiple times as passengers looked on. After the stabbing, Brown walked away as a trail of blood remained on the floor of the train.

Records show Brown’s criminal history dates back to 2007. He had multiple prior arrests before the August homicide. Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes later released Brown after the incident because he promised to return to court.

Following further review of the case, a federal grand jury returned an indictment last month, and the charges Brown now faces make him eligible for the death penalty.

The newly released bodycam footage offers additional insight into Brown’s state of mind earlier in the year and the series of police contacts leading up to the deadly attack on Zarutska.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said the video was reviewed as part of the investigative timeline surrounding Brown’s interactions with law enforcement.

The case remains ongoing as federal prosecutors prepare to move forward with the charges filed in the grand jury indictment.

Authorities have requested additional information from anyone with relevant knowledge of Brown’s actions leading up to the August homicide.

Trump Would-Be Assassin Files Bizarre Motions Begging Trump to Punch Him in the Face
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Trump Would-Be Assassin Files Bizarre Motions Begging Trump to Punch Him in the Face

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Ryan Routh, who was convicted in September of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, submitted a series of unusual requests in court filings unsealed on Tuesday.

The filings included an offer inviting the president to physically strike him during court proceedings, as well as separate attempts to subpoena a university student and propose international trades involving himself.

In one motion, Routh wrote that if President Trump “wished to pummel the defendant just for good measure, put on the handcuffs and shackles and give it your worst.”

He added, “No cameras, no complaints, no [charges]. Just good fun.” The filing included another line that read, “Don’t be a p*ssy. (Can I say p*ssy or coward-sorry).”

Routh wrote that he wanted President Trump present in court so that the president could ask him questions and punch him “as many times as you want.”

Routh expanded on the invitation in another portion of the filing.

“Defendants open invitation speak your mind to the jury to vent any anger and displeasure with the defendant and perhaps if you wish, he will allow you even to punch him in the face, as many times as you want; no charges-we know someone at DOJ. Most fun in decades, don’t miss it,” he wrote.

Routh also attempted to subpoena Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student whom the Trump administration has ordered to be deported.

He wrote that Khalil should “testify to the gross violation to our Freedom of Speech and erosion of democracy to authoritarianism.”

Routh additionally claimed in the filing that the administration was planning actions connected to martial law, referencing the Insurrection Act and constitutional provisions.

“Tell us how the war against migrants is to enact the insurrection act for martial law to end all federal voting; for [a] permanent president,” he wrote.

He continued with questions addressed to Khalil, saying, “With your expertise on Fascism we need your knowledge on the 14th Amendment/Sec. 3 – Disqualification to Hold Office; is prevention prior and remedy after? Also Amendment 2 for a well regulated militia, we wonder what it will take to remove a fascist dictator with National Guard and military already in DC how will America remove the President from the White House in 2029 – is there a chapter in one of your books and how many lives will be lost.”

Following his conviction, Routh attempted to stab himself in the neck with a pen inside the courtroom.

He was restrained by security and removed from the room.

In October, he submitted another letter offering to be sent to a state with legalized assisted suicide or traded to a nation hostile to the United States, listing Iran as one of several possibilities.

He wrote that Iran could “torture, kill and drag [him] through the streets” in exchange for an Iranian human rights activist. He framed the proposed trade as similar to President Trump “disposing of his worst enemy.”

Routh also proposed that he could be exchanged for a Palestinian detainee held by Israel or a Ukrainian detainee held by Russia.

In a separate filing submitted before his September verdict, Routh suggested settling his case through a golf match with President Trump.

“A round of golf with the racist pig, he wins he can execute me. I win I get his job (sorry hillbilly Vance),” he wrote.

The filings were submitted to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon as part of Routh’s broader effort to influence the sentencing process.

The court has not issued rulings on the motions referenced in the documents.

Trump Slams Chicago Leaders After Train Attack Leaves Woman Critically Burned
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Trump Slams Chicago Leaders After Train Attack Leaves Woman Critically Burned

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized Chicago’s handling of violent crime following an attack that left a 26-year-old woman critically burned, again urging Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to permit National Guard troops to deploy to the city. Trump made the remarks during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon at the White House, as reported by Fox News.

The President referenced the case of Bethany MaGee, who was allegedly set on fire on Nov. 17 while riding a Chicago Transit Authority train. Authorities have charged 50-year-old Lawrence Reed in the attack.

Reed has a documented history of 72 arrests over multiple decades and had been released on bond at the time of the incident, despite prosecutors seeking to keep him in custody.

“This is a very serious thing,” Trump said.

“They burned this beautiful woman riding in a train. A man was arrested 72 times. 72 times. Think of that. And they’ll let him out again, the liberal judges will let him out again.”

Trump added that Chicago crime is “out of control” and renewed his demand for state and city leaders to approve federal intervention.

He has repeatedly attempted to send federal resources into Chicago, citing deployments in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis as examples he says led to reductions in violent crime.

Pritzker and Johnson have opposed the use of National Guard personnel, arguing that deployment would be unconstitutional and denying that Chicago is experiencing the level of crisis described by the White House.

Trump has also publicly discussed invoking the Insurrection Act as another option to address ongoing violence.

“But we’re ready to go,” he said. “You know, we’ve been moving toward Chicago. We have a governor that thinks it’s wonderful that only like seven people were killed this week… It’s horrible what’s happening in Chicago.”

Trump said federal intervention would restore order quickly. “And the people of Chicago want us to go there. And if you look at the crime that’s taking place in Chicago in the last two weeks, just take a look. It’s on the front page of every newspaper,” he said.

“It’s out of control. The mayor is incompetent, and the governor is a big fat slob. He ought to invite us in and say, ‘Please make Chicago safe.’” Trump added, “We’re going to lose a great city if we don’t do it quickly.”

The attack on MaGee has intensified criticism of Cook County’s criminal justice practices.

Reed had been placed on electronic monitoring in August after Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez denied prosecutors’ request to keep him jailed on felony allegations that he knocked a social worker unconscious at MacNeal Hospital’s psychiatric ward.

Court records show Reed violated curfew and movement restrictions multiple times in the days leading up to the alleged CTA attack.

During the earlier hearing, Molina-Gonzalez told prosecutors, “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.” Critics argue that repeat offenders continue to be released under policies they say are too lenient.

Shortly before Trump’s remarks, the White House commented on the attack on X, stating, “Liberal soft-on-crime policies are FAILING American communities and endangering law-abiding citizens. A career criminal with 72 arrests should have never been free to roam the streets. Pray for Bethany.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Says Imprisoning Violent Criminals Is ‘Racist’ and ‘Immoral’
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Says Imprisoning Violent Criminals Is ‘Racist’ and ‘Immoral’

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said during a Tuesday news conference that imprisoning violent criminals is “racist,” “immoral,” and “unholy,” arguing that the city and the country must move away from incarceration as a response to violent crime. Johnson made the remarks while appearing alongside Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

“We cannot incarcerate our way out of violence,” Johnson said. He argued that past efforts to reduce crime through imprisonment have failed.

“We have already tried that, and we have ended up with the largest prison population in the world, without solving the problems of crime and violence.”

Johnson continued, “The addiction on jails and incarceration in this country, we have moved past that.” He then added, “It is racist. It is immoral. It is unholy, and it is not the way to drive violence down.”

Chicago continues to face persistent violent crime, with the city recording hundreds of homicides annually.

Much of the violence involves shootings concentrated in specific neighborhoods on the South and West Sides, with most victims and offenders being young men.

The city’s long-running struggle with violent crime has regularly put the mayor’s public safety policies under scrutiny.

Johnson has previously taken positions opposing federal immigration enforcement operations. He has frequently pushed back against actions by the Trump administration to remove illegal aliens living in the United States.

Last month, Johnson clashed with a reporter over terminology during a press event after the reporter used the term “illegal alien.”

Johnson responded, “We don’t have illegal aliens. I don’t know if that’s from some sort of sci-fi message that you wish to add.” He then referenced historical terminology applied to Black Americans, saying, “The legal term for my people were slaves. You want me to use that term, too? Look, let’s just get the language right.”

Johnson continued, “We’re talking about undocumented individuals that are human beings. The last thing that I’m going to do is accept the type of racist, nasty language to describe human beings.”

President Trump has responded to Johnson’s positions by saying that both Johnson and Pritzker should face consequences for refusing to protect federal law enforcement officers as they carry out their responsibilities.

Trump has argued that failure to cooperate with federal authorities undermines efforts to enforce national laws and the will of the voters.

The mayor’s latest comments add to the ongoing debate in Chicago over crime, policing, and public safety, as city leadership continues to face questions over how to address high-profile violence while weighing broader policy approaches to criminal justice.

‘Seditious Six’ Video Part of a Larger Hoax Straight Out of the CIA Playbook: Jesse Watters
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‘Seditious Six’ Video Part of a Larger Hoax Straight Out of the CIA Playbook: Jesse Watters

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Jesse Watters delivered a detailed on-air statement alleging that two CIA officers informed him of what he described as a coordinated effort to condition the public to view President Donald Trump as a domestic threat.

Watters said the operation resembled a destabilization tactic designed to generate mistrust within the United States.

Watters said the individuals he spoke with described the effort as part of a broader plan.

“So I talked to two CIA officers who said that this is a part of a larger hoax, and what they’re doing here is they’re trying to condition the country to prepare for something bad that’s about to happen at the hands of Donald Trump. It’s straight out of the CIA playbook. It’s a destabilization operation where you get people to mistrust each other,” Watters said.

He said the operation followed a recognizable sequence.

“And you do this because she’s an analyst. And as an analyst, she would make sure what propaganda operations were successful which ones weren’t, so she knows what works,” Watters said.

He described the structure he believed was present in the messaging.

“So the first part of the video, you establish authority. I’m CIA. I’m military. You need to trust us. Second part of the video, they introduced the threat, and the threat is not foreign. The threat is domestic. The threat is Donald Trump. And then at the end, they introduce the solution. What’s the solution? You resist. You say no, but they don’t give an option. They say, this is an obligation for you to do.”

Watters said the individual featured in the video was being directed by others.

“Now she is being run because she didn’t come up with this herself. She’s a Brennan acolyte, and you usually don’t have congressmen and senators doing anything together. They kind of hate each other, so in order to organize this, this had to have had some sort of handler telling her what to do,” he said.

He argued that the effort carried significant risk.

“And it was risky, because nothing like this has ever been done in the history of the country, and you can even tell, because the media was skeptical and they couldn’t answer the question, so they hadn’t even been read in on the operation. You see them fumbling and stumbling,” Watters said.

Watters also commented on a military review connected to the matter.

“And I’m glad that the US military is now investigating this guy, Kelly, because this is what we expect from Donald Trump. To point out you can’t have the deep state interfering with a duly elected presidency and get away with it. You got to draw the line in the sand, and you have to make examples out of people.”

WATCH:

MS NOW BUSTED: Karoline Leavitt Drops the Dime on Fake News Kash Patel Story
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MS NOW BUSTED: Karoline Leavitt Drops the Dime on Fake News Kash Patel Story

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The White House rejected a report on Tuesday that claimed President Donald Trump is considering removing FBI Director Kash Patel.

The report, published by MS NOW, said Patel was “on thin ice” and that top FBI official Andrew Bailey was being considered as a replacement.

According to the outlet, unnamed individuals asserted that the president and senior aides had become frustrated with headlines related to Patel.

MS NOW reported that Patel had faced scrutiny over his management of bureau resources, including “his girlfriend’s security detail and use of a government jet,” and disputes with other officials aligned with the administration.

The outlet said three anonymous sources described private discussions about Patel’s future and indicated that President Trump had been weighing a possible change in the coming months.

Two of those sources were cited as saying that Bailey was viewed as a “logical replacement.”

The White House dismissed the report immediately.

Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement rejecting MS NOW’s claims.

“President Trump has assembled the most talented and impressive Administration in history and they are doing an excellent job carrying out the President’s agenda. FBI Director Patel is a critical member of the President’s team and he is working tirelessly to restore integrity to the FBI,” Jackson said.

The report also prompted a response from White House Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

In a statement posted to X, Leavitt wrote, “This story is completely made up.” She said she was present in the Oval Office at the time MS NOW published its report and saw no indication of any concerns about Patel’s position. “In fact, when this Fake News published, I was in the Oval Office, where President Trump was meeting with his law enforcement team, including FBI Director Kash Patel,” she wrote.

Leavitt said she read the headline aloud to President Trump.

According to her post, the president responded with amusement.

She quoted him saying, “What? That’s totally false. Come on Kash, let’s take a picture to show them you’re doing a great job!” Leavitt closed her statement by urging the public, “Do not believe the Fake News!”

The report appeared to gain attention online prior to the White House statements. MS NOW attributed its claims to three individuals described as having direct knowledge of internal discussions.

The outlet said the individuals requested anonymity to discuss what they characterized as private deliberations inside the administration.

According to MS NOW, the concerns surrounding Patel included his use of bureau aircraft and a dispute involving security coverage.

The report also mentioned disagreements with other officials serving under President Trump.

The outlet said these developments had contributed to the alleged conversations about his continued leadership at the FBI.

Following the White House’s statements, no further details were provided by the administration regarding Patel’s status beyond Jackson’s and Leavitt’s remarks.

MS NOW did not issue an update or correction after the responses from the White House press office.

The outlet’s report remained posted and continued to circulate on social media platforms throughout the day.

The White House statements marked the administration’s firm denial of the claims attributed to unnamed sources.

The president’s comments relayed through Leavitt contradicted the notion that Patel’s position was in question.

The administration reaffirmed Patel’s role as FBI director and described him as an integral member of the president’s law enforcement team.


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