DC, Trump and Harris beef up security over fears of Election Day violence
Parts of Washington D.C. were fortified and former President Donald Trump’s election headquarters in Florida beefed up security on Sunday, Nov. 3, just ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The moves come as fears of Election Day violence grows in a post-Jan. 6, 2021 world and an assassination attempt against Trump in July.
Law enforcement in Washington D.C. is not taking any chances this year after deadly riots during the 2020 election, when certification of President Joe Biden’s win got underway.
All 3,300 Metropolitan Police Department officers will be mobilized and work 12-hour shifts through Election Day, though officials maintain that there is currently no credible threat.
Meanwhile, private security firms are also beefing up efforts. One security firm says it’s deploying around 2,000 private personnel for 12-hour shifts at clients’ buildings surrounding the White House.
Both Trump and Harris’ election watch parties are being heavily guarded as well. Trump’s election base will be at West Palm Beach, Florida’s convention center, where the U.S. Secret Service confirmed “physical barriers” are in place.
First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump flew out of New York City on Sunday, Nov. 3, to join the former president in Florida to watch the election results.
Furthermore, local businesses are also boarding up windows and others are erecting walls. Establishments in the district report fewer customers as Election Day approaches. Some business owners believe the decline is over Election Day anxiety among Americans as many would rather stay in the safety of their homes.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon out of prison, legal trouble not over
With just one week until Election Day, Steve Bannon, the former Trump White House chief strategist and now podcaster, is a free man. Bannon was released from prison on Tuesday, Oct. 29, after serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena tied to an investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon is reportedly scheduled to return to hosting his “War Room” podcast on Tuesday, Oct. 29. His return comes amid a neck-and-neck presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Jurors convicted Bannon on two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with subpoenas from the U.S. House of Representatives committee dedicated to investigating the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon still faces legal troubles even with his release. He pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to accusations of defrauding donors for the “We Build the Wall” campaign.
He claimed the money would go to erecting a portion of the wall at the U.S. southern border. However, prosecutors argue Bannon used the funds to line his own pockets.
The former White House chief strategist was previously convicted in a similar case in 2020. However, he was pardoned by former President Donald Trump before he left office.
Before serving his sentence, Bannon asserted he was “proud to go to prison.” He also reportedly claimed there was “no chance” Democrats would win the upcoming election without “stealing it.”
He’s the second Trump White House aide to serve prison time for defying a Jan. 6, 2021, investigation subpoena. Jurors also found former White House official Peter Navarro guilty of contempt of U.S. Congress.
He served a four-month sentence and was released from prison in July. Navarro spoke at the Republican National Convention just hours after his release from prison.
Ashli Babbitt’s family lawsuit against US government goes to trial July 2026
The family of Ashli Babbitt is suing the U.S. government in a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit, with a trial date set for July 20, 2026, by a federal judge. Babbitt was fatally shot during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The lawsuit presents a version of events that significantly differs from the official account.
Babbitt’s family is challenging Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd’s use of lethal force and his actions during the incident. The lawsuit alleges that Babbitt was unarmed with her hands up when shot, and that Lt. Byrd failed to identify himself or issue warnings before firing.
During a hearing Friday, Sept. 20, the judge announced that the previously scheduled 2025 trial date was too soon after lawyers for Babbitt’s family argued they needed more time. The judge is also considering a request to move the trial to Southern California, where Babbitt’s family lives.
Conservative watchdog Judicial Watch has emerged as a key supporter of the Babbitt family’s legal efforts, challenging the government’s narrative of the Jan. 6 events. The organization recently released video footage of Babbitt’s shooting, potentially corroborating claims made in the lawsuit.
The FBI’s sweeping investigation into the Capitol riot has led to approximately 2,000 arrests. The U.S. Capitol Police’s internal investigation concluded that Lt. Byrd’s actions were lawful and potentially life-saving.
US soldier arrested for allegedly assaulting police officer in Jan. 6 riot
An active-duty U.S. Army soldier has been arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Alexander Cain Poplin, 31, was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Schofield Barracks near Honolulu and is facing multiple felony charges, including assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon and interfering with police during a civil disorder.
Poplin is accused of repeatedly striking a Metropolitan Police Department officer with a flagpole during the Capitol breach, as prosecutors say his crimes were captured on multiple cameras.
During the Jan. 6 riot, Poplin was reportedly seen in a restricted area carrying an “Area Closed” sign and a flagpole with a blue flag.
Social media played a crucial role in the investigation. The FBI looked into Poplin’s social media activity, including a tip received in February 2021 about his Facebook posts indicating intentions to attack police during the riot.
Poplin allegedly posted statements such as “We took our house back” and “We beat their f****ing a** and stood for something” after the events of Jan. 6.
Poplin was set to have a court appearance late Wednesday, Sept. 11. No information from that scheduled appearance has yet been made known. Lawyers for Poplin, so far, have not answered media requests for comment.
Three and a half years after Jan. 6, law enforcement continues investigating the assault. Nearly 1,500 individuals have been charged across nearly all 50 states.
New Jan. 6 video shows Pelosi talking Trump, 25th Amdt and Capitol security
Newly released footage shows then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Jan. 6, 2021 as rioters were breaking into the U.S. Capitol building. In the video, Pelosi discussed the 25th Amendment, called then-President Donald Trump a domestic enemy and said she takes responsibility for not having better prepared security.
The footage was originally recorded by Pelosi’s daughter Alexandra for an HBO documentary she made about her mother called “Pelosi in the House.” It was released in 2022.
HBO gave the House Committee on Administration the new video as part of its Republican-led investigation aimed at undermining the Jan. 6 Select Committee. Multiple news outlets, including CNN, CBS and NBC also obtained the video.
In a clip released by NBC News, Pelosi can be seen meeting with her senior staff on Jan. 7 and discussing the 25th Amendment. That amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare the president unable to discharge the duties of his office, making the vice president the acting president.
“I want a copy of the cabinet because I want to say when we talk about the 25th Amendment, we’re talking, we’re calling upon Secretary Pompeo, secretary whatever his name is, Mnuchin, the attorney general of the United States,” Pelosi told her staff. “Just right down the succession line.”
“In calling for this seditious act, the president has committed an unspeakable assault on our nation and our people,” Pelosi ultimately told reporters on Jan. 7. “I join the Senate Democratic leader in calling on the vice president to remove this president by immediately invoking the 25th Amendment. If the vice president and the cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment.”
Then-Vice President Mike Pence declined to invoke the 25th Amendment and the House impeached Trump for a second time.
In another clip released by CBS, Pelosi is seen being escorted out of the Capitol by her security detail and asking why they were not prepared for the worst. She asked why the National Guard were just being called then and said they should have been there from the beginning.
“Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?” Pelosi asked a staff member.
“They thought that they had sufficient resources,” the staffer responded.
“That is not a question.” Pelosi said. “They don’t know, they clearly didn’t know and I take more responsibility for not having them just prepared for more.”
Former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Trump told them they would need 10,000 national guardsmen for Jan. 6 but never elaborated on it. According to The Associated Press, there is no evidence Trump signed an order approving troops. Miller also told the Jan. 6 committee that local law enforcement thought they had sufficient personnel.
New indictment filed against Trump for role in Jan. 6 riot
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on new charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. And an Israeli hostage freed from Hamas says the remaining hostages are “suffering.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.
New indictment filed against Trump for role in Jan. 6 riot
The new filing is meant to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling from July that presidents have broad immunity for official acts while in office.
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s new indictment revolves around allegations related solely to the actions Trump took as a presidential candidate in 2020 in a personal and unofficial capacity.
Trump’s legal team told news outlets this latest indictment is not a surprise to them, nor does it change their position that the case should be dismissed. Trump’s lawyers are expected to ask for more time to review the case.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), was asked about these latest charges while on the campaign trail Tuesday, Aug. 27.
“It looks like Jack Smith doing more what he does, which is filing these absurd lawsuits in an effort to influence the election,” Vance said. “I mean, the one thing that I did see, which I felt was just classic lipstick on a pig is, you know, of course, the reason the Supreme Court threw out his lawsuit is because they said it implicated the president’s official acts, of course, which the president has immunity in conducting those official acts.”
First rioter to enter U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 sentenced to 4 years in prison
On Tuesday, the Kentucky man who was the first person to enter the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was sentenced to more than four years in prison. Michael Sparks, 47, was the first person to jump into the building after a window was broken that day.
A police officer who tried to subdue Sparks with pepper spray described him as “a catalyst” for the insurrection. The Senate had called for a recess just one minute before Sparks was able to enter the building.
The judge who sentenced Sparks to four years and five months called his actions “a national disgrace.”
More than 1,400 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related federal crimes.
Israeli hostage freed from Hamas says other hostages are “suffering”
One of the hostages taken by Hamas during its attack on Israel Oct. 7 was successfully rescued Tuesday by the Israeli military in a “complex operation.” Now, that man is speaking out.
The freed hostage, 52-year-old Qaid Farhan Alkadi, was reported to be in “normal” health following the high stakes rescue mission. Footage released by the Israeli military shows Alkadi smiling and interacting with IDF members, as well as family and medical staff at an Israeli hospital.
The IDF says it was able to locate and rescue Alkadi from underground due to extensive intelligence efforts. The Hostages and Missing Families forum stated Alkadi had managed to free himself before troops completed the rescue operation.
During the Hamas-led attack last October, approximately 250 individuals were taken hostage. Currently, more than 100 hostages are still believed to be in the hands of militants, but many are feared to already be dead.
OSHA Investigating after 2 killed in explosion at Delta facility in Atlanta
The exact cause of the explosion has not been released yet. Delta released a statement saying it is “heartbroken” at the loss of its team members.
OSHA is investigating the deadly incident.
Family says New Hampshire man died from mosquito-borne illness ‘EEE’
A New Hampshire man has died after contracting a mosquito-borne virus, family members say. They say the 41-year-old was hospitalized with eastern equine encephalitis, better known as EEE, and died within a week.
Health officials say EEE can cause flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches and joint pain, and about one-third of people who develop EEE die from their infection. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for EEE.
AT&T said it has fixed an issue that caused service outages Tuesday night. Some local emergency officials said the issue affected peoples’ ability to call 911.
Mass protest at US Capitol ahead of Netanyahu’s speech
Dozens of demonstrators showed up to the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, July 23, to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. and his speech to Congress. The protest was organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace.
Tuesday’s demonstration had a similar message as other high profile war protests, with demonstrators chanting “free Palestine,” “not in our name” and “stop genocide” as they staged a sit-in at a congressional office building. Capitol police arrested more than 200 people.
The protest came as Netanyahu is in Washington meeting with U.S. lawmakers. Multiple other protests are already planned for Wednesday, July 24, as Netanyahu is set to deliver a speech to Congress.
Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Joe Biden Thursday, July 25. He’ll also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday and then former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 26, as he looks to lock in support for Israel from both candidates ahead of November’s election.
Looking forward to seeing Bibi Netanyahu on Friday, and even more forward to achieving Peace in the Middle East! DJT@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump Truth Social 10:06 PM EST 07/23/24 pic.twitter.com/duBKAOiFyD
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 24, 2024
Biden issues warning after immunity ruling as Trump looks to overturn conviction
Reaction from President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump after the Supreme Court’s historic ruling on presidential immunity. And Hurricane Beryl strengthens to a Category 5 as it approaches Jamaica. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Biden issues warning after SCOTUS ruling as Trump looks to overturn conviction
In a landmark 6-3 vote along ideological lines the Supreme Court justices ruled Monday, July 1, that former President Donald Trump is entitled to immunity for official acts he took while in office. The effects of the court’s decision will be seen in the coming days.
The high court’s ruling gave Trump some immunity from being criminally prosecuted on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election, however, it did not totally dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case. The former president is reportedly looking to have his New York trial conviction overturned based on the Supreme Court’s decision.
According to Trump’s legal team, the Manhattan jury’s verdict that found him guilty of falsifying business records should be overturned because the jurors saw evidence during trial that they now consider to be protected. Trump’s lawyers are seeking a delay in Trump’s sentencing so they can have more time to make their case. Trump’s sentencing is currently scheduled for July 11.
In the Supreme Court’s opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “The president is not above the law. But … the president may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers.”
After that decision came down, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social saying, “Big win for our Constitution and democracy. Proud to be an American.”
BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 1, 2024
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden decided the historic ruling warranted a primetime address. In it, he warned of what he called a “dangerous precedent.”
Biden calling the ruling a, “disservice to the people of this nation,” saying the decision means there are “virtually no limits on what a president can do.”
“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America,” the president said. “Each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law, not even the President of the United States. [With] today’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed for all practical purposes.”
Biden repeated Justice Sonia Sotomayer’s dissent, saying the ruling makes the president “now a king above the law.”
In response, Trump posted that the primetime address was just meant to deflect from Biden’s “horrible campaign performance.”
Steve Bannon begins 4-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress
“I’m proud to go to prison,” he said in a press conference before turning himself over to authorities. “I am proud of going to prison today.”
The longtime Trump ally was convicted of contempt for defying a congressional subpoena from the committee that probed the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack.
“If this is what it takes to stand up to tyranny, if that’s what it takes to stand up to the [Attorney General Merrick] Garland corrupt criminal DOJ, if this is what it takes to stand up to Nancy Pelosi, if this is what it takes to stand up to Joe Biden, I’m proud to do it,” Bannon said. “I was on a destroyer for four years in the Navy. I am prepared for whatever prison has, right? Our prisons are run very well. The Bureau of Prisons does a great job. I’m prepared to do this, whatever task I do, I’m totally prepared mentally, physically, everything, for prison.”
In an interview Monday, former President Trump blamed President Biden for what he claims is a “weaponization” of the justice system, saying Biden is “going to pay a big price” for it. Trump’s campaign told ABC News Trump’s statement meant Biden will lose the election come November.
Iran, Syria, North Korea sued in connection with Oct. 7 Israel attack
More than 100 victims and families of victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel are suing Iran, Syria and North Korea. They said the countries provided the terrorist organization the money, weapons and instruction to carry out the deadly attack.
📢 BREAKING: ADL filed a federal lawsuit today against Iran, Syria and North Korea for providing material support to Hamas to commit atrocities in Israel on Oct 7, 2023. These state sponsors of terror must be held accountable. 🧵https://t.co/hfIcxLKyz5pic.twitter.com/CUdQWDhQJ5
The lawsuit, which was filed in a New York court, seeks at least $4 billion in damages for the attack. The suit was filed by the Anti-Defamation League — a Jewish advocacy organization — and is the largest case against foreign countries in connection with the attack.
This comes as the Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of the southern Gaza city Khan Younis on Monday, July 1, signaling troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the strip’s second-largest city.
The call to move toward the Al Mawasi Humanitarian Zone does not apply to the patients in the European Hospital or the medical staff working there.
There is no intention to evacuate the European Hospital in the Khan Yunis area. https://t.co/MditW1DJ9g
Hurricane Beryl now a Category 5 storm, heads for Jamaica
Hurricane Beryl is now a Category 5 storm. This is the earliest on record that a hurricane in the Atlantic has reached the highest category there is, with wind speeds above 160 miles per hour.
— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) July 1, 2024
It made landfall on the Caribbean’s Windward Islands on Monday as a Category 4 storm. Many are still without power or water and at least one death has been reported.
Beryl is only the second Category 5 Atlantic storm to be recorded in July.
Biden student loan repayment plan allowed to proceed
In a small victory for the Biden administration, a federal appeals court will allow the Department of Education to move forward with lowering millions of student loan borrowers’ monthly payments in July. The move comes as the administration faces two legal battles over the repayment plan known as SAVE, which launched in 2023.
A federal judge in Kansas issued an injunction blocking the plan from taking effect on July 1. The Department of Justice quickly appealed.
New: The 10th Circuit has GRANTED @usedgov's request to stay the Kansas court's decision to block parts of the SAVE plan. Unclear yet what this will look like for borrowers (ED placed 3M of them on forbearance last week in light of the rulings). pic.twitter.com/XO9EsoQgls
Under SAVE, many borrowers will pay only 5% of their discretionary income toward their debt every month, and anyone making $32,800 dollars or less will have no monthly payment.
On the other income-driven repayment plans, borrowers pay at least 10% of their discretionary income.
After twice breaking the U.S. record for under-18 runners at the Olympic trials, it was confirmed Monday, July 1, Wilson will be joining Team USA at the Paris summer games later this month.
Teenaged phenom Quincy Wilson, 16, is headed to Paris as part of the U.S. men's 4×400 Olympic relay squad, his coach confirmed on Monday.
He's the youngest American male track athlete to appear at an Olympics 👏
Wilson will be part of the team that runs the 4x400m relay, making him the youngest American male track athlete to appear at an Olympics. Wilson’s team will formally be announced next week.
State of the Union heckler was father of Marine killed in Afghanistan withdrawal
A heckler in the crowd interrupted President Biden’s State of the Union Address on March 7. When Biden said “America is safer today than when I took office,” a Gold Star father invited to be at the State of the Union yelled back “United States Marines” in reference to his son who died in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
The heckler was identified as Steven Nikoui. His son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was stationed in Afghanistan as the U.S. announced a sudden withdrawal from the region.
The Kabul airport turned to chaos in the days following the announcement. Thousands of people tried to flee as the Taliban took control.
On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bomb outside the airport gates wounded hundreds. The blast killed around 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members — including Kareem Nikoui.
Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, was my guest to #SOTU2024.
He was arrested because he cried out to @JoeBiden to remember his son.
Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! pic.twitter.com/m8Y0sUPLY6
Steven Nikoui was invited by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., to be in attendance at the State of the Union. Ahead of the speech, Mast wrote why he wanted Nikoui to be there.
“By inviting Steve to join the State of the Union, I am reminding President Biden of the damage he has done to national security and American families,” Mast posted on X.
Guests are not allowed to be a disruption inside the Capitol building. Nikoui was asked to stop by Capitol Police but he continued. Nikoui was escorted out, arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.
“As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle,” Hochberg said in the release. “Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.”
According to police, Cuellar’s vehicle was recovered shortly after in the Anacostia neighborhood, about two miles from where it was stolen. Police are investigating, and no arrests have been made.
“D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking that happened around 9:30 p.m. in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood,” a statement from U.S. Capitol Police read. “The victim has been identified as a Member of Congress, so the USCP has investigators working with MPD on this case. Injuries were not reported. Detectives are working to track down the suspects.”
This carjacking marks the second time armed assailants hijacked a member of Congress. In 2021, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., was carjacked at gunpoint in Philadelphia by five armed robbers.
Cuellar’s run-in with armed assailants also marks the second high-profile crime against a member of Congress in Washington, D.C., this year. In Feb., Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn, was assaulted in her apartment but escaped without serious injuries. According to Craig’s chief of staff, the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.
Cuellar, 68, is one of many victims of carjackings in the D.C. area this year. According to the Washington Post carjackings in D.C. have become more frequent. On average, one carjacking is reported every day, up from one reported carjacking every three days in the two years before the pandemic.
The latest data from D.C. police shows there have been 750 carjackings this year, as of Sunday, Oct. 1. Seventy-five percent of those incidents involved guns.