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October 17, 2025
Election Integrity
News

Smartmatic Charged with Money Laundering, Bribing Election Officials.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal prosecutors charged Smartmatic with money laundering and bribing Philippine election officials.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Smartmatic, co-founder Roger Piñate, and Philippine election official Juan Andrés Donato Bautista.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Payments were made between 2015 and 2018, related to the 2016 Philippine presidential election.

🎯IMPACT: Raises questions about election integrity and corporate influence.

IN FULL

On Thursday, federal prosecutors charged Smartmatic, a controversial voting technology company, with money laundering and bribing Philippine election officials with $1 million. The allegations relate to payments Smartmatic allegedly made to win a contract with the Philippine government for managing the 2016 presidential election and to ensure prompt payment for its services. These transactions reportedly took place between 2015 and 2018.

In 2024, three former Smartmatic executives, including co-founder Roger Piñate, faced charges, though the company itself was not initially named as a defendant. Prosecutors also claim Piñate bribed a high-ranking Venezuelan election official with a luxury home in Caracas in exchange for political favors.

In the Philippines, Piñate faces charges in a $1 million bribery scheme involving overpriced voting machines, with the surplus funds allegedly channeled into secret accounts to bribe election official Juan Andrés Donato Bautista.

Smartmatic has sued multiple American news outlets for their reporting on allegations that its voting machines were used improperly during the 2020 elections, with Democrat megadonor and Epstein Island visitor Reid Hoffman funding the lawsuits. Previously, liberal plutocrat George Soros recruited a Smartmatic chairman to serve as president of his Open Society Foundations organization.

Image by Patrickroque01.

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15 minutes ago
NatSec
World

U.S. Troops Invade Mexico… By Mistake.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: American personnel mistakenly placed signs on a Mexican beach, claiming it as restricted U.S. Department of War property.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. contractors, Mexican security forces, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Playa Bagdad, Mexico, earlier this week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Changes in water depth and topography altered the perception of the international boundary’s location.” – Pentagon statement

🎯IMPACT: The incident has sparked diplomatic tension, with the International Boundary and Water Commission now involved in resolving the dispute.

IN FULL

American military contractors mistakenly landed on Playa Bagdad, Mexico, on Monday, planting six signs that declared the beach as restricted U.S. Department of War property. The signs, written in both English and Spanish, warned against unauthorized access and photography, stating, “If you are found here, you may be detained and searched.”

The incident prompted an immediate response from Mexican security forces, who arrived heavily armed in trucks. They later removed the signs, asserting that the area was on Mexican territory. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico released a Pentagon statement acknowledging the error, attributing it to “changes in water depth and topography” that altered perceptions of the international boundary. Notably, the landing site appears to be just several miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, adding credence to the Pentagon’s explanation.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the incident and announced that the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) would arbitrate the matter. “We do not accept any intervention by a foreign government,” she stated, reiterating her opposition to American military actions on Mexican soil, despite U.S. President Donald J. Trump‘s recent remarks about targeting drug cartels.

Sheinbaum’s position in Mexican politics is at a precarious point as her government has faced days of protests from students who accuse the Mexican leader of being in league with the country’s drug cartels.

This incident comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, with President Trump previously expressing dissatisfaction with Mexico’s handling of drug cartels and proposing military action. The exact location of the beach remains unconfirmed, though local reports suggest Mexican marines were involved in removing the signs.

Image by Tony Webster.

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53 minutes ago
Immigration

ICE Detained Over 3,500 Illegals in This Dem-Run City During Shutdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 3,593 criminal illegal immigrants in Houston, Texas, during the government shutdown.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE officials, 3,593 criminal illegal immigrants, including gang members and convicted criminals.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 1 to November 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Our entire team understands how critical ICE’s mission is to public safety and national security, and despite many of them going without pay, they continued to show up every day and give everything they had to protect this community from dangerous criminal illegal alien gang members, child predators, murderers and rapists,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford.

🎯IMPACT: Dangerous individuals, including child predators, murderers, and gang members, were removed from communities and will face justice.

IN FULL

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Houston announced it arrested 3,593 illegal immigrants during the 43-day government shutdown from October 1 to November 12. According to ICE, those arrested include 67 sex offenders, 13 murderers, 51 child predators, 366 criminal aliens convicted of DWIs, 261 convicted of aggravated assault, and 103 convicted of burglary or theft.

In addition, ICE says it arrested 23 gang members, including a Honduran national named Josue Pineda-Ayala, a 23-year-old MS-13 gang member charged with a triple homicide in Dallas. Pineda-Ayala, who was released into the United States by the former Biden government in May of last year, allegedly committed the triple murder before being detained by ICE in early October. Subsequently, the 23-year-old MS-13 member was transferred to the Dallas County Jail with a detain lodged and awaiting charges.

Another case involved Baldomero Perez-Quezada, a 56-year-old criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico who has been removed from the country four times. A convicted child predator, Perez-Quezada was arrested on October 17 after being encountered at the Edinburg Police Department in 2023 under the former Biden government. He later preyed on a child, leading to a conviction for sexual indecency with a child earlier this year.

“Our entire team understands how critical ICE’s mission is to public safety and national security, and despite many of them going without pay, they continued to show up every day and give everything they had to protect this community from dangerous criminal illegal alien gang members, child predators, murderers and rapists,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford.

He added, “As a result of those efforts, 51 dangerous child predators are no longer free to prey on our children, 10 fugitives have been apprehended and will now face justice for their alleged offenses, and thousands of other violent criminal aliens have been removed from local communities throughout Southeast Texas and will be removed from the United States.”

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2 hours ago
William Upton
NatSec

Trump Wants Sedition Charges for ‘Traitor’ Lawmakers Urging Troops to Defy Orders.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump called for the arrest of Democrat lawmakers featured in a video urging military and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Statements made on Thursday, regarding a video featuring lawmakers.

💬KEY QUOTE: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Trump’s remarks highlight tensions over the video and its implications for the military and intelligence community.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump on Thursday seemingly called for the arrest of several Democrat lawmakers who appeared in a video encouraging military and intelligence personnel to “refuse illegal orders.” Trump described their conduct as seditious and subject to the death penalty.

Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???” He added in another post, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

The video featured Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), as well as Representatives Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Jason Crow (D-CO). All have served in the armed forces or the intelligence community. The video addressed members of the military and intelligence communities, stating, “We want to speak directly to members of the military and the intelligence community, who take risks each day to keep Americans safe. We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk.”

The lawmakers continued, “This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth responded to the video, calling it “Stage 4 TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome]” in a post. The Democrat lawmakers’ video concluded with a direct appeal to military and intelligence personnel, asserting, “You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. We know this is hard, and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant. But whether you’re serving in the CIA, the Army, our Navy, the Air Force, your vigilance is critical, and know that we have your back.”

Following President Trump’s Truth Social posts, Senate and House Minority Leaders Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) claimed the President was explicitly calling for the execution of Members of Congress. On the Senate floor, Schumer stated, “This is an outright threat, and it’s deadly serious… When Donald Trump uses the language of execution and treason, some of his supporters may very well listen.” Notably, Schumer has never acknowledged his own instigation of violence against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Likewise, in the House, Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement, “Donald Trump must immediately delete these unhinged social media posts and recant his violent rhetoric before he gets someone killed.”

Neither Schumer nor Jeffries addressed the rhetoric of their members and the fact that they had directly encouraged members of the armed services to disobey orders and the chain of command. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), meanwhile, defended President Trump’s remarks, calling the message of the House Democrats “wildly inappropriate.”

“That is a factual statement,” Johnson said of Trump calling the Democrat video seditious. He added that Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys would need to “parse” the exact language of the act, but that there could be legal action taken. “For a senator like Mark Kelly or any member of the House or Senate to behave in that kind of talks is to me so just beyond the pale,” Johnson said.

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2 hours ago
Media
UK

FCC Investigating BBC for Doctoring Trump Speech.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is probing the BBC for doctoring a speech by President Donald J. Trump on January 6, 2021.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The BBC, FCC, and Donald Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The FCC’s recent letter is addressed to the BBC’s leadership in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “That would appear to meet the very definition of publishing a materially false and damaging statement.” – Brendan Carr

🎯IMPACT: The BBC faces potential legal action from Donald Trump, with broader scrutiny of its editorial practices.

IN FULL

The British state broadcaster, the BBC, is facing intense scrutiny after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an investigation into a January 6, 2021, speech by President Donald J. Trump. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr wrote to outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie, stating that the edited footage portrayed Trump saying a sentence “that, in fact, he never uttered,” and warning that such actions could constitute “publishing a materially false and damaging statement.”

The BBC is facing a major lawsuit. Trump may pursue damages in the billions, with David Maddox, political editor at The Independent, saying the BBC “has shot itself in the foot” by splicing together different sections of the President’s speech to make it appear as though he made a direct call for violence. “Donald Trump’s going to sue them for a huge amount of money,” he warned.

The BBC has apologized, calling the editing an “error of judgment.” India-born Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged that the way the footage was presented gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action.” However, a BBC spokesman emphasized that the corporation “strongly disagree[s] there is a basis for a defamation claim.”

The controversy has already led to significant changes in leadership, with Director-General Tim Davie and new chief Deborah Turness resigning amid criticism of the broadcaster’s editorial practices.

The situation has also drawn attention to the impartiality of BBC executives, or lack thereof. One board member, Muriel Gray, previously described Trump as a “howling idiot.” Additional reports have emerged showing that other clips of Trump have been similarly doctored.

Image by Matt Cornock.

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3 hours ago
Immigration
News

New Bill Proposes Prison Time for Harassing ICE Agents.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) has proposed the Halo Act, which seeks to make it illegal to harass or get too close to federal immigration officers while they are performing their duties.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senator Moody, federal immigration officers, and agitators protesting immigration enforcement actions.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced in November 2025, the legislation addresses incidents nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I am appalled at the news reports of people harassing and targeting federal officers while they are simply trying to do their jobs, and this must end.” – Senator Moody

🎯IMPACT: If passed, violators of the Halo Act could face up to five years in prison and fines, aiming to protect immigration officers from harassment and threats.

IN FULL

U.S. Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) has proposed the Halo Act, which would prescribe criminal penalties for agitators who harass federal immigration agents while they are carrying out their official duties. The law would make it illegal for people who have been issued a stand back warning from coming within 25 feet of a federal officer or otherwise acting to interfere with their work, including by making physical threats against an officer or officers.

Under the proposed law, violators would face up to five years in prison and a fine. “As the wife of a law enforcement officer, former attorney general, and now United States senator, I have always supported and fought for the selfless individuals who protect and serve our nation,” Moody said when unveiling the legislation. She added: “I am appalled at the news reports of people harassing and targeting federal officers while they are simply trying to do their jobs, and this must end.”

Proponents of the legislation contend the measure is necessary to protect federal immigration agents. They point to the recent surge in assaults, death threats, stalking, doxxing, and bounties placed on the heads of officers involved in enforcement actions. In June, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed a 500 percent increase in violent attacks on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they attempt to carry out their enforcement duties.

Recent protests outside a number of ICE facilities have turned violent, with far-left agitators attempting to disrupt the Trump administration’s push to deport dangerous illegal immigrants. According to federal data, immigration agents have experienced 99 vehicle attacks, more than double the 47 attacks reported during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has documented 71 vehicular attacks since January 20, up from 45 during the same period in 2024, marking a 58 percent increase, the agency said. ICE has been targeted in 28 vehicular attacks since January 20, compared to just two incidents in the same period of 2024, representing a 1,300 percent increase, DHS said.

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4 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Admits to Shoving ICE Officer Into Four-Lane Highway.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Mexican migrant pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal immigration officer by shoving him into oncoming traffic during a traffic stop.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, a 41-year-old illegal alien from Querétaro, Mexico, and a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on May 20 in Commerce, Georgia, during a traffic stop.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Trejo-Martinez shoved the deportation officer into the four-lane highway where vehicles were passing,” stated the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

🎯IMPACT: Trejo-Martinez has pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and is scheduled for sentencing on January 20.

IN FULL

Ricardo Trejo-Martinez, a Mexican migrant, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The guilty plea was announced by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia late Wednesday.

The assault occurred on May 20 in Commerce, Georgia, during a traffic stop. The ICE officer had stopped Trejo-Martinez, 41, to execute an administrative arrest warrant for an illegal alien. Trejo-Martinez refused to identify himself and shoved the officer into a four-lane highway with oncoming traffic.

Trejo-Martinez, who is an illegal immigrant from Querétaro, Mexico, was charged with assaulting a federal officer and has now pleaded guilty. The U.S. Attorney’s office emphasized the dangerous nature of the assault, stating that vehicles were passing on the highway at the time.

The sentencing for Trejo-Martinez is scheduled for January 20, at which time he will face penalties for his actions.

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4 hours ago
Economy

Credit, Lending Industries Push Back Against 50-Year Mortgage Plan.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump has proposed introducing 50-year mortgages to lower monthly payments and help Americans enter the housing market, but critics warn of potential financial risks.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, and Moody’s economist Mark Zandi.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal is in early stages as of November 2025, with discussions ongoing in the U.S. housing and financial sectors.

💬KEY QUOTE: “All it means is you pay less per month. You pay it over a longer period of time. It’s not like a big factor.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Economists warn that 50-year mortgages could increase total interest costs, limit equity growth, and exacerbate housing supply issues, potentially driving up home prices. However, many other countries around the world offer 50 to 100-year mortgages, while the United States is relatively unique in the widespread use of the 30-year mortgage.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump‘s proposal to introduce 50-year mortgages has sparked debate among economists and housing experts. While the goal is to make monthly payments more affordable for Americans, critics argue that the extended loan term could lead to financial drawbacks. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, warned that borrowers would struggle to build equity and face greater risk of default due to limited financial cushioning.

While the United States has not seen the use of 50-year mortgages in any meaningful sense in the past, many countries around the world allow the offering of 50-year and even 100-year mortgages. The United Kingdom allowed lenders to be begin offering 50-year mortgages in August 2022. Both Japan and Switzerland still allow the offering of 100-year mortgages. In fact, the United States is relatively alone in its use of the 30-year mortgage, with most countries using the 50-year instead.

However, Moody’s Zandi claims that interest rates on such loans would likely be “significantly higher,” reducing potential cost savings. Similarly, Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com, noted that a 50-year mortgage could nearly double the total interest paid compared to a 30-year mortgage. “The ‘savings’ from 50-year mortgages may be totally negated by rising home prices,” he said.

Supporters of the plan, including Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, argue that it could be a “game changer” for Americans struggling to enter the housing market. A recent survey suggests that prospective homebuyers—especially younger generations—are open to a 50-year mortgage.

The data shows that 45 percent of Americans would consider a 50-year mortgage, with the figure rising to 54 percent among millennials. Eric Zwick, an associate professor of finance at the University of Chicago, stated, “Honestly, I kind of think it’s a fine idea. It’s not obviously so different from a 30-year fixed mortgage.”

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5 hours ago
Health

First Human Case of Rare Bird Flu Strain Hospitalizes Washington State Resident.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Washington state resident was hospitalized after contracting a rare strain of bird flu, marking the first human case linked to this particular virus strain.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The patient is an older person with underlying health conditions, who keeps backyard poultry.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The case was reported in early November in Grays County, Washington, west of Seattle.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The risk to the public from bird flu is low,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

🎯IMPACT: The case is part of a broader spread of bird flu in the U.S., affecting dairy cattle herds and prompting health investigations.

IN FULL

A Washington state resident has been hospitalized after contracting a rare strain of bird flu, marking the first human case linked to this specific virus strain. The patient, an older person with underlying health conditions, remains in the hospital as of the latest reports.

The Washington State Department of Health revealed that the patient, who keeps backyard poultry, was hospitalized in early November with flu-like symptoms. The poultry had been exposed to wild birds, which are known carriers of the A(H5) virus, a rare strain of avian influenza.

This case, reported in Grays County, adds to the nationwide spread of general bird flu outbreaks, which have already affected over 1,000 dairy cattle herds across 17 states since March 2024. Despite this, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.

According to health officials, there have been 71 human cases of bird flu in the U.S., with California reporting the highest number. Symptoms mirror those of the common flu, and there has been no evidence of person-to-person transmission so far.

State and local health departments are collaborating with the Washington State Department of Agriculture to trace the source of the infection. The virus primarily spreads among wild birds but can also infect poultry and other mammals.

Image by Keith Evans.

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6 hours ago
Economy

Trump Tariffs Push GE Appliances to Shift Production from China to Kentucky.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: GE Appliances announced over $150 million in new U.S.-based supplier contracts as part of its plan to shift production from China to Kentucky.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: GE Appliances, U.S.-based suppliers, GE Appliances Vice President Lee Lagomarcino, and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Thursday, production to begin in early 2027 at Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky.

💬KEY QUOTE: “When we invest in U.S. manufacturing and our people, it drives growth far beyond our own walls,” said Lee Lagomarcino, a GE Appliances vice president.

🎯IMPACT: The contracts will increase GE Appliances’ domestic supplier spending by 3.3 percent, create 800 jobs, and expand the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint.

IN FULL

GE Appliances has announced over $150 million in new contracts with U.S.-based suppliers as part of its effort to shift production from China to its Louisville, Kentucky facility. The contracts, which range in value from $330,000 to $41 million, cover key supply chain segments such as plastics, steel, aluminum, and castings. The suppliers include companies of various sizes, from U.S. Steel to smaller, family-owned businesses.

The new contracts will support the production home appliances including a combo washer/dryer and a lineup of front-load washers, which GE Appliances plans to manufacture domestically by 2027. The company is investing $490 million to retool its Louisville plant, a move expected to create 800 new jobs. The expansion will increase the facility’s total production footprint to the equivalent of 33 football fields.

“When we invest in U.S. manufacturing and our people, it drives growth far beyond our own walls,” said Lee Lagomarcino, a GE Appliances vice president. He added: “These new supplier contracts represent what ‘Built for America’ is all about—investing in U.S. manufacturing, creating more American jobs and building opportunity that multiplies.”

The contracts are part of GE Appliances’ broader $3 billion commitment over five years to bolster U.S. manufacturing, reshore production, and create over 1,000 jobs. The company has already increased its domestic supplier spending by 69 percent since 2019 and now works with more than 6,500 U.S. suppliers. The new contracts will increase its domestic spending by an additional 3.3 percent.

President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies have played significant roles in recent decisions by major corporations to reshore and relocate key production to the United States. Still, Lagomarcino contends there are advantages beyond the tariff savings, such as shorter lead times, reduced transportation costs, and improved collaboration with suppliers.

GE Appliances also has plans to shift production of refrigerators, gas ranges, and water heaters from China and Mexico to its U.S. facilities.

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6 hours ago
Corruption
Crime

Dem Rep Charged with Embezzling $5 Million in FEMA Funds.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster funds and laundering the money for personal and campaign use.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, her brother Edwin Cherfilus, and several co-defendants, along with federal prosecutors and investigators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged crimes occurred in 2021, involving FEMA funds tied to a COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract. The indictment was revealed late on November 19, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.

🎯IMPACT: If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison, with GOP lawmakers and federal agencies emphasizing the severity of the allegations.

IN FULL

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted in federal court, along with several co-defendants, for allegedly stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster funds and laundering the proceeds. Federal prosecutors allege that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, used their family healthcare company to exploit a FEMA-funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract in 2021.

According to the indictment, the company received an overpayment of $5 million in FEMA funds in July 2021. The defendants are accused of conspiring to steal the funds, routing them through multiple accounts to obscure their origins. Prosecutors claim that a significant portion of the money was used for campaign contributions to Cherfilus-McCormick’s 2021 congressional campaign and for personal benefits.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “Using disaster relief funds for self-enrichment is a particularly selfish, cynical crime. No one is above the law, least of all powerful people who rob taxpayers for personal gain. We will follow the facts in this case and deliver justice.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel posted on X (formerly Twitter), “This individual and her family allegedly stole money from FEMA and then laundered it through friends toward her own personal benefits – including her campaign accounts. Today the FBI and partners at [the Justice Department] took action. No one is above the law.”

Republican lawmakers in the House have also reacted strongly to the indictment. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) wrote on X, “This is one of the most egregious abuses of public trust I have ever seen.” If convicted, Cherfilus-McCormick faces up to 53 years in prison.

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