China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Newly Released DOJ Epstein Files Expose High-Profile Connections Across Politics and Business 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Ukraine-Russia Talks Yield Major POW Swap as U.S. Pushes for Path to Peace 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
U.S. Sanctions on Russia Could Expand as Ukraine Peace Talks Continue, Says Treasury Secretary Bessent 
The Justice Department under former President Donald Trump was often weaponized during his presidency. With the recent reports surrounding the extent of the actions taken by the Trump administration’s DOJ, one Trump-appointed Justice Department official is already set to step down from his post next week.
The Justice Department’s National Security Division head, John Demers, who was appointed by Trump, is set to step down from his position next week. Demers’ resignation follows reports that the DOJ under Trump secretly seized data from House Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, to which Demers has been involved. The report by the New York Times reveals that Demers supervised the prosecutors who carried out secretly seizing data from reporters.
However, the report by the outlet also noted that the secret surveillance on House Democrats on the intelligence committee, including their staff and family members - one of which is a minor - or at least the gag order on the surveillance, would require a signing off by the Attorney General. Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr served as Trump’s DOJ attorneys general.
“While it is common for the Justice Department to try and find out who shared classified information with the media, it is highly unusual to secretly gather records from the press and lawmakers. The prosecutors also prevented the lawyers and executives of The Times and CNN from disclosing that records had been taken, even to their newsroom leaders, another highly aggressive step,” said the NYT report.
Since the report, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded that Senate Republicans join their Democratic counterparts in subpoenaing Barr and Sessions, as well as Demers.
In other news, Trump’s refusal to accept his election loss and constant pushing of election fraud claims resulted in the January 6 riots. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress in an attempt to derail the formal certification of electoral votes. Five people died and over 100 Capitol Police officers were injured and over 400 rioters were arrested.
A married couple who took part in the insurrection were both convicted Monday for their participation, Joshua and Jessica Bustle from Bristow, Virginia. The couple agreed to plead to a US District Court in DC for parading, demonstrating, or picketing at the Capitol building in exchange for prosecutors to drop three other charges placed against them. They are the third and fourth defendants who pleaded guilty for their involvement in the riots.
