Self-Purported Governor of Minnesota Found Roaming the Capitol Naked

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Self-Purported Governor of Minnesota Found Roaming the Capitol Naked

(Headline USA) A naked man with apparent mental health issues was found in the Minnesota State Capitol late at night, officials said Saturday, raising questions about security after the top Democrat in the state House was killed in what authorities have called a political assassination.

The discovery just six weeks after the fatal shooting of Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortman prompted the top House and Senate Republican leaders to demand answers about how it happened and what steps might be taken to prevent it from happening again.

The man was found in the Senate chamber around 11:30 p.m. Friday, the chief House sergeant-at-arms, Lori Hodapp, said in an email to representatives.

“The individual made statements indicating a belief that he was the Governor, among other remarks, and was found disrobed,” Hodapp said.

Capitol Security responded promptly, she said, and the man was taken to a St. Paul hospital for evaluation. He was deemed not to be a threat to himself or others and was released, but he returned to the Capitol grounds at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

“An investigation is currently underway to determine how the individual gained access to the Senate Chamber and Capitol facilities after hours,” Hodapp wrote. “We are examining all aspects of this incident to address any security concerns.”

The sergeant-at-arms also said the man had an active probation-violation warrant from Wisconsin on his record, but that it did not initially allow for his transfer. It has since been updated, she added “and appropriate measures will be taken upon next contact.”

“It’s frustrating that an individual with a criminal history was able to allegedly vandalize the Capitol and unlawfully trespass in the Senate chamber without being taken into custody,” Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, said in a statement. “Anyone who trespasses in any building — let alone the State Capitol — should be arrested and prosecuted for breaking the law, and I look forward to learning why this did not take place in this highly disturbing incident.”

GOP Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, also expressed disappointment.

“We are living in a heightened threat environment,” Johnson said in a statement. “I expect the State Patrol and Capitol Security teams will thoroughly review what happened and give Capitol officials and staff, and the public, their assurances that this will not happen again.”

The head of the State Patrol, Col. Christina Bogojevic, said there was no immediate indication that the man broke into the Capitol, which is open to the public during business hours. She said officials were reviewing security video to try to determine his exact whereabouts while he was inside.

Bogojevic said the man was nonviolent when he was spotted on the Capitol grounds Saturday morning, and he was taken back to the same hospital for another evaluation.

“The safety and well-being of everyone who works at and visits the Capitol is our top priority,” Bogojevic said in a statement. “We take this situation seriously and are committed to understanding how it occurred.”

Legislative and administration leaders have begun discussions about whether security at the Capitol and for lawmakers should be tightened following the June 14 shootings that left Hortman and her husband dead, and a state senator and his wife seriously injured. Authorities say they were attacked at their homes by a man disguised as a police officer.

The alleged gunman, Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, is facing federal and state murder charges and other counts. His lawyer says he plans to plead not guilty at his federal arraignment, which has been rescheduled to Aug. 7 from Sept. 12.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

11 People Stabbed at a Walmart is in Michigan; Suspect in Custody

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11 People Stabbed at a Walmart is in Michigan; Suspect in Custody

(Headline USA) Eleven people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday — with six in critical condition — in what a Michigan sheriff said appeared to be a random act. A suspect was in custody, authorities said.

Around 4:45 p.m., a 42-year-old man entered the store and used a folding knife to stab 11 people, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on social media. A sheriff’s deputy arrived within minutes and took the man into custody, and people in the store also helped apprehend the suspect and treat victims, the sheriff’s office said.

The victims’ ages weren’t immediately released.

“Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn’t more,” Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, nearby as the response gave way to an investigation.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles from Traverse City, said she was in the store’s parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”

Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region’s largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. Six people were critical and five were in serious condition late Saturday, she said.

Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. Shea said the suspect is believed to be a Michigan resident but declined to share further details. Michigan State Police had said earlier in the day that the suspect was in authorities’ custody.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.

“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” the statement said.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support.”

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Trump Approves a Series of Arms Deals for Ukraine Totaling $652 Million

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Trump Approves a Series of Arms Deals for Ukraine Totaling $652 Million

(Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com) The State Department has approved a series of potential arms deals for Ukraine totaling $652 million as the Trump administration continues to take steps to fuel the proxy war with Russia.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Wednesday that two potential Foreign Military Sales were approved: one worth $150 million for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, maintenance, repair, and related equipment, and another sale worth $172 million for a Hawk Phase III surface-to-air missile system and related equipment.

The following day, the DSCA announced two additional arms sales for Ukraine, including a $150 million deal for the maintenance and refurbishment of M109 Self-Propelled Howitzers. The DSCA also announced a $180 million sale for the sustainment of US-provided air defense equipment.

“The Government of Ukraine has requested to buy equipment and services to support the training, sustainment, and refurbishment measures of existing US-origin air defense systems,” the DSCA said.

It’s unclear if Ukraine will actually be paying for each arms deal itself or if it will be funded by US military aid. President Trump recently announced a plan to pour “billions of dollars” worth of additional US military equipment into Ukraine that would involve NATO allies purchasing the weapons, but it’s also unclear if that is related to the arms sales announced by the DSCA.

The Pentagon had recently announced that it had paused certain arms shipments to Ukraine, but President Trump appeared to be caught off guard by the announcement, and the weapons deliveries quickly resumed.

Trump has given Russia a 50-day deadline to reach a peace deal in Ukraine, threatening that he would impose tariffs on Russia and its trading partners if the war doesn’t end by then. But Moscow is undeterred and has made it clear that it’s ready to continue fighting until it achieves its goals.

This article originally appeared at Antiwar.com.

U.S. and Israel Quit Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Doha as Palestinians Starve to Death

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U.S. and Israel Quit Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Doha as Palestinians Starve to Death

(Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com) The US and Israel have withdrawn negotiators from Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha, Qatar, dashing hopes for a breakthrough as the humanitarian situation in Gaza is as bad as ever, and Palestinians are starving to death due to the US-backed Israeli blockade.

Israel announced it was bringing its negotiators home after Hamas presented its latest counter-proposal. The Israeli announcement was quickly followed up by a statement from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Both the US and Israel are blaming Hamas for the collapse of the negotiations. However, Israel has maintained a hardline position throughout the talks and made clear that it would agree only to a temporary ceasefire since Israeli officials announced a plan to build a concentration camp in southern Gaza during the truce. One of Hamas’s conditions has been for a stronger guarantee that an initial 60-day ceasefire would lead to a permanent one.

Hamas’s long-standing position is that it’s willing to release all remaining captives in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. But Israel has rejected this, and there’s no sign the Trump administration is willing to put pressure on Israel to change its position.

“We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff said in a post on X.

“We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza. It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza,” he added.

It’s unclear what sort of “alternative options” the US and Israel may be considering, but the collapse in negotiations comes as the Israeli military has launched a ground offensive in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, an area where Israelis believe many of the remaining captives may be held.

In response to Witkoff’s statement, Hamas said that it has been flexible and that it was “committed to reaching an agreement that halts the aggression and ends the suffering of our people in the Gaza Strip.” Hamas said it presented its “final response” in consultations with other Palestinian factions and mediators.

“We are surprised by the negative statements of US envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the Movement’s stance, especially when the mediators have expressed their welcome and satisfaction with this constructive and positive position, which opens the door to reaching a comprehensive agreement,” Hamas said.

“The Movement reiterates its commitment to continuing negotiations and engaging in them to help overcome obstacles and reach a permanent ceasefire agreement,” the group added.

According to Axios, Hamas had asked for more Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for Israeli captives, including 2,000 Palestinians who have been abducted in Gaza since October 7, 2023, instead of the 1,200 the US and Israel proposed. The two sides have also been at odds over the amount of territory Israel will occupy, as Israel is refusing to withdraw its forces back to the positions it held during the short-lived ceasefire deal that was signed in January 2025.

This article originally appeared at Antiwar.com.

Gov. Newsom Claims Trump is Trying to ‘Steal’ 2026 Election before Cancelling Democracy in 2028

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Gov. Newsom Claims Trump is Trying to ‘Steal’ 2026 Election before Cancelling Democracy in 2028

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) How the tables have turned.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump on Friday of trying to “steal” the 2026 midterm elections, echoing rhetoric he once condemned as dangerous and anti-democratic. 

“Donald Trump is trying to steal the 2026 election. We cannot sit back and watch this happen,” Newsom wrote on X, alongside a clip of his press conference attacking Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas. 

At the event, Newsom stood with Texas Democrats and framed redistricting as an existential threat, part of a broader effort to get Trump re-elected in 2028. 

“If we don’t put a stake into the heart of this administration, there may not be an election in 2028,” he claimed, citing no evidence. “That’s how strongly I feel about this moment. And I think millions, hundreds of millions of Americans feel the same. 

Newsom added: “We take Donald Trump seriously when he talks about the 2028 election. … They’re not screwing around. We cannot afford to screw around either.”  

He concluded by escalating his rhetoric: “We have got to fight fire with fire.” 

Newsom’s language is especially jarring given his years-long campaign against Republicans for questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election, often accusing them of undermining democracy. 

On Jan. 6, 2021, Newsom issued a scathing statement aimed at Trump, demanding he “acknowledge the will of the people” in electing Joe Biden to the White House. In the same statement, he described the January 6th protest as an unprecedented attack on American democracy. 

He didn’t stop there.  

In 2023, Newsom launched his second term by calling the Jan. 6 protest an “insurrection,” even though not a single Jan. 6 defendant has been charged with insurrection. 

“There are still forces in America that want to take the nation backward,” Newsom said at a   Democratic Party march. “We saw that two years ago, on this day, when the unthinkable happened at a place most Americans assumed was invincible, an insurrectionist mob ransacking a sacred pillar of our democracy, violently clashing with sworn officers upholding the rule of law.” 

Pelosi, Looking Tired and Rattled, Claims Trump is ‘Not of Sane Mind’

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Pelosi, Looking Tired and Rattled, Claims Trump is ‘Not of Sane Mind’

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during a Friday interview with The Associated Press, accused President Donald Trump of not being sane—while defending former President Joe Biden and appearing diminished herself. 

Her remarks came after an AP reporter asked if she had any regrets about pushing Biden off the 2024 ticket over concerns about his mental acuity. 

“I don’t have any second thoughts, but I do have a second thought about the Republicans,” She began: “If they want to measure mental acuity or sanity, they’re to look to their own president because the president of the United States, who was asked one question and answers by saying President Obama is guilty of treason. He is not of sane mind.” 

Pelosi’s remarks were striking, given that she appeared visibly tired and aged during the interview. At 85, Pelosi is much older than Trump. She has previously been seen struggling to walk outside Congress after undergoing hip replacement surgery. 

Despite this, she was one of the leading forces behind pressuring Biden off the 2024 ticket over fears American voters would reject his candidacy, given his age and cognitive decline. 

Asked if she has spoken with Biden since the 2024 election, she replied: “No, we spoke both on Ethel Kennedy’s funeral. So that was one time when … we were together. But no, I have no second thoughts. I think that he was a great president.” 

Worse still, Pelosi compared Biden to Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Franklin Roosevelt. 

“He had accomplishments that were seen in the same light as LBJ and Franklin Roosevelt. He didn’t have as long a tenure as they did, but he had the quality of legislation make a difference in people’s lives. It’s unfortunate that it went down this path, but I think that history will treat him well because he did great things for our country, a super patriot, loved America, honored our Constitution. A big contrast to what we have now.”

Central Banks Fuel Gold Rush While U.S. States Reclaim Sound Money Principles

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Central Banks Fuel Gold Rush While U.S. States Reclaim Sound Money Principles

(Money Metals News Service) In a July 2025 episode of Commodity Culture, host Jesse Day of VRIC Media interviewed Jp Cortez, Policy Director and Executive Director at the Sound Money Defense League and representative of Money Metals Exchange.

Their discussion spanned central bank gold buying, the global de-dollarization movement, and recent legislative efforts in the U.S. to reinstate gold and silver as constitutional money.

Their conversation is revisited with an edited clip on the Money Metals Podcast.

(Interview Starts Around 7:01 Mark) 

Central Banks Drive Gold Demand Despite High Prices

According to the 2025 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey by the World Gold Council, 95% of central banks expect global gold reserves to rise over the next 12 months. This is occurring despite gold hovering near all-time highs.

Jp Cortez attributes this bullish outlook to non-price-sensitive strategic buying by central banks.

“This plays a massive role—debatably the largest,” Cortez explained.

He cited research from Jan Nieuwenhuijs, a gold analyst for Money Metals, showing that countries such as China, Poland, and Turkey are ramping up their gold holdings.

In particular, China’s covert accumulation strategy—avoiding official disclosures—reflects a broader trend of geopolitical hedging. Central banks are seeking insulation from U.S. economic and political influence, especially following events like the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict and subsequent Western sanctions.

Cortez emphasized that gold buying is not only an economic hedge but a political one: “You’re hedging against sanctions and trade wars… against inflation, against currency devaluation.”

The Global Push to Exit the U.S. Dollar

Cortez argued that ballooning debt, persistent inflation, and erratic U.S. trade policy—such as repeated tariff proposals from former President Trump—are compelling both foreign nations and U.S. states to reduce reliance on the dollar.

“It only makes sense that these countries would then have less functional need to hold U.S. dollars,” he noted.

He described gold and silver as “politically neutral, inflation-free money” and warned that citizens worldwide—particularly in crisis-prone economies like Argentina and Zimbabwe—are reverting to barter, gold, or even in-game digital currencies due to local fiat collapse.

U.S. States Lead Grassroots Sound Money Revival

On the domestic front, Cortez reported unprecedented legislative momentum for sound money in 2025:

“This year is the greatest sound money year in the history of our organization.” More than 32 U.S. states—over 70%—introduced legislation concerning gold and silver.

Key policy wins include:

  • Eliminating sales tax on gold and silver purchases in numerous states.
  • Removing capital gains tax on precious metal sales.
  • Wyoming’s $10 million gold reserve, physically held in-state and listed on its balance sheet.

These legislative actions aim to “remove the disincentives” that deter individuals from using gold and silver, Cortez said. He added that inflation and dollar debasement are making “dinner table conversations” out of complex monetary issues like purchasing power loss and Federal Reserve policy.

Florida’s Sound Money Bill: A Cautionary Tale

Despite the nationwide momentum, Cortez cautioned against poorly crafted legislation. He criticized a recent Florida law—celebrated by Governor Ron DeSantis for legalizing transactional gold and silver—as “the most catastrophic thing I’ve ever seen enacted by a state!”

According to Cortez, the law imposes new money transmitter and storage regulations that invite surveillance and bureaucratic interference.

“This is a net negative for sound money,” he warned, urging supporters to read bills carefully and focus on removing friction, not adding it.

Bottom-Up Solutions and Gresham’s Law

When asked if the U.S. could return to a functional gold standard, Cortez emphasized grassroots over government-led initiatives.

“We don’t need a top-down monetary system,” he argued. “We need bottom-up money. We need the government to get the hell out of the way.”

He pointed out that private platforms already exist for transactional gold use, and individuals can opt in today without new laws. However, Gresham’s Law—bad money drives out good—remains a limiting factor. Most people are reluctant to spend their real money (gold/silver) when fiat is still accepted by vendors.

While the infrastructure for transactional precious metals exists, Cortez believes the real battle is informational:

“States don’t have to sit by and watch as the Federal Reserve destroys the currency of our country.”

DOJ Gives Ghislaine Maxwell ‘Limited’ Immunity

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DOJ Gives Ghislaine Maxwell ‘Limited’ Immunity

(Headline USA) Ghislaine Maxwell, who allegedly helped run a sexual blackmail operation with Jeffrey Epstein, was reportedly given a “limited form of immunity” during her 1 1/2 days of interviews with Justice Department, in which she answered questions about 100 different people.

Maxwell’s interview with the DOJ wrapped up Friday.

“She answered those questions honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability,” David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question, so we’re very proud of her,” Markus said.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein, a wealthy, well-connected financier, sexually abuse underage girls.

Officials have claimed Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell’s links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Donald Trump.

In a social media post this week, Blanche said Maxwell would be interviewed because of President Trump’s directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes.

Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and claimed he cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case, overshadowing his administration’s achievements. On Friday, reporters pressed the Republican president about pardoning Maxwell, but he deflected, emphasizing his administration’s successes.

Markus said Maxwell “was asked maybe about 100 different people.”

“The deputy attorney general is seeking the truth,” Markus said. “He asked every possible question, and he was doing an amazing job.”

Markus said he didn’t ask for anything for Maxwell in return, though he acknowledged that Trump could pardon her.

“Listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way,” Markus said.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said it would not release more files related to the Epstein investigation, despite promises that claimed otherwise from Attorney General Pam Bondi. The department also said an Epstein client list does not exist.

Maxwell is appealing her conviction, based on the government’s pledge years ago that any potential Epstein co-conspirators would not be charged, Markus said. Epstein struck a deal with federal prosecutors in 2008 that shifted his case to Florida state court, where he pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

Epstein in 2019 and Maxwell in 2020 were charged in federal court in New York.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

House Ethics Panel Spanks AOC for Met Gala Attendance

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House Ethics Panel Spanks AOC for Met Gala Attendance

(Headline USA) The House Ethics Committee on Friday told Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to make additional payments for her attendance at the 2021 Met Fashion Gala, where she drew attention for wearing a dress adorned with the message “tax the rich.”

The ethics panel, which found the New York Democrat had underpaid for some of the services and clothing for the event, also issued reports Friday on unrelated ethics allegations against Reps. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick or Florida and Henry Cuellar of Texas.

In a 31-page report on the allegations against Ocasio-Cortez, the Ethics Committee said she had tried to comply with House rules on accepting gifts but failed by “impermissibly accepting a gift of free admission to the 2021 Met Gala for her partner and by failing to pay full fair market value for some of the items worn to the event.”

As a guest of Vogue, Ocasio-Cortez and her partner received tickets to the gala valued at $35,000, as well as customized clothing, hair and makeup styling and a hotel room to prepare for the high-society event.

The congresswoman worked with an attorney to comply with House ethics rules and paid for most of the goods and services with personal funds, but the ethics panel found “the payments were significantly delayed and some payments fell short of fair market value.”

In a statement, Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, Mike Casca, said: “The Congresswoman appreciates the Committee finding that she made efforts to ensure her compliance with House Rules and sought to act consistently with her ethical requirements as a Member of the House. She accepts the ruling and will remedy the remaining amounts, as she’s done at each step in this process.”

Rep. Mike Kelly

The House Ethics Committee issued a formal reproval Friday of Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., following a yearslong investigation into an insider-trading allegation over his wife’s purchase of stock in a steel company in his Butler-area congressional district.

The panel also said Kelly and his wife, Victoria Kelly, should divest of any stock in the company, Cleveland-Cliffs, before the congressman takes any further official actions related to it.

While the committee said it “did not find evidence” that Kelly “knowingly or intentionally caused his spouse to trade based on insider information,” its report also said it “did not receive full cooperation from Mrs. Kelly and was therefore unable to determine whether her stock purchase was improper.”

However, the report said, “Representative Kelly’s failure to acknowledge the seriousness of the alleged misconduct” and of the investigation itself was a violation of the code of official conduct. The committee did “not find a clear violation” of conflict of interest.

The congressman said in a statement Friday, “My family and I look forward to putting this distraction behind us.”

Kelly noted the investigation has “unnecessarily” lasted for nearly five years, and in the time since the Cleveland Cliffs Butler Works plant faced an uncertain future.

“Throughout this process, I have fought for the 1,400 workers at the plant, I’ve spoken with these workers, and they appreciate the hard work we have done to fight for those jobs and for Butler,” Kelly said.

The investigation was launched after a July 2021 referral regarding allegations the congressman’s wife may have purchased stock based on confidential or nonpublic information he had learned during official duties.

The Ethics Committee staff reviewed more than 25,000 pages of documents, the report said, and interviewed people including the congressman. It found Kelly had advocated for so-called Section 232 tariffs for the product the plant produced even after Mrs. Kelly held stock in Cleveland-Cliffs.

“He took several actions to specifically benefit Cleveland-Cliffs during the time his wife had a direct financial interest in the company,” it said.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

The House Ethics Committee announced Friday it had unanimously voted to reauthorize an investigative subcommittee to examine allegations involving Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

In May, the Office of Congressional Ethics referred several allegations to the House Ethics committee, including claims Cherfilus-McCormick, a Democrat, accepted campaign contributions tied to official actions and requested community project funding for a for-profit entity.

The south Florida congresswoman has previously faced scrutiny over her campaign activities and the use of her congressional office. And earlier this year, a Florida state agency sued a company owned by her family, alleging it overcharged the state by nearly $5.8 million for pandemic-related work and has refused to return the funds.

In a statement, Cherfilus-McCormick underscored that the ethics panel had not reached any final decision and that the further review does not mean she made any violations.

“I fully respect the process and remain committed to cooperating with the Committee as it works to bring this inquiry to a close,” she said.

Rep. Henry Cuellar

The House Ethics Committee also reauthorized its investigation into Rep. Henry Cuellar over whether he engaged in multiple illegal abuses of his office. The committee launched its investigation into the Texas Democrat last year after the Justice Department indicted Cuellar on numerous federal charges, including bribery, conspiracy and money laundering.

The committee said in its reauthorization that lawmakers are “aware of the risks associated with dual investigations” and cautioned that “the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.”

Cuellar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Chuck E. Cheese Mascot Arrested

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Chuck E. Cheese Mascot Arrested

(Headline USA) Wearing the furry mask of the iconic Chuck E. Cheese mascot mouse, an employee of the popular children’s birthday destination was arrested for using a stolen credit card at one of the chain’s Florida restaurants, police said.

“Chuck E, come with me Chuck E,” a police officer in Tallahassee told the suspect, “stop resisting, you are being detained.”

The arrest occurred Wednesday, according to the probable cause report from police, while photos from bystanders showed an officer removing the man’s rodent mask — with its gray fur, exaggerated ears and perpetual smile — and placing it atop a Tallahassee Police Department vehicle.

The investigation began when a woman called police to report that someone was using her child support Visa debit card, which she hadn’t seen since a visit Chuck E. Cheese in late June, police records stated. Charges to the card were made at a smoke shop, grocery store and a Whataburger.

The woman tracked down the suspect by going to the grocery store and viewing surveillance footage from the time her card was used, police records state. She recognized the man from the Chuck E. Cheese.

When police officers arrived at the restaurant, one of them entered first to verify that the suspect was there. He was — and he wasn’t wearing the mask. The suspect “looked very nervous, he gazed at me with wide eyes and squared shoulders in a tensed demeanor,” a police officer later wrote in the probable cause report.

The officer and another officer soon returned to the Chuck E. Cheese, where the suspect had since donned the rodent mask, police records stated. The officers asked another employee if the suspect was in the mouse suit.

“She shook her head up and down indicating yes,” the officer wrote.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

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