Category: Blaze Media
‘We will deport these thugs’: Rubio’s State Department revokes 100,000+ visas in 2025, putting Biden’s numbers to shame
The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to enhance vetting of foreign nationals entering the U.S., resulting in a record number of visa revocations.
The Department of State announced that in 2025, it revoked over 100,000 foreign visas, including 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized worker visas. That figure is more than double the number of visas that were revoked in 2024 — 40,000 — under former President Joe Biden’s leadership.
‘The Trump administration will continue to put America first and protect our nation from foreign nationals who pose a risk to public safety or national security.’
Foreign nationals whose visas were canceled included those who had encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity, the State Department reported.
“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the department stated.
The majority of those revoked by the State Department were for business and tourist travelers who overstayed their visas, Fox News Digital reported.
Some students and specialized workers who had their visas revoked also reportedly lost their legal status.
RELATED: Trump admin to vet all visa holders — revoke and deport threats to America
Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Half of the specialized workers whose visas were revoked had previously been arrested for drunk driving; 30% for assault, battery, or confinement charges; and 20% for theft, child abuse, substance abuse and distribution, and fraud and embezzlement charges.
A department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that nearly 500 students lost their visas for charges related to drug possession and distribution.
The State Department announced in August plans to review all of the more than 55 million current visa holders to uncover potential ineligibility, such as overstays, criminal activity, public safety threats, and ties to terrorism.
RELATED: Trump strips 4,000 student visas over first 100 days — 90% flagged for ‘serious’ crimes
Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“The Trump administration will continue to put America first and protect our nation from foreign nationals who pose a risk to public safety or national security,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Piggott told Fox News Digital.
During a press conference last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the administration’s increased efforts to revoke and deport foreign nationals.
“Who you allow to visit your country should reflect the national interest. We said that from the very beginning,” Rubio told reporters.
“There are some times we’ll deny people visas because of activities they’ve undertaken overseas,” he continued. “Other times it’s people that have visas but are in the United States doing things that run counter to our national interests. And the law gives us the right — and, in fact, I would argue, the obligation — to remove people like that from our country.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Sen. Mark Kelly responds to censure from Pete Hegseth with a lawsuit
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona says he filed a lawsuit against Department of War Sec. Pete Hegseth on Monday.
Hegseth has accused Kelly of committing sedition by suggesting that members of the U.S. military should refuse to comply with orders from the administration. Kelly has said that he intended only for members to refuse unlawful orders.
‘I filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of Defense because there are few things as important as standing up for the rights of the very Americans who fought to defend our freedoms.’
Hegseth had ordered Kelly’s military retirement pay to be cut and censured the senator, who is a retired U.S. Navy officer.
“Pete Hegseth is coming after what I earned through my twenty-five years of military service, in violation of my rights as an American, as a retired veteran, and as a United States Senator whose job is to hold him — and this or any administration — accountable,” said Kelly in a statement on social media. “His unconstitutional crusade against me sends a chilling message to every retired member of the military: if you speak out and say something that the President or Secretary of Defense doesn’t like, you will be censured, threatened with demotion, or even prosecuted.”
He went on to accuse Hegseth of trying to intimidate other critics of the administration by targeting Kelly.
Kelly concluded, “Today, I filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of Defense because there are few things as important as standing up for the rights of the very Americans who fought to defend our freedoms.”
The lawsuit lists Hegseth, the Defense Department, and the U.S. Navy as defendants.
President Donald Trump had also accused Kelly of committing sedition by his comments.
“It was sedition at the highest level, and sedition is a major crime. There can be no other interpretation of what they said!” the president wrote on social media.
RELATED: Pete Hegseth orders investigation into ‘catastrophic’ withdrawal from Afghanistan under Biden
Hegseth had said that Kelly might face additional punishment over his comments.
“Captain Kelly’s status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action,” Hegseth said. “These actions are based on Captain Kelly’s public statements from June through December 2025 in which he characterized lawful military operations as illegal and counseled members of the Armed Forces to refuse lawful orders.”
A Blaze News request for comment to the Department of War was not immediately answered.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Naked woman ‘trying to be a mermaid’ in neighbor’s pond charges at deputy who deploys taser — which has ‘no effect’: Police
A nude Louisiana woman trespassed into a pond on her neighbor’s property to go skinny-dipping in an attempt to be a “mermaid,” according to police. The female suspect reportedly refused to comply with officers’ commands, prompting police to deploy a taser.
The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a Wednesday statement that officers were dispatched to a residence in the Linville community of Marion in November regarding a trespassing complaint.
‘Sutton was taken to the ground, where she continued to resist detention and began kicking and punching the deputy.’
The caller told police that the neighbor was screaming while standing in a driveway. The caller claimed to have warned the suspect to stay off the property.
“Upon the patrol deputy’s arrival at the location, the suspect was located swimming, nude, in a pond on the caller’s property,” police said.
Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Erin Elizabeth Sutton of Marion.
Sutton initially refused to exit the pond or speak with the deputy, telling police she was “trying to be a mermaid,” according to the statement.
After repeated commands, Sutton eventually exited the pond. Due to the cold conditions, EMS was called to evaluate Sutton.
A deputy gave Sutton a blanket and attempted to escort her inside a residence to warm up, when the suspect suddenly charged toward the officer, according to police.
“After several commands, Sutton refused to comply, and the deputy deployed a taser, which had no effect,” the statement read.
Police added, “Sutton was taken to the ground, where she continued to resist detention and began kicking and punching the deputy.”
After Sutton was restrained, EMS transported her to a local hospital for medical treatment. Police said Sutton “threatened to kill deputies and paramedics” while being transported to the hospital.
Because Sutton required medical treatment at the scene, deputies obtained arrest warrants at a later date. A Third Judicial District Court judge signed off on the warrants.
Sutton on Tuesday turned herself in to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Sutton was arrested on three felony counts of resisting an officer with force or violence, two felony counts of public intimidation, two felony counts of battery on a police officer, a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace/drunkenness, and a criminal trespassing misdemeanor charge.
Sutton’s bond was set at $62,000. The sheriff’s office on Monday told Blaze News that Sutton was still behind bars.
Fox News reported that it was not immediately clear if Sutton has retained legal representation.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
‘Despicable’: Woman accused of posing as grieving parent of dead Camp Mystic girl to bilk donors
Deadly flash floods swept the Lone Star State’s Hill Country region on July 4, killing at least 135 people, including 27 people at Camp Mystic.
Among those who perished at the Christian camp outside Hunt, Texas, was Chloe Childress, an 18-year-old counselor remembered by her family for her “contagious joy, countless friends, unending faith, and unimaginable energy.”
While Wendie and Matthew Childress were dealing with the sudden loss of their daughter, a Florida woman was allegedly impersonating the bereaved parents online in an attempt to make a quick buck.
‘This is bottom feeding.’
Maitlin White, a 28-year-old with ties to Crestview, Florida, has been charged with two felony counts of online impersonation. White allegedly pretended to be Matthew Childress and created SpotFund and GoFundMe pages where she solicited public donations to support the fallen teen’s family.
“Using a young woman’s tragic death to scam people is despicable,” wrote Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen.
RELATED: The insane little story that failed to warn America about the depth of Somali fraud
Maitlin White. Courtesy of the Office of Harris County Constable Pct 1 Alan Rosen.
Dane Schiller, a spokesman with the constable’s office, told MySA that Childress’ family reported the accounts, which first appeared on the crowdfunding platforms on July 8.
“Right out the gate, they [the family] called it to our attention and said, ‘We have nothing to do with this,'” said Schiller.
Rosen announced on July 11 that his office had launched an investigation into a case where a scammer was pretending to be Matthew Childress. While the fraudulent pages were promptly shut down, Rosen indicated the GoFundMe donation page had already brought in approximately $1,500.
After shutting down the pages, authorities reportedly tracked banking and online records back to White, who Schiller indicated admitted to the fraud scheme on a phone call with officials.
“This is bottom feeding, seeking to exploit people’s emotions and abuse the memory of a young woman who died in such a horrific tragedy all to make a quick and illegal buck,” stated Rosen. “Such cruelty to the family, as well as our entire community will not be tolerated.”
GoFundMe said in a statement obtained by KRIV-TV that it has “zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and bad actors who seek to take advantage of the generosity of others,” adding that they “acted quickly to remove the fundraiser back in July, refund donors, and ban the account from future fundraising on GoFundMe.”
The crowdfunding platform indicated that the alleged fraudster was unable to access the funds.
White, who is reportedly not yet in custody, is hardly the only person who allegedly exploited the tragic flood.
For instance, a number of liberals tried to put a political spin on the deaths of American children, in one case insinuating that the parents of the dead were racists.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Exclusive: Bessent tells Rufo — ‘When the bear trap snaps,’ Minnesota fraudsters and complicit officials will face justice
While fraud rings in Minnesota’s Somali community have been under federal investigation for years, it was investigative journalist and BlazeTV host Christopher Rufo’s reporting that brought the billion-dollar scandals to national attention. Back in November 2025, Rufo published a report titled “The Largest Funder of Al-Shabaab Is the Minnesota Taxpayer,” in which he and co-author Ryan Thorpe alleged that billions of taxpayer funds were being stolen through schemes in Minneapolis’ Somali community and that millions of those funds were being funneled to the Al-Shabaab terror group in Somalia.
Rufo’s reporting sparked massive federal action, including revoking Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, surging Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, freezing child-care funds, and ramping up prosecutions. Most notably, it led Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to visit Minnesota in January 2026 and launch major FinCEN probes into hawala businesses, IRS audits, and enhanced transfer reporting.
In this exclusive BlazeTV interview with Rufo, Bessent shares what his team’s investigations have revealed about Minnesota’s Somali fraud operations and what steps the Treasury is taking to ensure it stops.
Bessent says his team’s investigations confirmed that the fraud schemes were “bigger than anyone thought” and that money — either excess government-issued funds or stolen funds — are indeed being sent illegally out of the country.
One positive result of the investigations into Minnesota’s fraud rings, however, is that they will provide a “model” for future investigations in the other 49 states.
“Just because of the population sizes — California, Illinois, New York — that what’s going on [in Minnesota] is a microcosm of what’s going on there. And it’s like someone on the panel said today: Benefits have been turned into businesses. It is a cottage industry of teaching people how to form multiple LLCs, how to game the system, how to move money around,” says Bessent, pledging to “follow the money” and explore “recoveries” for cheated Americans.
Rufo calls these predominantly Somali-orchestrated fraud rings Minnesota’s “open secret.” Fraudsters were successful largely because they knew that the cultural standard of “Minnesota nice” and politicians’ “fear of being called racist” would result in the turning of blind eyes everywhere.
“What do you think the right attitude should be as you look at these frauds moving forward?” he asks.
“Clearly the governor’s office does not want to do investigations. So we just want the facts. We want to see where they lead, and we want to put the bad guys in jail,” says Bessent.
Further Minnesota’s soft-on-crime policies that “incentivize” criminality need to be addressed. “You could steal hundreds of thousands, millions of dollars, and under the Minnesota laws, you might not even get jail time. You might get a series of paroles,” Bessent adds.
“We have the ability to bring in IRS enforcement, and they don’t monkey around. So the incentive is going to be to stop this.”
Rufo then posed the question that conservatives nationwide are eagerly awaiting an answer to: Will we finally see any big names face justice?
“From [Gov. Tim Walz] on down appears to be at a minimum to have turned a blind eye. There are rumors circulating around this building right now that in fact some have been complicit in these schemes. Is that something your office is looking into?” he asks.
“That’s part of following the money. There are evidently some disturbing tapes of AG Ellison in meetings with people who donated to him calling for political favors to stop the investigations. So we’ll see,” says Bessent.
“And Chris, I can guarantee you when the bear trap snaps, we’re going to get these folks.”
To hear the rest of Rufo’s exclusive interview with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, watch the video above.
Want more from Rufo & Lomez?
To enjoy more of the news through the anthropological lens of Christopher Rufo and Lomez, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
Google Email Tells 13-Year-Olds How To Disable Parental Controls
‘Most predatory corporate practices I have seen’
Obama judge disrupts Trump administration’s plans again: Talwani pauses efforts to end mass parole for 10,000+ migrants
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, the Massachusetts-based Obama judge who blocked the Trump administration from cutting federal funds to Planned Parenthood last month, issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday preventing the Department of Homeland Security from revoking the legal status of tens of thousands of foreigners.
The Trump administration announced last month that it was terminating all categorical family reunification parole programs and corresponding work authorization for aliens from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras as well as for their immediate family members, effective Dec. 15.
Per the announcement, the “temporary parole period of aliens who have been paroled into the United States under the FRP programs, and whose initial period of parole has not already expired by January 14, 2026 will terminate on that date.”
‘We aren’t in the clear.’
There are two circumstances under which foreign nationals’ parole status would not immediately be revoked: if they have pending applications to register permanent residence or adjust status, or if DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determines otherwise on a case-by-case basis.
The DHS indicated that those set to be stripped of status — well over 10,000 noncitizens — who stay in the U.S. beyond their parole termination date with no lawful basis to remain would likely be removed.
According to the notice in the Federal Register, the FRP programs failed to achieve the goals set by past administrations and are at odds with President Donald Trump’s current priorities and foreign policy objectives.
RELATED: ‘You don’t want this smoke’: Philly DA and sheriff threaten ICE officers — DHS just laughs
Photo by Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images
Not only did the programs fail to sufficiently discourage or reduce unlawful migration, the programs “increased administrative strain across multiple [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] directorates and [Customs and Border Protection] ports of entry,” said the notice.
“The desire to reunite families does not overcome the government’s responsibility to prevent fraud and abuse and to uphold national security and public safety,” the DHS said in a release.
“The FRP programs had security gaps caused by insufficient vetting that malicious and fraudulent actors could exploit to enter the United States, which posed an unacceptable level of risk to the United States,” continued the release. “DHS is prioritizing the safety, security, and financial and economic well-being of Americans.”
The Trump administration touted the move as a “necessary return to common-sense policies” and a matter of “prioritizing the safety, security, and financial and economic well-being of Americans.”
On Dec. 29, plaintiffs in the class-action case Svitlana Doe v. Noem — represented by the liberal migrant advocacy groups Justice Action Center and Human Rights First — requested a restraining order and a preliminary injunction, claiming the DHS “fell well short of satisfying their most basic obligations under the [Administrative Procedures Act], due process, the parole statute, and its own regulations.”
The plaintiffs’ primary contention in the emergency motion appears to have been that the DHS allegedly failed to properly notify the so-called “future green card holders” of the programs’ termination.
The government argued in response that the court lacked jurisdiction over claims challenging parole termination; that the termination of parole wasn’t arbitrary and capricious as alleged; that Noem was within her statutory authority to make the change; and that the notice given complied with the law.
Indira Talwani, the daughter of immigrants from India and Germany, gave the migrant activists exactly what they wanted — a 14-day stay of the administration’s termination of FRP grants of parole — and certified a new subclass of migrants, namely those FRP beneficiaries whose parole was terminated.
While the government previously indicated that individual notice would be provided to each parolee through their USCIS online accounts, Talwani expressed doubt about whether the parolees were ultimately provided with written notice of the termination and claimed that the publication of the announcement in the Federal Register “does not satisfy this requirement.”
“The court finds that Plaintiffs have a substantial likelihood of success on their argument that the Defendants failed to provide proper notice of DHS’s decision to revoke grants of parole under the FRP program in contravention of DHS’s own regulation, the Administrative Procedure Act … and the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution,” wrote the Obama judge.
Karen Tumlin, director of Justice Action Center, celebrated Talwani’s ruling, stating, “We join families across the country in breathing a huge sigh of relief. While we aren’t in the clear, this immediate pause on de-legalizing individuals who came here with Family Reunification Parole means that people will not be forced to separate from their loved ones next week.”
Tumlin added that it’s “cruel and completely unnecessary for the Trump administration to try to yank the rug out from under them.”
The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
Despite drawing out the process, Talwani has acknowledged that the Trump administration can end the program.
The Supreme Court lifted her previous injunction in Svitlana Doe v. Noem on May 30, clearing the DHS to proceed with terminating humanitarian parole.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
‘Experience your first orgasm’: Rabid Trump-hater allegedly packs sex toys for ‘date’ with supposed 11-year-old
A former Washington state college professor and rabidly anti-Trump podcaster is now in custody after he allegedly groomed and attempted to meet up with someone he believed to be an 11-year-old girl.
On December 17, members of various law enforcement agencies arrested 44-year-old Houston Wade in Bremerton, Washington, located on Puget Sound.
When cops searched a hotel room where the suspect made a brief stop, they found condoms, bondage supplies, and ‘adult novelty toys.’
According to a Facebook post from the Bremerton Police Department, the suspect from Bainbridge Island “arrived in Bremerton intending to pick up an 11-year-old child.” The post further states that the suspect had been “using a social media application” to chat with the presumed child.
“The chat turned graphic in nature and over the course of numerous chats, the man agreed to meet the child in Bremerton so they could act upon the graphic actions discussed in the chats,” the statement continued.
When cops searched a hotel room where the suspect made a brief stop, they found condoms, bondage supplies, and “adult novelty toys,” the statement added. “Adult novelty toys” are better known as sex toys.
Though the Bremerton police statement claimed that the suspect is 41 years old, the Lynnwood Times identified the suspect as Wade, who is 44, according to jail records.
Citing court documents, the Lynnwood Times gave further disturbing details about the case.
Wade allegedly began corresponding with a “decoy” claiming to be an 11-year-old girl back in August. Over the course of the next few months, Wade and the decoy had frequent contact, during which time he allegedly began slowly grooming the decoy and suggesting they go on a “date of sorts,” the Times reported.
The following is a list of messages the suspect sent the decoy.
- “Be as lewd as you want. You don’t have to choose to send me anything if you don’t want to.”
- “Well, I’ll be the little devil on your shoulder: give in to it,” with a devil emoji.
- “We’ll go as far as you want. Making out and heavy petting for sure. There’s no need to do anything more than what you feel comfortable with. If you want to experience your first orgasm or more, you’ll let me know. If you don’t, then you’ll tell me.”
- “I personally get all my pleasure from seeing you lose all control because of how good you feel and most women go their entire lives not knowing it’s possible to feel that good.”
Kitsap County jail records reveal that Wade has been in custody since December 17 for multiple offenses, including child molestation, commercial sex abuse of a minor, and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
He has also been booked for communicating with a minor for immoral purpose with a prior conviction. Kitsap County court records show that Wade has been involved in multiple cases since 2018, including as a defendant, though the nature of those cases is unclear.
Despite the apparent previous conviction, Wade has been formally charged with only first-degree attempted child molestation (V<12+D – 36 months older), a Class A felony, and communication with minor for immoral purposes, a gross misdemeanor, the Times said.
Wade is scheduled to appear in court on January 27.
RELATED: Former volleyball coach used artificial intelligence to groom teenage girl for sex, police say
Wade is known locally for his podcast, “Houston, We Have a Problem,” where he has frequently attacked Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and others. Some of his video titles include: “Elon is a Nazi stop twisting yourself into a pretzel defending him,” “Can Trump Commit Crime and Get Away With It? Find Out Now!” and “Epstein emails released. Trump lied again.”
His X feed also suggests a strong preoccupation with pedophiles, calling everyone from Trump to the late Michael Jackson to actor James Woods a “pedo.”
Wade was a professor of physics and astronomy at Edmonds Community College. However, the school clarified to the Times that his “part-time” employment there began in 2019 and ended in 2022.
“We are deeply concerned and disturbed by these allegations,” Karen Magarelli, public information officer of Edmonds College, told the Times in a statement. “… The safety and well-being of our campus community remain our highest priority. Edmonds College is committed to maintaining an environment that upholds the values of integrity, respect, and security for all students, faculty, and staff.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Defeated Democrat tries to revive her political career despite resounding rejection
Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola of Alaska is setting her sights on higher office after a failed 2024 re-election bid.
Peltola lost to Republican Rep. Nicholas Begich in 2024 despite having the advantage as the incumbent. In the aftermath of this political blunder, Peltola has now launched a senatorial campaign to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska.
‘A defeated career politician turned lobbyist.’
Peltola has branded herself a moderate Democrat working against the D.C. establishment to fight for “fish, family, and freedom.” Peltola has also caught onto the political trend of the times, focusing her campaign message on affordability, housing, and grocery prices.
“D.C. people will be pissed that I’m focusing on their self-dealing and sharing what I’ve seen firsthand,” Peltola said in her launch video.
RELATED: Republicans take back Alaska’s House seat, solidifying the GOP’s slim majority
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
One thing her campaign video omitted was her far-left voting record during her brief stint in the House.
Peltola voted in lock-step with the Democrats against protecting women from transgender athletes in sports, even voting against an amendment to prevent taxpayers from funding sex-altering surgeries. Along with nearly every Democrat in the House, Peltola voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would mandate medical care for babies who survive abortion.
Although her campaign claims to make cost of living a priority, Peltola reportedly “liked the concepts” of the Green New Deal, which would hike up energy prices and cost taxpayers trillions.
RELATED: America First energy policy is paying off at the pump
Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for ELLE
“Mary Peltola represents everything that is broken in Washington: a defeated career politician turned lobbyist who repeatedly voted against American energy independence, secure borders, and the Alaskan way of life,” Senate Leadership Fund Executive Director Alex Latcham said in a statement. “Democrats are desperately trying to revive a far-left politician, but Alaskans know why they fired Mary Peltola in the first place.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell fears criminal indictment as Trump-Fed confrontation intensifies
In the latest escalation between the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve, the Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas against the Fed, according to Chairman Jerome Powell.
On Sunday, the official Federal Reserve X account posted a video of Powell explaining the subpoenas and claiming that the DOJ was “threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.”
‘The cost overruns are what they are.’
“That testimony concerned in part a multiyear project to renovate historic Federal Reserve office buildings,” Powell added.
In the video, Powell shows no sign of capitulating to President Trump’s calls to lower interest rates, dismissing these calls as merely the “preferences of the president”: “This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation.”
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“I have served at the Federal Reserve under four administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. In every case, I have carried out my duties without political fear or favor, focused solely on our mandate of price stability and maximum employment,” Powell said. “Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. I will continue to do the job the Senate confirmed me to do, with integrity and a commitment to serving the American people.”
Powell said that the subpoenas were served last Friday.
During his testimony in June, Powell was asked about the cost of the renovations around the 36-minute mark of the hearing. He began by saying, “We do take seriously our responsibility as stewards of the public’s money,” but concluded, “The cost overruns are what they are.”
He also denied several of what he said were media inaccuracies, including reports of “special elevators,” new marble, “roof terrace gardens,” and “beehives.”
In a rare confrontation with Powell, President Trump, wearing a hard hat, visited the construction site in late July to challenge him on the “overruns.” Powell said he was “unaware” of the new numbers Trump presented to him.
Days before the July confrontation between Powell and Trump, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) sent a criminal referral for Powell to the Department of Justice.
On Sunday evening, Luna responded to the news of the grand jury subpoenas, repeating her allegations against Powell: “It’s good to see my criminal referral working in real time. You CANNOT lie to Congress. That is called PERJURY.”
No criminal charges have been brought against Powell at the time of writing.
The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
