FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency would welcome Rep. Eric Swalwell to sit down with the FBI to share any information about the sexual assault allegations against him. Patel also encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward. “@EricSwalwell has maintained that none of the allegations against him are true, and now that he’s resigned, we would welcome him to sit down with the FBI and share any information he has,” Patel said. “We also encourage and welcome any person with relevant information to any of these matters to speak with us. Door is open to all,” he continued. .@EricSwalwell has maintained that none of the allegations against him are true, and now that he’s resigned, we would welcome him to sit down with the FBI and share any information he has. We also encourage and welcome any person with relevant information to any of these… — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 14, 2026 Patel’s comments follow Swalwell announcing his resignation from Congress. BREAKING: Eric Swalwell RESIGNS From Congress More from the New York Post: Swalwell was a member of the House Intelligence Committee during the first Trump administration and was one of the most prominent Democrats to push the Russia collusion narrative. At that time, Patel was a senior aide to then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who fought tooth and nail against claims of nefarious ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Kremlin. In 2023, Swalwell was kicked off the Intelligence Committee by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), due to both his promotion of the collusion narrative and his relationship with suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang. That same year, Patel named Swalwell as one of dozens of so-called “government gangsters” in his book of the same name. In the fall of 2025, Swalwell confronted Patel about the designation during a hearing on Capitol Hill. Last month, Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter to Patel to stop the release of files pertaining to his past association with a suspected Chinese operative named Christine Fang, known as “Fang Fang.” Breaking news: Attorneys for Rep. Eric Swalwell demanded in a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau refrain from releasing decade-old investigative files involving the congressman’s purported ties to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. https://t.co/AfBzYylPJn — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 30, 2026 NBC News explained further: “The Congressman has never been accused of wrongdoing in that matter and your attempt to release the file is a transparent attempt to smear him and undermine his campaign for Governor of California,” attorneys Norm Eisen and Sean Hecker wrote. “Your actions threaten to expose you, others at the FBI, and the FBI itself to significant legal liability.” The Washington Post reported last week that Patel himself is working to release a decade-old investigative file involving Swalwell and Fang, who allegedly sought to develop ties to politicians in California and elsewhere, despite no evidence of wrongdoing by the congressman. The Post first reported the letter from Swalwell, who is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing in his previous association with Fang and his lawyers repeated in their letter that he assisted in the FBI investigation of her. The letter suggested that releasing the investigative files would violate Swalwell’s First Amendment rights, a 1974 law that bars the release of such records without written consent from the subject of the files, and the Justice Department’s own regulations — and that his attorneys could take further legal action if necessary. “The release of the investigative files would violate longstanding U.S. Department of Justice rules, including those barring federal agents from using their authority to attempt to influence an election,” Eisen and Hecker wrote. “Any attempt to undermine his campaign through the release of the files would run afoul of section 9-85.500 of the Justice Manual, which explicitly states that 'agents may never select the timing of any action, including . . . statements, for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate.'”

Lonna Drewes, an alleged victim of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), accused the congressman of drugging and raping her in a hotel room in 2018. “Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) accuser Lonna Drewes alleges in press conference that Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018, choking her to the point of unconsciousness, in a West Hollywood hotel room,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin wrote. “Said Swalwell also offered to use his connections to help her software company. Her attorney says immediately after the press conference, they will be filing a police report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and will be providing evidence, including text messages and photos,” he continued. BREAKING: New Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) accuser Lonna Drewes alleges in press conference that Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018, choking her to the point of unconsciousness, in a West Hollywood hotel room. Said Swalwell also offered to use his connections to help her… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 14, 2026 One X user asked why she waited so long to make the accusations against Swalwell. “Said she had political ambitions, was afraid of his political influence and law enforcement connections,” Melugin responded. Said she had political ambitions, was afraid of his political influence and law enforcement connections. — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 14, 2026 More from the New York Post: It comes after four women last week leveled heinous claims against Swalwell, including one also alleging he raped her, which has set fire to his political career and seen him pull out of the California governor’s race and vow he will resign from Congress. Sitting alongside how-powered attorney Lisa Bloom, Drewes said at a press conference in Beverly Hills: “In 2018, while I was living and working as a model in Beverly Hills, and I also owned a fashion software company, I had contact with Eric Swalwell on three separate occasions. “After meeting, he offered me connections to further my software company, and I also had an interest in local politics. “He invited me to two public events. I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend. On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink. I only had one glass of wine. “He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity,” Drewes said. “I would never have engaged in a consensual sexual encounter with Eric Swalwell,” she added. Watch below: BREAKING: "He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity." "I would never have engaged in a consensual sexual encounter with Eric Swalwell." – Lonna Drewes pic.twitter.com/DiLBy1lA5c — Fox News (@FoxNews) April 14, 2026 “My delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt. Fear of his political power, his background as an attorney, and his family law enforcement ties,” she said. Watch below: BREAKING: “My delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt. Fear of his political power, his background as an attorney, and his family law enforcement ties.” -Lonna Drewes pic.twitter.com/1dNatQdGBV — Fox News (@FoxNews) April 14, 2026 CalMatters shared further: Swalwell and his attorney, Elias Dabaie, did not immediately return requests for comment. He has denied the “serious, false allegations against me” and said he would continue to fight them, but apologized to his wife for “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in the past.” A week ago, Swalwell was one of three leading Democratic contenders for governor, but his support quickly collapsed soon after the San Francisco Chronicle reported last Friday that an unnamed former staff member said Swalwell solicited oral sex from her while she was working for him and twice sexually assaulted her when she was too drunk to consent. CNN later Friday published the same woman’s account, as well as those of three other women, one of whom said he kissed and touched her inappropriately and two of whom alleged he sent unsolicited messages. Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign Sunday night and said Monday that he would resign from Congress. Watch additional footage from the press conference below:

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby floated the idea of a merger with American Airlines in a meeting with President Trump earlier this year, Reuters claimed. “The CEO of United Airlines is privately pitching some kind of merger with American Airlines, including to members of the Trump administration,” Bloomberg correspondent Josh Wingrove wrote. The CEO of United Airlines is privately pitching some kind of merger with American Airlines, including to members of the Trump administration, sources tell @sidyoutwit, @allyversprille and @srimtaylor:https://t.co/T4H5XtRo4f — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) April 13, 2026 Reuters has more: A combination of two of the largest U.S. network carriers would mark by far the most consequential consolidation since the last wave of big airline mergers ended more than a decade ago and further tighten a U.S. domestic market already dominated by four players of roughly equal size. Including international flights, United and American were already the world’s two largest airlines by available capacity in 2025, according to OAG data, and their combined size would far eclipse rival Delta Air Lines, which ranked third. The meeting with Trump was on February 25, said the sources with knowledge of the matter, three days before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that sent jet fuel prices skyrocketing and airlines scrambling to recover higher costs through fare rises and bag fee increases. Kirby has made the case to Trump administration officials that a merged United-American would be a stronger competitor for international travel, the sources said, noting that the Trump administration has focused on U.S. trade deficits around the globe. Kirby said at a forum in September that two-thirds of long-haul seats to and from the United States are on foreign carriers, but 60% of passengers are U.S. citizens. A merger of this magnitude would likely be extremely difficult to implement, considering the failed Spirit-JetBlue proposal. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was recently asked about the possibility of a merger among U.S.-based airlines. Watch below: CNBC: There's growing chatter that one of the big four airlines could get even bigger and buy one of the smaller ones. Would you like to see that? SEAN DUFFY: President Trump loves to see big deals happen. He'd have to review it. But I think there's room for some mergers in the… pic.twitter.com/LnpI4CUqDz — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 7, 2026 Fortune shared further: For Kirby, a deal involving American Airlines would also be personal. Kirby was previously president of American, but left after it was made clear he didn’t have a path to becoming the carrier’s CEO. Kirby joined United as president in 2016 before rising to the top job. The two companies have engaged in a continuous exchange of strategic one-upmanship, particularly at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, where they’ve battled over gate access and market share. Kirby has also faulted American Airlines for being too late and too slow to add more premium products, which have proven popular and lucrative at United and Delta Air Lines Inc. The United CEO’s considerations come as airlines are grappling with higher jet fuel prices due to the US-Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for oil transports. Kirby has already responded by taking some capacity out of the market, saying he wants to be prepared for potential cost increases. US airline mergers have to be reviewed and approved by the Transportation Department, as well as the Department of Justice. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the government would look at a number of factors when considering potential tie-ups, including the impact on competition — both domestically and globally — and ticket prices.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation “banning the manufacture, sale, and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as ‘ghost guns.'” “As a former federal law enforcement officer and someone who comes from a law enforcement family, public safety is personal to me,” Spanberger said. “We are taking concrete steps to make sure Virginia’s law enforcement has the support they need to keep our communities safe,” she added. “She has also signed bills that her office says will allow ‘firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence,'” Virginia State Capitol reporter Tyler Englander said. New: @GovernorVA has signed several bills, including ones that ban the sale and possession of so-called "ghost guns." She has also signed bills that her office says will allow "firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices… pic.twitter.com/U0EEqEbATm — Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) April 10, 2026 WTKR confirmed: Four bills recently signed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger aim to curb gun violence within the commonwealth, her press office said Friday. The governor has signed hundreds of bills in recent days. Previous batches of bills focused on Spanberger’s agenda to create a more affordable Virginia. The recently-signed gun laws were highlighted in a press release put out by her office addressing public safety across the commonwealth. The following descriptions for the four bills were taken from the press release sent by Spanberger’s office: HB19 — “Closing the ‘intimate partner loophole’ by prohibiting intimate partners convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing a firearm.” HB21 — “Allowing firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence.” HB40 — “Banning the manufacture, sale, and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as ‘ghost guns.'” HB93 — “Specifying that a person subject to a protective order or convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm may transfer their firearm to a person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, who is 21 years of age or older, and who does not live in their home.” “Preventing gun violence is an issue of public safety — both for the officers who protect our streets and the children and families they work to keep safe. Whether you’re a first responder or a survivor seeking justice, these laws reflect a simple commitment: the Commonwealth of Virginia will always have your back,” Spanberger said in a statement, according to the outlet. “@SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed. We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia. 2A Section Lawyers are standing by,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said. @SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed.  We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia. 2A Section Lawyers are standing by… pic.twitter.com/h2DfXwgaKC — AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) April 10, 2026 More from Virginia Mercury: While many of the bills had bipartisan support, some had previously been vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. Such was the case for a proposal by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, to ban “ghost guns,” or guns that can’t be traced because they were not made by weapons manufacturers. Often 3-D printed, Ebbin has tried for several years to outlaw them in Virginia. Still pending, however, are bills to ban assault-style weapons. Such bills have been historically carried by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. Spanberger has until April 13 to take action on those bills and hundreds of bills that advanced the legislature and made it to her desk. Her choices are to sign bills as they are, seek amendments or she can veto them. When lawmakers reconvene in Richmond later this month to finalize the state budget, they can also take up any amendments Spanberger may seek on bills. In the meantime, she signed a slew of bills Friday to support safety in a variety of ways from gun regulations to support for public responders.

Legendary college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale on Monday disclosed a new cancer diagnosis. Vitale revealed he has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity and will start immunotherapy soon. “I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer,” Vitale said in a statement, according to ESPN. “I’m four-for-four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five-for-five,” he added. Hall of Fame analyst Dick Vitale has been diagnosed with melanoma again, he announced through @espn. Vitale: "The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic." pic.twitter.com/UUd1PBCDDD — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 13, 2026 ESPN shared further: Following a nearly a two-year break to deal with his health, Vitale returned to broadcasting in February of last year after announcing he was cancer-free. He just wrapped up his 46th year covering college basketball at ESPN. “I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I’ve received from so many people” Vitale said. “I’m incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family — led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle. “I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called . It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan – Cat scan – 2 MRI’s- Biopsy – multiple bloodwork – now at least I know what I face,” Vitale wrote on social media. “The Melanoma Lung & liver cavity cancer will mean I will start IMMUNE THERAPY next week – plan on winning the battle!” he added. I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called . It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan – Cat scan – 2 MRI’s- Biopsy – multiple bloodwork – now at least I know what I face. The Melanoma Lung & liver cavity cancer will mean I will… — Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 13, 2026 More from the New York Post: Vitale, who has been with ESPN since its inception in 1979, returned to broadcasting college basketball last year and in his most recent TV appearance, he was part of the First Four broadcast of Texas and North Carolina State. Vitale’s previous bouts with cancer have increasingly motivated him to help raise money for those going through their own battles, which he noted in his statement on Monday. “At 86 years young, I’ve lived a h*** of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer,” he continued. “No child should ever have to go through what I’ve experienced. I am grateful beyond words for all of the support I’ve received, and I’m already looking forward to this year’s annual Gala on May 1. I really feel we will raise $12 million to add to the $105 million we’ve already raised, all for pediatric cancer research.” Vitale underwent a PET scan, a CAT scan and two MRI’s last week, with the results concerning his doctors, and led him to have a biopsy done on Friday. The situation bothered Vitale enough that he had been asking his supporters to “hope & pray for good results” in a post on X. In a post earlier in the day on Monday, Vitale said that he couldn’t sleep because he was “so worried about the report I will get on my biopsy I had on Friday.”