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Top Democrat Faces Federal Probe—Here’s What They Found

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New York Attorney General Letitia James (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

The Trump administration is considering federal criminal charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, following serious allegations of mortgage fraud related to multiple property transactions. The charges could include wire fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

A letter sent Tuesday from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to the U.S. Department of Justice accuses James of falsifying loan documents to obtain more favorable mortgage terms. FHFA Director William Pulte detailed allegations that James listed a Virginia property as her primary residence—despite being required by New York law to maintain her primary residence in-state—and misrepresented her father as her husband on federally backed mortgage applications.

According to the documents, James acquired a Norfolk, Virginia home using the false residency claim to secure better loan terms. In a separate transaction dating back to 1983, James is alleged to have listed her father as her husband in a Brooklyn property purchase to qualify under favorable borrower conditions. Pulte’s letter asserts the fraud was ongoing, culminating shortly before James launched her high-profile civil fraud case against President Donald Trump.

That trial, which ended in a $454 million civil judgment against Trump and his company, is currently under appeal. The charges James brought were based on accusations that Trump inflated property values for personal gain—charges his legal team has vigorously denied.

The referral raises concerns about the impartiality of James’s pursuit of Trump, especially given the allegations that she engaged in real estate misrepresentation herself. Pulte’s letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi states the documented evidence “raises serious concerns” and calls for a federal investigation.

James’s office dismissed the charges as politically motivated. In a statement, her team claimed she would “not be intimidated by bullies,” accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing federal power against political adversaries.

Letitia James, elected in 2018, has repeatedly clashed with President Trump, leading or joining multiple lawsuits against his administration over issues ranging from immigration policy to federal funding rollbacks. The FHFA’s referral signals a new chapter in the battle between the two legal powerhouses, now with potential criminal consequences on the horizon.

Spokane Valley’s Police Crisis Hits Ballot, Its Up to Voters

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U.S. Dollars (Alexander Grey/Unsplash)

For the first time in its history, Spokane Valley will put a sales tax increase to a public vote this August. The city council voted 5-1 to approve the ballot measure, which proposes a one-tenth of 1% sales tax hike to fund the hiring of additional police officers.

If passed, the modest tax increase—equal to 10 cents per $100 spent—would generate roughly $2.6 million annually. That would cover the estimated $1 million needed to bring ten new officers on board, the second round in a planned three-phase expansion following a 2023 recommendation to hire 31 additional officers.

Public safety costs are projected to rise by $4.7 million by 2027. Since 2021, expenses have increased at an average of 10.9% per year—more than double the previous 5.2% annual rate. The city, which has refrained from using its state-allowed 1% annual property tax increase since 2009, is facing limited budget options with just $411,000 in recurring revenues over expenditures.

Mayor Pam Haley defended the proposal, saying it reflects the will of the community and puts the decision in the hands of voters. However, critics argue that the city’s supporting poll, with just 641 respondents, doesn’t reflect the sentiment of the Valley’s 105,000 residents. Concerns were raised about pushing a tax increase based on a sample representing less than 1% of the population.

Councilmember Al Merkel voted against the measure, agreeing that the city needs more officers but arguing the funding should come from within the existing budget. If approved, the tax would cost individual residents an average of $12.43 per year, or about $29 per household.

Police Chief Dave Ellis has warned that without the increase, the city will struggle to maintain its current level of public safety. Calls for service have risen 54% since 2004, yet Spokane Valley operates with fewer patrol officers than similar-sized cities. Response times for emergency calls have jumped 28% since 2020.

Ellis says the new revenue would enhance patrol coverage, reduce burnout, and improve outcomes in areas like school safety, neighborhood security, and the city’s homeless response.

Voters will make their decision on August 5. If the measure fails, the city may be forced to make service cuts or leave the police force under-resourced.

Texas Is Winning the Energy War

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Texas Flag (Joshua J. Cotten/Unsplash)

Texas energy producers are setting new records in oil and natural gas output while cutting methane emissions, defying critics who continue to blame the industry for environmental harm. A new report from Texans for Natural Gas, a campaign under the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO), confirms substantial environmental progress alongside historic energy production in the Permian Basin.

The Permian Basin, spanning over 86,000 square miles in West Texas, now accounts for nearly 40% of U.S. oil production and 15% of natural gas output. Yet even as production surged, emissions dropped. The 2023 methane intensity rate in the Permian fell to 0.49 metric tons per barrel of oil equivalent—an 83% reduction since 2011. During that time, total production soared by 482%.

Flaring intensity, a key metric for measuring gas emissions, has also sharply declined. In 2023, flaring levels were 65% lower than in 2015 and 47% lower than in 2018, despite a 25% increase in production. Preliminary 2024 data indicates an additional 14% reduction.

Industry leaders credit cutting-edge technology and private-sector innovation for the results. TIPRO President Ed Longanecker emphasized the role of American ingenuity in delivering both energy security and environmental responsibility. Texas Oil & Gas Association President Todd Staples echoed the sentiment, stating that energy production and environmental stewardship can—and must—coexist.

The report also highlights the critical need for expanded pipeline infrastructure. Longanecker and longtime industry executive Richard Welch argue that permitting reform is urgently needed at the federal level. High-capacity pipeline projects completed in 2024 have already improved transport efficiency, but federal delays still cripple progress. Welch points out that while Texas can approve projects in months, it takes the federal government an average of 3.5 years.

Welch says the Trump administration, working with Congress, has the opportunity to repeal outdated regulations, restore states’ rights, and return regulatory order to America’s energy industry. Without reform, bureaucratic delays will continue to stall economic growth, job creation, and energy security.

Democrats Demand “Welfare Checks” for Deported Gang Members

El Salvador Deportations
(Photo by Alex Peña/Getty Images

Two House Democrats are asking for permission to travel to El Salvador to conduct “welfare checks” on illegal aliens deported by the Trump administration, including an alleged MS-13 gang member now held at the country’s notorious maximum-security prison. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) made the request in a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY).

The pair wants the committee to authorize a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) visit to the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, where the deportees were taken. The facility is known globally for its harsh conditions and is central to El Salvador’s war on gang violence.

Garcia and Frost specifically named two deportees they want to check on: 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia, accused of being a member of the violent MS-13 gang, and 30-year-old Andry José Hernandez, whom they describe as a “LGBTQ makeup artist” with a pending asylum case in the U.S. Both were deported in a mass removal effort ordered by President Donald Trump’s administration.

In their letter, the lawmakers argue that congressional oversight is warranted after President Trump recently indicated his interest in expanding the use of foreign detention facilities like CECOT to include even American citizens found guilty of violent crime. They claim their visit would ensure humane treatment and observe prison conditions.

The Democrats added that they would welcome Republican colleagues to join the trip and emphasized that the Senate has already approved a similar delegation. Their request comes as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) leads a Senate delegation to El Salvador with the same goal of meeting with deported individuals like Abrego Garcia.

The Trump administration has strongly defended the deportation efforts, arguing that removing criminal aliens—especially those with ties to violent gangs—is essential for national security. Administration officials have criticized efforts to return such individuals to the U.S. or challenge their removal.

Trump’s Pick for IRS Chief Has Liberals Fuming

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(Image by Pgiam/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump IRS nominee Billy Long to lead the Internal Revenue Service following the resignation of acting director Melanie Krause. Krause stepped down as the administration moved to align the IRS with Homeland Security to help identify illegal immigrants using tax data. Long, a colorful figure with a background in real estate and auctioneering, is seen by supporters as a bold, unconventional choice.

Long’s nomination comes amid renewed scrutiny of the IRS’s history of targeting political opponents. On “The Drill Down” podcast, investigators highlighted past abuses under multiple administrations. From Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama, presidents have used the IRS to silence critics and undermine opposition. Obama’s IRS, under Lois Lerner, famously denied nonprofit status to conservative Tea Party groups while greenlighting liberal organizations.

Long’s critics point to his lack of experience leading a complex agency like the IRS. His qualifications include a brief tax training course, far from the typical background of a federal agency head. Still, Trump allies defend the pick, calling Long a “man of the people” with a populist streak. Long has floated the idea of dissolving the IRS altogether or replacing the current code with a flat or fair tax system.

The appointment follows recent controversy involving the Biden administration’s IRS. Journalist Matt Taibbi, who testified before Congress about Hunter Biden’s laptop, was visited by IRS agents shortly after. His property was seized and later returned without explanation. Many viewed the move as politically motivated intimidation.

Meanwhile, IRS oversight continues to raise questions about fairness. A ProPublica study revealed that conservative counties in the South and West are disproportionately audited compared to liberal regions. Despite requests, the IRS refuses to release the audit data, even under FOIA requests.

Adding fuel to the fire, one of Lerner’s former deputies, Holly Paz, still holds a top position at the IRS, overseeing audits of businesses worth over $10 million. Her past involvement in the Tea Party scandal drew congressional ire, yet she remains embedded in the agency’s leadership.

As tax policy remains a flashpoint in national debate, Billy Long’s confirmation process promises to be contentious. His nomination signals a major shift in direction, with Trump aiming to reshape the agency’s role and restore trust among taxpayers skeptical of IRS neutrality.

Federal Judge Drops Hammer on Trump Officials

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Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) praised U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Wednesday for issuing a potential criminal contempt ruling against the Trump administration over deportation orders. Speaking on CNN, Raskin called Boasberg a “great judicial hero” for confronting what he described as defiance of federal law.

Judge Boasberg had previously issued an injunction halting specific deportation flights. According to his detailed 46-page opinion, the Trump administration knowingly allowed those deportations to proceed, with flights bound for El Salvador departing despite the court’s order. Boasberg emphasized that even if the aircraft had already taken off, the administration’s failure to comply remained a serious violation.

The judge referenced longstanding legal precedent requiring compliance with court orders, including the 1967 Walker v. Birmingham case. Boasberg reminded all branches of government—including the Executive—that no one is above the law. His opinion stated that willful disobedience of a federal injunction could result in criminal contempt charges.

Raskin, while defending Boasberg’s actions, underscored the seriousness of the issue, suggesting the Trump administration had deliberately defied the judge’s clear directives. He warned that the administration should immediately return the individuals covered by the injunction to avoid further legal consequences.

Boasberg has not yet finalized the criminal contempt finding, offering one last opportunity for compliance. If the administration fails to act, officials involved in the decision could face prosecution. The legal standoff marks a significant confrontation between the judiciary and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement and the limits of executive power.

He Fought for a Gang Member—But Ignored a Murdered Mom?

El Salvador
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The Trump administration sharply rebuked Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) this week for prioritizing a deported MS-13 gang member over the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman murdered by an illegal Salvadoran national in 2023. Van Hollen has traveled to El Salvador in an attempt to return 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States, despite his gang affiliations.

Abrego Garcia entered the U.S. illegally at age 16 and was arrested by ICE in Maryland before being deported in March to El Salvador’s high-security Terrorism Confinement Center. While an immigration judge granted “withholding of removal” due to alleged threats from rival gang Barrio 18, DHS confirmed that two separate judges had already identified Abrego Garcia as a member of MS-13.

Though his deportation flight was acknowledged as a procedural mistake, President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele both refused to reverse it. Bukele rejected a request to return Abrego Garcia, stating plainly, “I can’t smuggle a terrorist into the United States.”

Van Hollen responded by flying to El Salvador himself, declaring his intent to meet with officials and Abrego Garcia. “He was illegally abducted and needs to come home,” Van Hollen claimed. Meanwhile, the Trump administration noted the irony, saying, “He’s already home,” and criticized Van Hollen for his silence on Rachel Morin’s murder.

Van Hollen’s campaign gained support from leftist lawmakers including Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), who are organizing others to pressure for Abrego Garcia’s return.

Trump’s DHS blasted Van Hollen, stating he has done “more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, and illegal alien back to Maryland than to protect his American constituents.” The department also highlighted the senator’s complete lack of response to Morin’s brutal murder, contrasting his attention to an illegal alien with his disregard for a murdered American mother.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined the pushback, declaring that Abrego Garcia is “where he belongs.” Trump’s administration continues to draw a hard line against prioritizing the rights of criminal aliens over the safety of U.S. citizens, reinforcing its America First approach to law enforcement and border security.

What Trump’s Team Just Uncovered in the Skies Will Shock You

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Image via Canva

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a sweeping drone detection effort led by the Trump administration, sharply contrasting it with the Biden administration’s failure to provide answers during the 2024 drone mystery. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be conducting detection tests involving over 100 drones in Cape May, New Jersey, running through April 25.

Duffy emphasized the administration’s “radical transparency” in handling airspace safety, noting the widespread public concern over unexplained drone sightings last year. During the Biden presidency, federal agencies failed to clearly identify the purpose or origin of drones flying over states like New Jersey. A joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI claimed there was no foreign threat, but did not explain the activity. That lack of clarity left Americans alarmed and distrustful.

President Trump’s Department of Transportation has committed to informing the public with direct updates and behind-the-scenes access to government safety operations. Secretary Duffy, formerly a U.S. Representative and now leading the DOT, confirmed that affected residents have been notified about the current tests. The FAA will operate drones ranging from small commercial types to large uncrewed aerial vehicles, focusing on how to detect and track them without interfering with aircraft navigation systems.

The FAA testing is taking place over water near the Cape May Ferry Terminal during daytime hours on weekdays. Technologies being evaluated include Remote ID systems, acoustic arrays, and radar capabilities to track drone activity. The administration has issued advisories for recreational drone users to stay clear of testing zones.

The FAA plans to expand these detection efforts to other states later this year, including New Mexico, Mississippi, and North Dakota. This initiative marks a clear shift toward transparency and preparedness in national airspace management under President Trump’s leadership.

Autism ‘Running Rampant’ Among U.S. Children

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network survey found that 1 in 31 children has autism.

The survey, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, estimated the prevalence of autism in children between 4 and 8 years old during 2022. “Among children aged 8 years in 2022, ASD prevalence was 32.2 per 1,000 children (one in 31),” the report said, drawing upon data collected from sites in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Nearly 40% of autistic children aged 8 years were classified as having an intellectual disability.

The prevalence of autism is 4.8 times higher than when the survey was first conducted in 2002.

“The autism epidemic is running rampant,” said U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “One in 31 American children born in 2014 are disabled by autism. That’s up significantly from two years earlier and nearly five times higher than when the CDC first started running autism surveys in children born in 1992.

Kennedy called the prevalence of autism in boys “astounding,” listing it as 1 in 20 and further noting its prevalence in California as 1 in 12.5.

“President Trump has tasked me with identifying the root causes of the childhood chronic disease epidemic — including autism,” Kennedy stated. “We are assembling teams of world-class scientists to focus research on the origins of the epidemic, and we expect to begin to have answers by September.”

He added that the autism epidemic “has now reached a scale unprecedented in human history because it affects the young.”

“The risks and costs of this crisis are a thousand times more threatening to our country than COVID-19,” he said. “Autism is preventable and it is unforgivable that we have not yet identified the underlying causes. We should have had these answers 20 years ago.”

TIME Magazine Honors Abortionist on ‘Most Influential People’ List

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TIME Magazine has included Hope Clinic co-owner Julie Burkhart on its “100 Most Influential People of 2025” list.

Hope Clinic, based in Illinois, views unborn babies as “pregnancy tissue,” according to its website.

“An abortion procedure also known as ‘surgical abortion’ or ‘in-clinic abortion’ is a simple, safe procedure that involves a pelvic exam, dilation of the cervix, and removal of the pregnancy tissue through vacuum aspiration and additional instruments,” the website says.

According to TIME, Burkhart “has been fighting for decades to provide abortions in some of the most rural and conservative areas of the U.S.” She opened the only full-service abortion clinic in Wyoming in 2022, which is actively involved in a legal battle in the state after the governor “signed new legislation requiring abortion clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers, forcing Wellspring to stop providing abortions while it challenges the regulation in court.”

TIME Magazine further praised Burkhart’s work in ending pregnancies, recognizing that Hope Clinic has “seen a 700% increase in out-of-state patients since abortion restrictions went into effect in neighboring states.”

“Burkhart is devoted to making sure patients can get abortion care, no matter where they live,” TIME wrote.

Others included on the influential figures list include actress Demi Moore, rapper Snoop Dogg, former tennis player Serena Williams, and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is also featured on the list.

President Donald Trump is also on the list of influential figures and was featured as the magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year.

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