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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

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3 hours ago
Lawfare

Letitia James Claims Legal Win Over DHS.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) announced that New York won its case against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding cuts.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: New York Attorney General Letitia James, the Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This is a major victory for our law enforcement and local leaders who depend on these funds to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Letitia James.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling restores FEMA funding that James claimed was critical for national security and emergency response programs.

IN FULL

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) announced Tuesday that the state had prevailed in its case against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding cuts. The announcement was made on X (formerly Twitter).

“We won our case against [DHS], restoring funding for lifesaving anti-terrorism and emergency response programs,” James wrote, adding: “This is a major victory for our law enforcement and local leaders who depend on these funds to keep New Yorkers safe.”

James had previously stated that the funding in question was used to support national security and emergency response programs. She alleged that the cuts were made because New York refused to support what she described as federal government “attacks on immigrants.”

Under James and New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul (D), the state has resisted President Donald J. Trump‘s crackdown on illegal immigration, acting instead as a sanctuary state. The National Pulse reported earlier this month that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) moved to freeze tens of millions in federal highway funding for New York after an audit found that 53 percent of sampled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued by the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) were unlawfully granted to foreign nationals residing in the U.S. illegally.

Earlier this year, a federal prosecution against James for mortgage fraud was thrown out in federal court after the federal attorney overseeing the case was disqualified. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently appealing the disqualification and seeking to reinstitute the criminal charges against James.

Image by Maryland GovPics.

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Just now
Crime
UK

Russell Brand Faces New Rape and Sexual Assault Charges as Two More Accusers Emerge.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault following allegations from two additional women.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Russell Brand, the Metropolitan Police, and six women who have come forward with allegations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged incidents occurred between 1999 and 2005, with charges announced Tuesday in London. Brand is scheduled to appear in court on January 20, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I pray, Lord, for the absolute truth of who I am to be abundantly revealed.” – Russell Brand

🎯IMPACT: A total of six women have now come forward with allegations against Brand, and the investigation remains ongoing.

IN FULL

Russell Brand, the British actor and comedian turned political pundit, is facing new charges of rape and sexual assault after two additional women have come forward with accusations against him. According to the Metropolitan Police in London, England, the new charges—one count each of rape and sexual assault—are in addition to charges filed in April.

Brand, 50, posted on X (formerly Twitter) earlier on Tuesday, “I pray Lord, anyone that I’ve harmed or hurt in my years of mindlessness and sin would be healed, Lord. And I pray, Lord, for the absolute truth of who I am to be abundantly revealed.”

British police first launched an inquiry into Brand in September 2023 after media reports revealed allegations of sexual assault and rape against four women. The alleged incidents span from 1999 to 2005, with Brand being charged in two of the incidents earlier this year on two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault.

In May, Brand pleaded not guilty. He asserted in a video posted to social media at the time that he had “never engaged in nonconsensual activity.” In court filings from the initial prosecution, Brand is alleged to have grabbed a woman by the arm in 2001 and subsequently attempted to drag her into a toilet stall. Meanwhile, in a 2004 incident, Brand is accused of sexually assaulting a woman by touching her breasts without consent. The new charges bring the total number of women making allegations against Brand to six.

Brand is scheduled to appear in court on January 20, 2026.

Image by D B Young.

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30 minutes ago
News
UK

Former Prince Andrew Scrutinized Over ‘Inappropriate Friends’ Email to Ghislaine Maxwell.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An email purportedly from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, referencing “inappropriate friends” has surfaced in the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Ghislaine Maxwell, Virginia Giuffre, and deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The email, dated August 2001, reportedly originated from Balmoral, Scotland, during one of the Royal Family’s summer retreats. The DOJ released it at the end of December along with thousands of pages of Epstein materials.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family… Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?” – Email attributed to “A xxx.”

🎯IMPACT: The release adds further scrutiny to Andrew’s connections with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

IN FULL

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, is facing renewed scrutiny following the release of an email referring to “inappropriate friends” that emerged in the latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files made public by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

The email was sent in August 2001 from the address “abx17@dial.pipex.com” to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and accomplice. It was signed “A xxx” and included the line: “I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family.” The British royals traditionally spend part of August at Balmoral, their private estate in Scotland. Media reports have not been able to confirm that the email address belonged to Andrew, however.

The message continued: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends? Let me know when you are coming over as I am free from 25th August until 2nd Sept and want to go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall.” It ended: “Any ideas gratefully received! See ya A xxx.”

Maxwell’s reported reply read: “So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.” She signed off: “Kisses Gx.”

The email’s release has added to the longstanding controversy surrounding Andrew’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell. Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of raping her when she was a teenager, allegations he has consistently denied. Giuffre stated in court filings, media interviews, and her memoir Nobody’s Girl that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she said she was made to have sex with Andrew over several months beginning in March 2001. She said she feared death if she refused. Andrew settled Giuffre’s New York civil lawsuit in 2022 while denying liability.

In recent years, Andrew’s public role has continued to diminish. In December 2024, he withdrew from a Royal Family pre-Christmas lunch amid controversy linked to an alleged spy scandal, a move widely seen as an effort to limit further damage to the monarchy. In recent weeks, King Charles III formally stripped his younger brother of his royal titles and honors, and he began using the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, citing the need to step back from royal life while reiterating his denial of all allegations.

Image via Royal Navy Media Archive.

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1 hour ago
Jack Montgomery
News
TECH

U.S. Sanctions Pro-Censorship Figures in UK, EU for Suppressing Americans’ Free Speech.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States imposed sanctions targeting the international censorship-NGO ecosystem, focusing on visa-related measures against former officials and NGO leaders in Britain and the European Union (EU) involved in extraterritorial censorship of American speech.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers announced the sanctions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and several foreign former figures, including Thierry Breton, Imran Ahmed, Clare Melford, Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, and Josephine Ballon, were involved.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on December 23, 2025, in the United States.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: The sanctions aim to prevent individuals who promote censorship of American speech from entering the U.S., reinforcing the administration’s stance against external censorship pressures.

IN FULL

Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers announced on Tuesday that the United States has issued sanctions targeting the censorship-NGO ecosystem. These sanctions are specifically visa-related, aimed at British and European Union (EU) former officials and NGO leaders who have been involved in extraterritorial censorship of American speech.

Those named as having been sanctioned are former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), Clare Melford of the UK-based Global Disinformation Index, and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of Germany’s HateAid organization. Khan, in particular, has close ties to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, whose chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, founded the CCDH.

All have been involved in various efforts to suppress speech and promote censorship, often collaborating with U.S. bureaucrats or supporting legislation like the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Notably, the DSA has been used to impose massive fines on U.S.-led and U.S.-based tech firms, in an effort to effectively extend the European censorship regime beyond its borders.

“The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed in an official statement. “These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states—in each case targeting American speakers and American companies. As such, I have determined that their entry, presence, or activities in the United States have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States,” he added.

The sanctions do not involve severe Magnitsky-style financial measures but send a clear message that those who spend their careers promoting censorship of American viewpoints are not welcome on American soil. Under Secretary Rogers stressed that “None of those sanctioned is a current UK or EU official—however, we know that foreign government officials are actively targeting the United States.”

Secretary Rubio noted that today’s list of sanctioned individuals is illustrative rather than exhaustive and the State Department is prepared to expand it if necessary, stressing: “President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects violations of American sovereignty. Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting American speech is no exception.”

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1 hour ago
Immigration
News

DOJ Sues Dem Gov. Over Illegal Immigrant ‘Protections’ on Public Properties.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) over new state laws aimed at protecting immigrants at courthouses, hospitals, and day care centers.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D), U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the DOJ.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Monday in Illinois following laws signed earlier this month.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No doubt, they have the ability to go to court about it, but I believe this is not just a good law, but a great law.” – Gov. Pritzker

🎯IMPACT: The DOJ claims the laws violate the U.S. Constitution and threaten the safety of federal officers.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated litigation on Monday against Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D), challenging newly enacted state laws that expand protections for immigrants at courthouses, hospitals, day care centers, and other public institutions. The laws, signed by Pritzker earlier this month along with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul (D), prohibit civil immigration arrests in or around courthouses and require institutions such as hospitals and public universities to adopt formal procedures for responding to civil immigration enforcement while safeguarding personal information. The legislation also allows individuals to sue if their constitutional rights are violated during federal immigration actions, with damages of up to $10,000.

Illegal immigrant advocacy groups praised the measures, claiming they are necessary to address alleged fear among immigrant communities about accessing essential services. The DOJ, however, contends the laws interfere with federal authority and put federal officers at risk. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has made identifying and challenging state and local laws that impede federal immigration enforcement a priority, according to the department.

Pritzker acknowledged the likelihood of legal challenges when signing the bills but defended the measures. “No doubt, they have the ability to go to court about it, but I believe this is not just a good law, but a great law,” he said.

Illinois has been a focal point in the national immigration debate as state and local leaders continue to expand sanctuary policies. In recent months, Pritzker signed additional legislation further limiting civil immigration enforcement at schools, hospitals, and universities. Chicago’s mayor has also moved to establish “ICE-free zones” on certain city-owned properties, drawing criticism from federal officials.

Tensions have occasionally escalated beyond policy disputes. Earlier this fall, a Chicago-area grand jury declined to indict suspects accused of violently confronting federal immigration agents during protests, adding to concerns among federal authorities about resistance to enforcement operations.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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2 hours ago
Economy
World

Trump Imposes New Trade Duties on Cheap Food Containers From China, Vietnam to Protect U.S. Producers, Public Health.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration announced significant trade penalties on disposable food containers imported from China and Vietnam, citing unfair competition and safety concerns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), Department of Commerce, and Yohai Baisburd of the American Molded Fiber Coalition.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ITC ruling was issued on Monday, December 22, 2025, with duties expected in the coming weeks. The ITC report is due by January 23.

💬KEY QUOTE: “America continues to thrive when fair competition occurs. The Trump Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to enforce U.S. trade laws, and cheaters beware because they are coming after you.” – Yohai Baisburd

🎯IMPACT: U.S. manufacturers will benefit from a level playing field and increased ability to reinvest in operations and workers, while addressing health concerns over “forever chemicals.”

IN FULL

The Trump administration announced that it is taking action against the import of cheap disposable food containers from China and Vietnam by imposing significant trade penalties. These measures aim to protect American companies from unfair competition and ensure safer products for American consumers.

Yohai Baisburd, an attorney representing the American Molded Fiber Coalition, praised the administration’s efforts, stating, “The Trump Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to enforce U.S. trade laws, and cheaters beware because they are coming after you.”

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recently ruled that imports of thermoformed molded fiber products from these nations are materially injuring U.S. industry.

These products, which include disposable bowls, plates, and take-out containers made from natural fibers and recycled materials, have been “dumped” into the U.S. market at unfairly low prices, according to the ITC. As a result, the Commerce Department will issue final antidumping and countervailing duty orders, with duties reaching as high as 540 percent on certain Chinese producers and over 260 percent on Vietnamese producers.

The ITC’s ruling allows for at least five years of duties on these imports, with retroactive duties also authorized on Vietnamese products. Baisburd noted, “U.S. workers/companies can compete against anyone, anywhere. What they can’t do is outcompete Chinese and Vietnamese government subsidies that violate U.S. trade laws.”

The duties are separate from the Trump administration’s tariffs and are legally binding enforcement mechanisms. In addition to economic concerns, health risks from “forever chemicals” such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in imported containers have also been highlighted. The ITC reported that while some foreign producers claim their products are PFAs-free, U.S. manufacturers generally produce safer alternatives.

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3 hours ago
Education

Judge Rules California Schools Cannot Conceal Students’ Gender Transitions from Parents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge blocked California school employees from misleading parents about their child’s gender presentation at school.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez, California state officials, and school employees.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, Southern District of California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence.” – Judge Roger Benitez

🎯IMPACT: The ruling upholds parental rights over state-imposed policies on gender identity in schools.

IN FULL

California school employees will no longer be allowed to hide the gender presentation of a student from their parents or legal guardian, according to a ruling issued by a federal District Court judge in the state. U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez ruled that parents have a constitutional right to be informed of such matters, and California state and local officials cannot enforce laws or guidance that require employees to deceive parents.

According to Judge Benitez’s ruling, California educators and state officials are “enjoined from implementing or enforcing: (1) the Privacy Provision of the California Constitution, Cal. Const. art. I, § 1; (2) any other provision of California law, including equal protection provisions such as Cal. Educ. Code §§ 200, 220, Cal. Gov. Code § 11135; or (3) any regulations or guidance, such as the 2016 “Legal Advisory regarding application of California’s antidiscrimination statutes to transgender youth in schools” and accompanying FAQ page, or Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, §§4900-4965, or the newly produced PRISM cultural competency training…”

Further, the state’s PRISM training materials must henceforth contain the following statement to educators: “Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence. Teachers and school staff have a federal constitutional right to accurately inform the parent or guardian of their student when the student expresses gender incongruence. These federal constitutional rights are superior to any state or local laws, state or local regulations, or state or local policies to the contrary.”

In his 52-page opinion, Judge Benitez criticized California’s policies, stating that they “purposefully interfere” with parents’ access to meaningful information about their children. He noted, “Preventing student bullying and harassment in school is a laudable goal. The problem is that the parent exclusion policies seem to presume that it is the parents that will be the harassers from whom students need to be protected.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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4 hours ago
Politics
World

Trump Orders Recall of Biden-Era Ambassadors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is recalling dozens of ambassadors from posts in various countries, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central America.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, ambassadors appointed by former President Joe Biden, and State Department officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Ambassadors were reportedly told to vacate their posts by January 15 or 16, impacting countries such as Algeria, the Philippines, and Nigeria.

💬KEY QUOTE: “An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.” – Senior State Department official.

🎯IMPACT: Despite the abruptness of the announcement, significant shake-ups in the U.S. diplomatic sphere are not uncommon and do tend to occur from one presidential administration to another.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has initiated the recall of dozens of U.S. ambassadors and diplomatic staff from posts across Africa, Asia, Central America, and Europe who were appointed during the Joe Biden era. Despite the abruptness of the announcement, significant shake-ups in the U.S. diplomatic sphere are not uncommon and tend to occur from one presidential administration to another.

“This is a standard process in any administration. An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” a State Department official said of the move.

Reports indicate the countries impacted include Algeria, Armenia, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Fiji, Gabon, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Laos, Mauritius, Montenegro, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Ambassadors and diplomatic staff, according to John Dinkelman, who heads the union representing diplomats, were told they would need to vacate their posts by January 15 or 16.

Additionally, key permanent ambassadors have yet to be filled as appointments stall in the Senate. Countries without a permanent ambassador include Australia, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Ukraine.

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4 hours ago
NatSec
TECH

CCP Cries Discrimination as Trump FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones as Security Threat.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a ban on new foreign-made drones, including those from Chinese manufacturers DJI and Autel, citing national security concerns.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The FCC, Chinese drone companies DJI and Autel, U.S. lawmakers, and industry stakeholders like Michael Robbins of AUVSI and American drone manufacturers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Monday, following a review mandated by a defense bill passed in 2024. The decision impacts the U.S. market.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Recent history underscores why the United States must increase domestic drone production and secure its supply chains,” said Michael Robbins of AUVSI.

🎯IMPACT: The decision aims to reduce dependence on Chinese technology and bolster American manufacturing.

IN FULL

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Monday its decision to ban new foreign-made drones, including those manufactured by Chinese companies DJI and Autel. The move follows a review mandated by a defense bill passed in 2022, which raised concerns about the national security risks posed by Chinese-made drones.

The FCC stated that all drones and critical components produced in foreign countries pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.” However, exemptions may be granted for specific drones or components if the Department of War (DOW) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines they do not pose such risks.

“Recent history underscores why the United States must increase domestic drone production and secure its supply chains,” Michael Robbins, president and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), said in a statement welcoming the decision. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to reduce reliance on China and strengthen its domestic drone manufacturing capabilities.

Chinese drone maker DJI expressed disappointment, claiming the decision reflects protectionism rather than evidence-based security concerns. “Concerns about DJI’s data security have not been grounded in evidence and instead reflect protectionism, contrary to the principles of an open market,” the company said in a statement. On Tuesday, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman declared the ban “discriminatory.”

The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Gene Robinson, a Texas-based law enforcement trainer who uses DJI drones, acknowledged the challenges posed by the ban but supported the need for the U.S. to regain manufacturing independence. “We need to suck it up, and let’s not have it happen again,” he said.

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5 hours ago
News

Hunter Biden Says He’s $15M in Debt and Has ‘No Idea’ How to Repay It.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hunter Biden revealed he is up to $15 million in debt and has “no idea” about how to repay it during a podcast interview.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hunter Biden, Shawn Ryan, Garrett Ziegler, and former President Joe Biden.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The interview was released on Monday on the Shawn Ryan Show podcast.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Nobody’s riding to the rescue for Hunter Biden.” – Hunter Biden

🎯IMPACT: The admission highlights ongoing financial challenges for Hunter Biden and sheds light on his legal and personal struggles.

IN FULL

Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, disclosed in a new interview that he is facing debts of up to $15 million and admitted that he has “no idea” how to repay the money. The revelations came during a five-hour episode of the “Shawn Ryan Show” podcast, which was released on Monday.

“Nobody’s riding to the rescue for Hunter Biden,” the 55-year-old said, claiming that his father, former President Joe Biden, entered the presidency as “the poorest man to ever take the office.” He also dismissed claims of hidden wealth, stating, “I don’t have any, you know, despite what these guys say, like there’s no billions of dollars buried underneath my dad’s house.”

Hunter Biden attributed much of his financial hardship to the costs of litigation, including lawsuits related to the release of his infamous laptop. In March, he requested that a federal judge dismiss a lawsuit he filed against Garrett Ziegler, a former Trump White House aide whose Marco Polo website documented evidence from the laptop, including allegations of drug use, payments for sex, and financial irregularities.

The financial struggles also extend to his artistic and literary ventures. According to court filings, Hunter Biden has sold only one piece of abstract art for $36,000 since December 2023. This is a stark contrast to the nearly $1.5 million he earned from art sales following his father’s election. Similarly, his memoir, Beautiful Things, has seen a sharp decline in sales, dropping from 3,200 copies sold in its first six months to just 1,100 in the subsequent period.

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5 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Biden Judge Frees Convicted Illegal Immigrant Fraudster from ICE Custody.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ordered the release of Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a Pakistani national with a fraud conviction, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention on procedural grounds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, U.S. District Court Chief Judge David G. Estudillo, Assistant US Attorney Michelle Lambert, and activist groups including CAIR-Washington.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued recently in Washington State, following Chaudhry’s detention since August 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The lack of process that was provided [to] detaining him in the first instance.” – Judge David G. Estudillo

🎯IMPACT: Chaudhry will be released while his immigration proceedings continue, but authorities may re-detain him if proper procedures are followed.

IN FULL

Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a Pakistani national with a history of fraud convictions, has been ordered released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention by U.S. District Court Chief Judge David G. Estudillo. The judge, appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden, ruled that Chaudhry’s detention was unlawful due to procedural issues, specifically the lack of prior notice and opportunity to respond before his arrest.

Chaudhry was taken into ICE custody on August 21, 2025, after attending a naturalization interview. His detention sparked outrage among activists and sympathetic media outlets, who portrayed him as a victim of draconian immigration enforcement. However, Chaudhry’s extensive history of fraud, including convictions in Australia and false claims on U.S. immigration paperwork, has been largely ignored in these portrayals.

Judge Estudillo clarified that the ruling was not a determination on the merits of Chaudhry’s immigration case or his innocence. Instead, it was based on procedural grounds, as ICE failed to provide a written notice or an opportunity to challenge the detention. The judge stated that Chaudhry could be re-detained if authorities comply with proper procedures.

Chaudhry’s fraud history includes convictions for using stolen identities to obtain documents and credit cards while in Australia, as well as false claims on U.S. immigration forms and job applications. Despite being ordered deported in 2011, he has delayed removal through legal appeals for over a decade. Activist groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Washington, continue to advocate for him, describing his detention as unjust.

Adding to the political dimension, Chaudhry’s wife, Melissa Chaudhry, was a 2024 congressional candidate in Washington’s 9th District, and intends to run in the Democratic primary for the district in 2026, too.

Image by Sarahsiewe.

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