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Friday, July 18, 2025

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3 hours ago
Politics
World

Trump Ally Bolsonaro Detained in Brazil Amid Concerns He Will Seek Asylum in U.S.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly been fitted with an electronic ankle tag by authorities amid concerns he might seek asylum in the U.S., where he has the support of President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Supreme Court, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and President Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Brazil, as Bolsonaro faces trial before the country’s Supreme Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you.” – Donald Trump in a letter to Bolsonaro.

🎯IMPACT: Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup against President Lula and faces trial, with potential implications for Brazil’s democracy and political stability.

IN FULL

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former populist president, has reportedly been fitted with an electronic ankle tag by authorities over concerns he may attempt to flee to the United States and seek asylum. Brazilian prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro, sometimes known as the ‘Tropical Trump,’ of plotting a coup against the incumbent far-left President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and he is now facing trial before the country’s Supreme Court. The allegations have heightened tensions in Brazil, with Bolsonaro still holding significant public support.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his support for Bolsonaro, writing in a recent letter, “Terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you.” Additionally, earlier this month, Trump announced he would increase U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods to 50 percent on August 1, 2025—in part as punishment for the country’s political persecution of Bolsonaro.

In response to the tariff threat, President Lula declared that Brazilian political leaders who support Bolsonaro and Trump are “traitors to the homeland.” He added: “Brazil has only one owner: the Brazilian people.” However, judges have already denied the Brazilian people the opportunity to vote for Bolsonaro by banning him from standing for election.

Meanwhile, in a Thursday post on Truth Social, President Trump demanded that Lula “changes course” and “stop attacking” Bolsonaro. Unlike most of the other tariff measures imposed by Trump, the trade duties on Brazilian goods are being justified in almost entirely political terms, linked to the South American country’s treatment of Bolsonaro.

Responding to the 50 percent tariff imposition in a letter to the Trump administration, Brazil expressed “indignation” at the increased trade duties. Though Lula insists he is “betting on good commercial and diplomatic relations” to ensure the U.S. tariffs on his country are lowered in the near term.

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29 minutes ago
William Upton
Politics

Federal Govt Slashed by Over 22,000 Across D.C., MD, and VA.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The total federal workforce in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has been reduced by an estimated 22,000 employees, according to data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and federal workers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The central bank study was released on Thursday, July 17, and covers the period between January and May 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “On net, federal employment in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia has declined by roughly 22,100 positions,” the bank stated.

🎯IMPACT: Maryland has seen a 5.4 percent decrease in federal employment. Virginia has seen a 4.8 percent decline, but the District of Columbia has only seen a 1.9 percent drop.

IN FULL

New data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond reveals the total federal workforce in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has been reduced by an estimated 22,000 employees. The U.S. central bank’s Richmond branch suggests the number of federal workers being laid off will continue to increase in the foreseeable future.

Notably, federal government employment comprises a significant portion of the total employment in Maryland (5.4 percent), Virginia (4.4 percent), and Washington, D.C. (24.6 percent). As a result of workforce reduction initiatives implemented by President Donald J. Trump, including some cuts enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Maryland has seen a 5.4 percent decrease in federal employment. Meanwhile, Virginia has seen a 4.8 percent decline, though the District of Columbia has only seen a 1.9 percent drop.

“There is evidence that the attempt to shrink the federal workforce is having an impact on the DMV region of the Fifth District,” the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond study states, concluding: “On net, federal employment in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia has declined by roughly 22,100 positions, and there has been a sustained increase in unemployment claims, particularly in D.C. proper.”

The number of federal layoffs is likely to increase exponentially after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that previously blocked the Trump administration from cutting workforces across 19 federal departments and agencies. Only one justice dissented, suggesting that Trump will ultimately prevail in a final ruling by the high court.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
Immigration
World

Europe Wants to Start Sending Migrants Back to Syria and Afghanistan.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: European Union (EU) interior ministers—whose roles are roughly equivalent to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary’s—declared that deportations to Afghanistan and Syria must be permitted.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, and ministers from France, Poland, Austria, Denmark, and Czechia.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The declaration was made at the Zugspitze Summit in Germany in July.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These are all enormously important steps toward a credible asylum policy in Europe,” said Gerhard Karner.

🎯IMPACT: The declaration pushes for faster return mechanisms for irregular migrants and strengthens Frontex’s mandate.

IN FULL

At the mountaintop Zugspitze Summit in Germany, European Union (EU) interior ministers pushed for deportations to Afghanistan and Syria, both now relatively stable as a result of victories by the Taliban and al-Qaeda Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), respectively.

The interior ministers advocated for stricter migration policies across the EU, where migrant crime is an increasing concern. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt led the summit, which also included representatives from France, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Czechia, and EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner.

The group underscored the importance of streamlining and accelerating the process for deporting migrants, saying deportations to Syria and Afghanistan “must be possible.” Their statement also urged an enhanced role for Frontex, the European Union border agency, to support EU nations in deporting migrants to designated hubs in third countries. The Trump administration in the U.S. is implementing a similar policy, deporting migrants who cannot be sent home immediately to third countries such as Swaziland and South Sudan.

Germany carried out its first deportation of convicted criminals to Afghanistan since 2024 on the same day as the summit, with Austria having recently conducted a similar deportation to Syria—the first EU deportations to the country since the former Assad government was overthrown by HTS.

Image by Shark1989z.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Health
Politics

This U.S. Territory Just Banned Sex Changes for Under-21s.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Sex change surgeries for people under 21 have been banned in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the use of public funds for such procedures has been prohibited.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (R), Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz (R), and the Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bill was signed into law on Wednesday and will take effect in October.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The protection of our children and the well-being of all minors is fundamental and non-negotiable!” — Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz

🎯IMPACT: Sex change medics face fines, prison time, and license revocation for violations, but the law’s constitutionality is set to be challenged in court.

IN FULL

Puerto Rico has enacted a law banning sex change surgeries for people under the age of 21 and prohibiting the use of public funds for such procedures. Governor Jenniffer González-Colón (R) signed the bill into law on Wednesday. The legislation imposes fines of $50,000 per violation on medics who provide hormone therapy or sex change surgeries to minors in the U.S. territory, along with potential penalties of 15 years in prison and the revocation of medical licenses and permits.

Puerto Rican Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz (R), who authored the legislation, celebrated the signing, stating, “The protection of our children and the well-being of all minors is fundamental and non-negotiable!”

The law emphasizes officials’ responsibility to protect minors, stating, “Minors, having not yet reached the necessary emotional, cognitive, and physical maturity, are particularly vulnerable to making decisions that can have irreversible consequences. Therefore, it is the State’s duty to ensure their comprehensive well-being.”

The Puerto Rico LGBTQ+ Federation has announced plans to challenge the law in court. Co-director Justin Jesús Santiago described the law as “cruel and inhumane,” while federation president Pedro Julio Serrano criticized Governor González-Colón, calling her “the most anti-equity governor in history.”

Image by Quinn Dombrowski.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Crime

D.C. Police Commander Investigated for Allegedly Faking Crime Data.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A D.C. police commander is under investigation for allegedly altering crime statistics.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Michael Pulliam, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Fraternal Order of Police.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation began mid-May in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “That’s preposterous. There’s absolutely no way crime could be down 28 percent.” — Gregg Pemberton, Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police

🎯IMPACT: The investigation and allegations could affect public trust in crime data reporting.

IN FULL

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has confirmed that Michael Pulliam, a Washington, D.C. police commander, is under investigation for allegedly doctoring crime statistics. The investigation began after the Fraternal Order of Police complained that the department was deliberately falsifying crime data.

The police union reports that supervisors are manipulating data to show a significant decrease in violent crime compared to the previous year. Pulliam, who was the commander of the 3rd District, was placed on paid leave and informed of the investigation into his actions in mid-May, according to law enforcement sources.

Gregg Pemberton, Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police, stated that there is a trend of altering crime classifications to lower the apparent crime rates. “When our members respond to the scene of a felony offense… there will be a lieutenant or a captain that will show up on that scene and direct those members to take a report for a lesser offense,” Pemberton explained. “So, instead of taking a report for a shooting or a stabbing or a carjacking, they will order that officer to take a report for a theft or an injured person to the hospital or a felony assault, which is not the same type of classification.”

Pemberton described recently released statistics suggesting violent crime is down 28 percent in the American capital as “preposterous,” stressing: “There’s absolutely no way crime could be down 28 percent. Last year, they suggested that it went down 34 percent.”

Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department stated that any irregularities in crime data will be addressed immediately. She claimed that reclassifying criminal offenses outside of MPD policy guidelines is not condoned.

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4 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Dem-Backed Illegal Charged With Staging ICE ‘Kidnapping’ to Solicit Donations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Mexican illegal alien backed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) has been charged with allegedly staging her own “kidnapping” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to solicit donations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, her daughter, Karen Bass, and federal law enforcement agencies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Los Angeles, California, with events unfolding in June and July 2023.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public.” – U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli

🎯IMPACT: The scheme diverted valuable law enforcement resources, according to HSI Special Agent Eddy Wang.

IN FULL

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is charging Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old Mexican illegal alien residing in South Los Angeles, with conspiracy and making false statements after she allegedly orchestrated her own “kidnapping” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to gain sympathy and solicit donations. The alleged conwoman had received the public backing of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), who said in a July 1 social media post, “She’s a mother from LA—taken out of her car on her way to work, and then held in a warehouse as officers hoped she would ‘self-deport.’ No hearing. Just fear. This doesn’t make anyone safer.”

A press conference by Calderon’s attorneys and relations claimed she was abducted by uniformed men in unmarked vehicles on June 25. Attorney Stephano Medina alleged that Calderon was held by “bounty hunters” who attempted to coerce her into signing self-deportation documents. However, an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleges Calderon and others staged the incident as a hoax, with her daughter setting up a GoFundMe page to raise $4,500.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched an inquiry after the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) received a missing persons report. Investigators found inconsistencies, including calls Calderon allegedly made from “borrowed phones” that were traced back to her own number. Surveillance footage also contradicted claims of a forced abduction, showing Calderon calmly leaving the scene in a sedan without alerting nearby officers.

HSI agents eventually located Calderon in Bakersfield, California, where she continued to claim she had been “kidnapped.” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli criticized the false narrative, stating, “Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public.”

HSI Special Agent Eddy Wang emphasized the resource strain caused by the hoax, noting, “The real cost of a fraud like this is the amount of fentanyl not seized, child predators not removed from the communities, and human trafficking victims not rescued.”

Calderon faces up to five years in federal prison for each charge.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Media
News

Trump Mocks Colbert After Firing.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has welcomed the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert by CBS.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Stephen Colbert, CBS, Paramount (CBS’ parent company), and President Donald Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on Thursday, with the show set to conclude in May 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.” – Stephen Colbert

🎯IMPACT: Colbert’s firing appears to be linked to the merger negotiations between Paramount, the parent company of CBS, and Skydance Media.

IN FULL

On Thursday, CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, amid parent company Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance Media, which requires Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval. Colbert recently called out Paramount for its $16 million settlement with the America First leader, who has welcomed the host’s apparent firing.

“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding, “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”

During his monologue on Paramount’s settlement with CBS, Colbert had stated, “While I was on vacation, my parent corporation, Paramount, paid Donald Trump a $16 million settlement over his 60 Minutes lawsuit. As someone who has always been a proud employee of this network, I am offended, and I don’t know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company.”

In a press release, CBS described the decision to fire Colbert as “agonizing,” claiming that the move was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

Colbert addressed his audience on Thursday, saying, “It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

ICE Agent Dragged for a Block By Illegal Immigrant.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant allegedly dragged a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with his van for an entire block during an attempted escape in Dallas, Texas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Honduran national Jose Melgar-Rivas and ICE officers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in Dallas, Texas, with details posted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Attacks on our officers will NOT be tolerated. This resulted in multiple injuries to the officer’s body and ended with Jose Melgar-Rivas in cuffs.” – ICE via a post on X.

🎯IMPACT: The officer sustained multiple injuries, and Melgar-Rivas now faces charges of assaulting a federal officer alongside his existing removal order.

IN FULL

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was dragged for an entire block by a van driven by Honduran national Jose Melgar-Rivas during an attempted detention in Dallas, Texas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detailed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

According to ICE, Melgar-Rivas attempted to flee by accelerating his vehicle, dragging the officer and leaving him with severe injuries, including bruising and friction burns. The DHS highlighted the case as an example of the growing danger federal officers face, noting an 830 percent increase in assaults on ICE personnel between January 21 and July 14 compared to the same timeframe in 2024. The agency attributed this rise in part to inflammatory rhetoric from “sanctuary” politicians, which incites hostility toward ICE agents.

“Attacks on our officers will NOT be tolerated,” ICE stated on X. “This resulted in multiple injuries to the officer’s body and ended with Jose Melgar-Rivas in cuffs.”

Melgar-Rivas, who already had a final order of removal, now faces additional charges of assaulting a federal officer.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
News
Religion

King Charles Opens New Islamic Studies Center Wing Named in His Honor.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: King Charles visited the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to mark its 40th anniversary and officially opened the newly designated King Charles III Wing.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: King Charles, Dr Nizami (Director), Lord Hague (Chancellor of Oxford University), Prince Turki Al-Faisal (Chairman of the Board of Trustees), and Professor Irene Tracey (Oxford’s Vice Chancellor).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This wing will house the new King Charles III Programme.” – Dr Nizami

🎯IMPACT: The event launched initiatives like the King Charles III Programme, fostering leadership, environmental discussions, and scholarships, while further cementing ties between Western and Islamic academic traditions.

IN FULL

King Charles III visited the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies on Thursday to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The British monarch has served as its patron since 1993.

During the event, the monarch officially opened the new King Charles III Wing, named in his honour. The newly designated space will be home to the King Charles III Programme, a wide-reaching initiative aimed at fostering Islamic leadership and research on key contemporary issues.

The new programme includes a series of academic and leadership initiatives such as fellowships, support for emerging Muslim leaders, and conferences focused on environmental issues and sustainability.

Key attendees at the event included Dr Farhan Nizami, the Centre’s Director; Lord Hague, Chancellor of the University of Oxford; Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; and Professor Irene Tracey, Vice Chancellor of Oxford University.

During the ceremony, King Charles took part in a ribbon-cutting to formally open the new wing. The space will now serve as a central location for initiatives such as the Young Muslim Leadership Programme.

Since becoming Britain’s monarch, King Charles has shown a fondness for Islam, including handing out treats during Ramadan earlier this year. At the same time, Islamic relief banners calling on people to “Trust in Allah” went up in London.

Image via fergusburnett.com.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
News

WSJ Publishes Weird Birthday Letter It Claims Trump Sent Epstein, 22 Years Ago. Here’s What It Says…

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday included a letter purportedly from Donald Trump, which he denies writing.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump, and other associates like Leslie Wexner and Alan Dershowitz.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The album was prepared in 2003, before Epstein’s first arrest in 2006.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The existence of the album and its contents have not been previously reported, leading to increased scrutiny of past associations.

IN FULL

Ghislaine Maxwell prepared a special birthday album for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday, which included letters from various associates, including Donald Trump. According to the Wall Street Journal, the album was created in 2003, before Epstein’s first arrest in 2006. President Trump staunchly denies writing the letter.

The leather-bound album contained various letters, poems, and greetings from businesspeople and friends, ostensibly including Donald Trump, Leslie Wexner, and Alan Dershowitz.

A letter attributed to Trump was described as bawdy, featuring typewritten text framed by a drawing of a naked woman. Trump has denied writing or drawing anything in the album, stating, “This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story.”

The letter is said to be a scripted, imaginary conversation between the two men, and says:

“Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything,”

Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is.

Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. 

Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. 

Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. 

Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? 

Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. 

Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.

The Justice Department and FBI have not commented on whether the album was part of any recent document reviews. The album included contributions from various individuals, reflecting Epstein’s network.

Epstein, who managed Wexner’s fortune, socialized with Trump and other influential figures. Despite past associations, Trump has distanced himself from Epstein, and this album adds another layer to the complex history of these relationships.

Earlier on Thursday, the Trump White House distanced itself from the idea of a special counsel to oversee the Epstein case.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
Crime
Politics

VOA Employee Charged for Alleged Death Threats Against Marjorie Taylor Greene.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Voice of America (VOA) employee was arrested on federal charges for allegedly making death threats against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and her family.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Suspect Seth Jason and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrest took place on Thursday; threats reportedly made between October 2023 and January 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No one should have to live their life looking over their shoulder every day and wondering if those threats are about to be fulfilled and about to come true.” – Acting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro

🎯IMPACT: The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about threats to elected representatives.

IN FULL

Seth Jason, a 64-year-old resident of Edgewater, Maryland, was arrested on Thursday after being indicted on multiple federal charges. Jason is accused of making death threats against Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), her family, and her staff over the course of more than a year.

The indictment alleges that Jason repeatedly called Greene’s district offices between October 2023 and January 2025, threatening to assault and kill her and her family. He also allegedly used phone lines connected to Voice of America (VOA) headquarters in Washington, where he was employed, to issue these threats.

During a news conference, Acting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stressed the severity of such threats, stating, “No one should have to live their life looking over their shoulder every day and wondering if those threats are about to be fulfilled and about to come true.” She also read one of Jason’s alleged messages, which said, “I am looking forward to your book signing. We are all armed and ready to take care of you.”

Jason, who had also volunteered as a reserve officer for the Anne Arundel County Police Department since 2016, is no longer affiliated with the department. In a statement, the department clarified that its reserve officers are unarmed and have no police authority.

Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan referenced a recent politically motivated shooting in Minnesota, emphasizing the need to hold individuals accountable for such threats. “This has got to stop,” Sullivan said. “We are going to work very, very hard to hold you accountable if you make these threats.”

The case is just the latest example of political threats and violence against conservatives, and comes just a year after the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, by shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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