Maryland (BN24) – Former National Security Adviser John Bolton pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges alleging he mishandled and shared classified information with family members and kept top secret documents at his Maryland home, in a case that has intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s use of law enforcement powers against political critics.
Bolton, 76, appeared before a judge and was released from custody after entering his plea. The indictment marks the third Justice Department prosecution in recent weeks involving a prominent critic of President Donald Trump. Bolton has called the case a politically motivated attempt to silence opponents, accusing Trump of trying to “intimidate his adversaries.”
Despite those claims, prosecutors say the investigation into Bolton began well before Trump returned to the White House in January and followed a conventional path to indictment. The charges were brought by career national security prosecutors, unlike earlier politically contentious cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
According to the indictment, Bolton shared more than 1,000 pages of notes containing classified material with his wife and daughter, including sensitive information from intelligence briefings and meetings with foreign leaders. Authorities say hackers believed to be linked to Iran later breached his personal email account, exposing the classified information he had sent to his relatives.
Prosecutors also allege that Bolton stored highly sensitive documents at his home, including intelligence on a foreign adversary’s attack plans against U.S. forces and details of covert operations. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the gravity of the allegations, saying in a statement, “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
Bolton, a longtime Republican foreign policy figure known for his hawkish views, served as national security adviser for more than a year before Trump fired him in 2019. He later published a scathing memoir, The Room Where It Happened, which portrayed Trump as dangerously uninformed on foreign policy.
Bolton’s legal team argues the case stems from personal diaries spanning his 45-year government career. Attorney Abbe Lowell said the shared material was either unclassified or previously reviewed by the White House National Security Council and cleared of classified content. “Like many public officials throughout history, Bolton kept diaries — that is not a crime,” Lowell said.
The Justice Department has a long history of classified document mishandling cases involving public officials. In some instances, charges have been influenced by whether investigators could prove willful misconduct or obstruction.
The indictment against Bolton comes amid lingering controversies over other high-profile classified document cases. Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case against Trump after his return to office. Prosecutors also declined to charge President Joe Biden despite evidence he had willfully retained classified material, citing his age and perceived demeanor. Hillary Clinton faced a similar inquiry in 2016 but was not charged after investigators concluded she did not intentionally break the law.
Bolton’s case bears some similarities to that of former CIA Director David Petraeus, who admitted in 2015 to sharing classified information with his biographer and received probation under a plea deal.
Washington (BN24) – President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has commuted the prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., ordering his immediate release less than three months after he began serving time for wire fraud and identity theft.
Trump said on Truth Social that Santos had endured “long stretches of solitary confinement” and “horrible mistreatment” while incarcerated. “Therefore, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote.
Santos had been sentenced in April to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said he ran a yearslong scheme exploiting campaign finance rules, political donors, and even his own family to enrich himself.
Santos’ attorney said his client was “appreciative” of Trump’s decision, describing the sentence as “draconian.” He confirmed that Santos’ husband was picking him up from the federal prison in Fairton, New Jersey.
White House officials said Trump made the decision earlier this week after receiving “overwhelming” appeals. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., had publicly pushed for clemency, calling Santos’ punishment excessive and questioning his treatment in solitary confinement.
“George Santos never raped anybody, never murdered anybody, is not a child sex-trafficker. Why is he in solitary confinement?” Greene said in a recent interview, arguing his sentence was too harsh.
Santos’ swift release marks a sharp turn in a scandal-ridden political career. He was elected to Congress in 2022 but soon faced scrutiny after news reports revealed he fabricated large parts of his biography. By May 2023, he was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud and money laundering. A House Ethics Committee report later found “substantial evidence” of criminal conduct, including the misuse of campaign funds.
Santos was expelled from the House in December 2023 after less than a year in office, becoming one of the few lawmakers in U.S. history to be ousted without a criminal conviction at the time.
Trump has leaned heavily on his clemency powers during his second term, issuing pardons and commutations to thousands, including hundreds charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The commutation drew swift criticism from both parties. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., dismissed Trump’s remarks about him as “fabricated nonsense” and said there was “no excuse” for commuting Santos’ sentence.
Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., a member of the House Ethics Committee, said that Santos serving only a few months was “not justice.” Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., added that Santos “stole millions, defrauded an election,” and should spend more time behind bars.
Prince Andrew announced Friday he is relinquishing his title as Duke of York and other royal honors, as renewed attention on his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to overshadow the British monarchy.
Prince Andrew and his brother, King Charles 111
Andrew, the 65-year-old younger brother of King Charles III, issued a statement through Buckingham Palace acknowledging that the ongoing accusations against him were a distraction.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me,” Andrew said. “As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
The decision marks the latest and most symbolic step in Andrew’s fall from public grace. He had already stepped down from royal duties in 2019 following scrutiny of his ties to Epstein, despite denying any wrongdoing.
The renewed spotlight comes after excerpts from a forthcoming posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre were released this week. Giuffre, who alleged that Epstein trafficked her and that she had sex with Andrew when she was 17, died by suicide in April at 41. Her memoir, due out Tuesday, includes detailed allegations about her encounters with the prince.
Andrew has denied Giuffre’s claims, saying he does not recall meeting her. Giuffre sued Andrew in 2021, and the case was settled in 2022 for an undisclosed sum. Court documents stated that Andrew acknowledged Epstein was a sex trafficker and that Giuffre was “an established victim of abuse.”
Andrew’s efforts to counter the allegations famously unraveled during a November 2019 BBC interview. Attempting to rebut Giuffre’s claims, Andrew offered explanations that were widely mocked, including saying he was medically incapable of sweating to refute her recollections of dancing. His lack of empathy toward Epstein’s victims further damaged his reputation.
Within days of the interview, Andrew stepped down from public life. The decision to give up his title represents a final break with his formal royal status, underscoring the enduring impact of the Epstein scandal on the British monarchy.
ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — The United States Embassy in Abuja has issued a security warning to American citizens in the Nigerian capital ahead of a planned protest scheduled for Monday, October 20. The demonstration, organized under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, is expected to bring large crowds to Eagle Square and the Central Business District, potentially leading to disruptions.
The protest was announced by activist and former African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore on October 9 via his X (formerly Twitter) account. Sowore described the planned march as a “historic” and peaceful demonstration aimed at securing the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in custody since June 2021 following his extradition from Kenya and is currently facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. It is October 20 at 7 am,” Sowore stated.
In a statement posted on its website on Friday, the US Embassy cautioned that while the protest organizers have called for peaceful demonstrations, the event may nonetheless lead to traffic congestion, roadblocks, and confrontations between security forces and protestors that could escalate into violence.
“The US Embassy in Abuja informs US citizens that the Free Nnamdi Kanu Now protest has called for peaceful demonstrations on Monday, October 20th, 2025, in Abuja. There may be roadblocks, traffic congestion, and confrontations between police and protestors that could turn violent around Eagle Square and the Central Business District,” the advisory read.
The Embassy urged American citizens to avoid the protest areas and limit movement throughout Abuja on the day of the demonstration. It also recommended that children stay home from school and that domestic workers commuting from outside the city refrain from reporting to work to minimize exposure to potential unrest.
“Children in Abuja should stay home from school, and domestic staff who travel from outside of Abuja should also stay home,” the Embassy advised.
The Embassy further urged US nationals to exercise caution, avoid crowds, and remain vigilant if unexpectedly caught near large gatherings or protests. It reminded Americans to monitor local news outlets, maintain a low profile, and be particularly alert in public venues such as shopping centers, movie theaters, and places of worship.
“Review your personal security plans and keep your cell phone charged in case of emergency,” the statement added.
The US Embassy’s alert comes amid heightened tensions in Nigeria as the government continues to prosecute Nnamdi Kanu, a controversial figure whose detention has fueled protests and unrest in parts of the country. Authorities have maintained a heavy security presence in Abuja and other major cities ahead of the planned march.
American citizens in Nigeria are advised to heed the Embassy’s warnings and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
At least one person was killed and dozens of police officers were injured overnight in Peru as widespread protests erupted against President Jose Jeri, who took office just days ago. The unrest, which swept through Lima and several other cities, marks the first major test of Jeri’s leadership amid rising public anger over corruption and crime.
The state ombudsman’s office confirmed Thursday that a 32-year-old man, Eduardo Mauricio Ruiz, was killed during Wednesday night’s demonstrations. Prosecutors said Ruiz died after being shot. Peru’s national police chief, Oscar Arriola, told reporters that officer Luis Magallanes, who had been physically assaulted during the protest, carried out the shooting. Magallanes is hospitalized and has been relieved of duty pending investigation.
Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez announced that the government will declare a state of emergency in Lima within hours and is preparing a set of measures to address the growing security crisis.
The protests were called by young Gen Z demonstrators, transport workers and civil groups, and followed the dramatic midnight ouster of former President Dina Boluarte last Thursday. Thousands of protesters gathered across the country, with hundreds converging on Congress in Lima. Police fired tear gas while protesters hurled rocks, fireworks and burning objects.
Chanting “Everyone must go!” demonstrators tried to tear down metal barriers surrounding Congress, leading to clashes with security forces. Ruiz’s death will be investigated by the prosecutor’s office, while the Ombudsman’s office has called for accountability.
President Jeri expressed regret on X over Ruiz’s death, promising an “objective” investigation and blaming the violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos.”
After a meeting at Congress on Thursday, Jeri told reporters he would seek authority to legislate on public safety, with a focus on prison reform. Later in the day, Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio announced plans for comprehensive reform of the national police, reporting that 89 officers and 22 civilians were injured during the protests and 11 people were detained.
Wednesday night’s unrest is a crucial bellwether for Jeri’s presidency, which will run until scheduled elections next July. At 38, Jeri has pledged to make fighting crime his top priority but is also facing scandals of his own, including corruption allegations and a now-shelved sexual assault investigation. He has denied wrongdoing and pledged to cooperate with any probe.
Boluarte, his predecessor, saw her popularity plummet to between 2% and 4% amid deadly protests during her tenure. Congress, which Jeri previously led, remains equally unpopular, with approval ratings in the single digits.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (BN24) — Uruguay has become the first nation in Latin America to fully legalize euthanasia, following Senate approval of a landmark bill that allows terminally ill patients to choose an assisted death performed by medical professionals.
The legislation, formally known as the “Dignified Death” bill, passed with 20 votes in favor out of 31 senators on Tuesday. The lower house had already approved the measure in August with overwhelming support, signaling broad political and societal backing for the controversial but long-debated issue.
Under the new law, euthanasia will be available to adult Uruguayan citizens who are of sound mind and suffering from an irreversible, terminal illness that causes intolerable pain. A licensed healthcare professional must carry out the procedure, and patients must meet strict criteria to qualify.
The legislation explicitly excludes assisted suicide, in which patients self-administer lethal medication. Instead, it mandates that the act be performed by a medical provider under regulated conditions, ensuring oversight and ethical standards are upheld.
Senator Daniel Borbonet, speaking after the vote, reflected on testimonies from patients facing unbearable suffering. “We all believe and feel that life is a right, both in health and in sickness,” he said. “But it should never be an obligation because others don’t understand such unbearable suffering.”
Public support in Uruguay has been a driving force behind the bill. A recent national poll shows that more than 60% of Uruguayans support legal euthanasia, with just 24% opposed.
The move solidifies Uruguay’s status as a regional leader in socially liberal reforms. The small South American country has previously broken ground by legalizing same-sex marriage, abortion, and cannabis, all in a region where Catholic cultural influence has traditionally stymied such legislation.
Elsewhere in Latin America, countries like Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized euthanasia through court rulings, but have not enacted formal laws to govern the practice. Cuba, meanwhile, permits terminally ill patients to decline life-prolonging treatment but stops short of authorizing medically assisted death.
Uruguay’s new euthanasia law is expected to take effect following publication in the official government gazette, after which the Ministry of Public Health will draft and implement regulatory guidelines to govern its application.
The passage of the law marks a historic shift in Latin America’s approach to end-of-life care, setting a precedent that may reverberate across the region in years to come.
WASHINGTON — The admiral who leads U.S. military forces in Latin America will step down at the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday, in a surprise move amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that there had been tension between Admiral Alvin Holsey and Hegseth over operations in the Caribbean and questions about whether he would be fired in the days leading up to the announcement.
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Holsey’s unexpected resignation troubling given mounting fears of a potential U.S. confrontation with Venezuela.
“Admiral Holsey’s resignation only deepens my concern that this administration is ignoring the hard-earned lessons of previous U.S. military campaigns and the advice of our most experienced warfighters,” Reed said in a statement.
Hegseth, in a social media post, did not disclose the reason for the departure of Holsey, who is one of two Black four-star officers leading a U.S. combatant command.
On X, Holsey said he would retire December 12 but did not give a reason. “It’s been an honor to serve our nation, the American people and support and defend the Constitution for over 37 years,” he said.
Holsey’s departure comes against the backdrop of a military buildup in the Caribbean that includes U.S.-guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine and around sixty-five hundred troops as President Donald Trump escalates a standoff with the Venezuelan government.
U.S. military strikes against suspected drug boats off Venezuela have killed at least twenty-seven people, raising alarms among some legal experts and mostly Democratic lawmakers, who question whether they adhere to the laws of war. The Trump administration argues it is in a war with narcoterrorist groups from Venezuela, making the strikes legitimate.
On Wednesday, Trump disclosed that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, adding to speculation in Caracas that the United States is attempting to topple President Nicolas Maduro.
Holsey is the latest in a series of flag officers to leave their positions since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. Some firings have been abrupt, including those of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, C.Q. Brown, who was Black, and the top naval officer, Lisa Franchetti, who was the first woman to hold the position.
“The Department thanks Admiral Holsey for his decades of service to our country, and we wish him and his family continued success and fulfillment in the years ahead,” Hegseth said on X.
Less than a week ago, the Pentagon announced its counter-narcotics operations in the region would not be led by the Miami-based Southern Command, but by II Marine Expeditionary Force, a unit capable of rapid overseas operations that is based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
That decision came as a surprise to U.S. military watchers, since a combatant command like Southern Command would normally lead any high-profile operations.
The reorganization of Caribbean operations away from Southern Command raised questions about Holsey’s authority and the military’s chain of command in the region. The move effectively sidelined the traditional geographic combatant command structure in favor of a deployable expeditionary force.
U.S. Southern Command is responsible for military operations and security cooperation in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The command has historically played a key role in counter-narcotics operations, disaster relief and security partnerships with Latin American militaries.
Holsey assumed command of U.S. Southern Command in a ceremony that typically comes with an expected tenure of three to four years. His early departure leaves uncertainty about succession planning at a critical moment for U.S. military operations in the region.
The admiral’s resignation adds to broader concerns about military leadership stability under the Trump administration. Critics have questioned whether political considerations are influencing personnel decisions at the highest levels of military command.
The timing of Holsey’s departure, combined with the restructuring of counter-narcotics operations and escalating military activity near Venezuela, has prompted questions from lawmakers about strategic planning and civilian-military relations.
Defense Department officials have not announced a successor for the Southern Command position or clarified how the leadership transition will affect ongoing operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The departure of multiple senior military leaders in recent months has raised concerns among some former defense officials and members of Congress about continuity in military planning and the preservation of institutional knowledge at combatant commands.
Washington (BN24) – President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a stark warning to Hamas, saying “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them” if internal bloodshed in Gaza continues, marking a sharp shift in tone days after a ceasefire and hostage deal took effect.
Trump made the remarks after previously downplaying the internal violence between rival factions inside the enclave following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas last week in the two-year war.
Speaking to reporters, Trump later clarified that he does not intend to deploy U.S. forces to Gaza. “It’s not going to be us,” he said. “We won’t have to. There are people very close, very nearby that will go in and they’ll do the trick very easily, but under our auspices.” While he did not name the country, his comments were widely interpreted as a reference to Israel. Any direct Israeli military action, however, could risk violating the terms of the ceasefire.
Trump’s tough new rhetoric contrasted sharply with his earlier comments on Tuesday, when he appeared unconcerned about Hamas cracking down on rival gangs in the territory. “They took out a couple of gangs that were very bad,” Trump said then. “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you.”
The president did not elaborate on how the U.S. would act on his threat, posted on Truth Social, and the White House has not provided further details. However, Trump underscored that his administration has little patience for ongoing killings within Gaza. “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently,” he said.
For nearly two decades, Hamas-run police maintained internal control in Gaza, but their presence has diminished in recent months as Israeli forces seized large areas and targeted Hamas security personnel with airstrikes. In their absence, powerful families and armed gangs, including anti-Hamas factions allegedly backed by Israel, have filled the void. Many of these groups have been accused of hijacking humanitarian aid and reselling it for profit, worsening the territory’s starvation crisis.
Under Trump’s ceasefire plan, Hamas was required to hand over all hostages—living and dead—by Monday’s deadline. If unable to return all bodies, Hamas was to provide information and return remains as soon as possible.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel “will not compromise” and demanded Hamas comply fully with the deal regarding the return of hostages’ bodies. Hamas’s armed wing said it has honored the ceasefire terms by handing over the remains of those it could access.
The U.S. announced last week that around 200 troops will be sent to Israel to help monitor the ceasefire as part of a multinational team, but U.S. officials have emphasized that no American forces will enter Gaza.
Israeli officials have voiced frustration at the slow pace of body returns. Hamas agreed to hand over 28 bodies in addition to the 20 living hostages already released. Senior U.S. advisers, speaking anonymously, said they believe Hamas is working through intermediaries to return the remaining bodies and does not appear to have violated the agreement.
Trump’s warning raises pressure on Hamas to end the internal bloodshed and fully comply with the ceasefire terms, even as tensions remain high over humanitarian access and hostage returns.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — A federal grand jury indicted former national security adviser John Bolton on Thursday, making him the third critic of President Donald Trump to face criminal charges in recent weeks.
Bolton was indicted in federal court in Maryland, where he lives and where prosecutors have been investigating whether he improperly retained classified materials following his acrimonious departure from the first Trump administration.
The indictment charges him with eight counts of transmission of national defense information and ten counts of retention of national defense information.
Asked about the indictment during a White House event Thursday, Trump said he did not know about the charges but called Bolton “a bad person.” “I think he’s a bad guy, yeah, he’s a bad guy. Too bad, but that’s the way it goes,” Trump said.
The other two prominent Trump adversaries to face charges in recent weeks are former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement after Bolton was charged that “there is one tier of justice for all Americans.” “Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable. No one is above the law,” Bondi said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said charges came after the bureau’s “investigation revealed that John Bolton allegedly transmitted top secret information using personal online accounts and retained said documents in his house in direct violation of federal law.”
Bolton in a statement denied any wrongdoing and said the indictment was politically motivated. “Donald Trump’s retribution against me began then [during Trump’s first administration], continued when he tried unsuccessfully to block the publication of my book, The Room Where It Happened, before the 2020 election, and became one of his rallying cries in his re-election campaign,” Bolton said. “Now, I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts.”
Bolton’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said his client, who was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the George W. Bush administration, did not break the law. “The underlying facts in this case were investigated and resolved years ago. These charges stem from portions of Amb. Bolton’s personal diaries over his 45-year career — records that are unclassified, shared only with his immediate family, and known to the FBI as far back as 2021,” Lowell said in a statement. “We look forward to proving once again that Amb. Bolton did not unlawfully share or store any information.”
The indictment alleges Bolton “abused his position” in the first Trump administration by “sharing more than a thousand pages of information about his day-to-day activities as the National Security Advisor including information relating to the national defense which was classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level with two unauthorized individuals, namely Individuals 1 and 2.”
The two were relatives of Bolton’s to whom he messaged and emailed the information, although they did not have security clearances, the court filing said. Bolton, seventy-six, “also unlawfully retained documents, writings, and notes relating to the national defense, including information classified up to the TOP SECRET/SCI level, in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland,” the filing said.
The Justice Department said in a press release that Bolton faces a maximum of ten years in prison on each count if convicted, but any sentence handed down by a judge would be far less than that and in line with federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI conducted searches of Bolton’s Maryland home and his Washington office in August. Redacted search warrant applications showed law enforcement cited Bolton’s “2020 Book Pre-Publication Review” and the “Hack of Bolton AOL Account by Foreign Entity” as a basis for probable cause to search his residence and office.
The foreign entity’s name was redacted in filings that were made public, but the indictment says it was “a cyber actor believed to be associated with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” “A representative for Bolton notified the U.S. Government of the hack in or about July 2021, but did not tell the U.S. Government that the account contained national defense information, including classified information, that BOLTON had placed in the account from his time as National Security Advisor,” the indictment said.
The book referred to in the search warrant was Bolton’s “The Room Where It Happened,” chronicling his tumultuous time as Trump’s national security adviser. The 2020 book became problematic for Trump even before it was released during his first impeachment.
The case involved allegations that the president withheld military aid to Ukraine to force it to announce an investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Bolton said in the book that Trump had explicitly told him that was why he was withholding the aid, an account Trump denied.
Trump was acquitted in his Senate trial and called for Bolton to be prosecuted after his book was released. “He released massive amounts of classified, and confidential, but classified information. That’s illegal and you go to jail for that,” Trump told Fox News in an interview at the time. Bolton denied that the book included classified information.
Court filings related to the search warrant show the FBI had been investigating Bolton for years. Agents had interviewed him eight times between October 2020 and June 2025 at his office, according to the application.
An inventory of items investigators took from Bolton’s office included several documents described as “classified,” “confidential” or “secret.” Some were described as “Weapons of Mass Destruction Classified Documents” and “U.S. Government Strategic Communications Plan — Confidential documents.”
The charges brought against Bolton, Comey and James largely mirror charges and claims that were brought against Trump between his first and second terms. Trump was indicted in June 2023 on charges of retaining and mishandling classified documents from his time in the White House. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was thrown out on technical grounds by a Trump-appointed judge in 2024.
Two of the other charges against Trump in the documents case were of making false statements and conspiracy to obstruct justice. The two charges against Comey are of making false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. He has pleaded not guilty.
James, meanwhile, was charged with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. The indictment alleges she falsely claimed that a home in Norfolk, Virginia, was her second residence, allowing her to obtain favorable loan terms she was not entitled to. The alleged scheme saved her about fifty dollars a month.
James’ office sued Trump and his company in 2022, alleging they were filing misleading financial statements with banks and insurers, overvaluing and undervaluing his assets when it was to his financial benefit, and exaggerating his net worth to the tune of billions of dollars. The scheme enabled Trump and his company to obtain bank loans and insurance policies at rates they were not entitled to, and as a result he “reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains,” James’ office has said.
The case resulted in a four hundred sixty-four million dollar civil judgment against Trump last year. A divided state appeals court upheld the fraud finding in August but tossed the financial penalty entirely, finding it was “excessive.” Trump has denied wrongdoing in the case.
James has called the charges against her “baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost.”
The charges against Comey and James came after a September 20 post on Truth Social by Trump urging Bondi to take action against the two, as well as Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat. “They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,” the post said. “We can’t delay any longer.” An administration official told NBC News the public posting was meant to be sent to Bondi as a direct message.
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (BN24) — The African Union on Wednesday moved swiftly to suspend Madagascar’s membership following a dramatic military takeover that culminated in the removal of President Andry Rajoelina. The bloc, in an emergency session of its Peace and Security Council, said the island nation would be barred from AU bodies “with immediate effect … until constitutional order is restored.”
At the heart of the upheaval is Colonel Michael Randrianirina, commander of the elite CAPSAT military unit. In a statement broadcast via state television, the new military leadership announced that Randrianirina would assume the presidency during a solemn session of Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court on October 17. He is to take office as “President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar.”
The takeover, which the AU described as an “unconstitutional change of government,” was met with condemnation from the union’s leadership. AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that the rule of law must prevail over the rule of force and reiterated the bloc’s insistence on a return to civilian governance.
Rajoelina, who secured power himself in 2009 via a military-backed transition and later won multiple elections, fled the capital amid mounting street protests and defections within the security forces. From an undisclosed location, he denounced his removal as illegitimate, calling the turn of events “null and void.”
The coup came after weeks of youth-led demonstrations, dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” in the capital of Antananarivo. Frustration had boiled over as young people confronted long-standing problems: electricity and water blackouts, rising cost of living, limited access to higher education, and systemic corruption. According to the World Bank, roughly 75 percent of Madagascar’s 30 million inhabitants live in poverty, conditions that fueled the unrest.
The crisis reached its tipping point when CAPSAT troops, long seen as loyal to the presidency, withdrew from orders to suppress protestors and instead marched into the streets, aligning themselves with the demonstrators. Parliament responded by impeaching Rajoelina, and on October 14, the military moved decisively, declaring that it had suspended the constitution and dissolved all state institutions except the lower house of parliament.
In a press briefing, Randrianirina defended the intervention as an act of necessity: “We took responsibility yesterday,” he said. He pledged a transitional period lasting between 18 months and two years, during which a referendum would be held to draft a new constitution, followed by elections. The military said it would establish committees drawn from the army, gendarmerie, and national police to manage the transition.
The AU was not alone in sounding alarms. Neighboring states and regional bodies, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), called for de-escalation and negotiations. The United Nations expressed deep concern over Madagascar’s sudden constitutional rupture.
Some analysts see parallels to Madagascar’s political past: the CAPSAT unit had played a central role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power. Randrianirina himself had previously broken with the president over orders to suppress protestors, stepping into the national spotlight at a moment of crisis.
For the public, the coup elicited mixed reactions. Street supporters cheered CAPSAT troops entering the city, while protest leaders cautioned against ignoring democratic safeguards. As Madagascar stands suspended from the African Union and faces an uncertain path ahead, the question remains: will the transition restore constitutional rule or entrench military control?
