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Category: News
June 23, 2025
War

Iran Has Vowed Retaliation. Here’s What We Know About Their Options.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States is preparing for potential retaliation from Iran after President Donald J. Trump launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities using B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The United States, Iran, Israel, and key figures such as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

📍WHEN & WHERE: U.S. strikes occurred over the weekend, targeting nuclear facilities in Iran, including Isfahan and Fordow. Retaliatory strikes by Iran could occur this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” warned President Trump regarding the potential for Iranian retaliation.

🎯IMPACT: Iran faces pressure to retaliate, threatening regional stability, with potential economic and geopolitical consequences, including disruption of oil tankers moving through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

IN FULL

The United States has carried out targeted strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, utilizing B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles. While the exact damage to Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear, concerns over Tehran’s potential retaliation are mounting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the American strikes as “lawless and criminal behaviour” and warned of “everlasting consequences.” He stated that Iran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

Among the initial moves Iran could make would be to disrupt oil tanker traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz. This could impact oil and natural gas markets globally, with exports largely being blocked out of Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The National Pulse previously reported that, in the past, Iran has demonstrated its capacity to threaten shipping in the strait, using tactics such as deploying mines and targeting oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. Notably, if Iran were to deploy a significant number of mines in the strait’s waters, it could effectively close the passage to ships for the foreseeable future.

Another path the Iranian regime could take would be to redouble efforts on pursuing a nuclear weapon. In the coming days, Iran is expected to attempt to salvage whatever materials and equipment it can from their devastated nuclear facilities. If enough material remains—and if the Iranians have maintained other previously unknown facilities—besides up to 880 pounds of enriched uranium previously moved from the sites—the regime could restart its program.

The more radical elements in the regime, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), will likely demand a more immediate and tangible response to the U.S. strikes. This could include using existing fissile materials to build a so-called “dirty bomb” radiation weapon.

The most anticipated response is Iranian missile and drone strikes against U.S. military bases, diplomatic facilities, and allied assets in the Middle East. Iran has engaged in similar actions in the past—including after President Donald J. Trump ordered the elimination of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani on January 3, 2020. Using short and medium-range ballistic missiles and suicide drones, Iran could again target U.S. military bases and assets in Iraq, Bahrain, and Qatar—which are notably less protected than Israel, with its multi-layered anti-missile defense shield.

President Donald J. Trump has issued a stark warning to Tehran, stating, “The full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before” if American assets are attacked.

Image by Fars Media Corporation.

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June 23, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Regime Change, Missing Uranium, New Israeli Strikes: Here’s the Latest on Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Israeli Air Force is continuing to strike Iran following the U.S. raid on the Islamic Republic’s hardened nuclear sites over the weekend, hitting key military and governmental targets in Tehran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters and Evin Prison. Meanwhile, Iran’s enriched uranium remains unaccounted for, and President Donald J. Trump is flirting with “regime change.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), President Trump, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Strikes occurred over the weekend and into Monday morning, targeting Tehran and other Iranian locations, including the Fordow nuclear facility.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” – President Trump.

🎯IMPACT: Hundreds of IRGC members were reportedly killed. However, if Iran remains in possession of a substantial stockpile of nuclear material, it still presents a potent threat.

IN FULL

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed a series of airstrikes targeting military and governmental assets in Tehran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters and Evin Prison, which houses political prisoners. The strikes come despite President Donald J. Trump having authorized the devastation of Iran’s hardened nuclear sites over the weekend—and amid news that Iran moved up to 880 pounds of enriched uranium from those sites before the strikes.

According to the IDF, more than 50 fighter jets participated in the operation, targeting missile production sites, storage facilities, and internal security forces. In a translated post on X, the IDF stated, “The Basij headquarters, a key power base of the Revolutionary Guards responsible for enforcing Islamic codes, was attacked, along with other significant regime targets.” The strike on Evin Prison appears to have been targeted to facilitate a jailbreak, although it is unclear if there are any escapees as of the time of publication.

The strikes follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s authorization of attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the Fordow and Natanz enrichment plants. Trump stated that the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, it appears that up to 880 pounds of enriched uranium was moved from Fordow prior to the U.S. strikes, with Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying the Iranians have “made no secret that they have protected this material,” and it is now unaccounted for.

President Trump now appears to be considering regime change in Iran, despite initially suggesting that the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites by the U.S. was an opportunity to bring the conflict to an end. Writing on his Truth Social platform, he stated, “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”

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June 23, 2025
News
War

Americans in This Middle Eastern Country Are Being Warned to Shelter in Place.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place warning for U.S. citizens in the country, citing an increased threat to Americans worldwide.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Embassy in Qatar, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the State Department.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The warning was issued on Monday morning in Qatar, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East. There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad.” – U.S. Embassy in Qatar

🎯IMPACT: Heightened security measures and increased caution for U.S. citizens globally due to potential threats and disruptions.

IN FULL

The United States Embassy in Qatar on Monday morning told U.S. citizens in the country to immediately “shelter in place until further notice,” as the State Department warns of an increased threat to Americans worldwide.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its own heightened threat alert for all Americans on Sunday, after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

The embassy in Qatar said the latest warning was “out of an abundance of caution” and did not appear to be in response to a specific threat.

The warning comes after the embassy said to exercise increased caution on Sunday. “The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” the embassy alert said Sunday. “There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.”

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June 22, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

IN FULL: Trump Addresses the Nation on Iran Strikes.

President Donald J. Trump addressed the nation overnight on the U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Here are his remarks in full:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive, precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime. Fordo, Natanz and Esfahan. Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise.

Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.

Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not. Future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.

For 40 years, Iran has been saying. Death to America, death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs, with roadside bombs. That was their specialty. We lost over 1,000 people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East, and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate in particular. So many were killed by their general, Qassim Soleimani. I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.

I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, spectacular general, and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.

With all of that being said, this cannot continue. There will be either peace, or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all, by far, and perhaps the most lethal. But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes. There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago.

Tomorrow, General Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8 a.m. at the Pentagon. And I want to just thank everybody. And, in particular, God. I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.

WATCH:

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President Donald J. Trump addressed the nation overnight on the U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Here are his remarks in full: show more
June 20, 2025
Lauren Gallagher
War

UN Nuclear Watchdog Warns Strikes on Iranian Reactors Could Cause Catastrophic Meltdowns.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: At a United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi warned that an Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant could trigger catastrophic radioactive fallout.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rafael Grossi, the IAEA, the UN Security Council, Israel, and Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, June 2025

💬KEY QUOTE: “[A] hit that disabled the only two lines supplying electrical power to the plant could cause its reactor’s core to melt, which could result in a high release of radioactivity to the environment.” – Rafael Grossi

🎯IMPACT: A strike on Bushehr could unleash a regional humanitarian disaster and displace thousands.

IN FULL

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned of the severe consequences of a potential strike on Iranian nuclear reactors at a meeting with the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Friday. He emphasized that the biggest concern is the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

“[Bushehr] is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences of an attack would be the most serious,” Grossi said, explaining that “a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment.”

“Similarly, a hit that disabled the only two lines supplying electrical power to the plant could cause its reactor’s core to melt, which could result in a high release of radioactivity to the environment,” he added.

Israel continues to hit facilities allegedly tied to Tehran’s plan to build a nuclear bomb, but has yet to strike at Bushehr. Iran has claimed they are not seeking to build a nuclear bomb, and the nuclear program is for civilian energy. However, Iran’s level of enriched uranium exceeds civilian energy needs and is close to achieving enough for a nuclear weapon. Grossi himself previously warned that around 90 percent of Iran’s enriched uranium is weapons-grade.

If there is an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, an extremely high level of radioactivity could be released into the environment. Similarly, Grossi warned that attacks on a nuclear research reactor in the capital of Tehran, with a population of around ten million, “would also have severe consequences potentially for large areas of the city… and its inhabitants.”

These dangerous scenarios would require extensive protective measures to be taken, such as mass evacuations, sheltering populations, and even “the need to take stable iodine” supplements to counteract possible radiation sickness.

The IAEA continues to monitor radiation levels in and around Iran’s nuclear facilities. So far, there are facilities in Iran reporting damage due to Israeli strikes in Arak, Esfahan, Natanz, and Tehran.

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June 20, 2025
Immigration
News

House Democrats Are Still Trying to Give Citizenship to 11 Million Illegals.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) is lobbying for a pathway to citizenship for all illegal immigrants in the U.S.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Representative Maxwell Frost, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX), and other lawmakers.

📍WHEN & WHERE: June 2025, at a press conference in Orlando, Florida.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I want to be clear, being undocumented [sic] is not a crime… Let’s document every single one of them with a speedy path to citizenship.” – Maxwell Frost

🎯IMPACT: The proposal has sparked backlash from Republican lawmakers, who have labeled it a “dangerous idea” and vowed to oppose it, and underlined Democrats’ ongoing support for open borders.

IN FULL

Democrat Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) has called for a pathway to citizenship for as many as 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, stating that “we should document every single one of them.” Frost, the son of a Haitian migrant and a Lebanese-descended Puerto Rican, made the announcement during a press conference in Orlando, Florida, where he also unveiled the anti-deportation Stop Unlawful Detention and End Mistreatment Act (SUDEM) bill.

The SUDEM Act aims to provide detainees, their families, and legal representatives with detailed information about detention locations, reasons, and the legal authority behind each case, tying up federal immigration officials in red tape. Frost bizarrely claimed that being an illegal immigrant “is not a crime” and advocated for a “speedy path to citizenship” as a supposed solution to the issue of illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Republican lawmakers criticized the proposal, with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) describing it as “blanket amnesty” and a “dangerous idea.” Johnson stated on X (formerly Twitter), “We must defend common sense and the rule of law.” Texas Representative Brandon Gill also weighed in, accusing Democrats of pushing mass amnesty to “rig congressional apportionment in their favor.”

While Frost remains committed to advancing his legislation and plans to seek co-sponsors in Washington, D.C., the bill is unlikely to gain traction in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. He has some support outside Congress, however, with far-left Late Show host Stephen Colbert inviting him on his show to promote the SUDEM bill and accuse ICE agents of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Immigration has been a key focus of President Donald J. Trump‘s policy agenda, with plans for increased border security, expanded deportations, and an end to federal benefits for illegal immigrants. Frost’s proposal comes amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement, including violent protests and riots against recent ICE raids and legal challenges to the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations.

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June 20, 2025
News
War

Zelensky Demands $40 Billion a Year.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded $40 billion annually in Western aid and urged additional pressure on Moscow from the Trump administration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and G7 leaders.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements were made this week following the G7 summit in Canada.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s crucial to have $40 billion annually in budgetary support for Ukraine—to ensure our resilience and the ability of our country to carry on. This should be a joint decision by G7 leaders, including the U.S.” – Volodymyr Zelensky.

🎯IMPACT: Zelensky’s continued calls for Western financial and military support highlight an ongoing reluctance to seriously engage with the idea of a compromise peace.

IN FULL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western allies to provide at least $40 billion annually to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Zelensky also called for increased pressure from the Trump administration on Moscow to end the conflict.

Zelensky missed an opportunity to meet with President J. Donald Trump, as the American leader, cut short his trip to the G7 summit in Canada earlier this week. The Ukrainian government had sought to secure additional commitments for weapons and support from the United States as Ukraine faces stalled negotiations and escalating challenges on the frontlines.

Zelensky highlighted the need for sustained financial aid on social media. “It’s crucial to have $40 billion annually in budgetary support for Ukraine—to ensure our resilience and the ability of our country to carry on,” he said. “This should be a joint decision by G7 leaders, including the U.S.”

Zelensky also called on Western powers to “continue urging President Trump to use the influence he really has—to force Putin to end this war.” Since the Russian invasion in 2022, the United States has allocated $184.8 billion in aid to Ukraine, with $89.5 billion already distributed.

The conflict remains intense, with both sides launching significant attacks. Russia has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from several claimed regions. At the same time, Kiev insists on an unconditional ceasefire and refuses to cede any territory, including Crimea, which is majority Russian and has been in Russian hands since 2014.

Image via the Presidency of Ukraine.

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June 20, 2025
Health
News

Gay Africans Are Blaming Trump for Their HIV.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Gay men in African nations have blamed difficulties accessing HIV prevention medication on foreign aid cuts enacted by the Trump administration, rather than African governments or their own behavior.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russell Vought, public health officials, gay Africans, and African governments.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Since President Trump’s inauguration, with impacts felt in countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Ethiopia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I equally blame the Trump administration because, you know, these things were available, and then, without prior notice, these things were cut off.” – Emmanuel Cherem, Nigerian citizen.

🎯IMPACT: If gay African men are unwilling to change their behavior, African governments, the African Union, and liberal governments in the European Union (EU), Canada, and elsewhere might have to step up to fund the medication, instead of relying on American taxpayers.

IN FULL

Gay men in African nations are claiming increased HIV diagnoses due to the Trump administration’s decision to cut foreign aid funding, particularly for HIV/AIDS prevention programs, rather than their own risky sexual behavior. The cuts have allegedly limited access to medications such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which reduces the risk of contracting HIV by 99 percent, though it remains unclear why African countries or the African Union have not funded the drug themselves.

Emmanuel Cherem, a 25-year-old from Nigeria, an oil-rich state and one of Africa’s largest economies, stated that he tested positive for HIV two months after losing access to the drug. “I blame myself [but] I equally blame the Trump administration because, you know, these things were available, and then, without prior notice, these things were cut off.” He did not explain why American taxpayers should have a particular responsibility to stop him from catching HIV.

The Trump administration paused foreign development assistance on the President’s first day in office, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio issuing a “stop work order” for the State Department’s Office of Foreign Assistance. Programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) saw significant funding reductions, with prevention efforts now focused on pregnant and lactating women who may pass HIV to their children. LGBT individuals unwilling to take precautions and prostitutes are no longer a main focus.

During a visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Donald J. Trump defended the cuts, stating, “Hopefully a lot of people are going to start spending a lot of money. I’ve talked to other nations. We want them to chip in and spend money too, and we’ve spent a lot. And it’s a big—it’s a tremendous problem going on in many countries.”

Public health officials, including Linda-Gail Bekker of the University of Cape Town, have expressed concerns that African nations may not be able to fill the funding gap, potentially leading to increased HIV transmission rates. UNAIDS has noted that countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique were heavily reliant on U.S. funding for HIV prevention measures—though all fall under the umbrella of the African Union, and it is unclear why other relatively wealthy nations in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere could not fund the measures instead of America.

Image by Samantha Marx.

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June 20, 2025
Corruption
Lawfare

These FBI Emails Prove Biden DOJ Targeted Trump Over J6 Choir.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Internal Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emails revealed the Biden Justice Department’s effort to target President Donald J. Trump over a January 6 defendant choir.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor J.P. Cooney, FBI Special Agent Walter Giardina, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 2023, emails were obtained in June 2025 and reviewed by Senator Grassley in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Can we do some work to nail down Trump’s role in this,” wrote JP Cooney in an email to DOJ colleagues.

🎯IMPACT: Senator Grassley called it a “clear example” of the federal government weaponizing the DOJ against Trump.

IN FULL

Internal Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emails obtained by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have revealed that the Joe Biden-era Department of Justice (DOJ) targeted President Donald J. Trump over a choir involving January 6 defendants. The emails show what was described as an “obsession with piling on Trump charges.”

An email from March 8, 2023, written by DOJ prosecutor J.P. Cooney, stated, “Can we do some work to nail down Trump’s role in this,” with the subject line “J6 Prisoner Choir/DJT.” The email included a Forbes article reporting that Trump collaborated on a song with January 6 defendants. Cooney noted that Trump recorded the Pledge of Allegiance at Mar-a-Lago, with Kash Patel and Ed Henry also involved.

Cooney’s email also mentioned that profits from the song were directed to an LLC run by Ed Henry, with proceeds intended for the families of incarcerated January 6 defendants. Cooney instructed DOJ colleagues to preserve related information and investigate Trump’s role further. The email was sent to eight DOJ staff members, including FBI Special Agent Walter Giardina.

Grassley highlighted Giardina’s involvement in what he called “overzealous” actions against Trump and his allies, including the investigation of Trump advisor Peter Navarro and Giardina’s role in the now-debunked Russia collusion hoax. Grassley stated that Giardina was the “initial recipient of the Steele Dossier” and accused him of improperly destroying government records while working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Grassley criticized the DOJ and FBI, saying, “Instead of focusing on DOJ and FBI’s core law enforcement responsibilities, partisan prosecutors and agents were surfing the web to find any shred of information they could use to spin another baseless case against Trump. Their actions are a disservice to Americans, who pay their salaries and depend on DOJ and FBI to keep them safe.”

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June 20, 2025
Crime
Immigration

An Illegal Alien Tried to Murder One of Trump’s U.S. Attorneys on the Street.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A previously deported illegal immigrant, Saul Morales-Garcia, was arrested on attempted murder charges after lunging at U.S. Attorney John Sarcone with a knife in Albany.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Saul Morales-Garcia, U.S. Attorney John Sarcone, Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday night outside a hotel on Lodge Street in Albany, New York.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I feared for my life, but I couldn’t let this individual harm and potentially kill others.” – John Sarcone

🎯IMPACT: Morales-Garcia is in custody, facing charges of attempted murder, felony weapons possession, and menacing. The case is now being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

IN FULL

Saul Morales-Garcia, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador with a lengthy criminal record, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking U.S. Attorney John Sarcone in Albany, New York. The incident occurred Tuesday night outside a hotel on Lodge Street, where Morales-Garcia reportedly lunged at Sarcone with a knife, making a slitting-the-throat gesture, according to prosecutors.

Sarcone, who was appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi in March, stated he feared for his life but took action to prevent harm to others. Initially fleeing to safety inside the hotel, Sarcone ultimately returned to the scene to stop Morales-Garcia from escaping. The suspect charged at Sarcone a second time before being apprehended by Albany County Sheriff’s deputies.

“I felt an obligation to the public as the chief Federal law enforcement officer in the district that includes the city of Albany,” Sarcone said in a statement. “I feared for my life, but I couldn’t let this individual harm and potentially kill others.” Morales-Garcia was taken into custody, and the knife was recovered. He has been charged with attempted murder, felony weapons possession, and menacing. Police have described the attack as random.

Morales-Garcia, who unlawfully reentered the United States in 2021, has a criminal history spanning multiple states, including convictions for driving under the influence in Georgia and disorderly conduct on federal property in Virginia. He also has an active warrant in Forsyth County, Georgia, for failure to appear in court. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York will now handle the prosecution, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

“Public safety is our highest priority,” Sarcone emphasized. “I am relieved that no one was harmed. I appreciated the swift response by the Albany County Sheriff’s office, which was within minutes, although it seemed like an eternity.” Sarcone also expressed concerns about safety in Albany, stating, “I’m a resident of the city of Albany, and I can’t … I don’t feel safe to go out for a walk and have a cigar right near the state Capitol.”

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