Attorney General Merrick Garland is responding to what he says are “unfounded attacks” that are endangering Department of Justice (DOJ) employees and, by extension, the state of democracy in the United States as the GOP pushes back against what they see as partisan law fare. The Washington Post published an op-ed on Monday in which Garland called for an end to a wave of conspiracy theories, lies, intimidation and threats of violence that he said have escalated against public servants under his charge — including the FBI — in recent weeks. Garland made reference to the myriad prosecutions against former President Donald Trump as he runs another campaign for the White House, including the hush-money case in New York in which a jury recently found Trump guilty on all the felony counts he faced. “These attacks come in the form of threats to defund particular department investigations, most recently the special counsel’s prosecution of the former president,” Garland wrote, alluding to a House GOP push to block or limit federal grant funds for Trump prosecutors. Garland said conspiracy theories are used to undermine “public trust in the judicial process itself.” Among them, he said, are “false claims that a case brought by a local district attorney and resolved by a jury verdict in a state trial was somehow controlled by the Justice Department.” DOJ officials “do not investigate people because of their last name, their political affiliation, the size of their bank account, where they come from or what they look like. We investigate and prosecute violations of federal law — nothing more, nothing less,” Garland wrote. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “We will not be intimidated by these attacks,” he said. “But it is absurd and dangerous that public servants, many of whom risk their lives every day, are being threatened for simply doing their jobs and adhering to the principles that have long guided the Justice Department’s work.” The op-ed comes as House Republicans are moving toward holding Garland in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to hand over recordings from special counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents. On the same day Garland similarly defended the DOJ before a House panel last week, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced a “three-pronged” response to what Republicans have described as a “weaponized” justice system using investigations, legislation, and power of the purse. Garland insisted in his op-ed the DOJ does not make political decisions in criminal investigations, a charge GOP critics have made in regard to the Trump cases and others, and warned “democracy cannot survive” without a justice system that guarantees equal treatment of all its citizens. “Disagreements about politics are good for our democracy. They are normal,” Garland wrote. “But using conspiracy theories, falsehoods, violence and threats of violence to affect political outcomes is not normal.” “The short-term political benefits of those tactics will never make up for the long-term cost to our country,” he added. “Continued unfounded attacks against the Justice Department’s employees are dangerous for people’s safety. They are dangerous for our democracy. This must stop.”

An employee of the FBI had his security clearance revoked after the bureau investigated his support for former President Donald Trump and opposition to COVID vaccines, according to a complaint made public on Monday after it was recently filed against the Justice Department.  The complaint, sent to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz by the government watchdog group Empower Oversight, claims that an FBI employee was punished by the bureau over his politically conservative views. According to documents included in the complaint, the FBI interviewed people familiar with the employee about his stances on Trump, COVID, and January 6.  The FBI’s Security Division conducted the probe, referred to in the complaint as SecD. The investigation into the 12-year FBI employee was launched after he self-reported that he had been present in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. The employee’s name was redacted from the copy of the complaint made visible to the public.  According to the filing, the employee, who was on personal leave, peacefully observed the protests near the Capitol on January 6, 2021. In April 2022, the employee had his security clearance revoked, and he was suspended without pay after the FBI investigated his political viewpoints.  “I write today to formally disclose to you on our client’s behalf shocking documents in SecD’s investigative file that evidence an abuse of authority and a violation of our client’s rights under the First Amendment,” Empower Oversight President Tristan Leavitt wrote. “The documents appear to demonstrate SecD’s political bias and abuse of the security clearance process to purge the FBI of employees who expressed disfavored political views or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.” The Security Division asked those familiar with the employee multiple questions, including whether he had vocalized “support for President Trump,” vocalized “objection to Covid-19 vaccination,” and discussed “intent to attend 01/06/2021.” Notes from interviewees told the FBI that the employee was a “gun nut” who attended a Second Amendment rally in Virginia but that he had not promoted violence.  On the Trump questions, it was noted that the employee “very significantly supported” Trump and “would listen to talk shows. Trump did not lose. Dems stole it. Militant point of view. Never implied would do anything aggressive/physical.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “The three pre-printed questions that SecD asked our client’s fellow employees show that the FBI systematically compelled them to report on our client’s personal political beliefs and views of the COVID-19 vaccine,” the complaint says. “The information SecD compelled FBI employees to disclose about our client is completely irrelevant to any legitimate security risk determination, and reliance on it to revoke a security clearance obviously violates the First Amendment.” After the FBI suspended him, the employee retired and made protected whistleblower disclosures to the House Judiciary Committee, which has been investigating the weaponization of intelligence agencies. Last week, the FBI restored the security clearance of a former FBI agent who claimed the bureau retaliated against him after he passed along information that challenged the “official narrative” of January 6. 

Sig Hansen reflected ahead of Season 20 of the popular reality series “Deadliest Catch.” The 58-year-old Norwegian-American sea captain spoke with Fox News Digital about some of the challenges he faced over the years, including extremely dangerous conditions and being powerless against the forces of nature.  “Deadliest Catch” premiered on the Discovery Channel in April 2005. The reality show depicts the dangers that crab fishermen experience on the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons. When asked about challenges the crew faced, Hansen said it all came down to one major factor. “I mean, there’s always a challenge. The challenge is to succeed, right?” the sea captain told Fox News. “There are life-threatening situations – been in a few of those. I think the biggest challenge is always the weather. That’s always a big one, and keeping your guys motivated, that’s always a big challenge.” “You know, and finding crab. It’ll happen, it just takes time, but it’ll happen. Especially if you’re good and you know what you’re doing,” Hansen continued. The reality star also spoke about life-threatening situations over the years. “We’ve had events where the boat was icing down to the point where I thought there was no return. We’ve had struggles with mechanical issues where, you know, we’ve had, like, tanks where our crab tanks either fill with water when they’re not supposed to, and that creates instability on the boat. Things of that nature,” he told the outlet. He went on, “There’s been many challenges and there were challenges where I’ve seen boats literally go down. You know, eight miles away from me, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” he continued. “You watch people and friends that you know, and you’re literally in the fog. They’re right over there and there’s nothing I can do about it, and they’re gone.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP As for why this show has been popular so long while so many others have failed, Hansen said he believes viewers are drawn to the hard work involved. “Number one, it’s blue collar and there’s a work ethic and I think people respect that. I think the show’s successful because, through time, the photography’s better, the cameras are better, the people that record what we do are better, and I think that it shows,” Hansen told Fox News. “My wife and I watch what they film, and she just can’t believe it. She’s like, ‘Oh my God, I feel like I’m in it.'” “Twenty years ago, that was not the case,” he continued. “So, I think it brings you closer; it brings you into our living room, and I think it’s successful because it’s multi-generational. Grandma, grandpa watches, grandson, granddaughter. It’s just multi-generational, and I’ve said it before: This was not meant to be a family program. We do have foul language. We do horrible things that should not be done, and families watch it together. It ain’t a family program, but that’s what it turned out to be.” Season 20 of “Deadliest Catch” debuts on June 11.

Three American citizens were stabbed in China on Monday in what Chinese officials are describing as an “isolated incident.” The stabbing took place as three Americans alongside a non-citizen resident of Iowa with their group were visiting Beishan Park, a public park in Jilin. The four victims were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment and are expected to recover. They were all associated with Cornell College, a private institution in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. “I am angered and deeply troubled by the stabbing of 3 US citizens + a non-citizen resident of Iowa in Jilin, China,” said U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns on X. “A US Consular Officer visited the 4 in Jilin Hospital today where they are receiving treatment. We are doing all we can to help them & hope for their full recovery.” Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said that the school had been in contact with the instructors and had been assisting them after the stabbing. They had been visiting the park with a member of the college’s partner school in China, Beihua University. Police said they identified the attacker as a 55-year-old with the last name of Cui. No motive has yet been given, but police said there was an argument with the attacker. “The isolated incident will not disturb the normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian. One of the victims of the attack was David Zabner, a brother of Iowa Democratic Rep. Adam Zabner. “We’d like to see David home in Iowa as soon as possible,” Zabner told the BBC. “We’re deeply thankful to the State Department and Iowa’s federal delegation and understand that they are working hard to make that happen.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Multiple Iowa officials posted online saying that they were watching the situation. “I am in touch with Iowa’s federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack,” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds posted on X. “Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home.” White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he was “deeply concerned” by the stabbings and that he hoped that “appropriate law enforcement steps are being taken.” Cornell first partnered with Beihua University back in 2018 where Cornell agreed to provide instruction on computers, math, and science, and Beihua would fund for travel of Cornell faculty to China to live and teach a course. The attack comes amid high tensions between the U.S. and China as American lawmakers have warned about Chinese theft of American economic, military, and intellectual property.

A federal judge on Tuesday struck down major parts of Florida’s ban on transgender medical interventions for children. Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee ruled that “gender identity is real” and that a “widely accepted standard of care” includes puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. In May of last year, Florida banned these hormonal transgender medical treatments for children. “The state of Florida can regulate as needed but cannot flatly deny transgender individuals safe and effective medical treatment — treatment with medications routinely provided to others with the state’s full approval so long as the purpose is not to support the patient’s transgender identity,” Hinkle wrote in his order. Hinkle also nixed two parts of the ban applying to adults. The law required adults to see a doctor in person before starting cross-sex hormones and stated that hormone treatments for adults “may not be prescribed, administered, or performed except by a physician.” Three families along with LGBT groups sued over Florida’s ban, claiming the law denied the parents their right to make medical decisions for their trans-identifying children. Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) office plans to appeal the ruling. “We disagree with the court’s erroneous rulings on the law, on the facts, and on the science,” Julia Friedland, the governor’s deputy press secretary, said in a statement. “As we’ve seen here in Florida, the United Kingdom, and across Europe, there is no quality evidence to support the chemical and physical mutilation of children. These procedures do permanent, life-altering damage to children, and history will look back on this fad in horror,” she said. A number of European countries have pumped the brakes on transgender medical interventions for children including England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Several other U.S. states have also passed bans on transgender medical interventions for children, including genital surgeries, double mastectomies for girls seeking a more male appearance, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. Last week, more than 100 health care professionals and groups signed onto a declaration calling on major medical organizations to halt dangerous transgender medical interventions for children.

Retired Super Bowl-winning QB Tom Brady’s uniform pants — worn during his final game in the NFL — were put up for auction recently and went for close to $90,000. The retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers star’s final game in the league ended up being when the Buccaneers faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Game in January 2023 and lost.  The pants Brady wore in the game sold at auction for $89,100, according to Grey Flannel Auctions. A description of the item for auction read, “1/16/2023 Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC Wild Card ‘Last’ Game-Used Pants (MeiGray Photo-Matched • Brady’s Final Career Game).” Last year, game uniform pants that Brady wore during 11 games of what turned out to be his final season in the league also sold for a pretty penny at auction when they went for $31,200 in November, through Heritage Auctions, according to Darren Rovell, CBS News reported. Pants from Tom Brady’s final game recently sold at auction for $89,100. https://t.co/jtEfNdOfTo — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 10, 2024 The crazy thing is that the amount the retired NFL legend’s pants brought in is nowhere near the most money netted by a previously-worn pair of trousers. In 2012, a pair of pants Babe Ruth wore from his New York Yankees 1921 season sold at auction for $183,500. And two years later, two other pairs of Ruth’s game-worn pants sold for $90,000 at Goldin Auctions, the outlet noted. However, Brady does beat the Sultan of Swat in one area and that’s owning the record for the most expensive NFL jersey ever sold. Last November, the former Patriots and Buccaneers star QB’s final game jersey sold for $1.39 million at Sotheby’s, CBS News noted. In 2023, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning QB made his retirement from the game official when he took to his Instagram and announced that after 23 seasons in the league, he was done. In the now-viral video on Instagram, Brady first thanked fans and everyone who helped him along the way, before he explained that he was retiring for good from the NFL for real this time. “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady shared, noting his previous retirement announcement on February 1, 2022, before changing his mind. In 2022, Brady made headlines when he announced he was finally walking away from professional football. But 40 days later he reversed that decision and returned to play with the Bucs for another season. During his two decade-plus seasons in the league, Brady made numerous trips to the Super Bowl, resulting in seven Super Bowl rings. He also made 15 Pro Bowl appearances.

Three teenagers in Spokane, Washington, have been charged with felony vandalism after allegedly leaving scooter skid marks on a newly painted Pride mural at an intersection. The incident occurred on June 5, prompting a swift response from local authorities and sparking a debate over the severity of the charges. According to the Spokane Police Department, the teens were seen riding Lime scooters and causing damage to the Pride flag-painted crosswalk. Witnesses reported that one of the suspects also yelled obscenities before fleeing the scene. The mural had recently been repainted following a previous act of vandalism in mid-May, where individuals dumped a liquid on it and set it on fire. All the Karens need to understand that if they don’t want skid marks on their not accomplishment symbol they need to stop painting their fvcking mural on a street. Why the hell is this so difficult for some to understand? pic.twitter.com/04zwozHte9 — Gabriela Iglesias (@iglesias_gabby) June 9, 2024 The teenagers have been charged with first-degree malicious mischief, a class-B felony in Washington State. This charge carries significant penalties, including the potential for up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The classification of the act as a felony has drawn criticism from some quarters, with opponents arguing that the punishment is disproportionate to the crime. Local news outlets have reported mixed reactions from the community. While some view the vandalism as a hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community, others see the response as an overreach by law enforcement. The Pride mural, intended to symbolize unity and inclusivity, has become a focal point for these tensions. Antifa has free rein to vandalize and destroy public property, but if you leave a skid mark on one of those pride flags painted on the road then you go to jail pic.twitter.com/IehvGaNIjn — ElPolitico305 (@ElPolitico305) June 10, 2024 This incident follows a pattern of similar vandalism cases across the country. In another recent case in Delray Beach, Florida, a teenager faced felony charges for leaving tire burnout marks on a Pride intersection. The teen, Dylan Brewer, was charged with felony mischief and reckless driving, highlighting the legal risks associated with such acts of vandalism. The Spokane case has sparked a broader conversation about the use of public streets for social and political symbols. Critics argue that painting murals on roadways invites damage and controversy, while supporters believe these murals are essential for visibility and support of marginalized communities. The arrests come during Pride Month, a time of increased visibility and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. The heightened emotions and political stakes surrounding these issues contribute to the contentious atmosphere in which these incidents occur. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case will likely continue to garner attention and debate over the appropriate balance between protecting public art and addressing acts of vandalism. The outcome may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future. The post Washington Teens Face Felony Charges for Skid Marks on Pride Mural appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

A dancing dad who went viral for his hilariously embarrassing school pickup shenanigans has truly outdone himself. Jevin Smith, a professional dancer, has been putting his talent to good use by using it to mortify his kids when he picks them up from school. Over the years, he’s come up with dozens of unique and clever gags and shares videos of them on his Instagram page. However, one of his daughters graduated this year, which meant Jevin needed to find new and better ways to embarrass her. So when she went on a date recently, he surprised her and her beau by dancing through the door. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jevin Smith (@wealthy_jev) Jevin used his daughter’s location finder to track her at a ramen restaurant. While wearing a long curly wig and dressed full-on 80s, he grooved his way into the date while Rockwell’s Somebody’s Watching Me blared on a stereo carried by his wife.  The Customers Loved Jevin’s Dance Prank Making the biggest scene he could, Jevin yelled, “Hey, hey” and did the robot all the way to his daughter’s table. Then, he helped himself to her date’s bulgogi fries while his daughter rolled her eyes. The dad continued his dance prank by covering his head with a tee-shirt and asking, “Where did I go?” while continuing to break it down. His daughter’s date seemed to thoroughly enjoy the prank, and so did the other customers. Jevin’s daughter even warmed up to the prank and called him over to eat with them when he headed out the door. “I stayed and the food was really good,” he captioned over the video. Jevin Smith’s loyal fan base loved the recent dance prank, and they’re praising his good work in the comments. “Baby girl thought she was safe since she has graduated…NOT!!!! LOL” someone wrote. “Just taking fries off the boy’s plate,” another laughed. “I’m SCREAMING ,” a follower admitted. “What a blessing to have these memories.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Dad Tracks Down Daughter’s Date & Surprises Her With Hilariously Epic Dance Prank appeared first on InspireMore.

'He found this journey from being a child actor'

'It's a felony one and it involves a firearm'