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Tag: federal agents
July 24, 2026
Lawfare
News

DOJ Challenges Dem City’s Ban on Masked Federal Agents.

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee’s ban on masked law enforcement, citing federal supremacy and unconstitutional local interference with federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Milwaukee, Wisconsin, over its ban on law enforcement officers wearing masks.
📺 DETAIL: The DOJ asserts that the city’s mask ban violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause. The supremacy clause establishes federal authority as the “supreme law of the land,” overriding conflicting local or state laws. The DOJ further asserts that such policies are part of a broader trend from Democrat-controlled municipal governments to obstruct and undermine federal law enforcement agencies, especially U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A mask ban means that federal agents can be identified by far-left activists and thus become targets of harassment campaigns for carrying out their duties, such as immigration enforcement. The DOJ has successfully overturned similar bans in other cities, such as Philadelphia. The lawsuit was announced this week following a series of similar actions by the DOJ over the course of the year.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This Court should join the growing number of others that are putting an end to this type of blatant unconstitutional regulation of the Federal Government,” the DOJ declared in its lawsuit.
🎯 IMPACT: The DOJ’s lawsuit underscores the ongoing tension between federal and local government, especially in jurisdictions that oppose federal immigration enforcement. A ruling in favor of the DOJ could further solidify federal authority over local attempts to prevent federal agencies from carrying out their duties. Back in February, the Trump administration was handed a victory over Democrat Governor of California Gavin Newsom after a California law banning federal agents from wearing masks was blocked by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. However, anti-ICE municipal efforts are unlikely to stop with overturning mask bans. Back in January, Philadelphia District Attorney (DA) Larry Krasner (D), who described ICE agents as “wannabe Nazis” during a rally, threatened sweeping legal action against the agency. If mask bans fail to prevent ICE from carrying out its responsibilities, then municipal leftist hostility towards the agency is likely to redirected towards other efforts.

Image by Steve Fernie.

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The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee's ban on masked law enforcement, citing federal supremacy and unconstitutional local interference with federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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July 20, 2026
Crime
News

Explosion Outside NYC Federal Building, Suspect Arrested.

An incendiary device caused an explosion outside a federal building in Manhattan, prompting an FBI-led investigation and a significant emergency response.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: An explosion caused by an incendiary device outside New York City‘s 26 Federal Plaza on Monday morning sparked a fire, injured four people, and prompted a major emergency response. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said a suspect was taken into custody after allegedly deploying the device outside the Lower Manhattan federal building, which houses agencies including the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and confirmed its New York Field Office is leading the investigation.
📺 DETAIL: The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) said it responded to reports of an outdoor fire at about 8:30 AM, adding that three of the four people with minor injuries declined medical treatment while one was transported to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Authorities said the scene was secured by late morning and no FDNY units remained on site. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident as officials work to determine the circumstances surrounding the explosion. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) condemned the attack, said he was relieved no one was seriously injured, and pledged the city’s support for the federal investigation while emphasizing that those responsible would be held accountable.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This morning an individual deployed an incendiary device outside of 26 Federal Plaza. The individual has been taken into custody and the FBI New York Office is investigating the incident.” – FBI statement.
🎯 IMPACT: The incident caused temporary disruptions in the area as law enforcement secured the site and rerouted traffic. No serious injuries have been reported, but the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation.

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An incendiary device caused an explosion outside a federal building in Manhattan, prompting an FBI-led investigation and a significant emergency response.

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February 6, 2026
Crime
News

Why is the DOJ Downgrading Felony Charges Against Anti-ICE Rioters?

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has quietly downgraded the charges against almost half of the 16 anti-ICE agitators arrested for interfering with federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota from felonies to low-level misdemeanors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, federal agents, and 16 defendants, including Gillian Etherington and Emily Baierl.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The 16 anti-ICE protestors were arrested last week, with their prosecutions now entering preliminary stages.

💬KEY QUOTE: “NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law.” – Attorney General Pam Bondi

🎯IMPACT: Many cases were downgraded to misdemeanors, despite Bondi’s public assertions that the DOJ would pursue maximum penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 111.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have quietly downgraded felony charges against at least half of the 16 anti-ICE agitators arrested last week for allegedly assaulting or interfering with federal agents during immigration enforcement operations. While Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged to charge violent protestors under 18 U.S.C. § 111, which establishes a felony crime for anyone who “forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes” with government officials carrying out their duties, prosecutors have reduced many of the cases to lower-level misdemeanors.

Notably, Bondi herself traveled to Minnesota last week for the filing of the felony charges against the 16 anti-ICE protestors, posting at the time on X (formerly Twitter), “I am on the ground in Minneapolis today. Federal agents have arrested 16 Minnesota rioters for allegedly assaulting federal law enforcement — people who have been resisting and impeding our federal law enforcement agents.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: NOTHING will stop President Trump and this Department of Justice from enforcing the law,” she added.

While the DOJ has struggled in some more liberal jurisdictions to secure grand jury indictments carrying significant penalties against violent leftist agitators, the direct decision by federal prosecutors to downgrade charges appears to be a more recent development.

One of the Minnesota cases, against Gillian Etherington, was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor this past Tuesday without explanation. Last week, the DOJ alleged that Etherington “rammed her car into a United States Border Patrol vehicle and drove away,” with Border Patrol engaging in a pursuit before she proceeded to “drive into oncoming traffic” and strike “an unmarked law enforcement vehicle near a high school,” and even then continued to resist arrest.

In another instance, the DOJ dropped felony charges against Emily Baierl to misdemeanors despite Baierl having bitten the finger of a federal law enforcement agent during a demonstration after the death of Alex Pretti. While Baierl’s case is separate from the 16 filed last week, the downgrading of charges despite the clear instance of physical assault is puzzling.

However, one reason for the DOJ’s decision may be a contention raised by attorneys for a number of the defendants that Bondi’s aggressive public media campaign surrounding the arrests—including the release of photos and videos of defendants before trial—could violate internal department policies and risk prejudicing cases.

Image by Chad Davis.

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December 3, 2025
Crime
News

Anti-ICE LA Man Arrested for Hurling Molotov Cocktail at Federal Building.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal authorities released images of a man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails into a federal building in Los Angeles, California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspect was identified as 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel, a Los Angeles resident.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred Monday morning at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence. Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.” – First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli

🎯IMPACT: If convicted, Jovel faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.

IN FULL

Federal authorities have identified 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel as the man accused of attempting to firebomb a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, California, on Monday. Prosecutors say he is scheduled to appear in federal court the afternoon of December 3 on a charge of attempted malicious damage of federal property.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Jovel admitted that he acted out of anger toward the federal government’s immigration policies and described the incident to investigators as “a terrorist attack.” He allegedly told officers, “You’re separating families,” and urged others to “start shooting these,” referring to law-enforcement personnel. Authorities released images showing Jovel on the steps of the building and the Molotov-style devices he is accused of trying to ignite, none of which detonated.

Investigators say that before heading to the federal complex, which houses agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jovel intentionally set fire to his rented apartment using an accelerant. He then allegedly threw incendiary bottles at two entry points of the federal building, an employee entrance and a public access door. The devices never fully ignited, and no injuries were reported.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli condemned the attack, stating, “This case exemplifies how misleading and hateful rhetoric against federal law enforcement can and does result in violence. Irresponsible rhetoric by politicians and activists have real-world consequences. It must stop.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials echoed this warning, with the head of the Los Angeles Field Office, Akil Davis, saying, “There can be zero tolerance for any targeting of law enforcement officials—let alone violent acts—and we’re lucky that the devices allegedly thrown by the subject did not physically injure anyone.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation.

The incident comes amid a broader rise in threats and violence against federal law enforcement personnel this year. Lawmakers have recently proposed new criminal penalties aimed at protecting immigration officers in response to escalating harassment and confrontations. Federal agents in multiple states have reported shootings, arson attempts, and other targeted attacks, while separate investigations are ongoing into vandalism and break-ins at U.S. Attorney facilities.

Officials say the convergence of heated political rhetoric and online calls for violence has created an increasingly volatile environment for federal employees.

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October 22, 2025
Immigration
News

TikTok Migrant Known for Filming ICE Arrests Shot After Allegedly Ramming Federal Vehicles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant was shot after allegedly ramming his car into federal agents in Los Angeles, California.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Carlitos Ricardo Parias, also known as Richard LA on TikTok, and federal agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 21, in Los Angeles, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ultimately, an agent opened fire, wounding Parias and a deputy U.S. marshal, who was hit with a ricochet bullet.” – Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essay

🎯IMPACT: Parias faces charges carrying up to eight years in prison if convicted.

IN FULL

Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a Mexican national living in the U.S. illegally and known on TikTok as “Richard LA,” was shot and arrested in Los Angeles, California, following a confrontation with federal agents. The incident occurred when law enforcement attempted to arrest Parias, who allegedly rammed his car into federal vehicles during the standoff. Agents opened fire, striking Parias in the elbow. A deputy U.S. marshal was also wounded by a ricocheting bullet.

“Ultimately, an agent opened fire, wounding Parias and a deputy US marshal, who was hit with a ricochet bullet,” Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essay said of the incident.

Parias gained popularity on TikTok for his videos documenting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Despite his unlawful status and the serious allegations against him, Parias received support from Los Angeles City Councilman Curren Price, who described him as “a pillar of our community” and a “fearless citizen journalist.”

Parias is not the first illegal immigrant influencer to face legal trouble. Earlier this year, Venezuelan influencer Leonel Moreno was deported after using TikTok to encourage illegals to squat in unoccupied homes. His videos, which often showed him flashing cash and mocking U.S. laws, drew national attention.. Immigration authorities confirmed his deportation in March.

Another deportation involved Leidy Tatiana Mafla-Martinez, a Colombian national known for organizing anti-ICE protests and posting videos of enforcement actions. Mafla-Martinez was removed from the U.S. in October after what federal officials described as multiple violations of immigration law.

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July 23, 2025
William Upton
News

House GOP Finally Moves to Investigate J6 Feds and J6 Committee.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Over six months after announcing they would establish their own select subcommittee to investigate allegations surrounding the involvement of federal agents prior to and during the January 6, 2021, House Republicans have finally filed a resolution to create the investigative panel.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), the House Judiciary Committee, Congressional Republicans, Congressional Democrats, and federal agents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The select subcommittee was initially announced in January, with the authorizing resolution only being filed on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “House Republicans are proud of our work so far in exposing the false narratives peddled by the politically motivated January 6 Select Committee during the 117th Congress, but there is clearly more work to be done.” — Speaker Mike Johnson

🎯IMPACT: House committee chairmen have pledged to extend their jurisdictional authority to the select subcommittee, and Loudermilk will have full subpoena power.

IN FULL

House Republicans are finally beginning the process of establishing their own select subcommittee to investigate the involvement of federal agents prior to and during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, and alleged malfeasance by the January 6 Committee established by Congressional Democrats. Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), who has championed the effort, is slated to lead the select subcommittee.

The Republican-led investigation into federal knowledge of and involvement with January 6 was announced by GOP House leadership over six months ago, but was sidelined due to internal disagreements over the scope of its authority. However, Loudermilk’s effort recently received a boost of momentum after President Donald J. Trump began pushing Republican lawmakers to prioritize an investigation.

“House Republicans are proud of our work so far in exposing the false narratives peddled by the politically motivated January 6 Select Committee during the 117th Congress, but there is clearly more work to be done,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement. “The resolution introduced today will establish this Select Subcommittee so we can continue our efforts to uncover the full truth that is owed to the American people. House Republicans remain intent on delivering the answers that House Democrats skipped over.”

While the process to establish the committee is now underway, Republican House leaders have indicated that it will still be several months before Loudermilk can officially initiate the January 6 inquiry. A vote on the resolution establishing the select subcommittee—including its investigative authority and scope—is expected to be held in September when Congress returns from the August recess.

Initially, after being announced in January, the select subcommittee was delayed over the issue of whether Chairman Loudermilk would be restricted to just the Congressional jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee. Speaker Johnson initially backed a narrow investigatory scope over Loudermilk’s objections. However, it appears the Speaker has relented, and other House committee chairmen have pledged to extend their jurisdictional authority to the select subcommittee, and Loudermilk will have full subpoena power.

“It is vital that we continue to uncover the facts and begin the task of making needed reforms to ensure this level of security failure may never happen again,” Loudermilk said in a statement, noting that his prior investigation—while more narrow in scope—”uncovered that what happened at the Capitol that day was the result of a series of intelligence, security, and leadership failures at multiple levels within numerous entities.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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October 11, 2024
Health
Lawfare

Pro-life Activist Heather Idoni Faces Continued Mistreatment in Custody.

A pro-life activist arrested and prosecuted for breaking pro-abortion laws by the Biden-Harris Justice Department is reportedly being mistreated by federal officials in prison. Heather Idoni is alleged to have been physically abused and kept in solitary confinement.

Heather Idoni was convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiracy charges, devised to stop protests such as Christian prayer vigils near abortionists’ clinics. She has been in custody since August 2023, with trials held in Washington, D.C., and Nashville, Tennessee. Another trial is pending in Detroit, Michigan.

Calvin Zastrow, a co-defendant in the Nashville case, highlighted Idoni’s difficulties during her detention. Idoni has reportedly been transferred between federal prisons frequently and experienced mistreatment in transit.

According to Zastrow, a U.S. Marshal tightened a chain around her waist, making it hard for her to breathe. He alleges she was threatened with worse treatment if she complained.

Congressman Chris Smith, a member of the Pro-life Caucus, has worked with the U.S. Marshals following complaints regarding Idoni’s mistreatment.

Idoni’s health concerns, including diabetes and a past stroke, have been compounded by her experiences in custody, where she was denied necessary medications until congressional intervention.

Congressman Chip Roy has called for the repeal of the FACE Act, criticizing its use against pro-life protesters.

Since the Biden-Harris government took control of the U.S., 24 FACE Act cases have been filed against 55 defendants, nearly all aimed at pro-life activists, despite numerous attacks on churches and pregnancy centers.

Former President Donald J. Trump criticized the federal government’s actions, urging the release of detained pro-life activists.

The Biden-Harris regime has also gone after traditionalist Catholics, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deploying informants in Catholic parishes in parts of the country.

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A pro-life activist arrested and prosecuted for breaking pro-abortion laws by the Biden-Harris Justice Department is reportedly being mistreated by federal officials in prison. Heather Idoni is alleged to have been physically abused and kept in solitary confinement. show more
September 20, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Crime
News

Feds Obstructing State Investigation of Trump Assassination Attempt.

The federal government is obstructing efforts by state law enforcement to investigate the alleged assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump in Florida. “Our investigators were rebuffed just going to the fence line outside of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has expressed misgivings about “the same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump” leading the investigation.

Asked if “the feds [are] being cooperative” in Florida’s efforts to investigate Ukraine-linked Democrat donor Ryan Routh for attempted murder—a state crime rather than a federal crime—Trump’s former rival responded: “The answer’s no, they’re not being cooperative.”

“I think they’ve taken the position [that] they don’t want the State of Florida to be involved in this, but here’s the thing: there were multiple violations of Florida law across multiple jurisdictions… so we have a duty to investigate this,” he insisted.

ANTI-TRUMP FEDS.

The National Pulse previously reported on a whistleblower describing Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Jeffrey Veltri, who heads the Miami bureau covering the former president’s West Palm Beach home, as “adamantly and vocally anti-Trump.”

“[FBI Director Christopher] Wray, [Deputy Director Paul] Abbate, and [Executive Assistant Director Jennifer] Moore wanted to ensure that Veltri appeared non-political, [so] Veltri was ordered to remove all of his Facebook and Social media posts that were anti-Trump,” the whistleblower told the House Judiciary Committee in 2023.

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, predicted President Trump would be subject to another assassination attempt after the first one in Butler, Pennsylvania, narrowly failed. Meanwhile, America First Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have informed him that there are “five known assassination teams” currently targeting President Trump.

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The federal government is obstructing efforts by state law enforcement to investigate the alleged assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump in Florida. “Our investigators were rebuffed just going to the fence line outside of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has expressed misgivings about "the same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump" leading the investigation. show more
Chambers County Texas Illegal Pedos
April 13, 2024
William Upton
Crime
Immigration

10 Suspected Illegals Arrested on Child Porn, Human Trafficking Allegations.

Law enforcement officials in Chambers County, Texas, announced they have detained ten individuals at an East Texas home – suspected of being illegal immigrants from Asia and Guatemala – for allegedly possessing child pornography. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) further alleges the house, located 33 miles east of Downtown Houston, was being used to facilitate human trafficking.

The Chambers County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) says the suspects were detained and taken into custody after a Thursday morning raid. The operation necessitated forced entry after occupants declined to allow officers access to the property. According to a Fox News report, Homeland Security officials are still working to determine the legal status of the arrested individuals.

Government officials say the operation was prompted by information gleaned from the Internet Crimes Against Children database, which suggested possible child pornography downloads associated with the location. Bryan Baker, a CCSO Captain, emphasized the local law enforcement’s commitment to maintaining zero tolerance for such illegal downloads.

Inside the house, law enforcement encountered ten people suspected to be illegally residing in the country, as well as multiple electronic devices. The officers also found supplies commonly associated with restaurants at the scene.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assisted local officers at the scene. All suspects are said to have been transported to the Chambers County Jail, where they await processing by federal agents. Currently, criminal charges against the suspects have not been made public. The CCSO noted that the investigation into potential human trafficking or human smuggling, among other crimes, is ongoing.

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Law enforcement officials in Chambers County, Texas, announced they have detained ten individuals at an East Texas home – suspected of being illegal immigrants from Asia and Guatemala – for allegedly possessing child pornography. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) further alleges the house, located 33 miles east of Downtown Houston, was being used to facilitate human trafficking. show more