Burgeoning Sex Scandal Pits Biden Against His Biggest Backers at Critical Moment

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A new report sheds light on a pervasive culture of sexual harassment plaguing a major federal entity under the watch of President Joe Biden.

Law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton was tasked with investigating the workplace at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) in 2023, and released its 234-page report on Tuesday. Throughout the investigation, 500 individuals, close to one-in-ten employees at the entire FDIC, reported “experiences of sexual harassment, discrimination, and other interpersonal misconduct” in the workplace to the firm’s tip line.

The incidents reported to the firm, the report said, “did not occur in a vacuum,” and were rather the result of a “misogynistic,” “patriarchal,” “insular” and “outdated” workplace. In its executive summary, the firm pulled out specific accounts of such sexual harassment that it discovered during its investigation.

“Women in one field office recounted how, to their dismay, it became routine to hear their supervisor talk about their breasts and legs and his sex life,” the report stated.

“A woman examiner reported on the shock of receiving a picture of an FDIC senior examiner’s private parts out of the blue while serving on detail in a field office, only to be told later by others in that field office that she should stay away from him because he had a ‘reputation,’” the firm reported. (Read more from “Burgeoning Sex Scandal Pits Biden Against His Biggest Backers at Critical Moment” HERE)

Biden: I’ve Had Best Run of Creating Jobs and Lowering Inflation Ever, ‘It Was 9% When I Came Into Office’

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During a portion of an interview with CNN set to air on Wednesday’s broadcast of “OutFront” that was aired on Wednesday’s broadcast of “The Lead,” President Joe Biden stated that no one has ever “had the run we’ve had in terms of creating jobs and bringing down inflation. It was 9% when I came into office, 9%.” But people are right to be concerned about greed from corporations.

Biden said, “[N]o president’s had the run we’ve had in terms of creating jobs and bringing down inflation. It was 9% when I came into office, 9%. But it — look, people have a right to be concerned, ordinary people. The idea that you bounce a check and you get a $30 fee for bouncing the check, I changed that, you can’t charge more than 8 bucks for that or your credit card, your late payment, $35. There’s corporate greed going on out there, and it’s got to be dealt with.” (Read more from “Biden: I’ve Had Best Run of Creating Jobs and Lowering Inflation Ever, ‘It Was 9% When I Came Into Office’” HERE)

Trump Rebukes Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Failed Attempt to Oust Speaker Mike Johnson

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Former President Donald Trump called on House Republicans to not vote in favor of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., saying “this is not the time” to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday killed an effort by Greene and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to vote on vacating the chair.

Green appeared to catch most Congressional watchers by surprise when she moved to force a vote on her motion to vacate the chair, which should have allowed for the vote.

Though she has been seen in the past touting a MAGA hat in favor of Trump, the former president called on Republicans to table her motion.

“I absolutely love Marjorie Taylor Greene. She’s got Spirit, she’s got Fight, and I believe she’ll be around, and on our side, for a long time to come,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “However, right now, Republicans have to be fighting the Radical Left Democrats, and all the Damage they have done to our Country. With a Majority of One, shortly growing to three or four, we’re not in a position of voting on a Motion to Vacate. At some point, we may very well be, but this is not the time.” (Read more from “Trump Rebukes Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Failed Attempt to Oust Speaker Mike Johnson” HERE)

‘Extremely Troubling’: Biden Official Suspended for Unnerving Reason

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Two GOP lawmakers claimed Monday to have discovered the reason why Robert Malley, President Joe Biden’s special envoy for Iran, was suspended from his role.

Pending a federal investigation, Malley was suspended without pay and had his security clearance revoked in June 2023 with little reason given as to why. Republican Idaho Sen. James Risch and Texas Rep. Mike McCaul sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday saying that their “own investigations have uncovered” that Malley was put under investigation and on leave because “he allegedly transferred classified documents to his personal email account and downloaded these documents to his personal cell phone,” according to The Washington Post.

“It is unclear to whom he intended to provide these documents, but it is believed that a hostile cyber actor was able to gain access to his email and/or phone and obtain the downloaded information,” the lawmakers wrote.

McCaul and Risch asked Blinken in the letter to answer a series of questions about their findings, including how many classified documents Malley was handling, whether he attempted to send them to another party, whether a “malign cyber actor” — such as the Iranian regime — gained access to his phone, and whether he has received warnings from the State Department before about his handling of classified material.

“The allegations we have been privy to are extremely troubling and demand immediate answers,” McCaul and Risch wrote in the letter to Blinken. “These allegations have substantial impact on our national security and people should be held accountable swiftly and strongly. We look forward to your immediate response.” (Read more from “‘Extremely Troubling’: Biden Official Suspended for Unnerving Reason” HERE)

RFK Jr. Said Doctor Thought Spot in Scans Involved ‘A Worm That Got Into My Brain and Ate a Portion of It and Then Died’: NYT

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suffered memory loss and brain fog in 2010, according to the New York Times, which reported that Kennedy said in a 2012 deposition that doctors had seen a dark spot in brain scans and thought there was a tumor. But another doctor thought the area viewed in the scans “was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,” Kennedy claimed in the deposition, according to the outlet.

During an interview with the Times, Kennedy indicated that he had recovered from the memory loss and mental fog and does not suffer aftereffects from the parasite, which did not necessitate treatment.

Doctors thought that a cyst viewed in scans contained parasite remains, according to the Times, which noted that Kennedy indicated he was not aware of the kind of parasite.

The outlet also reported that Kennedy indicated that he found out about the parasite around the same point that he got diagnosed with mercury poisoning.

“I offer to eat 5 more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate,” the independent presidential candidate quipped in a post on X. “I feel confident of the result even with a six-worm handicap,” he added in another post.

(Read more from “RFK Jr. Said Doctor Thought Spot in Scans Involved ‘A Worm That Got Into My Brain and Ate a Portion of It and Then Died’: NYT” HERE)

Democrats Save Johnson: 163 Votes to Continue Johnson’s Coalition Government

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) officially owes his gavel to Democrats.

An overwhelming 163 Democrats chose to continue Mike Johnson’s coalition government with the essential co-Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), voting to table a motion from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) to strip Johnson of his gavel.

The historic 359 to 43 vote likely cements Johnson’s speakership – for now.

The final tally included seven Democrats voting present and eleven not voting, along with ten Republicans who did not vote.

Ultimately, only 32 Democrats proved unhappy enough with Johnson’s stewardship of the House to vote to enable Greene’s gavel-stripping resolution to move forward. (Read more from “Democrats Save Johnson: 163 Votes to Continue Johnson’s Coalition Government” HERE)

Trial Date Postponed Indefinitely in Trump Case Amidst Evidence Handling Concerns

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The trial date for the case involving former President Donald Trump and allegations regarding classified documents has been indefinitely postponed by United States District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a Trump appointee. Judge Cannon cited the need to address several pre-trial motions before setting a new date in her ruling on Tuesday.

Special Counsel Jack Smith’s unsealing of a superseding indictment in July 2023, which included charges against Carlos De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker, prompted the delay. This occurred after the initial indictment against Trump and aide Walter Nauta in June 2023.

“The Court determines that finalization of a trial date at this juncture would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions before the Court,” Judge Cannon stated, emphasizing the importance of addressing critical issues before proceeding with the tria

Concerns regarding evidence handling emerged following Smith’s Friday afternoon filing, where he acknowledged discrepancies in the maintenance of evidence obtained during the August 2022 raid on Mar-a-Lago. Smith admitted that some boxes containing evidence were not properly maintained, leading to a potential compromise in the integrity of the evidence.

Trump’s attorneys responded swiftly, filing a motion to address the reported violations and indicating the likelihood of filing additional motions. They expressed surprise at the prosecution team’s failure to maintain the integrity of the evidence, despite ample resources at their disposal.

“These issues implicate President Trump’s motion to suppress evidence seized from Mar-a-Lago and the motion to dismiss based on prosecutorial misconduct,” Trump’s attorneys stated, highlighting the significance of the evidence mishandling allegations in the case.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

GOP Governor Sounds Alarm on Biden Admin’s Proposal for Air National Guard, Space Force

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott opposed a proposal that could shift members of the Air National Guard to roles in the Space Force without the consent of their respective governors.

In a letter to President Biden, Abbott, who has clashed with the commander in chief on a number of matters, said the proposal is an “intolerable threat” to the National Guard.

“That proposal would give the Secretary of the Air Force unilateral authority to transfer Air National Guard units to the Space Force — without first obtaining gubernatorial consent,” Abbott wrote in the May 3 letter. . .

The Republican governor argued the measure would sideline governors as the commanders in chief of the National Guard in each state and U.S. territory.

“By departing from this sensible arrangement, and allowing the Secretaries to dismantle National Guard units on a whim, Legislative Proposal 480 would set a dangerous precedent,” he added. “Members of the Texas National Guard must always stand ready to respond to natural disasters, civil disturbances, and cartel activity that threaten our way of life.” (Read more from “GOP Governor Sounds Alarm on Biden Admin’s Proposal for Air National Guard, Space Force” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward for Arrest of Russian Who Allegedly Developed Software That Siphoned $500 Million

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Federal prosecutors charged a Russian national in absentia with creating, developing and administering one of the world’s most prolific ransomware attacks since 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday. The DOJ also announced a $10 million reward for the Russian’s arrest.

“Today, we are announcing that Dmitry [Yuryevich] Khoroshev, a Russian national, is charged in a 26-count indictment with committing and conspiring to commit LockBit attacks,” Nicole Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Criminal Division, announced Tuesday.

Khoroshev, 31, of Voronezh, Russia allegedly created, developed and administered LockBit. “[T]his malicious cyber scheme … has targeted over 2,000 victims and stolen more than $100 million in ransomware payments,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, according to the DOJ’s statement.

Some 2,500 victims — from individuals and small businesses to multinationals, law enforcement, and governments — in at least 120 countries paid at least $500 million in ransom after LockBit intruded into and disrupted their systems, seizing troves of data since Sept. 2019. Some 1,800 of the victims are in the United States, the DOJ’s statement revealed.

Khoroshev — alias LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab — pocketed $100 million of the proceeds, the DOJ alleged. He kept the data of victims who paid the ransom, reneging on his promise to delete their data after receiving the payments, and threatened to leak the data of those who did not pay, the DOJ further alleged. LockBit’s victims also reportedly lost revenue and spent money trying to recover their hijacked systems to the tune of billions of dollars.

(Read more from “U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward for Arrest of Russian Who Allegedly Developed Software That Siphoned $500 Million” HERE)

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Illegal Alien Allegedly Kidnaps 11-Year-Old Girl, Rapes Her in Van

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An illegal immigrant in Florida is being held without bond after he allegedly grabbed an 11-year-old girl by the hand, dragged her into a van, and sexually assaulted her.

Around 9 p.m. last Thursday, 20-year-old Marvin Perez Lopez, a Guatemalan national, was standing near a van parked outside his apartment in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, just a few miles south of West Palm Beach. He then spotted an 11-year-old girl who likewise lived in the apartment complex.

Lopez allegedly grabbed the girl by the hand and ordered her to “get into the van,” an affidavit claimed. He then allegedly began touching the girl in a way that made her uncomfortable. At one point, she managed to escape, but the suspect grabbed her once again and threw her back inside the vehicle, where he forced himself on her.

Meanwhile, the girl’s mother had gone looking for her daughter. When she spotted the van, she began screaming and banging on the windows. Police soon arrived, but the perpetrator had fled the area.

On Saturday, police found Lopez and booked him into the Palm Beach County jail on several charges, including kidnapping to sexually assault a minor, sexual assault of a victim under 12, and resisting an officer. His bond was denied. (Read more from “Illegal Alien Allegedly Kidnaps 11-Year-Old Florida Girl, Rapes Her in Van” HERE)