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Monday, March 30, 2026

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1 hour ago
Corruption
War

Israeli Major Indicted for Using Classified Intel to Place Bets on War.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Israeli Air Force reservist and a civilian accomplice were charged with using classified information to place bets on Polymarket regarding Israel’s 2025 war with Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The accused are an Israeli Air Force major and a civilian, whose identities remain undisclosed.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment was filed last month in Tel Aviv District Court, with events occurring during the 12-day war in June 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This constitutes a severe ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line,” the IDF stated.

🎯IMPACT: The defendants allegedly profited over $162,000 from their bets, raising concerns over insider trading and ethical breaches.

IN FULL

An Israeli Air Force major and his civilian partner have been formally charged with using classified military information to place bets on the Polymarket prediction platform. The indictment includes serious national security violations, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

According to the court, the reservist major learned of a planned operation during a classified briefing and then shared the details with his civilian accomplice. The pair used the information to wager on the timing of Israel’s 2025 military strikes against Iran, which launched in June.

The two reportedly earned more than $162,000 in winnings. The civilian set up a digital wallet to send the cryptocurrency proceeds to the reservist. They later placed additional bets on when the conflict would end and on other military developments.

“This constitutes a severe ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said of the incident, branding the betting “not in line with IDF values and what is expected of servicemembers.”

The identities of both suspects remain under a court gag order, though a partial lift has allowed limited details to be reported. The IDF said the leak caused no damage to operations but strongly criticized the moral breach involved.

Image by Chenspec.

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41 minutes ago
Bonkers Britain
Immigration

Migrant Households Are Claiming £1 Billion a MONTH in UK Welfare Benefits.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Nearly £1 billion (~$1.3 billion) in welfare benefits is being claimed monthly by households with at least one foreign national in the United Kingdom, according to government data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Foreign nationals, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party government, Conservative (Tory) Member of Parliament (MP) Neil O’Brien, who secured the information, and Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data from March 2022 to the present, across the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The growth of benefit spending and the rate of migration are both much too fast, and the Government is doing far too little to change either trend. Migrants know that if they can make it to the UK, they will be allowed to stay. As long as that is true, we’ll see more and more coming. Our soft-touch welfare state makes this worse.” – Neil O’Brien MP

🎯IMPACT: Welfare payments to foreign nationals have doubled in four years, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability and fairness to British citizens.

IN FULL

Foreign nationals are claiming close to £1 billion (~$1.3 billion) in welfare payments from the British government each month, according to the latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures. The data, released in response to Freedom of Information requests from Conservative (Tory) Member of Parliament (MP) Neil O’Brien, shows that households containing at least one foreign national received £941 million in Universal Credit payments this month.

Universal Credit, which supports low-income working-age families, is available to migrants who hold Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)—roughly equivalent to permanent residency in the U.S.—or refugee status. Over the last four years, the total value of claims from households with a migrant has more than doubled, climbing from £461 million in March 2019 to almost £1 billion now. The figure rose by nearly 30 per cent in the past 12 months alone.

Neil O’Brien criticized the trend, saying: “The growth of benefit spending and the rate of migration are both much too fast, and the Government is doing far too little to change either trend. Migrants know that if they can make it to the UK, they will be allowed to stay. As long as that is true, we’ll see more and more coming. Our soft-touch welfare state makes this worse.”

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has called for the complete abolition of Indefinite Leave to Remain as a way to reduce the financial strain of large-scale migration. Reform wants to restrict welfare benefits to British citizens only and replace Indefinite Leave to Remain with a five-year work visa system modelled on the American approach to long-term legal immigration.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
War

Trump Threatens Iran with Total Infrastructure Obliteration If Deal Isn’t Reached.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s energy and water infrastructure if a satisfactory deal regarding the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile program is not reached soon and if the Hormuz Strait is not reopened.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Iranian regime, international mediators, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The statement was made on Monday, March 30, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.'” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: On Monday, it is expected that upwards of 20 tankers may be allowed to exit the Strait of Hormuz.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the U.S. will “completely obliterate” Iran’s infrastructure if a deal is not reached soon regarding the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile program and if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened immediately. The ultimatum comes amid ongoing indirect negotiations between the two nations.

“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, continuing, “Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.'”

“This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror,'” the President added.

Despite a continued buildup in the region of U.S. ground forces, potentially portending an assault on critical islands that control the Strait of Hormuz, the Trump administration has continued to signal that it may soon wind down U.S. military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Curiously, the latest statement from President Trump again seems to indicate that American negotiators are engaging with Iranian political leaders outside those who claim to be in control through state media.

On Sunday, President Trump noted that ahead of his April 6 deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamist regime agreed to begin allowing a small number of vessels to traverse the waterway. On Monday, it is expected that upwards of 20 tankers may be allowed to exit the strait.

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2 hours ago
War

Iranian Strike on Saudi Base Injures 12 U.S. Troops, Damages Key Aircraft.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An Iranian strike injured 12 U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia and destroyed a U.S. aircraft.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. troops and Iranian forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, amid the ongoing Iran war.

🎯IMPACT: The strike represents a significant breach of American air defenses in the region.

IN FULL

Iran launched a coordinated missile and drone strike on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, wounding 12 American service members, according to a U.S. official—including two with serious injuries. The assault ranks among the most significant breaches of U.S. air defenses since the current conflict with Iran began.

The attack reportedly inflicted heavy damage on at least two KC-135 refueling aircraft. More concerningly, images shared on Facebook and verified by the BBC show a destroyed E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft at the base. Replacing this aircraft will reportedly cost over $700 million.

To shield personnel from additional attacks, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has spread thousands of troops across multiple sites, including bases in Europe. However, even with sophisticated defenses in place, Iran’s low-cost, expendable Shahed drones continue to present a persistent danger.

Since the U.S.-Israeli strikes were launched against Iran, close to 300 U.S. troops have been injured, with roughly 225 diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. Notably, however, only around 35 have not yet returned to duty.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency puts the civilian death toll in Iran so far at above 1,492. The health ministry in Lebanon, where Israel is also targeting Iran’s Hezbollah allies, reports more than 1,110 fatalities there. The U.S. military has suffered 13 fatalities over the course of the conflict.

Image via Facebook.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
News

Sephora Investigated for Promoting Anti-Aging Products to Kids as Young as 10 on Social Media.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The authorities in Italy have launched an investigation into beauty brands Benefit and Sephora over allegations of marketing skincare products to children using young influencers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The investigation targets luxury goods giant LVMH, which owns the brands, along with Italy’s financial police and the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation includes inspections of LVMH and Sephora’s Italian headquarters conducted on Thursday by AGCM and financial police.

💬KEY QUOTE: LVMH stated, “All the companies reaffirm their strict compliance with applicable Italian regulations.”

🎯IMPACT: The investigation raises concerns about the promotion of anti-aging products to children, potentially fueling unhealthy skincare obsessions and causing harm.

IN FULL

The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has opened a probe into beauty brands Benefit and Sephora—both owned by LVMH—over claims they marketed anti-aging skincare products to children. The inquiry centers on the use of young social media influencers to push anti-aging items to kids as young as 10.

Regulators worry the campaigns may have fueled “cosmeticorexia,” an unhealthy fixation with skincare routines among children and teens. The AGCM said key safety warnings on products sold by Sephora and Benefit “may have been omitted or presented in a misleading manner.”

As part of the investigation, the authority and Italy’s financial police conducted searches of the Italian offices of LVMH and Sephora. Officials are looking into “possible unfair commercial practices,” including the promotion of adult-oriented cosmetics—such as face masks, serums, and anti-aging creams—to young buyers.

Sephora maintains a large social media footprint, with nearly 23 million Instagram followers and more than two million on TikTok. The brand has been closely tied to the viral “Sephora kids” trend, in which children post videos of their skincare routines and shopping hauls under hashtags like “Sephora kids haul” and “Sephora kids GRWM [Get Ready With Me].”

In response, LVMH claimed that “All the companies reaffirm their strict compliance with applicable Italian regulations,” adding that it intends to “fully co-operate” with the investigation.

Image by Rowanswiki.

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March 28, 2026
News

REVEALED: ACU Chief Matt Schlapp Bilks $1M+ Annual Salary Amid CPAC Decline.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The American Conservative Union’s tax documents reveal large payouts to its chairman and his wife, despite the organization’s flagship conference – CPAC – being in terminal decline.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp and his wife.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent tax filings, amidst a declining CPAC event in Dallas, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is a cancer in the organization.” – resigned ACU Treasurer Bob Beauprez.

🎯IMPACT: CPAC attendance has significantly decreased, and ticket prices have plummeted, as the Schlapps have enriched themselves.

IN FULL

The American Conservative Union’s latest 990 tax filings reveal that Chairman Matt Schlapp is paying himself at least $837,444 per year, while his wife receives $178,605, bringing their combined annual compensation to $1,016,049 per year, The National Pulse can reveal.

The disclosures land as the Conservative Political Action Conference—CPAC, the ACU’s flagship event—appears to be in steep decline. President Donald J. Trump and several other major conservative figures did not attend this year’s gathering. Attendance has fallen from more than 10,000 when Schlapp took over the organization in 2014, to a max of around 3,000, with many entering on complimentary or media passes. Ticket prices, once several hundred dollars, dropped as low as $17.

Historically, the ACU chairmanship was viewed as a position of service to the conservative movement, not a lucrative role. The current compensation arrangement marks a dramatic break from that tradition.

In recent years, The National Pulse has reported exclusively using whistleblowers in the organization, some of whom have now resigned.

 In 2023, Carlton Huffman, a former staffer for candidate Herschel Walker, accused Schlapp of groping him, leading to a lawsuit demanding $9 million for battery and defamation. An investigation by CNN found Huffman received a $480,000 settlement via insurance. In 2025, Schlapp stood accused of more sexual assault, this time in a Virginia bar.

Charlie Gerow – a long-time ally of Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) chairman Matt Schlapp – resigned his position as Vice Chairman of CPAC’s parent organization, the American Conservative Union (ACU) in 2023, stating: “I am calling on my former colleagues to authorize an independent investigation into the charges against Matt Schlapp, to conduct an independent forensic audit of the organizations finances.”

His resignation was swiftly followed by conservative movement bigwig Morton Blackwell, who heads the Leadership Institute.

In early 2023, ACU Treasurer Bob Beauprez resigned, stating: “I cannot deliver a financial report at the upcoming board meeting with any confidence in the accuracy of the numbers.” He added: “A cancer has been metastasizing within the organization for years. It must be diagnosed, treated, and cured, or it will destroy ACU.”

In 2022, The National Pulse exclusively revealed how the Schlapps had taken Soros-linked money to push “Race, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Commitment,” a precursor to the DEI fight that took place in the years shortly after. The ACU received a cash grant of $183,250 from The New Venture Fund, a Soros and Clinton-linked group.

In the immediate aftermath of January 6th, Schlapp appeared on Fox News to state that veteran Ashli Babbitt – who he misidentified as a 16-year-old – “maybe deserved to be shot”.

“I understand there’s a 16-year-old young woman who was shot. Now maybe she was doing terrible things and deserved to be shot,” Schlapp said.

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Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
The ONLY reason Schlapp hasn’t been ousted yet, by the way, is because he packed the board out with his cronies, which is the only mechanism by which to remove the ACU chairman
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The ONLY reason Schlapp hasn’t been ousted yet, by the way, is because he packed the board out with his cronies, which is the only mechanism by which to remove the ACU chairman show more
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March 27, 2026
Crime
News

Illegal Immigrant Charged in Death of Elderly Veteran on Subway Tracks.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An 83-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, Richard Williams, died from injuries sustained after being shoved onto subway tracks in Manhattan earlier this month. The suspect, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, has been charged with second-degree murder.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Richard Williams, the victim, and Bairon Hernandez, a 34-year-old Honduran national with a criminal record who had been deported multiple times.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on March 8 at the Lexington Avenue–63rd Street station in Manhattan, New York. Williams succumbed to his injuries on March 17.

🎯IMPACT: The incident has intensified scrutiny of New York City’s handling of public safety, immigration policy, and criminal justice enforcement.

IN FULL

Richard Williams, an 83-year-old Air Force veteran and grandfather, died on March 17 following a subway incident in New York City earlier in the month. Authorities say he was pushed onto the tracks at the Lexington Avenue–63rd Street station on March 8. The suspect, Bairon Hernandez, was arrested on March 10 and charged with second-degree murder.

Police allege Hernandez shoved Williams and another man, 30-year-old Jhon Rodriguez, onto the southbound F train tracks just before noon. Bystanders managed to pull both men back onto the platform before a train arrived. Williams struck his head on the tracks and lost consciousness; Rodriguez suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities have described Hernandez as a “serial criminal,” citing at least 15 prior charges, including aggravated assault and weapons possession. Federal officials say he had been deported multiple times after first entering the U.S. illegally in 2008.

Williams, a retired Air Force pilot, had recently overcome prostate cancer and was described by family as having found a renewed lease on life. His daughter expressed outrage at the suspect and called for severe punishment. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

The incident has renewed concerns about safety in New York City’s transit system. Reports of assaults and random attacks in subways have drawn increased public attention, with some community groups expanding volunteer patrols in response to spikes in violence. The case has also fueled debate over immigration enforcement and coordination between local and federal authorities.

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March 27, 2026
News

Doctors Euthanize Young Woman Who Attempted Suicide After Gang Rape, Against Father’s Wishes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Noelia Castillo Ramos, a 25-year-old sexual assault victim, was euthanized in Spain despite her father’s objections.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Noelia Castillo Ramos, her family, friends, and legal representatives.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ramos died on March 26, 2026, in Spain.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The obligation of the state is to protect the lives of people, especially the most vulnerable, as is the case with a young person with mental health problems.” — Ramos’s father

🎯IMPACT: The case has sparked debate over euthanasia laws and the care of vulnerable people.

IN FULL

Noelia Castillo Ramos, a 25-year-old Spanish woman, was euthanized despite her father and friends’ efforts to prevent her killing. Ramos, who was left paraplegic after a suicide attempt following multiple sexual assaults, died at a care facility in Spain on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Her father had sought legal intervention to stop the euthanasia, but his attempts were unsuccessful in both Spanish courts and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Ramos had suffered severe trauma after being raped twice, leading to substantial mental health challenges and a suicide attempt which left her with a spinal cord injury.

Her father said that the Spanish government failed her by allowing the euthanasia to proceed. “The obligation of the state is to protect the lives of people, especially the most vulnerable, as is the case with a young person with mental health problems,” Ramos’s father said.

Pro-life advocates criticized the killing, arguing that Ramos was failed by a system that did not protect her from assault and then offered death instead of care. Her friend attempted to visit her before the procedure but was denied access. Ramos’s organs were designated for donation.

Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s anti-mass migration VOX party, has said Ramos’s suicide attempt was prompted by a gang rape at the hands of “MENAS” (migrants from the Middle East and North Africa) while living in a center for vulnerable people. “I am deeply affected by this news. The State takes a daughter away from her parents. She is raped by MENAs. And the State’s solution is to force her to commit suicide. Sánchez’s Spain is a horror film,” he said.

However, the Spanish press has disputed this, saying she was assaulted by an ex-partner, subjected to an attempted assault by two men in a nightclub in a separate incident, and assaulted by “three men at once” who were not clearly identified, also at a nightclub, in a third incident.

The National Pulse reported in December last year that nearly 100,000 people have been euthanized under Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) program. Meanwhile, that same month, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed a bill permitting terminally ill patients to be euthanized. Known as the Illinois End-of-Life Options Act, or “Deb’s Law,” the legislation is set to take effect in September 2026.

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March 27, 2026
NatSec

Siblings Charged for Planting Explosives Near a Major U.S. Air Force Base.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man accused of planting an explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base has fled to China, while his sister is now in custody after both were charged in connection with the incident.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Alen Zheng, 20, and his sister Ann Mary Zheng, 27, both face federal charges, with U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe overseeing the case.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident began on March 10, 2026, outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, with subsequent developments involving flights to China and an arrest in Detroit.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Why it didn’t detonate at the time is a question we’d like to ask Mr. Zheng,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe.

🎯IMPACT: Federal officials are actively working to extradite Alen Zheng back to the United States while continuing the investigation into the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident.

IN FULL

Federal officials have announced that a 20-year-old Florida man, Alen Zheng, has fled to China after allegedly planting an explosive device outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. His sister, Ann Mary Zheng, 27, is now in custody, facing charges of witness tampering and acting as an accessory after the fact.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on March 10, a 911 call was placed warning of a bomb near the base’s visitor center. However, an initial sweep did not find any evidence of a bomb or similar device. However, six days later, an Air Force service member discovered an improvised explosive device capable of causing harm or death. U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory Kehoe described the device as being in a secluded location near the visitors center.

“You have something in a secluded location and hidden in the visitors center, and it just took a little bit more time to get there,” Kehoe stated, adding, “If you’re going to examine our more sensitive assets on the MacDill Air Force Base, not that the visitors center isn’t an important asset, but obviously, Central Command is there.”

On Thursday, federal investigators revealed that Alen Zheng, after placing the bomb on March 10, sold the vehicle he drove to MacDill on March 11. Subsequently, both Alen Zheng and Ann Mary Zheng fled to the People’s Republic of China on March 12. However, on March 17, Ann Mary Zheng returned to the United States and was arrested in Detroit, Michigan. Evidence found at their Land O’Lakes home included items consistent with constructing the explosive device, as well as traces of explosive residue in the vehicle they sold.

Kehoe emphasized the ongoing efforts to bring Alen Zheng back to the United States, stating, “Our last notification is that he is in the People’s Republic of China, as we speak.” The motive behind the incident remains unclear, and authorities are investigating why the device did not detonate.

Meanwhile, federal officials confirmed that no charges have been filed against the Zheng siblings’ mother, who was present at the home, though she is currently in custody for deportation proceedings.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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March 27, 2026
William Upton
Lawfare
NatSec

FBI Abused FISA to Wiretap ANOTHER 2016 Trump Advisor – Who Says the CIA Was Also Spying on Him.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Trump campaign advisor Walid Phares’s electronic communications were allegedly monitored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) between 2017 and 2018 under a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant, mirroring the similar wiretapping of Trump foreign policy advisor Carter Page in 2016. Phares believes the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under John Brennan was also spying on him.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Walid Phares, Carter Page, President Donald J. Trump, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the FISA Court, FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith, and former CIA director John Brennan.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The revelations regarding the Phares wiretap were made in March 2026, with the FISA warrant covering his electronic communications between 2017 and 2028.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I had no idea any of this was happening. This is shocking because they told my lawyer that I was only a ‘witness’ and that they just needed some information.” – Walid Phares

🎯IMPACT: The FBI investigation into Phares features some of the same figures that are accused of railroading Carter Page and advancing the Russia collusion hoax against President Donald J. Trump, including former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith and former Obama government Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director John Brennan.

IN FULL

Former Trump campaign advisor Walid Phares’s electronic communications were allegedly monitored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) between 2017 and 2018 under a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant, mirroring the similar wiretapping of Trump foreign policy advisor Carter Page in 2016. According to an FBI agent who claims to have been assigned to the investigation, the bureau—as with Page—withheld exculpatory evidence from the FISA Court in order to secure the wiretap warrant.

“I had no idea any of this was happening,” Phares said in an interview with RealClearInvestigations, adding, “This is shocking because they told my lawyer that I was only a ‘witness’ and that they just needed some information.”

The former Trump campaign advisor points to allegations that he says originated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 2016 as being the justification used for the FISA warrant. According to Phares, the intelligence agency produced a report claiming he facilitated a $10 million bribe from the Egyptian government intended to be laundered to the Trump campaign. That allegation was investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and subsequently closed after it found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Phares noted that as the first Trump administration began to take shape in 2017, he had expected to receive a high-level appointment but now believes intelligence officials opposed to his hiring used the investigation to hinder his ability to obtain a security clearance. Notably, the FBI agent assigned to monitor Phares told staff with Senator Chuck Grassley‘s (R-IA) office that “there were no corroborating facts that tied Crosswind [the codename for Phares’ case] to certain facts that we thought were originally true.”

The FBI investigation into Phares features some of the same figures that are accused of railroading Carter Page and advancing the Russia collusion hoax against President Donald J. Trump, including former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith and former Obama government CIA director John Brennan. Clinesmith is alleged to have rejected exculpatory corrections to the FISA warrant application targeting Phares made by the FBI investigators. With Page, Clinesmith pleaded guilty to having altered a CIA memo indicating that Page was a U.S. intelligence asset, instead making it appear the foreign policy advisor was a Russian agent.

A grand jury empaneled in South Florida is believed to currently be reviewing evidence against Brennan regarding his alleged orchestration of the Russia collusion hoax and potentially unlawful interference in the 2016 election and subsequent Trump administration. Phares says he believes that Brennan was likely the driving force behind the FISA wiretap targeting his communications as well.

Image by Dave Newman.

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By Popular Demand.
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March 27, 2026
Corruption
Crime
UK

‘Stinks of a Cover-Up’ – Police ‘Too Busy’ to Find ‘Stolen’ Phone UK PM’s Top Aide Used to Text Epstein Pal Mandelson.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A cell phone belonging to Morgan McSweeney, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s former Chief of Staff, was allegedly stolen last year, raising fears about the loss of vital communications related to Jeffrey Epstein-linked Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the U.S. However, British police failed to investigate the high-profile theft, claiming they were “too busy,” prompting accusations of a cover-up.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Morgan McSweeney, Peter Mandelson, and Keir Starmer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The phone was stolen in 2024; the incident has impacted ongoing inquiries into Lord Mandelson’s short-lived diplomatic appointment.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The whole thing stinks of a cover-up.” – Alex Burghart

🎯IMPACT: Downing Street is now compelled to disclose all communications related to Mandelson’s appointment, despite the missing phone.

IN FULL

A cell phone owned by Morgan McSweeney, former Chief of Staff to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was stolen last year. The device had reportedly been used to communicate with Jeffrey Epstein-linked Labour Party grandee Lord Peter Mandelson, prompting worries that sensitive details tied to Mandelson’s short time as Starmer’s ambassador to the U.S. may have been lost.

Mandelson, a central player in Labour from Tony Blair‘s premiership starting in the 1990s onwards, was ousted from his ambassador post in 2025 once his already public connections to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein received greater public attention. McSweeney, who stepped down on February 8, accepted full blame for the appointment and said: “The decision to appoint Peter Mandelson was wrong. He has damaged our party, our country, and trust in politics itself.”

Parliament recently approved a humble address motion requiring Starmer’s government to hand over all records connected to Mandelson’s appointment, including emails, texts, and reports—especially any messages between McSweeney and Mandelson. However, because the phone was supposedly stolen months before that motion passed, questions have surfaced about whether the full set of communications can be released.

Shadow Cabinet minister Alex Burghart complained, “We had to drag the Mandelson files out of Keir Starmer, and now we find the phone of his former Chief of Staff and protege of Mandelson won’t be part of the disclosure. The whole thing stinks of a cover-up.”

Even without the missing phone, some exchanges between McSweeney and Mandelson have reportedly been recovered and will be part of the upcoming document release. A government spokesman said the administration remains committed to obeying the humble address motion and is cooperating with the Metropolitan Police investigation into the theft.

The next batch of files is expected after the Easter break, following the first set released on March 11 that showed officials had been warned about Mandelson’s Epstein links and raised alarms over the rushed appointment.

Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of passing confidential information to Epstein while he was a member of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government in February.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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