Category: Politics
Biden judge sides with Democrats against ICE restricting surprise ‘oversight’ visits from Congress members
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb issued a temporary restraining order requested by 12 Democratic lawmakers to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials from blocking surprise oversight visits by members of Congress.
Democrats have claimed the surprise visits are part of the oversight function granted to Congress, but the Trump administration has resisted the claims and tried to restrict their visits.
‘The decision is a victory for accountability, congressional oversight and for the American people.’
The Department of Homeland Security issued policy guidelines that required seven days’ notice before such a visit to detention facilities, but Cobb struck those down.
Cobb previously ordered that specific funds could not be used to shut out the oversight visits, but DHS issued a new policy that depended on funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress. They argued that this allowed them to circumvent the original finding.
The judge disagreed.
Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, who is one of the lawmakers who sued the government, praised the ruling on social media.
“The Court just granted a restraining order against the Trump administration in my lawsuit, Neguse et al. v. ICE et al.,” he wrote. “The decision is a victory for accountability, congressional oversight and for the American people. I’ll keep fighting to ensure the rule of law prevails.”
One such visit to the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, in May led to the arrest of a Democratic mayor who was charged with trespassing. That charge was later dropped, and the mayor is now suing the interim U.S. attorney in New Jersey.
However, federal interference charges against Democrat Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey in the same incident went forward after she was accused of shoving an ICE officer. She faces 17 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the charges against McIver on social media and denied allegations that they were politically motivated.
“Give me a break. Did you see her?” Trump wrote. “She was out of control! She was shoving federal agents. The days of that crap are over! We’re going to have law and order!”
Cobb was appointed to the court by former President Joe Biden.
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‘Melania’ soars: Audiences love first lady’s documentary while the usual haters hate
Audiences rave and critics sneer as the documentary “Melania” exceeds industry expectations in its opening weekend.
The opening gross domestic ticket sales reached $7 million, placing the film third overall at the domestic box office behind two major studio releases.
‘To say that “Melania” is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies.’
The film, which chronicles first lady Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, debuted in 1,778 theaters nationwide, an unusually wide release for a documentary.
Prerelease projections published by entertainment outlets such as People magazine estimated the film would earn between $3 million and $5 million.
RELATED: New ‘Melania’ documentary blends unprecedented access with subtle, profound message
Brooks Kraft/Getty Images
While the film did not screen in advance for critics, reviews published after release were largely unfavorable.
Critics from the Guardian, Variety, and the Hollywood Reporter described the documentary as politically one-sided and overly sympathetic.
Xan Brooks of the Guardian compared the film to a “medieval tribute to placate the greedy king on his throne.” Owen Gleiberman of Variety described it as a “cheese ball infomercial of staggering inertia.” Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter wrote, “To say that ‘Melania’ is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies.”
Audiences reacted differently.
Opening-night viewers awarded the film an “A” at CinemaScore, a metric based on verified exit polling conducted at theaters nationwide.
Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images
The film was distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, which reportedly paid $40 million for distribution rights and spent an additional $35 million on marketing.
The total investment made the project the most expensive documentary release to date.
Despite the high cost, box-office analysts interviewed by AP noted that political documentaries are often evaluated based on visibility and audience engagement rather than traditional profitability.
The film premiered at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., with attendance from members of Congress, Cabinet officials, and business executives.
Following its theatrical run, “Melania” is scheduled to stream on Prime Video. International theatrical distribution is expected to be limited.
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‘Dead on arrival’: Chuck Schumer says Dems will ‘go all out’ to defeat voter ID bill
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says Democrats are ready to defeat a Republican bill intended to fortify election security against fraudulent voting.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act passed the House of Representatives in July and awaits approval from the Senate before heading to the president’s desk, but Democrats hope to derail its trip.
‘If Democrats choose to filibuster, they can explain to the American people why they believe noncitizens should be allowed to vote. That is a debate we will win every time.’
Schumer compared the SAVE Act to the racist Jim Crow laws against black Americans after the Civil War and warned of a government shutdown.
“I have said it before and I’ll say it again, the SAVE Act would impose Jim Crow type laws to the entire country and is dead on arrival in the Senate,” said Schumer in a statement on Monday. “It is a poison pill that will kill any legislation that it is attached to. If House Republicans add the SAVE Act to the bipartisan appropriations package it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown.”
He went on to argue that the real intention of the legislation was voter suppression.
“The SAVE Act seeks to disenfranchise millions of American citizens, seize control of our elections, and fan the flames of election skepticism and denialism,” he added.
Schumer has previously called the SAVE Act “one of the most despicable acts of legislation” he’s ever seen.
RELATED: Voter ID laws ‘brutally dangerous’ and ‘dehumanizing’ for transgender people, claims NBC
Schumer concluded by saying Democrats would “go all out” to defeat the bill.
Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas previously defended the bill from Democratic criticism in comments to Blaze News.
“This is a commonsense reform with broad public support from Americans who want elections that are free, fair, and secure,” Roy said.
“Now it’s time for the Senate to act. All it takes is 51 Republicans willing to demand a vote,” he added. “And if Democrats choose to filibuster, they can explain to the American people why they believe noncitizens should be allowed to vote. That is a debate we will win every time.”
If passed, the SAVE Act would require “proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office.”
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LAPD defies Newsom: Chief refuses to enforce mask ban on ICE
The Los Angeles Police Department says it will not enforce a new California law that restricts federal immigration agents from wearing face coverings, pushing back against a measure backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the department will not stop or cite federal agents for violating the state’s mask ban, citing safety concerns and the risk of escalating confrontations between law enforcement agencies.
‘It’s not a safe way to do business.’
“The reality of one armed agency approaching another armed agency to create conflict over something that would be a misdemeanor at best or an infraction — it doesn’t make any sense.”
RELATED: Anti-ICE rioter’s deadly mistake: Woman allegedly tried to run over federal agents before she was fatally shot
Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The No Secret Police Act, signed by Newsom in September, prohibits most law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks or facial coverings while carrying out official duties, with limited exceptions for undercover work or protective equipment. Supporters say the measure increases transparency and prevents the use of “secret police” tactics during immigration operations.
Federal officials and Republican leaders have sharply criticized the law, arguing it endangers agents by exposing their identities and unlawfully interferes with federal authority. The U.S. Department of Justice has challenged the law in court, saying it violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
McDonnell said the LAPD’s role is to maintain public safety, not to police federal officers engaged in immigration enforcement.
“You have the ICE agents who are doing their job. And for us to come in then and try and create an enforcement action for wearing a mask, it’s not a safe way to do business,” McDonnell said.
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Another Georgia Democrat is charged with fraud — the third in the last month
The Department of Justice scored a Democrat fraud hat trick in Georgia: A third politician has been charged with fraudulently obtaining unemployment funds from the government.
Georgia state Rep. Dexter Sharper, a Democrat, was charged Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice with “making false statements to fraudulently obtain thousands” in COVID-related funds after he allegedly claimed unemployment benefits while he kept working.
‘The alleged activities describe a disgusting abuse by an elected official who appeared to trade his integrity for money destined for those in need.’
Sharper applied for the benefits in 2020 that were available as a result of the pandemic, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg.
He allegedly claimed that he was unemployed and obtained about $13,825 in unemployment while he was actually making up to $2,231 of income per week at one job and up to an additional $275 weekly as a musician. He applied for the benefits and then made fraudulent weekly statements that he wasn’t working in order to receive unemployment payments, prosecutors said.
“While many of his constituents and fellow citizens were losing jobs and desperately needed unemployment assistance during the pandemic, Representative Sharper allegedly pretended to be out of work to collect a share of unemployment benefits for himself,” said Hertzberg. “When government officials lie to take money, and do it while holding an elected office, it violates the trust of citizens and weakens faith in our elected government.”
The first Georgia Democrat nailed for stealing fraudulent unemployment benefits was Karen Bennett, who resigned before pleading guilty on Jan. 21 to federal charges of making fraudulent statements. Prosecutors said she stole $13,940.
A second Democrat, state Rep. Sharon Henderson, was indicted on Dec. 2 for similar accusations related to the alleged theft of $17,811 in pandemic unemployment funds.
RELATED: Dr. Oz exposes alleged fraud in L.A. — so Newsom calls for probe into ‘racially charged’ claims
Sharper declined a request for comment from the Georgia Recorder on the advice of counsel, and a spokesperson for the Georgia House Democratic Caucus also declined to comment.
“These charges point to some disgraceful conduct at the highest level, which should shock and repulse every citizen,” said Georgia Inspector General Nigel Lange. “The alleged activities describe a disgusting abuse by an elected official who appeared to trade his integrity for money destined for those in need.”
Sharper’s biography appears to have been scrubbed from the Georgia House of Representatives website, but a version of the page archived at the Wayback Machine said he founded “Sharper Bounce Houses & More” as well as the “Dexter Sharper Fresheners” business. He has four children with his wife, Chequella Shipman Sharper.
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