Blaze News exclusive: 'I've attended these parties': Former Diddy protégé recalls 'dark hours' with 'extra activities'



A hip-hop artist who was previously signed to Sean "Diddy" Combs' record label revealed his experience at the infamous parties that have become the center of federal investigations.

Diddy was raided by federal authorities in March 2024, with subsequent accusations against the record producer ranging from sexual assault to poisoning. Diddy has denied all charges against him, and these claims have not been proven in court.

'I come from Philly, and the culture is different here. Muslim culture. So we really don't get into, you know, the Baphomet [worship] and the shady practices of the industry business.'

Rapper E. Ness, who usually goes by just Ness (born Lloyd Mathis), spoke exclusively to Blaze News about his time on Diddy's Bad Boy Records.

'Another time zone'

Ness was signed to the label under Universal Records after competing in the MTV hit show "Making the Band 2," winning a spot in the hip-hop group called Da Band in 2002. Around 2006, Ness signed under Warner Atlantic Music Group as a solo artist but still with Diddy's label.

While Ness initially described his relationship with Diddy as "strictly professional" and akin to an apprenticeship, he revealed that it was obvious there were some events happening at his boss' parties that went against his beliefs.

"I've attended these parties," Ness confirmed. "There's a certain time where the standardized party ends, and then you enter to another time zone where the extra activities occur."

When asked if he was permitted to stay in the later hours of the party, or if it was for an inner circle only, Ness explained that it wasn't a matter of permission.

"Most of the times, I'm partying out to the point that I don't even make it into those dark hours where it becomes, you know, spooky."

"Me, I'm just a street guy from a smaller home, and I just was brought up a little bit different," he continued. "When I'm tired, I'm tired. When I'm curious, I'm curious. And when I'm not, I'm not."

The Philadelphia native added that at a certain time of night, he was typically ready to leave if he felt he had "stayed long enough" or "outstayed" his welcome.

The price of fame

Ness mentioned multiple times that his beliefs and upbringing meant he wasn't willing to participate in certain activities. While he didn't describe what the "extra activities" were in relation to Diddy's parties, he touched on the disturbing aspects regarding why his time in the spotlight seemingly ended.

"There was never a fallout [with the label]," Ness affirmed, answering rumors that he was on poor terms with Bad Boy Records.

"It's just some things that some certain artists do that ... other artists aren't willing to do," he went on.

After briefly contemplating, Ness again stated it wasn't worth it to him to sacrifice his beliefs for success.

"Basically, what I wanna say is, once you get to a certain level of success, you have people from the hierarchy approach you about which direction you wanna go to. If you wanna stay a subpar, mid-tier-level artist, or you wanna become a full-fledged superstar."

He continued, "I come from Philly and the culture is different here. Muslim culture. So we really don't get into, you know, the Baphomet [worship] and the shady practices of the industry business."

After so casually mentioning Baphomet, a deity from the Knights Templar that is colloquially used to portray Satanic beliefs, Ness eventually recited what he was told regarding the underbelly of celebrity.

"I was around certain people, and they would pull my coattail, pull me to the side, kind of explain to me the, I would say, the steps you would have to take to allow yourself to be approached to enter into that new level."

Lighting a cigar, Ness cited freemasonry while remembering he was told that if the "next step" is taken, "There's no questions asked."

"Looking back on it, there's other ways that you could prove yourself to these people: sacrifice, public humiliation, and same-sex [intercourse]."

"It's just too much for the price of fame. And I wasn't willing to pay that price at that time," he pondered.

Ness called these requirements "evil," while adding an artist's success should be based on talent, without the musician having to "compromise" themselves in any way.

Lloyd 'E. Ness' Mathis (left), with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and Jayceon 'The Game' Taylor (right) at BB King for Justo's Mixtape Awards in New York City, New York, on March 9, 2005. Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images

'Diddy Do It?'

Despite his industry experience and "activities" he could only speculate on, Ness said his relationship with Diddy never had any "weird energy."

"I never seen a lot of the things that he's being accused of. Yeah, he was a shrewd businessman and sometimes, you know, he could be emotional and bark at people, but that just comes with the headaches and the everyday obstacles of putting out fires in the music business."

Outside of music, Ness said he never saw "any sexual deviance," and his relationship with Diddy was kept professional.

He called the music mogul a "jack of all trades but a master of none," doing whatever it took to get the job done. Whether that was getting on the phone, mixing music, or making sure hair is styled properly, Diddy "always moved the chains."

Diddy's work ethic sounded admirable, but he was always in a cutthroat pursuit to deliver numbers "at all costs."

In that vein, Ness recalled how Diddy treated the MTV show that originated his fame. He described it as a stepping stone for Diddy to prove that he was capable of putting out a hit show, and his attentiveness to the music that he was to promote gradually faded.

Ness claimed the success of "Making the Band 2" allowed Diddy to make a plethora of new shows, like "I Want to Work for Diddy" and "P. Diddy's Starmaker."

While Ness' new song "Diddy Do It?" is purposefully capitalizing off headlines and his past, he said the lyrics are meant to poke fun at celebrity in general and how quickly a star can be taken down by the industry.

"You can be reverent and celebrated and praised for 20, 30 years. And then, as soon as you ruffle feathers, you could be attacked, and your empire can come crumbl[ing] down."

Ness concluded, "It's almost like putting up a mirror at the same success that young black Americans strive to get in the status quo. It's the same thing that ultimately could break you and send you right back to a dark place that you don't wanna be."

Ness has amassed nearly 250,000 Instagram followers and can be seen in battle raps all across the country.

Blaze News original: Denver's vow to defy Trump's deportation plan exports crisis to neighboring towns



Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has pledged to thwart any future mass deportation initiatives by President-elect Donald Trump despite Colorado grappling with the growing influence of the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua amid the Biden administration's ongoing border crisis.

In a November interview with the Denverite, Johnston claimed that the majority of his constituents would oppose any mass deportation efforts. His remarks gained widespread attention when he asserted he would consider deploying the Denver Police Department to prevent Trump's federal immigration agents from entering the city.

‘Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes.’

Johnston told the news outlet, "More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there."

"It's like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them," he added.

Johnston's controversial remarks sparked significant backlash.

Elon Musk claimed that Johnston "hates his constituents" for his refusal to address the immigration crisis.

Musk's America PAC explained in a post on X that TDA has spread to 16 states, including Colorado, "where Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has vowed to protect illegal aliens from deportation."

"There must be consequences for officials who continue to facilitate this invasion," the committee stated.

The presence of TDA in the U.S. has largely been driven by the Biden administration's CHNV program, which permitted the entry of 30,000 individuals monthly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Furthermore, the administration expanded Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelan nationals, arguing that they cannot return to their home country "safely" partly due to — not without irony — "high levels of crime and violence."

Sanctuary policies in cities all over the United States, including those in Denver, have prohibited local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, effectively shielding even criminal illegal aliens from federal detainment and deportation.

Johnston swiftly retracted his initial statement in a subsequent interview, clarifying that he has "no plan" to station police on the county line, yet he did not explicitly rule it out either. Nonetheless, he affirmed his intention to join protests alongside other Denver residents.

"Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes, I probably wouldn't have used that image," Johnston told KUSA. "That's the image I hope we can avoid. What I was trying to say is this is an outcome I hope we can avoid in this country. I think none of us want that."

He continued, "If I think things are happening that are illegal or immoral or un-American in our city, I would certainly protest it, and I would expect other residents would do the same."

Johnston indicated that he would be willing to go to jail to protect illegal aliens residing in the city.

"I'm not afraid of that, and I'm also not seeking that," he added.

Johnston further claimed that he supports holding criminals responsible, including deporting illegal immigrants who have committed serious offenses.

"We think if you are a violent criminal that is committing serious crimes like murder or rape in Denver, you should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and you should be deported," he told KUSA.

However, he previously remarked that Denver law enforcement would "absolutely not" help federal immigration officials.

"We won't do it," he declared.

Trump's incoming border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News' Sean Hannity that Johnston would be "breaking the law" if he attempts to obstruct the administration's deportation efforts.

"Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: He's willing to go to jail; I'm willing to put him in jail," Homan remarked. "President Trump has been clear. We want to concentrate on public safety threats and national security threats. I find it hard to believe that any governor would say they don't want public safety threats removed from their neighborhoods."

Homan has repeatedly issued warnings to sanctuary city leaders that ICE will accomplish its mission with or without their assistance, adding that obstruction of such efforts is a federal crime.

Johnston's refusal to cooperate with immigration authorities puts a significant strain on Denver taxpayers. Roughly 45,000 foreign nationals have arrived in the city since December 2022 and approximately half remain.

A November report from the Common Sense Institute found that taxpayers have spent $356 million on the city's migrant response — an estimated $7,900 per person and 8% of Denver's 2025 budget.

Impacts on Aurora

Denver's sanctuary policies have served as a magnet for foreign nationals entering the country during the Biden administration. However, these migrant-first policies have also adversely affected neighboring towns.

In addition to the costs associated with providing housing, shelter, and other accommodations, the influx of new arrivals has also ushered in violent criminals and gang members.

Aurora, which is not a sanctuary city, hit the headlines in August when residents started raising concerns about a Venezuelan gang, TDA, seizing control of multiple apartment complexes in the city. The violent takeovers drove some locals from their homes.

‘”Operation Aurora” is coming.’

A surveillance video capturing six men, five of them armed, storming through an apartment complex propelled Aurora into the center of the national immigration debate.

Approximately 10 minutes after the video was taken, there was a shooting death near the complex. According to law enforcement, the two incidents were related.

Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky immediately began speaking out about the criminal activity and even helped residents move out of the gang-controlled complexes.

Despite video evidence, Jurinksy appeared to be the only local official willing to acknowledge the problem. Meanwhile, Gov. Jared Polis (D) claimed the apartment takeovers were a figment of her "imagination."

Following repeated denials by city officials of the escalating threat posed by TDA, internal emails from the Aurora Police Department revealed that officials were aware of the gang's presence as early as November 2023.

When confronted about the leaked emails, an Aurora spokesperson told the Denver Gazette, "We must remember that police departments and the justice system as a whole must rely on admissible evidence, not hearsay, rumors, and fragments of information."

"Contrary to claims made on social media and by select news organizations, the city, including APD, has remained consistent in responses on this matter," the spokesperson stated.

The APD reported that two of the men seen in the viral surveillance video were arrested in New York City in late November. Three other individuals remain at large.

Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain stated, "The arrests last week were the product of nothing other than the dedication of the city of Aurora's officers and detectives and our positive working relationships with local, state, and federal partners throughout the country."

"We will continue our unwavering pursuit of all the remaining suspects in this case, and anyone else who victimizes members of our community, until they are brought to justice," he added.

In October, prior to the presidential election, Trump pledged that in his potential future administration, he would initiate what he referred to as "Operation Aurora."

"I will rescue Aurora and every town that has been invaded and conquered. These towns have been conquered. Explain that to your governor; he doesn't have a clue," Trump stated during a Colorado rally.

"We will send elite squads of ICE, Border Patrol, and federal law enforcement officers to hunt down, arrest, and deport every last illegal alien gang member until there is not a single one left in this country," he declared.

Jurinsky cautioned the city during a November public safety committee meeting that "'Operation Aurora' is coming."

‘Any active interference with enforcement is a federal crime.’

Jurinsky told Blaze News that she is highly doubtful that Johnston will use the local police to get in the way of the federal government's deportation efforts.

"If Mayor Johnston wants to stand at the Denver border with, I believe he said, Rhino Yoga moms, or something to that effect, it will just further show how unproductive he is," she stated.

Jurinsky said that Aurora does not have plans to "provide the Trump administration any assistance" in its sweeping deportation efforts but noted that the city "will certainly not stand in the way of what the American people voted for."

John Fabbricatore, a retired ICE Denver Field Office director, told Blaze News that "any active interference with enforcement is a federal crime."

"How does the mayor justify this position, and where does it stop? Are we now deciding that federal laws don't apply in Denver?" he questioned. "Enforcing the immigration law is a specific federal duty, and under the Supremacy Clause, the federal government has the right to enforce those laws."

He acknowledged that the federal government cannot force a local government to expend its resources to stop the illegal immigration crisis but added that Colorado and Johnston "have no grievance nor justification to stand in the way."

"This seems like nothing more than political posturing to appease a certain base instead of prioritizing the safety and well-being of residents. Standing with individuals who may include known gang members instead of focusing on law-abiding, hardworking citizens is a dangerous precedent. Denver deserves leadership that looks out for its people and upholds the law — not one that makes reckless statements to score political points," Fabbricatore told Blaze News.

Castle Rock fights back

In April, Douglas County, which encompasses part of Aurora, filed a lawsuit against the state over its sanctuary status, claiming its policies "create dangerous conditions" for residents and migrants. Several other counties joined the complaint.

Castle Rock, a town also within Douglas County and approximately 30 miles south of Denver, considered filing a similar lawsuit in September against Denver.

‘I'm admonishing publicly the mayor of Denver for his comments that I would account to be that of insurrectionist rhetoric.’

Castle Rock City Council member Max Brooks previously told Blaze News that instead of filing a complaint, Castle Rock issued a declaration of support for the county's legal action.

"Because Castle Rock has no municipally funded/run detention facilities, we are unable to prove standing so we may actually join their lawsuit," he explained. "The declaration was the best we could do as a council to voice very strong support of the county's lawsuit."

While Denver pledges to stand in Trump's way, Castle Rock is now moving to help the incoming administration remove criminal illegal aliens as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

During a city council meeting on December 3, Brooks proposed a motion to direct the town's attorney to work with the Douglas County attorney's office to draft a joint position endorsing any initiatives by the Trump administration to remove illegal immigrants.

Brooks stated, "This is me speaking personally, not as a member of the council, but I'm admonishing publicly the mayor of Denver for his comments that I would account to be that of insurrectionist rhetoric."

He called it "laughable" that Johnston believes that the police department would stand behind him after he previously mandated that it be cut and partially defunded to redirect funds to illegal migrants.

"You turn around, and you stab law enforcement in the back, and then you ask them to stand up for you and an insurrectionist movement," Brooks said. "To mention that you would be willing to put 50,000 of your residents at risk, to be on the county line to fight against the federal effort to remove those who are here illegally, shame on you."

Brooks' remarks received a round of applause.

‘Residents of Castle Rock continue to make it very clear that public safety is a primary concern.’

During the meeting, Brooks had a clear message for Johnston: You do not speak for Colorado.

Brooks presented his motion, stating, "What I would like to do is make it very clear that you do not speak for Douglas County, and I would like to, please, motion to direct our town attorney and attorney staff to begin working on a declaration that would be in support of any and all efforts to include anything we can do with our law enforcement personnel to support the deportation of illegal migrants, if and when that occurs at the request of the incoming presidential — President Trump — administration."

The council voted unanimously to pass Brooks' motion.

When asked whether he expected the motion to receive such overwhelming support, Brooks told Blaze News, "I anticipated this would be a 7-0 vote mostly because the vote to investigate the lawsuit against Denver over their failed 'asylum seeker program' was also 7-0."

"Further, residents of Castle Rock continue to make it very clear that public safety is a primary concern. Supporting our law enforcement and following the rule of law receives unwavering support," he noted.

The staff is expected to present a potential declaration to the council for members' review and subsequent vote, which Brooks anticipates will occur by early January.

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Blaze News original: Biden praised on CNN, MSNBC months ago for promise not to pardon Hunter. Now there's egg on a few faces.



It's indeed a salve for the conservative soul to watch numerous prominent voices against Donald Trump speak so glowingly months ago about President Joe Biden's promise that he wouldn't pardon his son Hunter — only to have that very thing come to pass Sunday.

Tom Elliott of news and video outlet Grabien posted a nine-minute supercut of anti-Trump pundits and cable news talking heads singing Biden's praises for his no-pardon pledge and using it to rip Trump to shreds, pointing out the "contrast" with Trump's complaints that the Justice Department was weaponized against him.

'It was a moment of just moral clarity on the part of Joe Biden and couldn't have been in starker contrast to the way Donald Trump has handled his own conviction.'

Blaze News took a deeper look at the clips, and one of the first things to stand out is how often the prominent elitists in them use the same words and phrases (such as "stark" and "contrast"and, for variety — "stark contrast") in their efforts to boost Biden and tear down Trump.

To wit: A guest of MSNBC's Joy Reid — Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida — told her in one clip that "the Democrats stand for the rule of law. Remember law and order. ... It is amazing to see the stark contrast between how Democrats handled today and how Republicans handled this whole thing over the last couple of weeks."

Another clip shows former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara telling MSNBC's Chris Hayes that Biden "could still pardon him; he said he won't do that ... given that it's his son. ... Pause for a moment and think about how unbelievable that is. In a million years, if the shoe were on the other foot."

Oh, how the worm has turned. Check out the carnage:

'One side: Democrats and Joe Biden protecting the justice system, and on the other, Republicans and Trump protecting Trump.'


CNN political commentator S.E. Cupp spoke during a segment titled "Biden says he won't pardon son Hunter if he's convicted" and attempted to draw a distinction between Biden and Trump: "The contrast is profound. To sit there and say, 'I'm not going to intervene in the legal process, and I wouldn't pardon my son.' ... One side: Democrats and Joe Biden protecting the justice system, and on the other, Republicans and Trump protecting Trump." You can view the clip here at the 40-second mark.

Cupp on Monday morning posted the following on X: "It doesn’t get said enough, but Trump’s enduring legacy will be convincing BOTH parties to lower the bar, and that possessing moral authority on anything is no longer a currency that matters."

Her statement was in response to the following post by never-Trump author Charlie Sykes: "Smart person texts me: 'Joe Biden has just removed the issue of pardons from the political arena for the next four years, and Trump probably once again can’t believe his own dumb f***ing luck at this point.' Sadly, I think he’s right."

'A current president of the United States has so much respect for the law that he has said he would not pardon his son ... again, it's all about the contrast.'


In another clip (1:06 mark), Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" stated that "a current president of the United States has so much respect for the law that he has said he would not pardon his son ... again, it's all about the contrast."

The clip cuts to Willie Geist of "Morning Joe" with this take: "President Biden saying, 'I will respect whatever this jury decides' versus Donald Trump after he was convicted on 34 counts saying the entire system is rigged against him."

Brzezinski pushed out an audible snicker after Geist's pronouncement.

'How can the Justice Department be weaponized against Trump when all of that is happening?'


Over a screen title that reads, "The right accuses the DOJ of weaponizing the justice system despite Hunter Biden's prosecution & guilty verdict," MSNBC's Joy Reid states that "the president said he won't touch it; he said he's not going to pardon his son, and it seems that [U.S. Attorney General] Merrick Garland let it go through. How can the Justice Department be weaponized against Trump when all of that is happening?"

Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida replied, "The Democrats stand for the rule of law. Remember law and order. ... It is amazing to see the stark contrast between how Democrats handled today and how Republicans handled this whole thing over the last couple of weeks."

You can view the clip here at the 3:47 mark. You can view the full June 11 segment here.

'Those words so completely contrast with his opponent.'


Katy Tur said in another MSNBC clip (7:36 mark) — with a screen title that reads, "Hunter Biden found guilty of 3 felony gun charges" — that the president insisted he would respect the outcome of his son's case and that "those words so completely contrast with what his opponent, now a convicted felon himself, continues to say about the U.S courts."

'The contrast to how Trump has behaved, how Trump has treated the rule of law ... this was a good day for the system.'


Chuck Todd — over an MSNBC screen title that reads, "Hunter Biden found guilty of 3 felony gun charges" — had the following to say: "The contrast to how Trump has behaved, how Trump has treated the rule of law ... this was a good day for the system, a good day for sort of America as an example of how the rule of law should work." You can view the clip here at the 7:58 mark.

'Joe Biden has very clearly said he would not pardon his son, he would not commute his sentence. How stark is this difference?'


Stephanie Ruhle of MSNBC's "The Nightcap" — over a screen title that reads, "Hunter Biden convicted on gun charges" — said the following to her panel: "The latest attack is that Joe Biden has politicized and weaponized the DOJ, right? That was the whole argument around Donald Trump's conviction, and this week, of course, Hunter Biden was found guilty, and Joe Biden has very clearly said he would not pardon his son, he would not commute his sentence. How stark is this difference? I mean, how can Republicans keep making this argument now that Joe Biden has really put it out there?" You can view the clip here at the 1:28 mark.

'He is not pardoning his son ... he is not doing it because he is living what it means to have a rule of law in this country.'


Speaking to MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace over a screen title that reads, "Trump, GOP call on SCOTUS to respond to guilty verdict," former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann says the following: “He is not pardoning his son, which he could do. These are federal charges. He is not doing that. He is not doing it because he is living what it means to have a rule of law in this country.” After a cut in the clip, Weissmann adds, "If you want to know if he believes it, you can see what is actually happening with his own son." You can view the clip here at the 2:01 mark.

'There's an opportunity here for Biden to say, you know, "The jury found [Hunter] guilty. This is how it’s supposed to work. Period. Paragraph. End of story."'


Another MSNBC clip (3:09 mark) features political commentator Molly Jong-Fast — over a screen title that reads "Press [secretary] doesn't rule out potential that Biden could commute Hunter's sentence" — offering the following take: “I think Joe Biden has a chance here to stand up for the rule of law, to say ... the law is the law, no matter who it is, no matter if it’s Trump or Biden. And remember, part of Trump-ism’s dangerousness is that it tears down institutions, important institutions of our democracy. So there's an opportunity here for Biden to say, you know, 'The jury found [Hunter] guilty. This is how it’s supposed to work. Period. Paragraph. End of story.'”

Fox News reported that Jong-Fast — after learning Biden pardoned his son — told MSNBC, "I, so, I just heard it. I have to process it. I don’t have a take. I’m sorry."

'You heard the president say he would accept the outcome of the case; I know no other word for that but "presidential."'


An MSNBC clip (4:17 mark) — with a screen title that reads, "Hunter Biden found guilty in federal gun trial" — shows former acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal saying the following to host Jonathan Capehart: "For years, these conservatives have been crowing about a politicized Justice Department, Biden politicizing it, and so on. What happened today? The Justice Department convicted the president’s own son — his only living son. You heard the president say he would accept the outcome of the case; I know no other word for that but 'presidential.'”

Capehart replied, "[Biden] even went so far as to say he wouldn’t pardon his son. That’s how much respect he has for the system.”

Interestingly, Katyal on Sunday night posted a link to an October Politico story titled, "Trump says he’s open to pardoning Hunter Biden." Katyal wrote above the link, "Just putting this out there ..."

'It was a moment of just moral clarity on the part of Joe Biden and couldn't have been in starker contrast to the way Donald Trump has handled his own conviction.'


CNN's Jim Acosta — over a screen title that reads, "Pres. Biden says he will not pardon his son" — asked author Chris Whipple for his take on Biden's declaration.

Whipple — author of "The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House" — replied by saying, "I thought it was extraordinary. I mean, it was a moment of just moral clarity on the part of Joe Biden and couldn't have been in starker contrast to the way Donald Trump has handled his own conviction."

You can view the clip here at the 4:45 mark.

'He could still pardon him; he said he won't do that ... given that it's his son ... pause for a moment and think about how unbelievable that is.'


In an MSNBC clip (5:05 mark) with a screen title that reads, "Biden: 'I accept the outcome' of Hunter Biden trial," former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara told host Chris Hayes the following: "He could still pardon him; he said he won't do that ... given that it's his son ... pause for a moment and think about how unbelievable that is. In a million years, if the shoe were on the other foot" — Hayes apparently uttered a dismissive huff off camera in this moment — "and Donald Trump was facing the prospect of his son being prosecuted by ... a Biden holdover or Obama holdover prosecutor, not in a million, million years would that have happened. So ... some of the people on the right, the people who support Donald Trump, are trying to cast this as some sort of clever ops program."

A longer clip of Bharara's statement was posted on the "All In with Chris Hayes" X account on June 11.

'It's a great reminder that one political party remains committed to the rule of law, and the other doesn't.'


In an MSNBC clip (5:43 mark), Democrat U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts stated the following on June 11: "Hunter Biden was found guilty by a jury of his peers, just like Donald Trump. Because this is our justice system at work. The divide here is stunning. It's a great reminder that one political party remains committed to the rule of law, and the other doesn't."

According to The Hill, McGovern also said, "The contrast today is just staggering. Apparently, when a Republican is convicted, it’s weaponization. But when a Democrat is convicted — the president’s son, no less — that’s justice. I mean, give me a break."

'One of the things that anybody who spends time around Joe Biden comes to know is that he's had this long-running focus on how much he is bothered by abuses of power.'


Over a CNN screen title that reads, "Biden, for first time, says he won't commute son's sentence," New Yorker writer Evan Osnos — who also authored "Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now" — said that Biden is "really" saying that "I don't plan to use the powers of the office, the powers of the presidency, to provide private relief for my family." Osnos added that, "In a sense, he's staking out a pretty bright line between being, as he says, a president and a dad, and that's not just an emotional expression; he's in effect saying, 'I don't think that I should, I don't have a right, even though it's legal' — and God knows it must be tempting — 'to use this power in a way that is not available to so many other Americans facing similar kinds of struggles.'"

Osnos said in another cut, "There's a kind of old-school, sort of flinty core to [Biden's] conception of how you are to be in the system, how you are to be as a person — a moral person — and ultimately how to contend with questions of power. One of the things that anybody who spends time around Joe Biden comes to know is that he's had this long-running focus on how much he is bothered by abuses of power."

You can view the clip here at the 6:06 mark.

BONUS: 'They're not even his sons; they're just sons of b***hes.'


Another clip (2:30 mark) features Ana Navarro of "The View" and sports a CNN logo on the bottom right of the screen — however, the clip appears to be from the June 14 episode of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," which began airing Saturdays on CNN earlier this year.

Still, the clip is worth including in this rundown. In it Navarro stated: "Joe Biden has gotten asked if he would pardon his son; he has said no. ... On the other side, you've got Donald Trump who has said that he will pardon the January 6 insurrectionists. They're not even his sons; they're just sons of bitches."

You might be surprised (or maybe not) that Navarro posted a few X entries this week after hearing that Biden did, in fact, pardon his son — and she's backing him all the way.

"Good for @JoeBiden," Navarro noted Monday. "America elected a convicted felon. That convicted felon pardoned his son-in-law’s father and appointed him Ambassador to France. If you support that, I don’t want to hear jack-s**t about Biden pardoning his son."

She also posted Monday that "Woodrow Wilson pardoned his brother-in-law, Hunter deButts. Bill Clinton pardoned his brother, Roger. Donald Trump pardoned his daughter’s father-in-law, Charlie Kushner. And just appointed him Ambassador to France. But tell me again how Joe Biden 'is setting precedent'?"

Not to put too fine a point on it, Navarro posted the following on Tuesday: "Reading all these Trumpers offended Biden LIED! Trump lied about bone spurs, lied about his taxes, lied on his bank loan applications, lied to his wives, lied about hush-money payments, lied about the 2020 election results, lied about Haitians eating cats & dogs ... shall I go on??"

Could it be that she doth protest too much? Nah.

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How Donald Trump helped save the UFC when no one else would



When the Ultimate Fighting Championship was nearly defunct, Donald Trump gave the organization a platform to display what would become one of the biggest sports empires in the world.

Trump’s relationship with UFC President Dana White dates back to 2001, when the UFC was beloved by only hardcore fight fans.

The organization had gained a cult following in the 1990s with names like Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddell, and Tito Ortiz headlining cards. Despite the company and those fighters being household names for fathers and sons who rented UFC tapes at their local video store, the company was running on fumes and nearing its end.

Money had dried up so much that owner Semaphore Entertainment Group was unable to fund the DVD releases of its last seven events from 1999-2000; UFC 23-29 subsequently became referred to as the “dark ages” of the UFC.

When Station Casinos executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with their business partner White, bought the UFC in 2001, all signs pointed to a failing business.

'I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn’t buying anything.'

White said in 2011 that at first, he and his partners were sports fans looking to invest in boxing. After attending a UFC event, however, the trio began taking jiujitsu classes and fell in love with the sport.

This piqued the group’s interest, and with White managing fighters Liddell and Ortiz, they found the perfect opportunity to get their hands on the company.

“It was going out of business,” White said of the UFC. “I called [the Fertittas] and said, ‘I think this thing’s in trouble, I think we can buy the UFC,’ and a month later we owned the company.”

Lorenzo Fertitta recalled years later that when he bought the UFC, his lawyers couldn’t grasp the purchase, asking him exactly what he was getting in exchange for the large sale price.

“I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn’t buying anything. I was paying $2 million and they were saying 'What are you getting?'" he told Fighter’s Only in 2009.

The owner called the promotion a “never-ending black hole” that kept absorbing his checks as fast as he could write them.

However, with the company now under their belt, White and the Fertittas began plotting how to get the business profitable and started their journey to get sanctioned in flourishing markets.

The Trump Taj Mahal era

For years, the UFC was seen as a barbaric and brutal sport not fit for regular consumption. Different fighting organizations had different rules that were deemed too violent by many jurisdictions.

Visions of knee and soccer kicks to the heads of downed opponents were visions that the new owners had to erase from the minds of legislators.

Therefore, legendary UFC referee John McCarthy worked as part of a group of experienced martial arts experts who met with different governing bodies to establish a set of rules.

The tipping point was when the group teamed up with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board to create unified mixed martial arts rules.

'They couldn’t get a venue because of the danger.'

As MMAWeekly noted, this took place in September 2000.

By the time the Fertittas and White took over in January 2001, the UFC had already held one sanctioned event in New Jersey; UFC 28 on November 17, 2000, at the Trump Taj Mahal.

Soon, two more events would take place at the Trump-backed arena: UFC 30 in February 2001 and UFC 31 in May 2001.

Trump talked about the beginning of his relationship with the UFC owners in a 2023 interview with former UFC champion Matt Serra, who fought at one of the Trump Taj Mahal events.

“I respected Dana a lot,” Trump began. “[The UFC] couldn’t get a venue because of the danger. People thought it was so dangerous — and they happened to be right about that — but they couldn't get a venue and I supplied them with a venue.”

White said the same in 2016, telling the Republican National Convention that arenas refused to host UFC events, and nobody took them seriously.

White and the Fertittas knew, however, that although their events were welcomed in New Jersey — and other smaller markets like the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut — they needed to get their shows sanctioned in Nevada under the unified rules.

“It was perceived as being just like death,” Trump continued. “So a lot of the athletic commissions wouldn't do it, and owners wouldn't do it, and they couldn't get venues, and I gave them venues early on.”

Donald Trump and musician Kid Rock at UFC 287 in Miami.Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Trump provided what would become a launching pad for the UFC to prove, under the New Jersey unified rules, that the UFC could be mainstream, professional, and safe, and therefore become recognized by official governing bodies.

The new rules helped the UFC’s image greatly. Fighters now had to wear trunks, specific gloves, and were not permitted to wear any other attire (UFC fighters used to be allowed to wear shoes, gis, and even shirts).

New weight classes were also implemented, from flyweight (125 pounds) all the way up to super heavyweight (over 265 pounds). The latter has only been used once by the UFC, at UFC 28 at the Trump Taj Mahal.

From October 2000 all the way until late June 2021, the Trump Taj Mahal was the only U.S. venue to put on a UFC event.

During this time, the State Athletic Control Board of New Jersey held a meeting to discuss the regulation of mixed martial arts events. Nick Lembo, counsel to the SACB, recalled that the April 2001 meeting proposed uniform rules that were to be agreed upon by several “regulatory bodies, numerous promoters of mixed martial arts events and other interested parties.”

All parties allegedly signed off on the uniform set of rules, with the anticipation of more regulatory bodies adapting them soon thereafter.

Nevada was among the jurisdictions to subsequently adopt the unified rules, and by September 2001, the UFC was hosting its first sanctioned event in Las Vegas.

UFC 33 marked a turn for the company, and while White said years later that “every fight” on the card “sucked,” the event sold out and returned to Pay-Per-View with 75,000 buys.

Modern influence

UFC President Dana White at the Republican National ConventionPhoto by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Now, despite over 200 events in Las Vegas, Trump is still sitting cage-side during many of the organization’s most monumental moments.

His appearances at the events have become headline-makers in their own right, as outlets anticipate which personalities will appear in his entourage and what role their relationship may play in his politics.

“I knew you were a fan,” Serra told Trump in 2024.

Serra recalled that even though UFC 32 was held at the Meadowlands in New Jersey — not the Trump Taj Mahal — Trump was still in the audience.

That love of the sport is not only felt by the fans but by the fighters, as well.

Near limitless UFC athletes have voiced public support for the president in recent years, perhaps most notably Colby Covington, who adopted a “Make America Great Again” hat in 2018.

That support has grown to the biggest athletes in the sport, including heavyweight champion Jon Jones, former “Baddest” UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal, and perpetual contender Michael Chandler.

'Donald championed the UFC before it was popular.'

White himself has explained that his fighters relate to the president for the same reasons Americans do; he is a person who uplifts himself and others around him, often persevering when odds are stacked against him.

“Trump Donald was the first guy that recognized the potential that we saw in the UFC and encouraged us to build our business,” White said in 2016. “He dealt with us personally, he got in the trenches with us, and he made a deal that worked for everyone.”

“Donald championed the UFC before it was popular, before it grew into a successful business, and I will always be grateful ... so grateful to him for standing with us in those early days.”

The UFC now promotes Trump with his own entrance videos and has him walk to his seat as if he is about to fight. Broadcasts feature like-minded celebrities throughout the entire show as part of an ever-growing ecosystem of influencers that has been built between his two administrations.

This relationship between the presidents of both the UFC and the United States appears to be mutually beneficial, but in terms of influence, Trump’s early adoption of the sport seems to be paying dividends.

5 infamous political moments in sports you forgot about



Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest was one of the most talked-about political moments in sports history. For many, it became a symbol of standing against bigotry and racism, and eight years later, the protest is surprisingly still in effect in English soccer leagues.

To others, it represents an unwanted interruption in a medium that should be void of activism, serving as an escape from reality.

With the sports world now using the election of Donald Trump as an inspiration for dances and celebrations, the simple acts signal that politics in sports isn’t going away any time soon.

‘On the war in Vietnam, I sing this song.’

Muhammad Ali’s fight against the Vietnam War

Iconic boxer Muhammad Ali is often portrayed as not only one of the greatest ever in his sport but also one of the greatest activists of all time.

However, many of his polarizing remarks don’t often make it into recollections of some of his most famous protests.

In 1967-1968, Ali was seeking an exemption from the Vietnam War as a conscientious objector on the basis of being an Islamic leader, USA Today reported.

Ali was sentenced to five years in prison for draft-dodging, but he was freed on bail and never served any time.

Your browser does not support the video tag. Footage by Getty Images

Ali’s boxing title was revoked by the New York State Athletic Commission, and he was banned from the sport. At the same time, his opinions and even his poetry about his views on the war were widely publicized.

Keep asking me, no matter how long,
On the war in Vietnam, I sing this song,
I ain't got no quarrel with the Viet Cong.

However, other remarks, specifically about white people, are not often recited.

"You’re talking to me about some drafts, and all of you white boys are breaking your necks to get to Switzerland and Canada and London. I'm not going to help nobody get something my negroes don't have. If I'm gonna die, I'll die right here fighting you."

"You my enemy,” Ali continued. “My enemy is a white people. Not Vietnam, Chinese, or Japanese. [You’re] my opposer when I want freedom."

In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in Ali’s favor, saying his beliefs in his faith were sincere.

Before Kaepernick, there was Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

Image via Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Much like Cassius Clay changing his name to Muhammad Ali, Chris Wayne Jackson changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf upon converting to Islam and following black identitarianism.

In 1996, Abdul-Rauf sat during "The Star-Spangled Banner" more than 60 times. When questioned on his decision, he reportedly said Islamism and American nationalism don’t mix.

“Islam is the only way,” he said, according to ESPN.

"It's also a symbol of oppression," Abdul-Rauf said of the American flag. "Of tyranny; it depends on how you look at it. I think that this country has a long history of that."

The player garnered mixed reviews from other NBA players, including Dennis Rodman, who said for the amount of money Abdul-Rauf was being paid, he should be happy to stand for two minutes.

"If you want to do that, why don't you bring your own flag and sing your own national anthem?" Rodman said.

Fellow Muslim player Hakeem Olajuwon said that the flag should be respected, while Magic Johnson simply stated that people shouldn't be mad at others for expressing their beliefs.

Abdul-Rauf eventually agreed to stand, but not until he was suspended two games and started losing money. The trade-off was that the player could stand and say his own private prayer during the anthem.

He was booed during his first appearance after his suspension.

Cold War buzzer-beater

During the 1972 Munich Olympics, with the Cold War in full swing, the Soviet Union and the United States played a heated men’s basketball final in front of a tense audience.

The Americans were poised to win — or face shame upon their return home for losing in the sport they had long dominated.

With just three seconds left in the final, American Doug Collins sank two clutch free throws despite taking a nasty fall just seconds earlier. This gave the American team a 50-49 lead with three seconds remaining.

What followed was a calamity of scoring table errors that transformed the game’s ending from iconic to controversial.

Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images

First, Russian coaches took a time-out, but their team inbounded the ball anyway, and referees blew the whistle with the clock stopped at just one second remaining. Before the clock could be correctly reset to three seconds, the referee handed the ball to the Russians, who then inbounded and threw up a desperate last-second shot that missed.

The elated American squad celebrated for minutes on the court, ecstatic about their victory and relieved of the immense pressure on their shoulders.

However, officials stopped the celebration, reset the clock to three seconds, and gave the USSR yet another chance.

A full-court pass to Alelxander Belov resulted in an easy bucket, giving the Soviets a 51-50 gold medal win.

Due to the apparent controversy, the American team refused their silver medals and did not show up for the medal ceremony.

Team captain Kenny Davis said the Americans felt the Soviets “did something” that was illegal, and they didn’t know any other way to protest.

“You're not about to get us to show up to take that silver medal,” he said.

The team appealed, but Olympic judges voted 3:2 in favor of the official result.

"Everything progressed according to strictly Cold War politics," Sports Illustrated writer Gary Smith remarked. "There were three Communist Bloc judges. It's a three-to-two vote. America loses. The Soviet Union wins the gold medal, and at that point the American players are facing a stark reality. Do they accept the silver medal?"

Those silver medals are now kept in a vault. Some of the American team members allegedly wrote into their wills that their beneficiaries cannot claim the medals, either.

World Cup struggle session

In 2010, the North Korean soccer team qualified for its first FIFA World Cup since 1966. Expectations were appropriately low, until the North Korean squad looked impressive in a 2-1 loss to Brazil, which was a juggernaut in the tournament.

Despite the loss, the close score was so unexpected that North Korea decided to run its next game against Portugal live on state-run television, the first time a sporting event had been broadcast live in the country.

This would turn out to be a horrible mistake.

Photo by Alex Livesey - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Unfortunately for the North Korean players, they lost 7-0 to Portugal in that live broadcast and then 3-0 to Ivory Coast in their final game.

The Portugal game had long-lasting consequences on the players, as when they returned home they were reportedly subjected to a six-hour struggle session.

According to the Telegraph, the entire squad was placed on a stage and subjected to criticism from the sport minister as 400 government officials, students, and journalists looked on.

The event was called a “grand debate” because the team had failed their “ideological struggle.”

The team’s manager was allegedly forced to become a builder while being expelled from the ruling political party.

Only two players avoided the communist display, Jong Tae-se and An Yong-hak, who were both born in Japan and returned there immediately following the World Cup.

Even stranger, North Korea allegedly pumped out videos to the masses in an attempt to change history. In one video allegedly broadcasted, a state television news host not only claimed North Korea had beaten Brazil but was “denied a rightful victory” against Portugal and that the game ended in draw.

The broadcast also dubbed over star Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo and pretended that he said he would be willing to play in Pyongyang because of the wonderful fan base.

For the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, North Korean television stated that the North Korea team beat Japan 7-0, the United States 4-0, and China 2-0. The broadcast said North Korea would go on to play Portugal in the semifinal.

North Korea was never actually in the 2014 World Cup. Neither was China.

Helmet Pride humiliation

2023 was a year of reckoning in the NHL when it came to gay pride, Pride Nights, and the ever-present specter of woke ideology.

Teams were seemingly falling over themselves to outdo one another’s Pride Night festivities and pregame gay-pride jerseys.

At least seven players eventually took a stand against the practice during the 2022-2023 season, one of whom was Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov.

Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images

Did Samsonov make a public statement? Carry a crucifix across the ice? No, the goalie’s crime was simply not wearing a rainbow decal on the back of his helmet during warm-ups.

Samsonov did not even play in goal that night, and the Leafs organization went above and beyond in its tribute to non-heterosexual lifestyles.

Nonetheless, Samsonov was subjected to a humiliation ritual by the Toronto sports media.

Canada’s TSN specifically singled out Samsonov for not wearing the decal in the few minutes he was on the ice, meaning there was likely someone assigned to check for such ethical violations.

Another since-removed report from MSN claimed the Leafs "hid Samsonov away from the media" and called the Russian's actions a "disappointment," along with "foolish and unnecessary."

Eventually, at least seven NHL players refused to participate in Pride activities, leading the league to announce that teams would no longer wear “Pride”-themed jerseys during warm-ups, which bothered some of the league’s most woke players.

Not to worry, though. It took just a week for the league to announce a new Player Inclusion Coalition to help create a "safe space" and educate about the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Blaze News original: Secret Service investigated elementary school teacher's reply to assassination post after Trump won election: Superintendent



The superintendent of a Michigan public school district told Blaze News that the United States Secret Service launched an investigation after one of the district's elementary school teachers replied inappropriately to a social media post referencing an assassination — the day after Donald Trump won back the White House earlier this month.

The assassination post — and the teacher's reply to it — got fast attention after Libs of TikTok published a screenshot of the post Tuesday, along with the teacher's apology.

'If the teacher is charged with a felony, she will be dismissed.'

The initial post — which was not from the teacher in question — reads "nothing an assasination [sic] can't take care of."

The reply from Ashley Parker — who teaches elementary art for Farwell Area Schools — reads as follows: "Normally I would never wish this on anyone, but now... and let's hope for a 2fer... We have ALL lost. Just many of us don't realize it yet..."

Parker on Nov. 14 posted an apology on the school district's Facebook page. It reads as follows:

Dear FAS Community,

I am deeply sorry for the comment that I posted the morning after the election. As the parent of a young child and as an educator, I know that my words and actions are closely watched by those around me, and I am fastidious about my behavior at all times because of this fact. I am ashamed that I let my emotions get the better of me in that moment. I am not that person. I understand that my actions may have broken your trust, and for that, I am truly sorry.

Those who know me, know my strength of character, and know the kind of person that I aspire to be in this world. I made an egregious error, one that will not happen again. I take full responsibility for my words and I am willing to reflect on this experience and learn from it, so that I can become a better person. I am committed to upholding the values and standards that I strive to live by.

I hope that you can find it within yourself to forgive me and my actions.

Thank you.

— Ashley Parker, K-5 Art

While the district's Facebook post indicated on Wednesday afternoon that more than 230 comments have come in, only a handful are visible.

Parker's apology also was posted on the district's website last week.

District superintendent speaks out

Steve Scoville, superintendent of Farwell Area Schools, told Blaze News on Wednesday that the issue was brought to the school's attention the day after the election, and he believes the screenshot of the social media exchange is accurate.

"An investigation by the Clare County Sheriff's Department and the United States Secret Service was conducted, and to my knowledge, no charges have been filed," Scoville told Blaze News. "If the teacher is charged with a felony, she will be dismissed. At this point, it doesn't appear that she will be charged with a felony, but I have to wait for the process to run its course. I do believe that all U.S. Citizens are innocent until proven guilty."

Scoville added to Blaze News that he performed a risk assessment — which is used whenever staff, students, or community members make a threat — and that "the staff member in question has no credible plan or means to carry the threat out."

He noted to Blaze News that the risk assessment finding doesn't mean the teacher's post was acceptable: "Neither the original post [nor] Ashley's response were appropriate."

However, Scoville told Blaze News he's hoping to turn this negative into a positive.

"Mrs. Parker has been doing a great job with our students, and it is truly unfortunate that her actions have clouded her otherwise outstanding performance. Dismissing Mrs. Parker would very likely discontinue our K-5 Art Program for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year, as we had zero highly qualified applicants. The teacher shortage in central Michigan area is very real!" he told Blaze News. "My fear is that dismissal may punish our students more than the individual that made the post. Although dismissal would be the easiest course of action, I am not sure it is the correct or best action for our students."

Scoville added to Blaze News that while the district has taken disciplinary action against Parker, she "has not been terminated. Doing the right thing is not always doing the easy thing." He also told Blaze News on a Wednesday phone call that despite Parker having "threatened [the] candidate I voted for," it "wouldn't matter" if the threat was against another candidate; it's unacceptable either way.

Scoville also told Blaze News that after he made it clear to Parker that the district doesn't condone her comment, he hopes Parker has a "chance to recover and move forward."

He also told Blaze News that Parker has received threats after her comment began getting attention, and her address has been doxxed. In addition, Scoville said, "The amount of hate that has been directed at our staff is incredible and terribly sad. I find it ironic that so many people upset by Mrs. Parker's inappropriate post have chosen to share their own version of hate and direct it at the staff member who answered their [phone] call."

On the subject of hatred, Scoville emphasized the following to Blaze News:

I served with U.S. Army for 18 months in the Balkans. An interesting fact is that Serbians and Albanians have hated each other 1,300 years. (This led up to the Balkans War where neighbor butchered neighbor.) Although when you asked either side, they knew that they were supposed to hate the other side but really couldn't give you a reason. It is my hope and prayer that this nation steps back from the level of hate that we are at. We can agree to disagree with each other. We have to stop looking at the other side as bad people with bad ideas and start looking at them as people with bad ideas (or at least ideas we disagree with).

Anything else?

Blaze News has been covering the ever-growing subject of teachers reacting badly to Trump's presidential win:

  • A teacher allegedly departed from class at Cerritos High School in Southern California because a student was wearing "Make America Great Again" attire.
  • An English teacher from Chino High School in Southern California was placed on administrative leave after freaking out in class over a student wearing a Trump hat.
  • An Advanced Placement world history teacher from Valley View High School in Southern California was placed on administrative leave after going on a profane rant in class against Trump.
  • A woman who reportedly began a monthlong stint as a substitute teacher at Beverly Hills High School on Nov. 4 — the day before the presidential election — said last week she was fired for her "private FB posts criticizing [Make America Great Again] & the behavior of students at their MAGA rally on campus."
  • Outside the Golden State, a Connecticut elementary special-ed teacher threatened Trump voters in a viral video and then tried to explain herself in a tearful, on-camera interview after resigning from her position.

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Blaze News original: Biden's immigration nightmare — Trump left to clean up $160 million in ICE waste, unused centers



With the sun setting on the Biden-Harris administration, President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming Cabinet face an unprecedented challenge — resolving the chaotic and overwhelming immigration crisis.

Despite having the necessary resources to put a stop to illegal immigration, the current administration has instead used taxpayer dollars in ways that have worsened the problem rather than solving it.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, millions of dollars were allocated to various initiatives purportedly designed to tackle the immigration crisis. Yet some of those investments — including a multimillion-dollar processing center and Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention space — were not utilized.

Unused illegal alien center

In the summer, the Biden-Harris administration's Federal Emergency Management Agency allocated nearly $20 million in taxpayer funds to open an illegal immigrant processing center in San Diego County.

The decision to establish the center was made amid a massive surge in unlawful immigration in the San Diego Sector. Border encounters in the area spiked by 40% in fiscal year 2024, surpassing the already record-high numbers from the year before.

The facility was designed to provide basic services to foreign nationals who had recently entered the country as well as assist them with traveling to their intended destinations within the U.S.

‘Instead of prioritizing Americans' needs, this administration has chosen to funnel resources into programs that don't even function.’

In two separate votes, four out of five San Diego County supervisors voted to accept FEMA's funding, believing it would help manage the overwhelming crisis.

Supervisor Jim Desmond (R), the one lone dissenter on the board, was not convinced. He argued that the FEMA funds failed to establish a long-term solution to the immigration issues, instead acting as only a Band-Aid over a symptom.

Desmond contended that passing the proposal "effectively approves and perpetuates the federal government's mismanagement of the border."

"I refuse to be complicit in a broken system," he added.

Desmond's skepticism about the multimillion-dollar processing facility was warranted. Although FEMA funding was approved in May, the facility has remained largely unused.

In July, the county selected Jewish Family Service to manage the center. However, after two months of negotiations, the deal collapsed after the parties could not develop a sustainable plan.

San Diego County spokesperson Michael Workman said in a joint statement with JFS, "Despite best-faith efforts, the two parties have been unable to develop a plan to meet the scope of work required to address the needs of migrants in the region based on federal funding criteria and have mutually agreed to end negotiations."

Consequently, the county was forced to relaunch the search for a new contractor, with no clear timeline on when an agreement might be secured.

Following the devastating impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the federal government claimed that FEMA's funds were quickly dwindling and the agency would struggle to provide aid in the event of another disaster.

Desmond torched the federal government for throwing money at the immigration crisis and failing to allocate enough resources to ensure assistance for Americans.

"The federal government claims they have no funds left to assist American citizens whose homes and lives have been torn apart. Yet this is the same government that spent $20 million on a migrant processing center in San Diego that isn't even being used. That was a complete waste of taxpayer dollars, and now American citizens are being told there's nothing left for them," Desmond explained in an emailed press release.

"At the time, I voted against accepting $20 million from the federal government to establish a migrant processing center in San Diego County," he continued. "I firmly believe that we shouldn't be complicit in the federal government's — and specifically this administration's — failure to enforce immigration laws effectively. My concerns were validated. That facility, which was supposed to address a critical immigration issue, is sitting idle, serving no purpose, while Americans are left to suffer."

He called the shortage of funds for citizens "a slap in the face to every hardworking American."

"It's a glaring example of the federal government's incompetence and mismanagement. Instead of prioritizing Americans' needs, this administration has chosen to funnel resources into programs that don't even function," Desmond added.

‘This is taxpayer money that incentivizes illegal immigration and could be far better spent on pressing local needs.’

In mid-September, the county submitted a Notice of Intent to Award after entering into negotiations with a different provider. However, the offer was rescinded approximately a month later due to failed negotiations.

"No award will be made, as there were no additional proposals received to evaluate," the county's rescindment notice read.

A spokesperson for San Diego County told Blaze News, "The County is pausing work to consider its options and will be sharing an evaluation with the Board of Supervisors in early 2025."

Desmond described the county's decision to open the center as "completely unnecessary."

He told Blaze News, "The County of San Diego's plan to open a 'Migrant Welcome Center' is completely unnecessary, especially given the incoming administration's commitment to securing our borders."

Desmond explained that Vice President-elect JD Vance told him that securing the border and stopping the Biden-Harris administration's illegal immigration crisis would be the incoming administration's "top priority."

"The need for a facility to welcome and process migrants will be obsolete as this new administration takes real, decisive action to stop illegal crossings," he added.

"The county has already poured millions into temporary shelters and legal fees for those facing deportation, with little to show for it," Desmond continued. "FEMA contributed $19 million, and the county has spent $6 million on a temporary shelter, alongside another $5 million in legal fees to defend illegal immigrants facing deportation. This is taxpayer money that incentivizes illegal immigration and could be far better spent on pressing local needs, from infrastructure to community services that directly benefit San Diegans."

Empty beds

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General has released a number of bombshell reports spotlighting federal government waste. A startling report in September revealed that under the Biden-Harris administration, ICE wasted more than $100 million in taxpayer dollars on unused detention bed space.

The OIG report read, "We calculated ICE paid approximately $160 million for unused bed space under guaranteed minimum contracts."

To make matters worse, as of July, there were more than 425,000 convicted criminal immigrants and another 222,000 with pending criminal charges on the agency's non-detained docket, according to data released in September by ICE acting Director Patrick Lechleitner. The convicted and accused criminals were reportedly responsible for offenses ranging from traffic violations and theft to sexual assault and homicide.

Jessica Vaughan, the director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, called ICE's unused detention space "one of the most scandalous examples of negligence under the Biden administration."

Vaughan told Blaze News, "ICE left beds unused and closed detention facilities, even as illegal migrants surged over the border in historic numbers and even as they were releasing criminal aliens in the interior."

"Americans were killed by illegal aliens that they released who should have been and could have been detained and removed," she added.

‘The Biden administration should have at least finished the parts of the job that were paid for, but Congress let him get away with just throwing away the money.’

In a New York City-specific instance of inefficiency, taxpayers paid $432 million for a contract with Rapid Reliable Testing NY LLC, also known as DocGo, aimed at providing housing for illegal aliens. However, according to an August independent audit, over the first two months of the no-bid contract, DocGo received $1.7 million for nearly 10,000 hotel rooms for illegal immigrants that sat vacant.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D) stated at the time, "Our detailed investigation into DocGo invoices and properties found a wide range of fiscal mismanagement and shoddy oversight — from DocGo overpaying security subcontractors by $2 million, skimming off over $400,000 in overhead for almost 10,000 unused hotels rooms, and failing to ensure promised social and casework services. Each misstep reveals that the administration failed to adequately vet the company or oversee their work."

A spokesperson for Democrat Mayor Eric Adams' office accused Lander's audit of "nitpick[ing]" during "an unprecedented international humanitarian crisis."

The wall

Vaughan told Blaze News that one of the most disgraceful examples of the federal government throwing away taxpayer dollars was the Biden-Harris administration's decision to stop the construction of the southern border wall after the materials had already been purchased and contractors had already been paid for the work.

"The materials sat and rusted out in the open for many months, until Texas purchased some of them. The Biden administration should have at least finished the parts of the job that were paid for, but Congress let him get away with just throwing away the money," Vaughan explained.

Last year, the New York Post reported that the administration was quietly auctioning off the unused materials for a fraction of the original $300 million cost.

The materials, auctioned on GovPlanet, fetched prices between $25,700 and $32,505. In October 2023, the federal government managed to recover about $116,000 by selling 28-foot metal fencing tubes. Previously, in September, it sold approximately $455,000 worth of unused border wall materials, and in August, it gained around $500,000 from similar sales.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) stated at the time, "This sale is a wasteful and ludicrous decision by the Biden administration that only serves as further proof they have no shame."

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) also criticized the administration for the move.

"Leaving the border open to terrorists while selling border security materials at a loss is Bidenomics in a nutshell," Cotton said.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer called the sale of the materials an example of "waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars."

"We should be using tools already at our disposal to stop the surge of illegal border crossings. When someone is repeatedly breaking into your home, you don't sell the locks on the door," he added.

Days after the Biden administration was caught selling off the unused material, it announced that it planned to resume building a new 20-mile section of the wall along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The funding for the new section was reportedly appropriated by Congress in 2019.

The Biden administration had to purchase or seize private lands and bypass environmental laws to build the new section.

‘Dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.’

Trump torched Biden for the reversal.

"So interesting to watch Crooked Joe Biden break every environmental law in the book to prove that I was right when I built 560 miles ... of brand new, beautiful border wall. As I have stated often, over thousands of years, there are only two things that have consistently worked, wheels, and walls!" he wrote on Truth Social.

"Will Joe Biden apologize to me and America for taking so long to get moving, and allowing our country to be flooded with 15 million illegals immigrants, from places unknown. I will await his apology!" he added.

Trump has vowed to finish the construction of the border wall once he returns to office.

When asked how the Trump administration can ensure taxpayer funds are no longer wasted on unused services and materials, Vaughan told Blaze News, "The incoming administration can end a lot of this waste by enforcing the law, by detaining illegal border-crossers and repatriating them swiftly, by using the accelerated forms of due process available under the law, by streamlining the immigration court processes, by reprogramming money from activities that benefit NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] and their illegal alien clients to activities that support immigration enforcement, and by denying federal law enforcement grants to sanctuary jurisdictions."

There is optimism that the incoming administration will focus on reducing unnecessary expenditures and removing the bureaucratic red tape within the federal government.

On November 12, Trump tapped Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his new Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. The two business leaders will be tasked with shrinking the federal government and ensuring taxpayers' dollars are used wisely.

Trump stated, "Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the 'Save America' Movement."

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Blaze News investigates: Inside the Dem-hatched scheme to destroy attorneys who supported Trump



Democratic operatives launched an initiative in 2022 effectively aimed at dissuading lawyers from taking and aiding clients whose success could potentially diminish leftist political power.

Citing the need to "protect democracy," the 65 Project has so far sought to make examples of those attorneys who helped Trump allies and supporters challenge the 2020 election results, despite recognizing that some attorneys may not actually have violated the legal profession's ethical rules.

The 65 Project — which made clear in September that it intends to keep hounding conservative lawyers — has not only publicly smeared accomplished attorneys but filed over 85 bar complaints in hopes of ruining their careers, with some success. Influence Watch highlighted that the outfit has not similarly bothered to target any of those Democratic-aligned lawyers who have challenged elections or election laws in recent years.

Despite the partisan outfit's supposedly noble aims, its initiative ultimately appears oriented toward depriving political opponents of effective legal representation, as guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment.

There may, however, be a reckoning on the horizon.

America First Legal, run by Stephen Miller, President-elect Donald Trump's new White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, punched back late last month with bar complaints of its own — against both the managing director of the 65 Project and former Jan. 6 committee member Liz Cheney, signaling the possibility of mutual combat and/or mutually assured destruction.

Blaze News has explored the fallout of the 65 Project's lawfare as well as its unintended consequences, not the least of which is balkanization in the legal world and the likelihood of retribution targeting lawyers of another stripe.

What is the 65 Project?

In the wake of the 2020 presidential election, attorneys across the country were involved in efforts to challenge the results, citing apparent irregularities. Trump allies and supporters filed over 60 lawsuits, which NBC News indicated were championed by solo practitioners and state attorneys general alike.

The 65 Project, named after one total of such lawsuits, was apparently cooked up by Democratic operative Melissa Moss, a former Democratic National Committee finance director who served in the Clinton administration. The initiative was incubated within LawWorks, a "fiscally sponsored project" of the D.C.-based Franklin Education Forum whose principal officer, as of 2022, was Media Matters founder David Brock, an early adviser for the 65 Project.

Extra to working with billionaire George Soros and other leftists to attack Republicans and founding a super PAC that spent roughly $85 million on Democrats in the 2020 election, Brock previously did his best in hopes of getting Hillary Clinton elected in 2016. After this failed, Brock's buddy later challenged the results and claimed that Trump was an illegitimate president — without consequence.

'It's a tactic.'

Other early advisers for the 65 Project included former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle; the American Bar Association's first woman president, Roberta Cooper Ramo; Christine Durham, a Democratic appointee who served on the Utah Supreme Court; and former Republican Paul Rosenzweig, a Department of Homeland Security official in the George W. Bush administration.

The outfit is presently run by Michael Teter, with Moss in an advisory role. Teter previously worked as campaign manager for former Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl (Wisc.), as Wisconsin field director for former climate czar John Kerry's failed presidential campaign, and as deputy finance director for the California Democratic Party.

According to its website, the 65 Project is a

bi-partisan effort to protect democracy and preserve the rule of law by deterring future attacks on our electoral system. We are holding accountable Big Lie Lawyers who bring fraudulent and malicious lawsuits to overturn legitimate election results, and working with bar associations to revitalize the disciplinary process so that lawyers, including public officials, who subvert democracy will be punished.

Jennifer Rubin, the Washington Post writer who got caught lying about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and recently likened Trump's landslide 2024 victory to Adolf Hitler taking power, was among the radicals who celebrated the initiative in early 2022, writing, "The 65Project's announcement should come as a relief to democracy defenders who think many lawyers failed miserably in their professional obligations."

"If the bar complaints deter lawyers from helping Trump or other politicians in a future insurrection, the 65Project's effort will have achieved some much-needed democratic hygiene," added Rubin.

Blaze News reached out to the 65 Project for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.

The targets (so far)

The 65 Project has filed ethics complaints against scores of attorneys, including Harvard University law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz; Trump attorney Boris Epshteyn; John Eastman, the founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence; Mississippi's first female attorney general, Lynn Fitch; Alabama Attorney General Steven Marshall; West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey; Arkansas Lt. Governor Leslie Rutledge; and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).

Dr. David J. Luban, professor of law and philosophy at Georgetown Law, told Blaze News that the 65 Project complaints "seem to be based on four rules: It's unethical to file frivolous lawsuits; to make false statements of facts to courts; to make false statements of fact to third parties; and the all-purpose prohibition on conduct involving 'dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.'"

Dershowitz, who helped advance the case Lake v. Hobbs, which called for the 2022 Arizona governor's election to be overturned, told USA Today last year, "It's a tactic."

"People will not take on Trump-related cases," said Dershowitz. "That's the intention, and that's the result."

'They did file a flagrantly and maliciously false bar complaint against me.'

Harry W. MacDougald and Daniel J. Hartman were among those attorneys targeted by the Democrat-aligned group.

In February 2023, the 65 Project pressed the State Bar of Georgia to investigate MacDougald's work in Pearson v. Kemp and Wood V. Raffensperger and to make an example of him.

MacDougald told Blaze News that while ultimately thwarted, the attack on his livelihood nevertheless proved impactful.

"Yes, they did file a flagrantly and maliciously false bar complaint against me, which resulted in false and defamatory publicity against me," said MacDougald, a managing partner at Caldwell, Carlson, Elliott & DeLoach. "The complaint progressed to the investigative phase and was dismissed by the State Disciplinary Board in August of this year. It is still on their website to this day."

"Especially shameful are the members of the 65 Project’s Advisory Board, who are all extremely prominent lawyers," said MacDougald, alluding to Durham, Ramo, and Rosenzweig, as well as to past advisory board members Stuart Gerson, a former Clinton Justice Department official, and Renee Knake Jefferson, a Democrat serving on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees.

"Even if they did not have personal knowledge of the falsity of the allegations made against me and others, they lent their imprimatur to the false and defamatory allegations made by the 65 Project against me and others and to the wrongful and abusive purposes of the entire project," added MacDougald.

Last year, the 65 Project also requested that the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission investigate Hartman for allegedly violating the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct. The project accused Hartman of presenting frivolous claims, making false statements of law and fact, and burdening state and county officials.

Hartman represented the Macomb County Republican Party, voters Jason Ickes and Ken Beyer, and others when they sued Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) in 2022, requesting that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan decertify the state's 2020 presidential election result, recall Biden's presidential electors, and rerun the election.

The lawsuit alleged that the electronic voting system used by Michigan in the election was not certified or accredited in accordance with state law and that the lab used to certified the systems was not lawfully authorized to perform testing.

Hartman also acted as counsel for the plaintiffs in Karamo et al. v. Janice Winfrey, Detroit City Clerk, who sought to halt the use of absentee ballots that are obtained without identification.

When pressed about his targeting by the 65 Project, the Michigan lawyer told Blaze News that he "was sanctioned unjustly" and was "out-resourced 1,000 to 1."

Although "shunned by some," Hartman said he has also been "silently applauded by many."

Taking pieces off the board

Bruce Green, a professor at Fordham Law School, is among the legal experts who raised concerns about the 65 Project and the public nature of its witch hunts.

"That's basically designed to embarrass these lawyers, and that may have the effect of discouraging lawyers from engaging in politically involved work, even if they're playing by the rules, because a group like this can misconstrue what they're doing and embarrass them," Green told CNN in 2022.

'You're threatening their livelihood.'

MacDougald told Blaze News that Green's assessment was "100% correct and was in fact the explicitly stated purpose of the 65 Project."

David Brock indicated at the outset that the goal was to "not only bring the grievances in the bar complaints, but shame them and make them toxic in their communities and in their firm."

"I think the littler fish are probably more vulnerable to what we're doing," Brock told Axios. "You're threatening their livelihood."

Hartman also confirmed that the 65 Project has enjoyed some success in this regard.

"Many have told me that it was not worth the risk to participate in election law cases," Hartman told Blaze News. "They cite the reasons of family, career, or wealth at stake but most often plead lack of time or lack of training."

Luban does not share Green's concern. The Georgetown professor struck a contrast between those election-fraud cases where the "complaints simply cut and pasted a bunch of conspiracy theories or affidavits from people who were mad about the 2020 election but had no firsthand evidence of fraud" or "were based on outlandish legal theories" on the one hand, and "serious challenges to state election law, which were not frivolous and involved no dishonesty" on the other hand.

Luban suggested that in the case of the former, the "bar ought to discipline those lawyers, who were clearly abusing the court system for political reasons."

"I don't share Bruce Green's worry that disciplining them will chill advocacy," said Luban. "Abusing the legal system to attack a valid election on frivolous or dishonest grounds is conduct that needs to be deterred."

The trouble, at least for Green, is that in some cases, it may be difficult even for a reasonable lawyer to distinguish between a frivolous claim and a legitimate claim.

"The line between a weak claim or a losing claim on the one hand and a frivolous one on the other is sometimes not so clear," Green told USA Today. "You have to have some facts to support your claim, and you have to have some legal arguments that aren't ridiculous."

It appears that politically minded actors are keen to hold certain attorneys to a different standard as a mode of lawfare.

When asked whether the legal professional has ever seen anything like this coordinated effort to ruin attorneys professionally and financially, Harman answered in the affirmative, noting, "There have been various instances in American history where lawyers or the legal profession as a whole have been attacked, criticized, or targeted. Some of these are rooted in political or social movements, while others are more individual instances."

Hartman provided the following examples:

  • "McCarthy era (1950s): During the Red Scare, lawyers who defended individuals accused of being communists or who advocated for civil rights were often labeled as 'un-American.' Some lawyers faced investigations, disbarment, or imprisonment. This era was marked by an overall suspicion of those who defended the constitutional rights of accused persons."
  • "Civil rights era: Lawyers advocating for civil rights, particularly those representing black Americans or civil rights organizations like the NAACP, often faced significant hostility and even violence. Figures like [former Supreme Court Justice] Thurgood Marshall and other attorneys who represented civil rights activists were sometimes attacked or threatened, especially in the South."
  • "Attacks on defense attorneys representing unpopular clients: Throughout history, defense attorneys representing controversial or unpopular clients (such as those accused of terrorism, murder, or other heinous crimes) have faced public backlash, threats, and sometimes physical violence. In recent years, lawyers representing individuals accused of terrorism or hate crimes have sometimes faced public outrage, as well as harassment online or in person."
  • "Ongoing anti-lawyer sentiments and 'tort reform': There has been consistent criticism of the legal profession, particularly personal injury lawyers, who are often depicted as promoting 'frivolous lawsuits.' This has led to various tort reform movements aimed at limiting certain types of lawsuits. While not physical attacks, these movements often carry negative portrayals of lawyers in political and media narratives."
  • "Internet and social media harassment: In recent years, some high-profile lawyers, especially those involved in political cases or defending controversial figures, have been harassed or doxxed online. This type of harassment can extend to threats against the lawyers and their families."

MacDougald similarly alluded to retaliation efforts against lawyers "in our history such as in the Antebellum or Red Scare or labor unrest periods," but suggested that earlier attacks were likely "more organic and ad hoc."

"I doubt that any of the prior campaigns were organized and funded to the same extent as the 65 Project, but I don't actually know the history so I cannot say for sure," said MacDougald.

'Some people are not worthy of representation.'

"While not systemic or government-led, these examples show that attacks, harassment, and criticism directed at lawyers do occur in America, often tied to the cases they take or the issues they represent," said Hartman.

In terms of the 65 Project, he noted that he has seen "the campaign take out several good lawyers."

"The 65 Project has effectively kept many lawyers on the sideline who have decided the cost is too high and the likelihood of success is too low," added Hartman.

Genie is out of the bottle

When asked whether it is possible to put the genie back in the bottle or whether there will be more 65 Project-style complaints in the future, Luban told Blaze News, "We already have: America First Legal has filed an ethics complaint against the head of the 65 Project. They have also filed an ethics complaint against Liz Cheney, for having talked with Cassidy Hutchinson without clearing it with her lawyer, [Stefan] Passantino."

AFL filed a bar complaint against Liz Cheney with the D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel on Oct. 21, alleging that she violated the D.C. Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2. by communicating with former deputy White House counsel Stefan Passantino's client, Cassidy Hutchinson, without his knowledge or approval.

The conservative nonprofit then filed a bar complaint against Teter one week later on behalf of Passantino, suggesting that the Utah State Bar should open an investigation into whether the 65 Project:

  • violated Rule 8.4 of the Utah Rules of Professional conduct by "engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice by seeking to punish lawyers associated with a single client";
  • violated Rule 301 of the rules governing the Utah State Bar by "abusing the attorney grievance process to create a 'culture of deterrence' and ascribing class-wide misconduct against anyone who seeks to represent President Donald J. Trump and by seeking sanctions for an improper purpose"; and
  • engaged in conduct "contrary to the standards of professionalism and civility envisioned by the Rules of Professional Conduct."

When announcing the complaint, AFL noted, "Mr. Passantino and the other attorneys attacked by Mr. Teter and other, similarly motivated groups sought to represent their clients in the face of widespread condemnation both inside and outside of the legal profession. They embody the highest ideal of the legal profession: that, in our system, everyone is entitled to legal representation."

"Mr. Teter's boilerplate complaints appear to exhibit a fundamental lack of professionalism toward his fellow lawyers and an extreme disdain for President Trump and his associates," continued the conservative nonprofit. "His underlying message is clear: Some people are not worthy of representation, and those who dare to represent them will be punished."

Gene Hamilton, AFL executive director, said in a statement:

For too long, "lawfare" like that undertaken by the 65 Project and other, similarly motivated groups has chilled attorneys across the country from representing clients or advancing certain lawful positions for those clients. Seeking the personal destruction and financial ruin of another lawyer — simply because of the client he represented or the cause he took up — runs counter to not only the letter and spirit of the law governing the activities of lawyers, but is completely contrary to the way we conduct ourselves in a free society. We seek a return to a world in which lawyers can be lawyers, zealously advocate for their clients, and strive for a better future without fear of harassment or intimidation simply because of the clients or causes they take up. The abuses of the system must stop.

Professor Luban did not remark on the complaint against Teter but noted that the complaint against Cheney "is completely frivolous and dishonest. The no-contact rule only applies to lawyers who are representing a client, which Cheney was not."

Blaze News reached out to AFL for comment but did not receive a comment by deadline.

Regardless of whether these complaints prove successful, it appears that elements of the right are now willing to respond in kind to the 65 Project and similar initiatives.

"Lawfare and professional attacks will continue," Hartman told Blaze News.

The prospect of mutual combat might make partisans think twice about seeking the strategic ruination of attorneys, however the remedy may lay elsewhere.

Blaze News senior editor and podcast host Daniel Horowitz of "Conservative Review" told Blaze News, "We need bar reform badly. We cannot continue to have what is essentially a private left-wing fiefdom wielding quasi-governmental authority over the legal profession and the judicial branch of government itself."

Horowitz further recommended that red states "become sanctuaries for those attorneys who have been targeted prima facie because of their worldview and not because of unethical behavior."

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Blaze News original: Christians to provide happy Thanksgiving to hurricane victims in Western North Carolina



As devastating as the images were coming out of Western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene in late September, sadly, it is all too easy for those of us personally unaffected by the storm to move on with our lives. Emotions were high leading up to the election, and now supporters of President-elect Donald Trump have focused much of their attention on the prospects of his second term.

Not so for those in North Carolina. Though voter turnout was still remarkably high in North Carolina, exceeding turnout in 2020 by more than 100,000 votes and exceeding 2016 numbers by more than 1 million, much of the western part of the state, normally protected from the storms that batter the coast with some regularity, remains wiped out from flooding.

Not content to carry on with the holiday season while their compatriots across the state still suffer, some Christians in an eastern region of North Carolina have made preparations to provide supplies, Bibles, and a hearty Thanksgiving meal to those in need.

To learn more about what has been dubbed Operation Thanksgiving Blessings, Blaze News spoke with the man behind the plans, David Burke, who in turn prefers to give all the credit to someone else.

"No way in the world would all this stuff ever have happened if it wasn't for God," he said, adding with a laugh, "I'm not that smart."

Operation Thanksgiving Blessings

Blaze News spoke with Burke on multiple occasions and can verify that he is, indeed, that smart. By trade a project manager for a metal fabrication company, Burke has also been known to dabble in some cooking competitions.

"I was ranked as high as #3 in the state of North Carolina for whole-hog BBQ competition with the Roth Carolina Pork Council," he noted proudly in a message to Blaze News.

After attending church one Sunday morning in early October, just a week or so after Hurricane Helene ravaged his state, Burke sensed that he had to do more for the victims than pray or write a check.

"The Sunday school lesson was on home community service, of all things," he said. "I'm 59 years old. Never once have I had a Sunday school lesson on community service until about three weeks ago, four weeks ago."

David Burke, speaking to children at a church that donated 100 Bibles for Operation Thanksgiving Blessings. Photo used with permission.

After a series of coincidences, putting Burke in touch with people living hours away, he finally figured out what he was going to do: arrange to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for those living in an area that has thus far received little help from the government.

Citing Newland, North Carolina, Mayor Derek Roberts, who claimed his daughter received just $300 from FEMA after losing her entire house to the flooding, Burke claimed that government assistance has been almost nonexistent in some cases and that the people of Western North Carolina have more or less had to fend for themselves.

"I knew right then that's where we needed to go," Burke told Blaze News.

Burke lives near Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, a rural area about 100 miles northeast of Raleigh and more than 260 miles east — about a six-hour drive — from Elk Park, the area he intended to feed. The distance and the scope of his plans meant that Burke needed help.

As so many people do these days, Burke turned to social media, creating a Facebook page as a landing site for those interested in getting involved. And, as it were, the floodgates opened.

Famed turkey company Butterball donated 100 turkeys weighing about 24 pounds each. Glover Construction is providing enough ingredients to make 300 gallons of Brunswick stew, a local staple that Burke described as "a thick vegetable soup." Even an area prison with a farm on its grounds reportedly offered 180 dozen eggs — more than 2,100 total — for the effort.

Restaurants such as Napoli Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Murfreesboro chipped in by holding fundraisers. By pooling all proceeds from the fundraiser — including tips — Napoli's alone collected $4,000 for Operation Thanksgiving Blessings.

Napoli's owner, Mari Rizo, told Blaze News she was thrilled with the success of the fundraiser.

"At Napoli's Pizza and Italian Restaurant, we’ve always believed in the power of community. When we heard about the devastating impact of the hurricane on families in Western North Carolina, we felt compelled to help. Our team wanted to do something meaningful to give back, especially with Thanksgiving approaching," Rizo said in a statement to Blaze News.

"To the families in Western North Carolina who are facing difficult times, we want you to know that we are thinking of you. We hope that this gesture helps to bring some comfort and joy to your holiday. Our hearts are with you, and we will continue to do everything we can to support you through this difficult time."

Photo of Napoli's fundraiser. Used with permission.

The Seaboard Lions Club, of which Burke is a member, has also collected monetary and supply donations and stored them on the organization's 20-acre site.

"Everybody knows somebody, and in our world, the more people you know ... [the] better off you are," Burke said of the growing network of donors and volunteers involved with Operation Thanksgiving Blessings.

Burke told Blaze News that his initial goal was to cook and serve about 5,000 total meals on Thanksgiving Day, but that goal expanded after he spoke with a woman who had a similar idea about feeding others living near Fletcher, North Carolina — about 90 miles away from Elk Park — on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

"We got another 40 turkeys donated and another 20 hams, and so what we're gonna do is we're gonna cook all that food for those 500 as well on Thanksgiving Day, and we'll pack it in bulk and send it to her. And then all she'll have to do is warm it back up and serve 500 people on Saturday as well," Burke explained.

As generous as a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal is, the food represents just a tiny fraction of the goods and services Operation Thanksgiving Blessings will offer those in Western North Carolina.

Burke and his team have loaded 53-foot trailers with other supplies as well, including clothes for the winter, heaters, blankets, baby supplies, gloves, hats, personal hygiene items, paper products, and cleaning supplies. ORBIS Corporation even donated 750 plastic bins for storage, a necessity for folks who lost not only all their possessions but a place in which to keep them.

"ORBIS is honored to support this incredible cause and support the people of Western North Carolina in their time of need," the company told Blaze News.

Photo of supplies. Used with permission.

The details

The crew from the Roanoke Rapids area has already begun packing up trailers and trucks, ready to haul everything out to the western part of the state just a day or so before Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving Day, they will set up shop at Cranberry Middle School at 6051 N. U.S. Hwy 19E in Elk Park, North Carolina. Folks can begin arriving at 11 a.m. and sit down and enjoy their meal or pick one up and take it to go.

Screenshot of flyer featured on OTB Facebook page. Used with permission.

Burke told Blaze News that his group has all the supplies and donations it can handle. He suggested that anyone still interested in making a monetary donation mail a check to the Seaboard Lions Club at P.O. Box 76, Seaboard, North Carolina, 27876. Sending it to David Burke's attention and including "OTB" on the memo line of the check will help earmark it for Operation Thanksgiving Blessings.

Burke emphasized to Blaze News that "every red penny" the Lions Club receives will be distributed to people living in and around Elk Park. Ever committed to transparency, Burke even offered to have Blaze News share his private phone number in this article, an offer that we politely declined.

"I don't want people to sit around and wonder what we're doing," he explained. "I want them to see exactly what's going on and see God at work."

Feeding bellies and souls

Burke, a devout Christian, takes the biblical call to love and serve others seriously, and he is happy to use his talents as a project manager and as a chef to give those who have lost all their material possessions a Thanksgiving meal they will never forget.

However, he believes that evangelizing them for Christ is even more important.

"We're looking for that one person out there that doesn't believe, doesn't think God is real," he told Blaze News, "and it is our hope that we can change his mind or her mind."

"By showing them that people care and that God has been working this whole time to make all this come together, maybe, just maybe, we'll save that one," he continued.

Burke is hardly the only Christian involved in Operation Thanksgiving Blessings. In fact, he has teamed up with members of churches across the state to identify and reach people in need.

For instance, Burke connected with a pastor from his hometown of Murfreesboro but now living in Boone, North Carolina, who began collecting supplies sent via Amazon from all over the country. Burke also made contact with the student body president of Appalachian State University, who once attended Sunday school taught by Burke and his wife.

"I called and talked to her, and I told her ... 'Go out there, and you tell these people that you're gonna come bring some help to them at Thanksgiving. ... And I'll be standing right behind you,'" he recalled to Blaze News. "I said, 'You've been on mission trips with me before. You know exactly what I want to get done. So let's see if we can make it happen.'"

Burke acknowledged to Blaze News that some people, especially those who lost their homes, pets, and even loved ones in Hurricane Helene might struggle to believe in a loving, all-powerful God. But he added that faith in the face of doubt is still the answer.

"Why did God let this happen? I can't answer that question, but it's all within His plan," he explained. "His plan has meaning. He doesn't make any mistakes, and so all we have to do is we have to have the faith."

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Blaze News original: Border Patrol whistleblower's career on the line after spotlighting trafficking horrors



Border Patrol Agent Zachary Apotheker faces an ongoing internal investigation that could potentially lead to his termination after he publicly expressed concerns about how open-border policies are fueling the illegal child trafficking crisis in the nation.

Apotheker started his Border Patrol career at the southern border and moved to the northern border's Swanton Sector last year.

Since sharing his concerns during podcast appearances and interviews with media outlets, he says that Customs and Border Protection has retaliated against him despite whistleblower protection laws.

Apotheker has warned that there are "many ways to beat the [immigration] system" as it currently exists. His biggest concern is the disturbing increase in child trafficking.

'I'm assuming they're going to move to terminate me.'

He noted that the Border Patrol's ability to look into the criminal background of foreign nationals crossing the border is limited.

"We don't have their criminal history," Apotheker told Blaze News.

"The adults may not show up with documents, but then the children may not show up with documents, or maybe false documents. So we're just taking their word that this child is now this person's child — that's their biological parents," he said. "We don't even know if the adult that they're with is a criminal."

"We really can't definitively say, and we can't track them," he continued. "Now, imagine if they're unaccompanied [minors]."

"We're just sending them somewhere, so maybe a relative's house. How do we even know that it's the relative's house? And then who's following up on it?" he questioned.

In early September, Apotheker appeared for an interview on the "Fresh&Fit Podcast," where he shared how illegal immigrants exploit the current border policies to traffic humans and drugs into the United States.

Shortly after the podcast's release, he received a cease-and-desist letter from Customs and Border Protection.

Around the same time, Apotheker was also featured in James O'Keefe's documentary, "Line in the Sand," where he spoke out about child trafficking.

In the film, Apotheker mentioned the horrific slaying of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a University of Georgia nursing student, who was murdered while jogging near campus. The man charged with Riley's murder is a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who was in the U.S. illegally and is a suspected member of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua.

Apotheker told O'Keefe, "When a girl like Laken Riley is jogging, she's top of her class at nursing, and we sign those f***ing files, man, that's blood on our hands."

"If it was your mother or your sister or your aunt, how would you feel?"

He told Blaze News that CBP questioned him about his appearance in the documentary film.

Apotheker responded to CBP officials, writing, "I participated in Line in the Sand Film on duty in uniform, as did many other Border Patrol Agents."

In the film, several other Border Patrol officers spoke with O'Keefe while on duty.

He also added that he provided "no CBP information to any non-CBP employee" and gave "zero information that is not public."

Apotheker noted that the "only compensation" he received for participating in the film "was a free, clean, and clear" conscience.

"I told the truth to the American Public and fulfilled my duty to the Constitution of the United States of America," he wrote.

In his letter to CBP officials, Apotheker highlighted that the Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that over 300,000 children are missing. He further pointed out that CBP's failure to collect biometric data on children makes correctly identifying them "effectively impossible."

According to the Department of Homeland Security, "As the regulations currently exempt certain aliens from the collection of biometrics, including those under 14 and over 79, as well as individuals in certain visa classes, CBP does not use fingerprints to confirm the traveler's identity in these cases."

Apotheker told Blaze News that the agency stripped him of his government-issued firearm the same week he responded to the questioning.

'It's like these little mind game tricks. ... They found a way to do what you can't prove.'

On October 11, he received a memo from a CBP division chief informing him that he is "currently under investigation ... for allegations related to serious breaches of integrity and/or security policies."

The agency's memo explained that it was "in the best interest of CBP to temporarily revoke your authority to carry a Government-issued firearm." However, it claimed that the firearm revocation was "not a disciplinary action."

Without a firearm, Apotheker was taken out of the field and instructed to report to work "in business casual attire."

The memo was signed with an indecipherable handwritten signature belonging to a Swanton Sector division chief. No corresponding printed name to identify the individual was listed.

Image Source: Zachary Apotheker

Apotheker told Blaze News, "They pulled my gun, which takes me out of the field. I can't do my job."

"It's kind of rare for them to take your gun for no other reason and say it wasn't disciplinary but not take your law enforcement credentials," he added.

Soon after receiving the memo, Apotheker was served another notice, this one compelling his sworn testimony on October 17 before a Department of Homeland Security special agent.

Apotheker was informed that he would be questioned about his "general misconduct/disruptive behavior."

He attended the compelled administrative hearing but was advised by his legal representation not to answer any questions.

"I feel I've done nothing wrong," Apotheker stated. He acknowledged that wearing his Border Patrol uniform during the podcast appearance breached the agency's policy. However, he explained that he only did so after filing a whistleblower report through the DHS' Office of Inspector General and speaking to a member of Congress, and "nothing was done."

"I used discretion," he said. "The country needs to be made aware of this."

He explained that his legal counsel, obtained through the Citizenship Journalism Foundation, instructed him not to participate in the CBP's "retaliatory investigation."

"We just didn't want to legitimize that meeting," he told Blaze News. "I don't feel like I should be being investigated. If anything, I feel like they should be asking me what I know and how to resolve it."

The day after the hearing, Apotheker received a notice informing him that his law enforcement authority had been revoked, citing his "fail[ure] to respond to questions asked of you during an administrative interview conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Professional Responsibility."

"Your refusal to participate in a compelled interview called into question your ability to perform the law enforcement functions of your positions as a Border Patrol Agent," the memo read.

Apotheker was required to hand in the rest of his Border Patrol gear, including his badge, body armor, and radio.

"Consequently, you will be placed on administrative duties immediately," the memo continued. "Your access to the building and computer systems will be modified to limit your accessibility only to those areas necessary to perform your assigned administrative duties. Since you will not be performing law enforcement duties, you are not to wear your uniform and will adhere to business casual dress code standards."

Again, the memo mentioned, "Please note that this is not a disciplinary action, but is necessary, given the nature of the allegation(s) against you, in order to preserve the trust of the public we serve."

The memo contained the same division chief's signature and, again, no printed name.

Image Source: Zachary Apotheker

Apotheker told Blaze News that the agency changed his schedule and significantly cut his hours.

"Not only did they cut my overtime, which is a big amount of money, but from switching me from nights to mornings, what they're basically trying to do is apply financial pressure to me because you get a 10% night differential for every hour after 6 p.m.," he said.

Apotheker stated that his pay was slashed by at least $25,000-$35,000 with "all the tricks they did." He feels the changes were "100% retaliatory," despite the agency's insistence otherwise.

"They would do everything they could to make it more difficult for me," he said.

'We're gonna battle this out.'

Apotheker recounted that even before his equipment was confiscated and his law enforcement powers were stripped, his superiors seemed to go out of their way to make his time at work more challenging, including stationing him in the most remote areas of the sector. After driving for hours to reach his assignment, he would soon be summoned back for last-minute meetings, he said.

"They'd send me out to the furthest part of our area. I drive out there for two hours, they call me back. Now, it happened consistently," he said. "Every day, I knew that I was gonna get called over the radio to come in for another meeting where they could have just had the meeting then and there."

"It's like these little mind game tricks," Apotheker added. "They found a way to do what you can't prove."

He explained that before he left the southern border and relocated to the Swanton Sector, he "was known as someone that was not happy with what was going on in Arizona."

"And when I came up here, I felt like that followed me — that I was a person with a reputation that would speak out against what's going on instead of just doing it and shutting up," Apotheker added.

He stated he got the impression that his leadership "wanted to make it known to me that that wasn't going to be tolerated up here."

Apotheker told Blaze News that Border Patrol Agents have "worked harder on the northern border than we have down south because, per capita, we have less agents to do so much work."

"We have a lot of drive-throughs up here, which means people will physically take a vehicle and drive from Canada into America, which should be a massive crime. You're not just crossing; now you're taking a vehicle across. You're driving past an international boundary," he explained. "If it's a family, sometimes they've taken us on chases."

The Swanton Sector is the most heavily trafficked northern border section, covering 24,000 square miles.

In October, Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia announced, "Border Patrol Agents in Swanton Sector have apprehended more than 19,222 subjects from 97 different countries since October 1, 2023, which is more than its last 17 fiscal years combined."

Apotheker is concerned that the CBP's internal investigation will ultimately result in his firing.

When asked what is next for him, Apotheker told Blaze News, "We're gonna battle this out."

"I'm assuming they're going to move to terminate me," he continued, but he noted that "there's a lot of different things that could happen."

"I don't want it to be about me," Apotheker added. "I want it to be about what's going on the last three and a half years, which everybody knows, and I want to expose the people that are trying to remove me for telling the truth. And that's my goal is that I'm not going to give in."

Neither CBP nor DHS-OIG responded to Blaze News' requests for comment.