UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Months since the Capitol insurrection, there has been a growing frustration amongst lawmakers and citizens regarding the Justice Department’s actions towards high-profile officials caught up in the riots. DOJ officials recently pushed back, explaining why they are slow-walking the indictments for former Trump strategist Steve Bannon among others.
According to CNN’s Zachary Cohen and Evan Perez, the DOJ is not ignoring its critics, Democratic lawmakers among them, but rather proceeding with the charges against Bannon with caution, making sure that there is no room for error or their case would be dismantled. Bannon was voted by the House to be held in criminal contempt for refusing to comply with the House Committee’s subpoena.
Bannon has cited being under the protection of Donald Trump’s claim of executive privilege as his reason not to comply with the panel. However, the Biden White House has rejected Trump’s claims of executive privilege. The claim also does not apply to Bannon, who was no longer working for the Trump administration at the time of the insurrection and on the days leading up to the riots.
Despite appearing to proceed with as much caution as possible, the report noted that the longer it would take for the DOJ to make a decision whether or not to prosecute Bannon, there would be more concerns as to whether this would be a good strategy by the House committee. Democrats have also increasingly expressed frustration with Attorney General Merrick Garland over holding Bannon in contempt as he has the final say on the matters.
In other related news, ABC journalist Jonathan Karl revealed that during the Capitol insurrection on January 6, then-vice president Mike Pence had an official White House photographer with him. Speaking with Stephen Colbert, Karl revealed that there are photos of Pence during the siege. However, Pence refused to have the photos released to the public following the insurrection.
It should be noted that the photos are taken at taxpayer expense and are therefore public records unless deemed a security risk.
“I got a hold of the photographer. I actually saw all of the photographs,” said Karl. “This is the Vice President of the United States, and he’s like holed up in a basement.”
