Category: Loyalty Purge

Trump Praises Kavanaugh as Hero After Tariff Ruling Loss

President Donald Trump praised Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as his “new hero” on Saturday morning, along with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, after the Court voted 6-3 to strike down his emergency tariff authority on Friday. The decision included votes against Trump from Chief Justice John Roberts and two Trump-appointed justices, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, alongside the three Democratic-appointed justices. Trump’s public embrace of the three dissenters revealed his deliberate strategy to reward judicial loyalty and punish perceived disloyalty.

On Friday evening, Trump responded to the tariff ruling by attacking the majority justices, claiming their decision was “ridiculous” and that the justices who voted against him “should be ashamed of themselves.” He specifically targeted his own appointees Gorsuch and Barrett, claiming they violated an implicit obligation by ruling against him and complaining that “this never seems to happen with Democrats,” who he alleged vote as a bloc in their own interest regardless of the case merits.

Trump’s escalating posts throughout Friday night revealed his transactional view of judicial appointments. He complained that he did not appoint Chief Justice Roberts, blaming Roberts for allowing “foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years to continue to do so.” His final evening post urged Republicans to “Unite, stick together, and WIN,” framing judicial independence as party disloyalty rather than constitutional obligation.

By Saturday morning, Trump shifted to praising the three justices who sided with him, declaring Kavanaugh his “new hero” and asserting without evidence that all three dissenters wanted to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.” This pattern of public reward and punishment for judicial decisions directly contradicts the principle of an independent judiciary, positioning judges as political operatives accountable to the executive.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-wakes-up-blurting-praise-for-my-new-hero-and-its-about-his-devastating-court-loss/)

Hegseth Invites Christian Nationalist Wilson to Pentagon Worship Service

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson to lead a worship service at the Pentagon this week. Wilson has publicly advocated for wives to submit to their husbands, opposed women’s voting rights, and defended Christian enslavers as operating on “firm scriptural ground,” according to his documented statements.

The invitation reflects Hegseth’s alignment with Christian nationalist ideology, which frames American governance through a lens of Christian supremacy and traditional patriarchal structures. Wilson’s presence at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. military, demonstrates how Trump administration officials are embedding religious extremism into federal institutions responsible for defending constitutional democracy.

Christian nationalism contradicts the constitutional separation of church and state and the principle of equal protection under law. By platforming Wilson at a military facility, Hegseth signals the administration’s intention to weaponize the Pentagon as a venue for advancing sectarian religious doctrine rather than maintaining secular, constitutional governance.

This action parallels broader efforts by the Trump administration to purge the military of independent voices, as evidenced by Hegseth’s removal of Colonel Dave Butler from Army public affairs and the pattern of loyalty-based personnel decisions documented in recent weeks.

The Pentagon event demonstrates how Trump’s second administration is systematically remaking federal institutions to serve authoritarian and theocratic ends, dismantling the secular safeguards that prevent religious extremism from controlling military policy and national security decisions.

(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/18/doug-wilson-pentagon-hegseth-christian-nationalist/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRleAQEi79leHRuA2FlbQExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6UG5yVkLHtcm12dqTWyaPFpbw9qvVB2OQY2H-GNUEPU36_Ysv_blD-hkWTVw_aem_GreTi7q4vRbeiim7jN7a8Q)

Hegseth Forces Removal of Col Butler From Army Public

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Col. Dave Butler from his position as chief of Army public affairs on Thursday, according to Fox News. Butler, who had served as public affairs chief under Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and was slated for promotion to brigadier general, had volunteered to withdraw his name from the promotion list to help unlock other pending officer advancements that Hegseth has blocked for nearly four months.

Driscoll, an Army veteran and close ally of Vice President JD Vance, resisted Hegseth’s pressure to remove Butler for months due to Butler’s contributions to Army transformation efforts. Butler has extensive experience in military communications, having served as public affairs officer for Joint Special Operations Command from 2015 to 2018 and as chief spokesman for all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan under Gen. Scott Miller. A former four-star commander described Butler as “the consummate professional” and “the most competent Public Affairs officer I have ever worked with.”

Hegseth entered the Pentagon in 2025 and immediately removed or forced into early retirement numerous senior military leaders without stated cause, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti (chief of naval operations), Gen. CQ Brown (chairman of the Joint Chiefs), Gen. James Mingus (vice chief of the Army), Gen. Douglas Sims (director of the Joint Staff), and others. This pattern of unexplained dismissals has created fear and reluctance among senior officers to speak openly.

Butler, who is retiring after 28 years of service, had traveled with Driscoll to Ukraine in November 2025 to help initiate peace negotiations. President Trump publicly recognized Butler by name during the Army’s 250th birthday celebrations in 2025 for organizing the Washington, D.C. parade. Driscoll stated in a statement that he “greatly appreciate[s]” Butler’s “lifetime of service” and his role in the Army’s transformation.

(Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-hegseth-orders-removal-army-public-affairs-chief-amid-broader-pentagon-purge)

DOJ Fails to Indict Six Democrats Over Military Video

The Trump administration’s Department of Justice attempted and failed to indict six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a November video urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse unlawful orders. The federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., rejected the prosecution’s case on Tuesday, with prosecutors unable to convince even a single juror that probable cause existed for charges, according to sources familiar with the investigation. The video featured Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, and Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan—all with military or intelligence backgrounds—explaining that service members can refuse orders that are manifestly illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The prosecution, led by Trump appointee Jeanine Pirro at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, employed political appointees rather than career prosecutors, according to one source. Trump had publicly accused the lawmakers of “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH” on his Truth Social platform following the video’s release. Legal experts widely rejected the prosecution’s theory, citing both First Amendment protections for political speech and the Constitution’s speech-or-debate clause, which grants lawmakers immunity from prosecution for legislative acts.

The failed indictment reflects a broader pattern of weaponizing the Justice Department against Trump’s perceived political opponents. The administration previously dismantled the Public Integrity Section, eliminating standard oversight requirements that normally govern investigations of sitting members of Congress, especially those involving free speech considerations. The Justice Department has also failed to secure indictments against New York Attorney General Letitia James before separate grand juries in Norfolk and Alexandria, and Pirro’s office has struggled to obtain convictions even in cases involving alleged assaults on federal officers.

Senator Kelly stated that the prosecution attempt followed administrative retaliation by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued a formal censure and sought to reduce Kelly’s retirement rank to punish his participation in the video. Slotkin condemned the effort as indicative of Trump’s authoritarian approach, declaring that “whether or not Pirro succeeded is not the point. It’s that President Trump continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies.” Other lawmakers rejected intimidation tactics, with Representative Crow stating that “Americans should be furious that Trump and his goons tried to weaponize our justice system again against his political opponents.”

(Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/doj-fails-secure-indictment-democrats-involved-illegal-orders-video-rcna258385)

NSA Detected Foreign Call About Trump Associate Gabbard Blocked

Last spring, the National Security Agency detected a phone call between two foreign intelligence operatives discussing a person close to Donald Trump. Rather than following standard protocol to distribute the intelligence report, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard delivered a paper copy directly to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and subsequently instructed the NSA to transmit the classified details to her office instead of publishing the report.

On April 17, a whistleblower contacted the inspector general alleging that Gabbard blocked the classified intelligence from routine distribution. The whistleblower filed a formal complaint on May 21 detailing Gabbard’s actions. The NSA does not monitor individuals without justification, and the person discussed in the call is not understood to be an administration official or special government employee, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The intelligence community inspector general dismissed the complaint after a 14-day review on June 6, stating the office “could not determine if the allegations appear credible.” The watchdog’s independence may be compromised after Gabbard assigned one of her top advisers, Dennis Kirk—a co-author of Project 2025 and a first Trump administration official—to work in the inspector general’s office on May 9, two weeks after the whistleblower’s initial contact.

For eight months, the complaint remained classified and withheld from congressional intelligence committees, violating the law requiring agencies to relay whistleblower complaints to Congress within 21 days. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner stated the months-long delay reflected an effort to “bury the complaint.” Members of the “gang of eight” received a heavily redacted version on Tuesday night, with much of the complaint withheld under claims of executive privilege—a move Gabbard’s attorney said flags presidential involvement in the underlying intelligence concerns.

Gabbard’s office denied all allegations, stating “every single action taken by DNI Gabbard was fully within her legal and statutory authority.” House Oversight Committee Democrat Stephen Lynch warned that Kirk’s appointment raised “troubling questions about the independence” of the intelligence community inspector general’s office, compromising the agency’s ability to serve as an independent watchdog against weaponization of intelligence for political purposes.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/07/nsa-foreign-intelligence-trump-whistleblower)

Trump Demands Jail for Noem Critics, Attacks Protest ‘Scam’

President Donald Trump defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday via Truth Social, attacking protesters and Democrats as “Radical Left Lunatics” and “Insurrectionists” while demanding they be imprisoned. Trump claimed Noem is being targeted “because she is a woman” and credited her with fixing “the Border disaster” he inherited, asserting the murder rate reached a 125-year low under his administration.

Trump characterized protests in Minnesota and major cities as a “SCAM” designed to obscure what he labeled “CRIMINAL ACTS of theft and insurrection” by Democrats. He accused Democrats of “stealing Billions of Dollars from Minnesota, and other Cities and States” and instructed Republicans not to be “pushed around” by what he termed aggressive protest manipulation.

The president reiterated his campaign platform of “Strong Borders, and Law and Order” and separately praised Border Czar Tom Homan, whom Trump appointed this week to oversee the immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota. The operation has deployed approximately 2,100 federal agents to the Minneapolis area in what officials characterize as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever conducted.

Trump’s remarks come amid DOJ investigations into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over allegations they conspired to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations through public statements. Trump’s invocation of imprisonment for political opponents and protesters aligns with his broader pattern of weaponizing federal authority against critics.

The late-night posts demonstrate Trump’s willingness to criminalize dissent and attribute federal policy failures to Democratic sabotage while absolving his administration of responsibility for enforcement outcomes.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-ice-protest/)

FBI Agent Resigns as DOJ Blocks Renee Good Shooting Probe

FBI supervisor Tracee Mergen resigned from the Minneapolis field office after Washington leadership pressured her to abandon a civil rights investigation into ICE officer Jonathan Ross, who fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good on January 7. Such inquiries are standard procedure following officer-involved shootings. The Trump administration weaponized the Justice Department by instead investigating Good and her partner for alleged ties to left-wing protest groups, prompting at least six senior prosecutors in the Minneapolis U.S. attorney’s office to resign in protest.

Senior Justice Department officials have stated there are no plans to investigate whether Ross used excessive force when he fired multiple shots at the unarmed mother sitting in her vehicle. Federal investigators refused to cooperate with state and local Minnesota prosecutors seeking to open their own inquiry into the shooting. The New York Times video analysis found no evidence supporting Trump administration officials’ claims that Good attempted to ram Ross with her Honda Pilot, yet they publicly labeled her a “domestic terrorist.”

The Justice Department simultaneously opened investigations into Minnesota Democratic elected officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, scrutinizing whether they conspired to obstruct Trump’s immigration enforcement through public statements. Subpoenas were issued this week to their offices and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s office as part of this effort.

The department prosecuted three protesters—Nekima Levy-Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly—charging them with conspiracy for interrupting a church service to protest a pastor’s apparent ICE work, alleging they “intimidated, harassed, oppressed and terrorized the parishioners.” Federal judges denied prosecutors’ requests to detain the three while awaiting trial.

These actions reflect a coordinated strategy by the Trump administration’s Justice Department to shield federal immigration enforcement from oversight, punish Democratic critics of ICE operations, and criminalize protest activity opposing deportation policies, while Trump falsely claimed protesters were paid agitators.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/us/fbi-agent-ice-shooting-renee-good.html)

Patel Purges FBI Agents Tied to Trump Criminal Investigations

FBI Director Kash Patel has orchestrated a systematic removal of senior agents from the bureau’s field offices, targeting officials directly involved in investigations of Donald Trump. The special agents in charge in Atlanta and New Orleans were ousted, along with the acting assistant director of the New York field office, while approximately six agents in Miami were forced out for their role in the Mar-a-Lago search that recovered classified documents stored at Trump’s Florida resort. Additional agents were removed for involvement in the Arctic Frost investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The scale of these removals is unprecedented in FBI history, an agency traditionally staffed by non-political civil servants operating as an independent law enforcement body. Patel and his staff informed conservative media outlets they are committed to purging anyone involved in authorizing payments to confidential sources who identified January 6 insurrectionists, making clear the political targeting of personnel based on their prior investigative work.

The timing of these firings coincided with former special counsel Jack Smith’s Capitol Hill testimony defending his prosecution decisions in both the classified documents case and the election interference investigation. Smith testified that his investigative approach was legally sound, but Republican lawmakers attacked him for alleged bias while Trump demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi investigate Smith during the hearing itself.

The FBI Agents Association has stated that firing agents without evidence of misconduct or proper legal cause violates proper procedure, yet Patel has proceeded without restriction. Prior to these removals, Patel fired a dozen agents for kneeling during a racial justice protest following George Floyd’s death, demonstrating a pattern of personnel decisions based on political alignment rather than professional standards.

The Trump Justice Department had already removed most senior FBI leadership in Washington before Patel took office, establishing the institutional groundwork for this continued dismantling. Some terminated agents, including former acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, are pursuing legal action against Patel, challenging the legality of dismissals conducted without documented cause.

(Source: https://www.ms.now/news/kash-patel-fbi-senior-agents-ousted-trump-jan-6-mar-a-lago)

Federal Prosecutors Subpoena Minnesota Democrats on Immigration

Federal prosecutors issued subpoenas on Tuesday to at least five Minnesota Democratic officials, including Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, State Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. The subpoenas demanded documents related to their policies on immigration enforcement and represent an expansion of the Department of Justice investigation into their response to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in the state.

The investigation centers on whether elected officials in Minnesota conspired to impede federal immigration agents who have been deployed to the state since last month. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused Frey and Walz of “encouraging violence against law enforcement” and referred to their actions as “terrorism,” though there is no evidence either man incited violence or engaged in terrorist activity. The subpoenas do not cite a specific criminal statute, but prosecutors are examining the officials’ public statements and conduct regarding the federal crackdown.

The investigation follows the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good, an unarmed mother of three, by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis this month. The shooting triggered sustained protests against federal agents in the city, prompting Frey to publicly demand that agents leave and Walz to criticize their conduct. The Justice Department has vowed to arrest anyone impeding the agents’ mission.

The inquiry into the Minnesota officials’ speech and conduct targeting federal immigration enforcement directly examines political expression protected by the First Amendment. The investigation’s expansion to include state and county prosecutors suggests the Trump administration intends to use federal law enforcement to punish Democratic officials for criticizing immigration operations. The Department of Justice has previously initiated investigations into Walz and Frey regarding allegations they conspired to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations through public statements.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/subpoena-minnesota-democrats-immigration.html)

DOJ Investigates Walz, Frey Over ICE Criticism Allegations

The Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey regarding allegations they conspired to impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations through public statements. Federal prosecutors are examining whether their criticism of the deployment of nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents to the region violates 18 U.S.C. § 372, a statute that criminalizes conspiracies to obstruct federal officers through force, intimidation, or threats, according to CBS News sources.

The investigation follows an ICE agent’s fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good, which triggered local protests and confrontations between demonstrators and federal law enforcement. Walz and Frey have publicly stated that the federal operation fuels instability rather than enhancing public safety, with Frey warning the situation was “not sustainable,” while both leaders repeatedly called for peaceful demonstrations.

Public criticism of federal policy typically receives constitutional protection unless prosecutors demonstrate coordination or direct incitement to physically obstruct law enforcement. CBS News noted that the rare statute under review requires evidence of conspiracy to use force, intimidation, or threats—a high legal threshold that distinguishes criminal obstruction from protected speech.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Walz and Frey on social media of “encouraging impeding and assault against our law enforcement,” characterizing their statements as federal felonies. Noem’s public allegation preceded the DOJ inquiry by one day, linking criticism of the federal operation to an incident in which an ICE agent fired a weapon after being attacked by three individuals with snow shovels and broom handles.

A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on the investigation to CBS News. Trump has previously amplified unfounded conspiracy theories targeting Walz, establishing a pattern of using federal agencies to pursue political opponents.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/doj-reportedly-investigating-tim-walz-and-jacob-frey-over-alleged-conspiracy-to-impede-federal-agents/)

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