Donald Trump has suggested he will free the January 6 Capitol rioters as he slammed President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden as a “miscarriage of Justice.”
On Sunday, Biden announced he had pardoned his son following his federal gun conviction, saying Hunter had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Justice Department.
Biden previously insisted he would not pardon his son. The White House has defended his decision.
Trump blasted his rival on Truth Social: “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
Biden’s decision has divided critics. Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis said he was “disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country” while Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks said Hunter “would not ever be prosecuted for the gun crime but for his last name.”
In other news, Trump looks set to fire the head of the FBI after tipping MAGA loyalist Kash Patel for the role. He also nominated people in his family’s orbit to join his administration including Tiffany’s father-in-law Massad Boulos as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs and Charles Kushner as ambassador to France.
Key Points
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President Biden pardon for son Hunter Biden despite pledging not to do so
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Trump blasts Hunter Biden pardon as ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
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Kash Patel’s nominated as Trump’s FBI director
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Massad Boulos: Tiffany’s father-in-law and Trump’s pick for Middle East adviser
ICYMI: Trump picks MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as his new FBI director
18:06 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump has announced he will nominate MAGA loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI.
For Patel to steer the agency, current FBI Director Christopher Wray would need to resign or be fired. Trump appointed him in 2017 and he has three years left in his 10-year term.
Trump announced his pick of Patel, who has pledged to go after Trump’s enemies in the media, on Saturday evening.
Michelle Del Rey reports.
Trump picks MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as his new FBI director
Republicans — and even some Democrats — are furious over Biden’s 180 on pardoning son Hunter
18:00 , Oliver O’Connell
President Joe Biden is facing backlash from both Republicans and Democrats after he announced he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, despite previously stating he would not do so.
The president sent shockwaves through the political world on Sunday night when he announced his decision to grant his son clemency, claiming that Hunter had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Department of Justice.
James Liddell reports.
Democrat accuses Biden of ‘choosing family over country’ as he pardons son Hunter
Gabbard Senate meetings pushed to next week
17:55 , Oliver O’Connell
Who did Donald Trump pardon as president?
17:50 , Oliver O’Connell
During his presidency, Donald Trump issues a total of 144 pardons, including to some of his close political allies.
They included Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Dinesh D’Souza, General Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Charles Kushner, and Steve Bannon.
Here’s who has already asked for pardon as Trump prepares to return to the White House.
Everyone who has already asked Trump for a pardon – from Joe Exotic to the Proud Boys
Stefanik meeting with senators in capacity as Trump’s nominee for UN ambassador
17:46 , Oliver O’Connell
Watch LIVE: Jill Biden delivers her holiday message
17:38 , Oliver O’Connell
Biden meets with Cabo Verde prime minister
17:35 , Oliver O’Connell
President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva of the Republic of Cabo Verde this morning during a refueling stop on the way to Angola.
ANALYSIS: I covered the 2024 election cycle as a political reporter. Here are the predictions I got wrong
17:30 , Oliver O’Connell
Eric Garcia writes:
The 2024 presidential election blew up everyone’s expectations. Donald Trump’s transformation from national pariah to winning every swing state and the popular vote came as a suprise to many, both inside and outside journalism.
Early in my career as a reporter, one source told me that people who look into crystal balls tend to eat a lot of glass. Needless to say, I had a hefty side of glass with my Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Read on…
As a political reporter who covered the 2024 election cycle, here’s what I got wrong
John Bolton decries Biden’s pardoning of Hunter
17:20 , Oliver O’Connell
Former Trump administration UN Ambassador John Bolton says President Joe Biden has done “exactly the wrong thing” by pardoning Hunter.
First lady supports pardon of Hunter Biden
17:15 , Oliver O’Connell
Hegseth returning to Capitol Hill today
17:11 , Oliver O’Connell
Pete Hegseth is back on Capitol Hill today for meetings with senators, including Armed Services Committee Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.
Biden made mind up on pardon himself before sharing decision with senior staff
17:07 , Oliver O’Connell
Here are fuller quotes from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Hunter Biden pardon as she spoke with reporters on Air Force One, en route to Angola.
Q: Did the President and Hunter discuss this possibility? Did they talk about this happening?
KJP: I can say, as he made this decision this weekend, he made it himself. I don’t have anything else to discuss beyond that … I’ve been pretty consistent in not talking about private conversations that he’s had with his family. I just don’t have anything to say. Besides, the President made this decision this weekend, as he said in his statement, and he made this decision, this decision himself. Once he made … this decision, he shared it with his senior staff.
Q: So what changed his mind this weekend?
KJP: Again, it’s in it’s in his statement. He wrestled with it, he thought about it, and he he believed. And what he saw was that his son was singled out. And so he made this decision. And once he made the decision, which was this weekend, he decided to move forward with it and not to not to wait. And, you know, I think he truly believed enough is enough.
Kash Patel’s MAGA merch ventures — From ‘King Donald’ kids’ books to pills claiming to reverse Covid vaccine
17:00 , James Liddell
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, has made a living hawking products to MAGA loyalists from “King Donald” children’s books to supplements claiming to reverse the Covid-19 vaccine.
Patel, a Trump ultra-loyalist who served as chief of staff to the acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller in Trump’s first administration, was tapped for the position on Saturday – despite being a vocal critic of the bureau, previously describing it as the so-called “deep state.”
Following his exit from Trump’s first administration, the right-wing operative has benefited from his close association with the president-elect.
In particular, Patel has flogged a suite of products aimed at the MAGA crowd, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars from Trump-aligned businesses.
Here’s a look at his MAGA merchandise ventures:
Kash Patel’s King Donald books and other MAGA merch ventures
Senate Democrat says Biden’s pardon puts ‘personal interest ahead of duty’
16:57 , Oliver O’Connell
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado says the pardoning of Hunter Biden erodes faith in the justice system.
He wrote on X: “President Biden’s decision put personal interest ahead of duty and further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.”
Maine Democrat rep criticizes Biden pardon
16:38 , Oliver O’Connell
Democratic congressman Jared Golden, who represents Maine’s second district criticizes the Hunter Biden pardon in a statement given to Axios.
“I worry such a sweeping pardon for a close family member sets an unfortunate precedent that undermines trust in the office of the president,” he says.
What we know about Tiffany’s father-in-law and Trump’s pick for Middle East adviser
16:31 , Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen his youngest daughter’s father-in-law to be his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Massad Boulus is the father of Michael Boulos, who married Tiffany Trump in November 2022 at Mar-a-Lago after they got engaged at the White House during Trump’s first term.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Who is Massad Boulos? What we know about Trump’s pick for Middle East adviser
16:19 , Oliver O’Connell
“He believes in the Justice Department,” Jean-Pierre tells reporters after the president criticized the department for “selective prosecution” of his son.
“Two things can be true,” she added. “The President does believe in the justice system and the Department of Justice. And he also believes that his son was singled out politically.”
Asked if President Biden would have pardoned his son if Kamala Harris had won the election, Jean Pierre replied: “I’m not going to get into the election.”
“I can’t speak to hypotheticals,” she added.
More pardons can be expected before the end of Biden’s term.
Biden ‘wrestled’ with decision to pardon son, says White House
16:15 , Oliver O’Connell
President Joe Biden “wrestled” with the decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
“He wrestled with it. It was not an easy decision to make,” she said.
Jean-Pierre declined to say whether the president discussed the decision with his son while they were together on Nantucket over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Asked if the president’s previous pledges not to pardon Hunter could now be now seen as lies, she responded: “First of all, one of the things that the President always believes is to be truthful to the American people.”
Jean-Pierre urged people to read Biden’s statement regarding the decision.
The president is currently on his way to Angola.
Gabbard to meet with Senate Republicans this week
16:14 , Oliver O’Connell
Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for director of national intelligence, will meet with Republican members of the Senate Intelligence Committee this week.
Here’s what you need to know about Gabbard, and why her nomination is so controversial:
Tulsi Gabbard faces ‘a lot of questions’ in the Senate, Republican lawmaker says
Dinesh D’Souza apologizes for false claims in election conspiracy theory film ‘2000 Mules’
16:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Far-right provocateur and pardoned felon Dinesh D’Souza has issued an apology over false accusations he made in his 2022 election conspiracy theory movie 2000 Mules, acknowledging that his claims about illegal “ballot trafficking” during the 2020 presidential election were misleading and inaccurate.
In a lengthy statement posted to his website on Sunday, D’Souza said that his movie — which asserts that “mules” were paid to fraudulently deposit harvested ballots in swing states — had relied on “cell phone geolocation data” provided by conservative non-profit group True the Vote. That data, D’Souza noted, had turned out to be false.
Justin Barangoa has the details.
Pardoned felon Dinesh D’Souza apologizes for election conspiracy movie
15:45 , Oliver O’Connell
All the times Biden said he wouldn’t pardon son Hunter as president makes huge U-turn
Biden ‘devastated’ at confirmation of death of American during October 7 attack on Israel
15:38 , Oliver O’Connell
The White House released the following statement from President Joe Biden after it was confirmed that Omer Neutra, an American citizen missing since the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, was killed that day.
Our hearts are heavy today. Jill and I are devastated and outraged to learn of the death of Omer Neutra, an American citizen, whose body Hamas has apparently been holding since they killed him during their brutal terrorist attack October 7.
Omer was just 21 years old when he was taken by Hamas. He was serving as a tank commander in an Israel Defense Forces unit that was among the first to respond to Hamas’s campaign of cruelty— risking his life to save the lives of others. A Long Island native, Omer planned to return to the United States for college. He dreamed of dedicating himself to building peace.
Less than a month ago, Omer’s mother and father joined me at the White House to share the pain they’ve endured as they prayed for the safe return of their son – pain no parent should ever know. They told me how Omer’s grandparents were Holocaust survivors and how their family’s strength and resilience has been carried through the generations.
During this dark hour—as our nation joins Omer’s parents, brother, and family in grieving this tragic loss—we pray to find strength and resilience. And to all the families of those still held hostage: We see you. We are with you. And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong.
Ohio Democrat says Hunter Biden pardon ‘setback’ for trust in public service
15:27 , Oliver O’Connell
Democratic Congressman Greg Landsman, who represents Ohio’s 1st District, says the pardoning of Hunter Biden by President Joe Biden is a “setback” for those who want people to believe in public service.
He wrote on X: “As a father, I get it. But as someone who wants people to believe in public service again, it’s a setback.”
Swalwell tells Trump supporters to ‘sit out’ Hunter Biden discussion
15:20 , Oliver O’Connell
California Rep. Eric Swalwell has told supporters of Donald Trump that they “can sit out” any discussion of the Hunter Biden pardon.
The Democrat posted on X: “If you defended the 34x felon, who committed sexual assault, stole national security documents, and tried running a coup on his country…you can sit out the Hunter Biden pardon discussion.”
Trump AG pick to visit Senate today
15:00 , Oliver O’Connell
Donald Trump’s second pick to be his attorney general Pam Bondi will visit the Senate today to court confirmation votes.
Here’s what you need to know about Bondi:
Who is Pam Bondi? Trump’s new pick to be attorney general
COMMENT: Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter is a gift to the Trump administration
14:30 , Oliver O’Connell
Sean O’Grady writes:
An abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”. It’s quite something to make Donald Trump sound righteous and statesmanlike, but he’s right, for a change. In the dying days of his administration, poor old Joe Biden has somehow managed to make Trump look good.
He has, understandably but unforgivably, done what he always said he would not do – and put family before country. He has legitimatised judicial nepotism. He’s fed the conspiracy theorists.
Continue reading…
Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter is a tremendous gift to the Trump administration
What does Hunter Biden’s pardon cover?
14:00 , Rachel Sharp
With less than 50 days left in the White House, President Joe Biden has taken a controversial step he had previously vowed he wouldn’t take: pardoning his son Hunter Biden.
On Sunday night, Biden announced he had granted his son clemency for “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.”
Presidents can grant clemency, including both pardons (forgiving federal criminal offenses) and commutations (reducing penalties) for federal convictions. Presidents cannot pardon those convicted of state crimes.
In June, Hunter, 54, was convicted of three federal gun charges related to his purchase of a firearm in 2018. Three months later, he pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges in September.
So what does the president’s pardon cover?
What does Hunter Biden’s pardon cover?
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as an ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
13:40 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump was quick to react to news of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon on Sunday night, blasting the decision as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021.
Read more here:
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as ‘abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges explained
13:25 , Rachel Sharp
On June 1, Hunter was convicted of all three felony counts in Wilmington, Delaware in his federal gun trial.
The president’s son was found guilty of lying on a mandatory gun purchase form on October 12, 2018, when he bought a 38 Colt Special revolver at a store in Wilmington.
On the form, he stated that he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs, when he was actually in the grips of addiction at the time.
Hunter had the gun for 11 days before it was dumped in a trash can outside a grocery store by Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother Beau Biden, on October 23, 2018.
His conviction marked the first time a sitting president’s child was found guilty of a crime.
At the time, Biden said: “I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”
Hunter was facing up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000 at his sentencing on December 12.
But now, Hunter won’t be sentenced and will avoid any potential jail time.
Full story ICYMI: President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden despite pledging not to do so
13:00 , Mike Bedigan
Joe Biden has issued a controversial pardon for his son Hunter following his conviction on federal gun charges, despite previously claiming he would not do so.
The president officially announced the decision on Sunday night, saying that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Justice Department. In a lengthy statement, he said he hoped the American people would understand his decision as a father.
Read more here:
President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden
Trump blasts Hunter Biden pardon as ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
12:40 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump blasted Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon, issued by his father on Sunday as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
Posting in typical fashion to his social media platform, the President-elect wrote: “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
(@realDonaldTrump)
Fox News host bungles announcement about Hunter Biden pardon
12:20 , Oliver O’Connell
Fox News host Charlie Hurt bungled the network’s announcement about President Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden.
On Sunday night, Hurt announced live on air the breaking news about Biden’s decision.
But, he slipped up, incorrectly saying that it was Donald Trump, not Biden, granting the pardon.
“NBC News is reporting that President Trump has decided he will pardon his son Hunter,” he said.
“This comes ahead of… what did I say?” he then asked, realizing his mistake.
Jill Biden to unveil White House holiday decor and deliver holiday message
12:00 , Rachel Sharp
First Lady Jill Biden will unveil her White House holiday theme and decor and deliver her holiday message to the American people today.
This will mark Dr Biden’s final time taking part in the holiday tradition as she and President Joe Biden will leave the White House in January.
Last year, the theme was the “magic, wonder and joy” of the season and was inspired by the excitement that children experience during the festive season.
However, it garnered a mixed reaction with some social media users trashing her Christmas video as “tacky” and likening it to Melania Trump’s.
Here’s a reminder of what happened last year:
Jill Biden’s ‘tacky’ Christmas video mocked – and compared to Melania Trump’s
Trump faces deadline to argue why hush money conviction should be tossed
11:40 , Rachel Sharp
Donald Trump’s attorneys are facing a deadline today to file court papers arguing why they believe his criminal hush money conviction in New York City should be tossed following his election victory.
Trump’s attorneys have argued that the conviction and sentencing of the president-elect will disrupt the “orderly transition of executive power” and be “uniquely destabilizing” to the country.
The judge delayed Trump’s sentencing indefinitely and gave Trump’s legal team a deadline of December 2 to file their arguments.
Catch up on the latest in the case here:
Trump’s hush money sentencing indefinitely postponed as judge considers tossing case
Donald Trump Jr insists ‘everyone knew’ Biden would pardon his son
11:20 , Mike Bedigan
Watch: Trump’s new FBI director says he wants to make Hoover Building ‘museum of deep state’
11:00 , Mike Bedigan
What did Hunter Biden do? The criminal cases explained
10:40 , Associated Press
Hunter Biden was convicted in June of lying on a federal form when he purchased a gun in 2018 and swore that he wasn’t a drug user. Just months later, he pleaded guilty to charges accusing him of a scheme to avoid paying at least $1.4 million in taxes. Prosecutors alleged he lived lavishly while flouting the tax law, spending his cash on things like strippers and luxury hotels — “in short, everything but his taxes.”
Both cases stemmed from a period in Hunter Biden’s life in which he struggled with drug and alcohol abuse before becoming sober in 2019.
After the gun trial aired salacious and unflattering details about Hunter Biden’s life, the president’s son said he agreed to plead guilty to the tax charges to spare his family another embarrassing criminal trial.
The tax trial was also expected to showcase details about Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, which Republicans have seized on to try to paint the Biden family as corrupt.
Hunter Biden was supposed to be sentenced this month in the two cases by judges in California and Delaware who were nominated to the bench by Trump.
Special counsel David Weiss’ office had not said whether prosecutors had planned to seek prison time. The tax charges carried up to 17 years behind bars and the gun charges were punishable by up to 25 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines were expected to call for far less time and it was possible the younger Biden would have avoided prison time entirely.
Democratic governor accuses Biden of ‘choosing family over country’ as he pardons son Hunter
10:20 , Rachel Sharp
Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis has slammed President Joe Biden for choosing “his family ahead of the country” after he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, despite previously stating he would not do so.
The president sent shockwaves through the political world on Sunday night when he announced his decision to grant his son clemency, claiming that he had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Justice Department.
“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong,” Biden said.
Polis, who publicly called for Biden to step off the Democratic party’s ticket in July, was among the first Democrats to voice their disapproval.
The Colorado governor used Biden’s own words against him following Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in May, stating that “no one is above the law.”
Read more…
Democrat accuses Biden of ‘choosing family over country’ as he pardons son Hunter
Former US attorney general says Hunter’s pardon is ‘warranted’
10:00 , Mike Bedigan
Former US attorney general Eric Holder says that Hunter Biden’s pardon by his father was “warranted.”
“Here’s the reality,” he wrote on X. “No USAtty (attorney) would have charged this case given the underlying facts. After a 5 year investigation the facts as discovered only made that clear.
“Had his name been Joe Smith the resolution would have been – fundamentally and more fairly – a declination. Pardon warranted.”
Holder went on to take aim at Donald Trump’s nomination for FBI Director, writing: “Ask yourself a vastly more important question. Do you really think Kash Patel is qualified to lead the world’s preeminent law enforcement investigative organization? Obvious answer: hell no.”
Have other presidents pardoned their family members or friends?
09:34 , Associated Press
Yes. In his final weeks in office, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner. He also pardoned multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Trump over the weekend announced plans to nominate the elder Kushner to be the U.S. envoy to France in his next administration.
President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton in 2001, after he had completed a prison term for drug charges.
Clinton also pardoned his former business partner Susan McDougal, who had been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in the Whitewater real estate deal.
Trump meets with Netanyahu’s wife Sara Netanyahu
09:00 , Rachel Sharp
Donald Trump was seen meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara Netanyahu at his Florida golf club on Sunday.
The meeting comes as Senator Lindsey Graham has said that the president-elect wants to secure an Israel-Gaza ceasefire before he takes office.
According to Graham, Trump “wants a deal to free the hostages and end the war as soon as possible, preferably before he takes office,” Axios reported.
“Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal,” Graham told Axios. “He wants to see it happening now.”
“I want people in Israel and in the region to know that Trump is focused on the hostages issue. He wants the killing to stop and the fighting to end.”
Watergate prosecutor sides with Biden, saying Hunter was only prosecuted because of last name
08:40 , Rachel Sharp
Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks has sided with President Joe Biden over his decision to pardon his son Hunter, saying he was only prosecuted because of his last name.
Appearing on MSNBC on Sunday, she said she is “relieved and thrilled” that Biden did it.
“This was one of the cases that called out for clemency,” she said.
“Hunter Biden, first of all, would not ever be prosecuted for the gun crime but for his last name. Second of all, he was addicted, and that was a cause of his actions.
“He has now been sober for many years, and this is a time when it is really appropriate for a grant of clemency.”
Bolton compares Kash Patel to brutal Soviet Secret police chief
08:20 , Mike Bedigan
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has compared Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s nomination for head of FBI, to one of the Soviet Union’s most feared and brutal secret police chiefs.
“Trump has nominated Kash Patel to be his Lavrenty Beria,” Bolton said, speaking to NBC News’ “Meet The Press” on Sunday. “Fortunately, the FBI is not the NKVD. The Senate should reject this nomination 100-0.”
NKVD refers to the interior ministry and secret police of the Soviet Union, which was in place from 1934 to 1946.
Lavrentiy Beria was appointed by Joseph Stalin as deputy chief of the Soviet secret police and was head of the Soviet atomic bomb project, according to the Atomic Heritage Foundation.
He is known for his violent tactics, including kidnapping, torture and rape, which he used to advance within the ranks of the secret police.
(Getty Images)
Trump and his GOP friends focus on tax breaks and deportations in his first 100 days
08:00 , Mike Bedigan
Having won the election and sweeping to power, Republicans are planning an ambitious 100-day agenda with President-elect Donald Trump in the White House and GOP lawmakers in a congressional majority to accomplish their policy goals.
Read more here:
Trump and his GOP friends focus on tax breaks and deportations in his first 100 days
ICYMI: Trump picks Florida sheriff to run DEA
07:00 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump has picked Florida sheriff, Chad Chronister, to run the Drug Enforcement Agency. Chronister is the sheriff of Hillsborough County, which covers the Tampa Bay area.
“I am pleased to nominate Sheriff Chad Chronister for Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA),” Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday evening.
“For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE. A proud graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 260th Session, Chad is Co-Chairman of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay, Council Member of the Florida Attorney General’s Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Sub-Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Public Safety Coordinating Council, and Vice-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Citizen Oversight Committee.
“As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES. Congratulations to Chad, his wife Nikki, and two wonderful sons!”
Democratic Senator suggests New York state becomes part of Canada
06:00 , Mike Bedigan
Following the outcome of the presidential election, New York State Senator Liz Krueger has floated an interesting idea for her state… join Canada.
Krueger, whose district includes Manhattan, has suggested New York secede from the United States and become a province of Canada to protest Donald Trump’s policies on things like mass deportation.
“It’s not unreasonable to think outside of the box,” Krueger said to Politico this month.
The Senator first proposed a secession in September.
“I thought I would suggest to Canada that instead of us all trying to illegally cross the border at night without them noticing, which is pretty hard because there’s a lot of us, that they should instead agree to let us be the southeast province, a new province of Canada,” Krueger said in an interview at the time.
ICYMI: Trump picks MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as his new FBI director
05:01 , Mike Bedigan
President-elect Donald Trump has announced he will nominate MAGA loyalist Kash Patel to lead the FBI.
For Patel to steer the agency, current FBI Director Christopher Wray would need to resign or be fired. Trump appointed him in 2017 and he has three years left in his 10-year term.
Trump announced his pick of of Patel, who has pledged to go after Trump’s enemies in the media, on Saturday evening.
Michelle Del Rey has more:
Trump picks MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as his new FBI director
Trump official says ‘do not underestimate’ AOC as some insiders push for her to lead Democrats
04:00 , Mike Bedigan
A former member of Donald Trump’s administration has warned fellow Republicans not to “underestimate” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the liberal congresswoman is touted as a possible contender to lead the Democratic party.
Speaking on Fox News on Friday, Monica Crowley, a former public affairs official in the Treasury Department during the first Trump administration, said AOC had “real grassroots support” through her early adoption of social media.
Read more here:
Trump official says ‘do not underestimate’ AOC as some push for her to lead Democrats
A frontrunner has emerged to lead the DNC – but the big names have yet to enter the race
03:30 , Mike Bedigan
Since losing control of the White House, the Senate and the House, Democrats are looking for new leadership to tackle the nation’s problems with the additional challenge of confronting four more years of a Trump presidency.
Though multiple candidates have already announced themselves as throwing their hats into the ring, one is already emerging as a frontrunner: Ken Martin.
Read more here:
A frontrunner has emerged to lead the DNC, but the big names haven’t entered the race
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as an ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
03:15 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump was quick to react to news of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon on Sunday night, blasting the decision as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”
In a short post to his social media platform less than an hour after the official announcement, the president mused over pardons for those convicted in the violent insurrection on January 6 2021.
Read more here:
Trump slams Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon as ‘abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
Donald Trump Jr insists ‘everyone knew’ Biden would pardon his son
03:00 , Mike Bedigan
Dem-aligned Fox News commentator says Trump will pardon ‘anyone he wants’
02:45 , Mike Bedigan
Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic-aligned commentator on the Fox News channel, argued Sunday evening that it was wrong to blame Joe Biden for pardons Donald Trump goes on to issue under his presidency beginning in January.
Those pardons, Tarlov argued on Twitter, were going to happen regardless, as they did during his first term in office: “Trump was going to pardon anyone he wants no matter what. Anyone pretending otherwise isn’t credible.”
During the final days of his first term, Trump issued pardons for the likes of Steve Bannon as well as right-wing fraudster Dinesh D’Souza.
Watch: President Joe Biden issues controversial pardon to son Hunter
02:30 , Mike Bedigan
Trump blasts Hunter Biden pardon as ‘an abuse and miscarriage of Justice’
02:20 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump blasted Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon, issued by his father on Sunday as “an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
Posting in typical fashion to his social media platform, the President-elect wrote: “Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!”
(@realDonaldTrump)
Democratic Colorado Governor ‘disappointed’ by Biden’s pardon
02:15 , Mike Bedigan
Colorado’s governor, Jared Polis, became one of the first prominent Democrats to publicly rebuke the president on Sunday after the pardon of Hunter Biden was announced. More are likely to follow.
“While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBiden’s natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country,” tweeted the governor. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation.”
He continued, invoking Latin: “When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation. Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.”
Polis’s tweet prompted a response from Eric Holder, former attorney general under Barack Obama’s presidency.
“Look at the underlying facts and usual DOJ practice Governor,” wrote Holder
Republican head of Judiciary Committee expresses disbelief at Biden pardon
02:00 , Mike Bedigan
Chuck Grassley, lead Republican senator on the Judiciary Committee, expressed his disbelief at the president going back on his word not to pardon his son.
“I’m shocked [President] Biden pardoned his son Hunter [because] he said many many times he wouldn’t, [and] I believed him,” tweeted the senator. “Shame on me.”
Grassley has long held respect for the president and was one of the senators on the GOP side whom Joe Biden and other Democrats often found amicable to work with. His rebuke of the president is sign of how the move by the president is likely to fray trust with even establishment Republicans and some Democratic allies of the White House.
Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizes Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon
01:50 , Mike Bedigan
Former US attorney general says Hunter’s pardon is ‘warranted’
01:40 , Mike Bedigan
Former US attorney general Eric Holder says that Hunter Biden’s pardon by his father was “warranted.”
“Here’s the reality,” he wrote on X. “No USAtty (attorney) would have charged this case given the underlying facts. After a 5 year investigation the facts as discovered only made that clear.
“Had his name been Joe Smith the resolution would have been – fundamentally and more fairly – a declination. Pardon warranted.”
Holder went on to take aim at Donald Trump’s nomination for FBI Director, writing: “Ask yourself a vastly more important question. Do you really think Kash Patel is qualified to lead the world’s preeminent law enforcement investigative organization? Obvious answer: hell no.”
James Comer accuses Bidens of doing ‘everything they can to avoid accountability’
01:30 , Mike Bedigan
Following the announcement of Hunter Biden’s presidential pardon, House Oversight chair James Comer released a statement in which he claimed the president’s decision was an example that the Bidens were continuing to do “everything they can to avoid accountability.”
“Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities. Not only has he falsely claimed that he never met with his son’s foreign business associates and that his son did nothing wrong, but he also lied when he said he would not pardon Hunter Biden.
The charges Hunter faced were just the tip of the iceberg in the blatant corruption that President Biden and the Biden Crime Family have lied about to the American people. It’s unfortunate that, rather than come clean about their decades of wrongdoing, President Biden and his family continue to do everything they can to avoid accountability.”
Full statement from Hunter Biden
01:18 , Mike Bedigan
Here is the full statement from Hunter Biden, following his presidential pardon.
“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport.
“Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages.
“In recovery we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the mercy that we have been afforded. I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”
Hunter Biden says he will never taken his pardon ‘for granted’
01:02 , Mike Bedigan
In a separate statement on Sunday evening, Hunter Biden said “never take the clemency I have been given today for granted.”
The pardon comes less than two weeks ahead of his sentencing on Decmeber 12 for his conviction on federal gun charges. He also is set to be sentenced in a separate criminal case on December 16, after pleading guilty in September on federal tax evasion charges.
Full story: President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden despite pledging not to do so
00:52 , Mike Bedigan
President Biden issues pardon for son Hunter Biden
BREAKING: President Biden issue pardon for son Hunter Biden
00:36 , Mike Bedigan
Joe Biden has issued a pardon for his son Hunter following his conviction on federal gun charges, despite previously claiming he would not do so.
The president is officially announced the decision on Sunday night, saying that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” by the Justice Department.
“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter,” Biden said in a statement. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.
“Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.
“Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently.”
Michael Moore says ongoing U.S. support for Israel will cost Dems ‘more elections’
00:30 , Mike Bedigan
Filmmaker Michael Moore has weighed in on the continuing U.S. support for Israel in the onging war with Hamas in Gaza, suggesting that if Democrats continue to support the Jewish State, “more elections” will be lost.
“Democratic senators should know better. And their behavior in supporting this aggression will only cost them more elections,” Moore wrote in his Substack article on Saturday.
“Voters under 45 and people of color combined (making up nearly half the electorate), have no interest in war and would rather our government spend our money on our schools, our elderly, and our broken health care system.”
“Time to cut Bibi off,” he said, referring to the nickname for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Picture: (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
Democrats are turning to governors to block Trump and be the party’s faces ahead of 2028
00:00 , Mike Bedigan
With major deportation push on the horizon, state leaders prepare to lead a second resistance against a Trump White House, writes John Bowden.
Trump nominates two relatives to key posts
Sunday 1 December 2024 23:30 , Mike Bedigan
(@realDonaldTrump)
(@realDonaldTrump)
RFK Jr shows off impressive physique ‘practicing moves’ for confirmation hearing
Sunday 1 December 2024 23:00 , Mike Bedigan
Robert F Kennedy Jr has posted a strange video of himself performing athletic feats while shirtless.
The 70-year-old former attorney, tipped by Trump to head up the Department of Health and Human Services, displayed an impressive physique and joked that he was “practicing moves” for his Senate confirmation hearing.
Democrat Chris Murphy says ‘no question’ Biden refusal to drop out hurt Harris
Sunday 1 December 2024 22:30 , Mike Bedigan
There’s “no question” that Joe Biden should have dropped out of the 2024 race sooner, a Democratic senator said on Sunday.
While far from a surprise, it’s a sign of how far Biden’s party is willing to go in questioning his judgment after the president’s team saw losses in the presidential, Senate and House races this cycle.
John Bowden has more:
Democrat senator says ‘no question’ Biden refusal to drop out hurt Harris
Trump chose Kash Patel for FBI after his first choice flunked the interview, says report
Sunday 1 December 2024 22:00 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump’s controversial decision to have Kash Patel to head up the FBIwas not his first choice, according to a new report.
The MAGA loyalist was being considered as deputy director of the bureau, an appointment that may have raised fewer eyebrows, with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey a frontrunner for the top job.
However, a source in the Trump transition team told Axios that Bailey’s interview at Mar-a-Lago did not go well and that he “looked the part” but “just didn’t have the presence in the room.”
Sources told Axios that Missouri AG Andrew Bailey was originally the frontrunner for FBI director, but flunked the interview with Trump (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Keeping it in the family: Trump appoints Tiffany’s father-in-law as Middle East adviser
Sunday 1 December 2024 21:30 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump has announced he will appoint daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law, Massad Boulos, to serve as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Boulos, a billionaire from Lebanon, is the second father of one of Trump’s sons-in-law to be selected for a position in the forthcoming administration, following the nomination of Charles Kushner – father of Jared Kushner, on Saturday.
Full story here:
Trump appoints Tiffany’s father-in-law as Middle East adviser
Watch: Trump’s new FBI director says he wants to make Hoover Building ‘museum of deep state’
Sunday 1 December 2024 21:00 , Mike Bedigan
Trump’s blitz of anti-trans ads probably worked – but not for the reason you might think
Sunday 1 December 2024 20:30 , Mike Bedigan
Republicans spent at least $215 million on attack ads about transgender rights. The question is, did it actually move voters?
Io Dodds investigates:
Trump’s anti-trans ad blitz probably worked – but not for the reason you might think
Will Donald Trump use Kash Patel to attack his critics and the First Amendment?
Sunday 1 December 2024 20:00 , Mike Bedigan
Limitations of US law shield most journalists, but long-term use of the Espionage Act to prosecute leakers provides Trump an alleyway to attack critics.
Washington DC reporter John Bowden provides analysis about what Patel’s nomination could mean for the First Amendement.
Read more here:
Will Donald Trump use Kash Patel at the FBI to go after his critics?
Trump appoints another son-in-law’s father to position in his adminstration
Sunday 1 December 2024 19:30 , Mike Bedigan
Donald Trump has announced he will appoint Massad Boulos, a billionaire from Lebanon whose son Michael is married to Tiffany Trump, to serve as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Boulos is the second father of one of the President-elect’s son-in-laws to be selected for a position in his forthcoming administration, following the nomination of Charles Kushner – father of Jared Kushner, on Saturday.
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Kash Patel’s determination to upend the FBI
Sunday 1 December 2024 19:00 , Mike Bedigan
Though he may be running the FBI in a matter of months, Kash Patel has previously signaled through interviews and public statements a determination to upend the agency and radically reshape its mission.
He’s called for dramatically reducing its footprint and limiting its authority, as well as going after government officials who disclose information to reporters.
In an interview earlier this year on the “Shawn Ryan Show,” Patel vowed to sever the FBI’s intelligence-gathering activities from the rest of its mission and said he would “shut down” the bureau’s headquarters building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., and “reopen it the next day as a museum of the ‘deep state.’”
“And I’d take the seven thousand employees that work in that building and send them across America to go chase down criminals,” he added.
In a separate interview with conservative strategist Steve Bannon, Patel said he and others “will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media.”
”We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,” Patel said, referring to the 2020 presidential election in which Biden, the Democratic challenger, defeated Trump. “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly. We’ll figure that out. But yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.”
TRUMP TRANSICIÓN (AP)
