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Category: News
May 22, 2025
News

Trump, Grenell Secure Release of US Air Force Veteran.

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❓What Happened: A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela since November has been released.

👥 Who’s Involved: Joseph St. Clair, his parents Scott and Patti St. Clair, former Trump envoy Richard Grenell, and Venezuelan officials.

📍 Where & When: St. Clair was handed over during a diplomatic handoff on Tuesday in a neutral location.

💬 Key Quote: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” said St. Clair’s parents.

⚠️ Impact: St. Clair’s release is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts that have freed multiple Americans detained abroad.

IN FULL:

A U.S. Air Force veteran detained in Venezuela for nearly a year has been freed, according to his family and U.S. officials. Joseph St. Clair, a decorated language specialist who served four tours in Afghanistan, was handed over to former Trump administration envoy Richard Grenell during a diplomatic exchange on Tuesday.

“Joe St. Clair is back in America,” Grenell confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I met Venezuelan officials in a neutral country today to negotiate an America First strategy,” he continued, adding that this was “only possible because [Donald Trump] puts Americans first.”

St. Clair’s parents, Scott and Patti St. Clair, expressed their relief in a statement: “This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.”

The veteran had traveled to South America seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when Venezuelan authorities detained him in November. No public charges were ever announced against him, according to his father’s prior comments to the press.

This release follows a series of quiet diplomatic negotiations involving Grenell, including the freeing of six other Americans detained by Venezuela’s government after its controversial presidential election in July. Grenell had previously met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas earlier this year, urging the return of Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. who had committed crimes. Hundreds of deportations have since occurred.

Maduro later thanked Grenell and President Donald J. Trump for facilitating the return of a young Venezuelan girl separated from her mother, calling it a “profoundly humane” act.

St. Clair’s safe return adds to a growing list of Americans released from foreign detention through focused diplomatic efforts.

Image via @RichardGrenell.

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May 21, 2025
News

WATCH: Reporter Leaves Chicago Mayor Speechless After ‘Racism’ Question.

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❓What Happened: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced accusations of racism from a reporter during a press conference, following a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the city’s hiring practices.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mayor Brandon Johnson, independent reporter William J. Kelly, and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

📍 Where & When: Chicago, Illinois; DOJ investigation announced Monday; press conference held Tuesday morning.

💬 Key Quote: “Real Chicagoans want to know: why are you a racist?” – William J. Kelly.

⚠️ Impact: The DOJ investigation could significantly affect the city’s hiring policies and political discourse around racial issues in Chicago.

IN FULL:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced pointed accusations of racism during a press conference on Tuesday, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into the city’s hiring practices for potential violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced Monday that it would examine whether Chicago’s employment practices reflect a “pattern or practice of racial discrimination.” The investigation appears to have been prompted by Johnson’s recent remarks emphasizing his preference for hiring black people.

“There are some detractors that will push back on me and say, ‘The only thing the mayor talks about is the hiring of black people.’ No. What I’m saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet. I don’t know too many cultures that have play cousins,” Johnson had said.

Independent journalist and former political candidate William J. Kelly confronted Johnson at the press event, accusing the mayor of engaging in divisive racial rhetoric. “Real Chicagoans woke up this morning relieved that the Department of Justice is finally investigating your race hustle,” Kelly said. He described Johnson’s remarks as “embarrassing and dangerous” for the city.

When pressed by Kelly with the blunt question, “Why are you a racist?” Johnson rejected the premise entirely. “Well, you know, first of all, I reject the idea and the premise that, somehow, that that’s an actual, legitimate question,” Johnson responded.

Kelly followed up, asking what the mayor would say to those who perceive him as racist. Johnson reiterated his dismissal of the question, stating, “Again, I reject the premise that, somehow, that your question has any legitimacy. Thank you for your time.”

The DOJ investigation could lead to significant changes in city policies, depending on its findings.

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May 21, 2025
News

Prosecutors Hit Tommy Robinson with New Charges a Day After Judge Rules for Early Prison Release.

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❓What Happened: Tommy Robinson has been charged with harassing two men, a day after a judge ruled he could be released from prison early.

👥 Who’s Involved: Tommy Robinson, Kent Police, and Jamal Hijazi.

📍 Where & When: Incidents occurred in England in July 2024 and August 2024; Robinson is currently held at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes.

⚠️ Impact: Robinson faces new legal challenges ahead of his release from prison next week.

IN FULL:

Tommy Robinson has been charged with two new counts of harassment causing fear of violence, just one day after a judge ruled he could be released from prison early. The charges are linked to incidents in August 2024.

Robinson, currently incarcerated in His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Woodhill in Milton Keynes, England, is also accused of refusing to provide the PIN code for his mobile phone during a July 2024 stop by Kent Police in Folkestone.

The development comes as Robinson is set to be released next week after his sentence was reduced. He was initially jailed in October after he repeated allegations he had made against a Syrian migrant, Jamal Hijazi, previously ruled to be defamatory in a civil case. Robinson alleged Hijazi attacked girls at a school in Huddersfield, and produced a documentary defending these allegations after Hijazi successfully sued him, and a court issued an injunction barring Robinson from repeating the claims.

Robinson has been repeatedly targeted by police and prosecutors in recent years, sometimes on highly dubious pretexts. A case against him, brought on the basis that he refused an unlawful police order to leave a protest because his mere presence could cause distress, collapsed shortly before his most recent imprisonment.

Image by Shayan Barjesteh van Waalwijk van Doorn.

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Migrant Crime
May 21, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Lawfare

Biden Judge Halts Trump Plan to Deport Criminal Illegals to South Sudan.

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❓What Happened: A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration violated his order to provide “meaningful” due process to a group of illegal immigrants facing deportation. In the decision, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy also suggested that Trump immigration officials could have committed criminal contempt by moving forward with the deportation flight.

👥 Who’s Involved: Illegal immigrants from Burma, Vietnam, Mexico, Cuba, and Laos; U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy; and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍 Where & When: The illegal immigrants were allegedly flown from Texas earlier this week; Judge Murphy issued his ruling on Wednesday, May 21, after ordering DHS to maintain custody of the deportees late on Tuesday.

💬 Key Quote: “A local judge in Massachusetts is trying to force the United States to bring back these uniquely barbaric monsters who present a clear and present threat to the safety of the American people and American victims,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said before the ruling on Wednesday.

⚠️ Impact: The ruling marks the latest interference by the U.S. federal courts in President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to deport dangerous illegal immigrants from the United States, some with removal orders dating back decades.

IN FULL:

A federal judge has intervened after reports surfaced that at least a dozen criminal illegal aliens, including migrants from Burma, Vietnam, and Mexico, were deported to South Sudan earlier this week. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy on Wednesday blocked the deportations and ordered the return of the illegal immigrants to the United States. In a previous ruling in April, the Joe Biden appointee ordered the Trump administration to ensure illegal immigrants slated for deportations to third countries received “meaningful” due process, but declined to provide detailed instructions as to what that would entail.

Late Tuesday, Judge Murphy issued an order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain custody of the deportees, who were alleged to be on a plane sitting on a South Sudanese runway. The directive, according to the federal district court judge, was to give him time to determine whether the removals were unlawful—a determination he made just several hours later.

While Judge Murphy acknowledged his April ruling did not provide details regarding what he expected in terms of due process for the deportees, he insisted the 12-hour notice given by U.S. immigration officials was “obviously insufficient.” Likewise, attorneys representing the illegal immigrants argued that immigration authorities violated the April ruling, contending that they were not given an adequate opportunity to contest deportation to third countries where their clients had no ties and could face safety concerns.

On Wednesday, before the court hearing, DHS officials confirmed that a flight carrying at least eight individuals departed from Texas. However, DHS declined to confirm whether South Sudan was the final destination. A list released by the department identified the passengers as having criminal records and included illegal immigrants from Cuba, Laos, and Mexico.

“A local judge in Massachusetts is trying to force the United States to bring back these uniquely barbaric monsters who present a clear and present threat to the safety of the American people and American victims,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said before the ruling.

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May 21, 2025
Crime

Fresh Trump Crackdown on Brutal Mexican Cartel.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration sanctioned two top members of Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, leaders of Cartel del Noreste; U.S. Treasury Department; Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

📍 Where & When: Sanctions announced Wednesday; Cartel del Noreste operates near the Laredo, Texas border region.

💬 Key Quote: “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

⚠️ Impact: The sanctions aim to disrupt Cartel del Noreste’s operations, including drug trafficking, arms procurement, and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on two senior leaders of the Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and designated foreign terrorist organization, according to an announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda for their roles in facilitating the cartel’s operations. Officials say the group exerts significant control over the border area near Laredo, Texas.

Ledzema, a high-ranking cartel member, was identified as overseeing the acquisition and trafficking of firearms into Mexico. According to the Treasury Department, he coordinated payments to U.S.-based straw purchasers who misrepresented themselves to obtain weapons, later smuggling them into Nuevo Laredo. One such weapon was reportedly recovered after a March 2024 cartel attack on the Mexican military.

Sauceda, previously second-in-command of the cartel, was arrested in February by Mexican authorities. He allegedly led an armed enforcement unit and was linked to violent assaults on Mexican military and police forces. At the time of his arrest, he was found with firearms, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s commitment to confronting the cartel threat, stating, “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.” Bessent also highlighted the cartel’s role in campaigns of violence, intimidation, and terrorism that endanger communities on both sides of the border.

The sanctions were coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council, praised the administration’s actions, saying they fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s promise to prevent cartels from operating with impunity. “These actions deal a significant blow and send the message to all cartels that President Trump will follow through,” Perez stated.

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May 21, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

BREAKING: Trump Confronts South African Prez on Rallies Calling for Murder of White Farmers.

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❓ What Happened: President Donald J. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with evidence of Julius Malema inciting violence against white farmers and opposed South Africa’s land expropriation laws, while offering Afrikaners U.S. refugee status.

👥  Who’s Involved: President Trump, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

📍 Where & When: Diplomatic meeting, with Trump’s confrontation reported on May 21, 2025.

⚠️  Impact: Trump’s bold stance champions human rights and counters South Africa’s dangerous policies, reinforcing America First by protecting persecuted Afrikaners and challenging Ramaphosa’s denialism.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with videos of Julius Malema, leader of one of the largest parties in the South African legislature, calling for the murder of the country’s white minority.

Malema, previously the president of the youth wing of Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), could be seen leading a packed stadium in chants of “Kill the Boer” and “Shoot to kill,” and performing impressions of a gun being fired. “Boer” refers to Afrikaners, mostly Dutch-descended, from South Africa’s Western Cape, but is commonly used to refer to all Afrikaners.

President Trump also showed video of a field of white crosses, representing white farmers who have been murdered over the years, often with extreme brutality. Ramaphosa reiterated the South African government’s official line that these farmers are victims of mere “criminality.” Still, the attacks frequently involve a racial element, with phrases like ‘Kill the Boer’ sometimes being left at the scene. Trump also held up a number of printouts of news articles about these farm attacks.

The Trump administration is particularly opposed to the Ramaphosa government’s new legislation authorizing the expropriation of white farmers’ land without compensation—a policy previously tried in Zimbabwe, with disastrous consequences for the white minority and the country at large when food production subsequently collapsed.

In response to South Africa’s expropriation laws, the Trump administration has begun accepting Afrikaners into the United States as refugees. Ramaphosa has slammed these Afrikaners as “cowards.”

This story is developing…

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May 21, 2025
Corruption
Health

DOJ Investigating Andrew Cuomo for Lying to Congress About Covid.

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❓What Happened: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal probe into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for allegedly lying to Congress about his COVID-19 pandemic decisions.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the U.S. Department of Justice, the House Oversight Committee, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

📍 Where & When: The U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C initiated the investigation about a month ago.

💬 Key Quote: Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi stated, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple.”

⚠️ Impact: The case could affect Cuomo’s bid to return to frontline politics in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation into former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over allegations that he misled Congress about his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry, launched by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., reportedly began a month ago.

The investigation follows a recommendation by House Republicans, who accused Cuomo of providing false statements during a congressional probe into nursing home deaths in New York. In March 2020, Cuomo’s administration issued a directive requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients, a move critics argue exacerbated outbreaks and led to thousands of deaths. Cuomo later rescinded the directive amid backlash.

A 2022 report by the New York state comptroller revealed that the state health department under Cuomo understated nursing home fatalities by as much as 50 percent at certain points during the pandemic.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, described the investigation as politically motivated, stating, “This is lawfare and election interference plain and simple.” Cuomo is attempting a political comeback, campaigning in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.

Cuomo’s main rival, current Mayor Eric Adams, is seeking re-election as an independent candidate. Notably, senior DOJ officials recently dismissed corruption charges against Adams.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) has been vocal in his criticism of Cuomo, calling the alleged falsehoods a “calculated cover-up” and emphasizing that lying to Congress is a federal crime. Comer pledged full cooperation with the DOJ’s investigation, stating, “This wasn’t a slip-up—it was a calculated cover-up by a man seeking to shield himself from responsibility.”

Image by Delta News Hub/ Chris Rank for Rank Studios.

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May 21, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Far-Left Democrat Set for Court Debut After Assaulting ICE Agents.

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❓What Happened: Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) faces charges of assaulting two federal agents during a visit to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. McIver, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D), Reps. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), ICE agents, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents.

📍 Where & When: Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Newark, NJ, on May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: McIver argues, “If I’m going to be charged with a crime for doing my job, it just speaks to where we’re headed in this country.”

⚠️ Impact: The incident poses a serious problem for Democrats as their more progressive and liberal wings work to portray the arrest as overreach by the Trump administration. However, more moderate and centrist party members, and voters at large, see the assault as an attack on law enforcement, and the Democratic Party’s continued defense of illegal immigrants over American citizens as distasteful.

IN FULL:

Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) is set to appear virtually before a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday following charges of assaulting two federal agents at an illegal immigrant detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, earlier this month. The Democrat lawmaker, alongside fellow New Jersey Reps. Robert Menendez and Bonnie Watson Coleman, was reportedly conducting oversight duties at the Delaney Hall U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on May 9. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also present and was also arrested during the incident, though charges against him were later dismissed.

According to prosecutors, McIver allegedly used her forearm to strike a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent and attempted to restrain him. She is also accused of pushing and striking an ICE officer. Bodycam footage reportedly captured the events, which the Justice Department (DOJ) claims show McIver creating a “human shield” to block agents from detaining Baraka after he was warned to leave the property.

McIver has denied the allegations, calling them “purely political.” In a public statement, she said, “Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to inspect the treatment of ICE detainees… We were fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities… ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka.”

During a CNN interview, McIver criticized federal agents, stating, “They caused the confrontation… We were there to do our jobs.” She added, “If I’m going to be charged with a crime for doing my job, it just speaks to where we’re headed in this country.”

The court approved McIver’s request to appear virtually for her initial hearing, where her rights and charges will be read, and a bail package determined.

Witness accounts suggest tensions escalated when Baraka attempted to join the lawmakers inside the facility and was denied access by federal officials. An argument ensued, leading to his arrest.

The case has drawn criticism from figures like former Border Czar Tom Homan, who argued McIver “broke the law” and should face accountability. Prosecutors maintain that McIver’s actions interfered with federal law enforcement duties, while the Congresswoman insists she was fulfilling her official responsibilities.

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May 21, 2025
News
Politics

‘Maybe One Day,’ Don Jr Says of Presidential Ambitions.

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❓What Happened: Donald Trump Jr. hinted at the possibility of a future presidential run during a panel discussion in Qatar.

👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump Jr., eldest son of President Donald J. Trump, and attendees of the Qatar Economic Forum.

📍 Where & When: Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I don’t know, maybe one day, you know—that calling is there.”

⚠️ Impact: Sparks speculation about a potential continuation of the Trump family’s political influence.

IN FULL:

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald J. Trump, suggested on Wednesday that he may consider a bid for the presidency in the future. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Trump Jr. was asked about the possibility of seeking the White House after his father.

“It’s an honor to be asked and an honor to see that some people are OK with it,” he said during the panel discussion, receiving applause from some audience members. “You never know,” he added.

The 47-year-old executive vice president of The Trump Organization has been a strong advocate of his father’s America First agenda, serving as something of a de facto ambassador for the MAGA grassroots to the administration. Reflecting on the transformation of the Republican Party under his father’s leadership, he said, “I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party. I think it’s the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it,” he remarked.

He further emphasized the strength of the party’s current lineup, stating, “For the first time ever, the Republican Party actually has a bench of America First fighters.”

In March, speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run for Trump Jr. surfaced in a report by the left-leaning website Mediaite, which he denied at the time. However, his comments on Wednesday leave the door open for future political ambitions. “I don’t know, maybe one day, you know—that calling is there,” he said.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 21, 2025
News

Senior Democrat Passes Away Following Cancer Battle.

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❓What Happened: Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) passed away at the age of 75 after battling esophageal cancer.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Gerry Connolly, his family, and colleagues in Congress.

📍 Where & When: Connolly died at his home in Virginia on Wednesday morning, May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that his life’s work will endure for future generations,” Connolly’s family said in a statement.

⚠️ Impact: Connolly’s death marks the loss of a long-serving Democrat who represented Virginia’s 11th district since 2009 and served as the Democratic ranking member on the House Oversight Committee until stepping down in April. His death also tilts the math for the passage of legislation in the House slightly more in favor of the slim Republican majority.

IN FULL:

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) passed away at his home on Wednesday morning at the age of 75, his family confirmed in a statement. The Democratic representative had been battling esophageal cancer, a diagnosis he revealed shortly after the 2024 election.

Connolly’s family announced his death with a message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, “His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that his life’s work will endure for future generations.”

The Democrat lawmaker had served Virginia’s 11th congressional district since 2009. A staunch ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Connolly defeated the progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) for the ranking member position on the influential House Oversight Committee at the start of the current Congress in January. However, in April, he stepped down from the role after revealing that his cancer had returned.

In a letter to constituents earlier this year, Connolly reflected on his decades of public service, writing, “With no rancor and a full heart, I move into this final chapter full of pride in what we accomplished together over 30 years.” He also confirmed that this term would be his last in Congress.

Rep. Connolly was a noted foe of President Donald J. Trump and one of the more vocally partisan Democrats in the House of Representatives. During former President Joe Biden’s lawfare campaign against Trump, the Virginia Congressman pushed a proposal to rename a federal prison after Trump—a subtle reference to Democratic Party efforts to see the America First leader imprisoned.

Image by April Brady/Project on Middle East Democracy.

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