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National Security

Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US
Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs After Colombia Turns Back Flights Carrying Migrants From US President Donald Trump says he will impose 25 percent "emergency" tariffs on Colombian goods after the key South American ally refused to allow two two flights from the US carrying migrants to land. Click here for a new, updated story - Colombia Agrees To Accept Migrant Deportation Flights After Trump Threatens 25% Tariffs "The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals," Colombia President Gustavo Petro said in a statement on Sunday, Jan. 26. "I deny the entry of American planes with Colombian migrants into our territory. "The US must establish a protocol for the dignifie…
Trump Orders JFK, RFK, MLK Secret Assassination Files To Be Released Trump Orders JFK, RFK, MLK Secret Assassination Files To Be Released
Trump Orders JFK, RFK, MLK Secret Assassination Files To Be Released The declassification and release of all remaining federal records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been ordered to be released by President Trump, who called it “long overdue” and in the public interest. The executive order, issued on Thursday, Jan. 23, mandates the Director of National Intelligence and the Attorney General to present plans for the release of these secret records. Files concerning the JFK assassination on Nov. 22 1963 are to be addressed within 15 days, while records related …
Trump Proclaims ‘Liberation Day,’ Reveals Array Of Planned Actions In Inaugural Address Trump Proclaims ‘Liberation Day,’ Reveals Array Of Planned Actions In Inaugural Address
Trump Proclaims ‘Liberation Day,’ Reveals Array Of Planned Actions In Inaugural Address Donald Trump proclaimed “liberation day” in his inaugural address after being sworn in to a second non-consecutive presidential term in the Capitol Rotunda just after noontime on Monday, Jan. 20. Click here for a new, updated story - Trump Ends All Jan. 6 Cases With Pardons, Commutations, Dismissals, Signs Flurry Of Executive Orders  "America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before," said Trump, who at age 78, became the oldest person to ever start a presidential term. In the half-hour long speech, he vowed that “the golden age of America begins rig…
TikTok Access Restored In United States TikTok Access Restored In United States
TikTok Access Restored In United States Americans regained access to TikTok after a 14-hour ban left the popular app unavailable. As of Sunday, Jan. 19, it remained unclear why the app was once again operational in the United States. The Supreme Court had previously upheld a ruling to enforce the ban, citing national security concerns linked to TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance. President Trump reportedly said he planned on issuing an executive order giving ByteDance more time to sell the video-sharing platform.
Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark
Trump Unveils Plan For TikTok After App Used By 170M Americans Goes Dark President-elect Donald J. Trump announced Sunday, Jan. 19, that he plans to issue an executive order to delay the federal ban on TikTok, just hours after the app went dark for 170 million US users. UPDATE: TikTok Access Restored After 14 Hours In United States The popular social media platform ceased operations late Saturday, Jan. 18, as a federal law requiring its sale or ban took effect.  The legislation passed last year by Congress amid concerns over TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, raised fears that the app could enable data collection or propaganda by the Chinese gover…
Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: How The App Could Survive In The U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: How The App Could Survive In The U.S.
Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: How The App Could Survive In The U.S. The Supreme Court has upheld a new law that could ban TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company divests from the very popular video-sharing social media app. The justices said the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" doesn't violate the First Amendment, according to the court's decision on Friday, Jan. 17. The ruling allows for TikTok to potentially be banned in the U.S. as early as Sunday, Jan. 19. TikTok, which has more than 170 million users in the U.S., has come under scrutiny over fears that ByteDance could allow the Chinese gov…
TikTok Ban: Fate Of Video App Unclear As Deadline For Chinese Parent Company To Divest Looms TikTok Ban: Fate Of Video App Unclear As Deadline For Chinese Parent Company To Divest Looms
TikTok Ban: Fate Of Video App Unclear As Deadline For Chinese Parent Company To Divest Looms The future of TikTok in the United States is facing a critical juncture as the Supreme Court deliberates on whether to delay a looming ban on the popular video-sharing app. On Friday morning, Jan. 10, the Court heard oral arguments regarding the Biden administration's law requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance to separate from TikTok, and whether or not it's in violation of the First Amendment. ByteDance, which is headquartered in China, has until Jan. 19 to separate from the video-sharing app under the law passed last year over national security concerns. Noel Francisco argued on be…
Trump Eyes US Expansion Of Canada, Greenland, Panama Canal, New 'Gulf Of America' Trump Eyes US Expansion Of Canada, Greenland, Panama Canal, New 'Gulf Of America'
Trump Eyes US Expansion Of Canada, Greenland, Panama Canal, New 'Gulf Of America' President-elect Donald Trump unveiled sweeping plans for US territorial expansion in the Western Hemisphere during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach, Florida.  He refused to rule out military action to retake the Panama Canal, proposed the acquisition of Greenland, and suggested economic measures to incorporate Canada into the United States. Leaders in all three countries swiftly condemned the remarks. The remarks came during a news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 7, where Trump covered a wide range of topics, including his plans to reshape American energy pol…
Hunterdon County Commish: We Need Drone No Fly Zone As FBI Reports 3,000 Sightings Hunterdon County Commish: We Need Drone No Fly Zone As FBI Reports 3,000 Sightings
Hunterdon County Commish: We Need Drone No Fly Zone As FBI Reports 3,000 Sightings Hunterdon County Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl wants Gov. Phil Murphy to do more about the numerous drones that have been spotted flying overhead at night. In a letter to the governor sent on Wednesday, Dec. 11, Kuhl said he wants Murphy to work with President Joe Biden to impose a ‘Drone No Fly Zone’ for civilian and commercial drone operations over New Jersey.  "The continued uncertainty regarding the origins of the mysterious drones appearing across New Jersey including where they take off and land is of great concern," Kuhl said. "As you noted, these drones 'are very sophisticate…
Drone Sightings Across NJ Prompt Statements From Murphy, Booker Drone Sightings Across NJ Prompt Statements From Murphy, Booker
Drone Sightings Across NJ Prompt Statements From Murphy, Booker Authorities along the East Coast are grappling with a surge in drone sightings, raising security concerns and prompting high-level responses. In New Jersey, residents have reported numerous drone sightings since mid-November, particularly in Morris and Somerset counties, and more than a dozen mayors are calling for investigations. Gov. Phil Murphy is urging residents to report suspicious drone activity to law enforcement and emphasizing the state's commitment to public safety.  "We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement par…
NJ Teen Recruited Undercover Agent To Blow Up PSE&G Facilities, Nabbed At Newark Airport: Feds NJ Teen Recruited Undercover Agent To Blow Up PSE&G Facilities, Nabbed At Newark Airport: Feds
NJ Teen Recruited Undercover Agent To Blow Up PSE&G Facilities, Nabbed At Newark Airport: Feds A teenager from Middlesex County is facing federal charges for asking an undercover agent to destroy PSE&G electrical facilities in New Jersey, officials announced this week. Andrew Takhistov, 18, of East Brunswick, was arrested Wednesday, July 10 at Newark Liberty International Airport where he was planning to travel to Paris on his way to Ukraine, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Takhistov is charged with one count of soliciting another individual to engage in criminal conduct that involved destroying a public service enterprise group circuit breaker and substation, fede…
Fentanyl Dealer Who Rammed Undercover DEA Vehicle In Elizabeth Gets 5 Years, No Early Release Fentanyl Dealer Who Rammed Undercover DEA Vehicle In Elizabeth Gets 5 Years, No Early Release
Fentanyl Dealer Who Rammed Undercover DEA Vehicle In Elizabeth Gets 5 Years, No Early Release 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A fentanyl dealer who rammed a DEA vehicle in a failed attempt to flee a sting in Elizabeth must spend just about five years in federal prison before he'll be eligible for release, authorities said. Miguel Nuñez, 50, and another man were surrounded by Drug Enforcement Administration agents during what they thought would be a fentanyl deal in March 2021, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Nuñez put their vehicle in reverse in an attempt to escape and collided with an agent's car instead, the U.S. attorney said. Nuñez's partner, Jesus Higuera-P…
TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App?
TikTok Ban Explained: What's The Fate Of Popular Video Sharing App? Another sell-or-be-banned TikTok legislation is working its way up to the Senate. The House passed the sell-or-be-banned bill for the app (360-58) on Saturday, April 20 as part of a larger foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, giving Chinese TikTok owner ByteDance up to a year to sell the app. Otherwise, TikTok will be subject to a nationwide ban. According to Politico, the bill is expected to pass the Senate as it's considered "priority legislation" for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. A previous, standalone bill was passed by the House in March over national security co…
'Altared' State: NJ Sisters Admit Staging Sham Marriages To Keep Non-Citizens In US 'Altared' State: NJ Sisters Admit Staging Sham Marriages To Keep Non-Citizens In US
'Altared' State: NJ Sisters Admit Staging Sham Marriages To Keep Non-Citizens In US UPDATE: Two sisters from Newark admitted obtaining phony marriage licenses and staging bogus wedding ceremonies, receptions and other events in an elaborate scheme to help undocumented non-citizens avoid deportation, federal authorities said. Regina Johnson, 59, and her sister, Andrea Torres, ran the sham scam for nearly three years, recruiting and paying U.S. citizens to pose as spouses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Their clients: non-citizens looking to remain in the country despite the lack of legal status or proper documentation. As part of the fraud, the sisters "…
NJ Man Who Scouted Landmarks As Terror Targets Gets 12 Years In Federal Prison NJ Man Who Scouted Landmarks As Terror Targets Gets 12 Years In Federal Prison
NJ Man Who Scouted Landmarks As Terror Targets Gets 12 Years In Federal Prison UPDATE: A convicted New Jersey “sleeper agent” for Hezbollah who scoped out potential terrorism targets in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. Alexei Saab, a 45-year-old software developer who lived in Morristown, must serve just about all of the sentence delivered in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, May 23, because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Saab kept up appearances as an ordinary American citizen while working for Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization (IJO) from 2000 to 2005, federal prosecutors said. Dur…
FBI Nabs Ex-Soldier From Sussex County Charged With Supporting Syrian Terrorists FBI Nabs Ex-Soldier From Sussex County Charged With Supporting Syrian Terrorists
FBI Nabs Ex-Soldier From Sussex County Charged With Supporting Syrian Terrorists FBI agents arrested a Sussex County woman Wednesday and charged her with supporting a Syrian terrorist group. Maria Bell, a 53-year-old former U.S. Army solider and member of the National Guard, provided money and advice to “fighters based in Syria who were members of various factions fighting the Assad regime,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Bell cited her professional experience in specialized weapons training, offering to provide guidance on operational security issues, weapons purchases and military intelligence, a complaint on file in U.S. District Court in Newark charges. Accord…
N.J. Congresswoman Joins Call For Trump Impeachment Inquiry N.J. Congresswoman Joins Call For Trump Impeachment Inquiry
N.J. Congresswoman Joins Call For Trump Impeachment Inquiry A congresswoman from North Jersey was one of seven freshman Democrats to pen an op-ed in The Washington Post Monday calling for impeachment proceedings to begin against President Donald Trump.  Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11), whose district is centered in Morris County and includes parts of Passaic, Essex and Sussex counties, was part of a group who are either military veterans or who worked in some other capacity in national security. Sherrill, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, flew helicopters for the Navy.  The lawmakers said in their op-ed that Trump's attempts to get the Ukrainian p…
Morris County Hezbollah Scout Was Looking For Terror Attack Spots In NYC, Feds Say Morris County Hezbollah Scout Was Looking For Terror Attack Spots In NYC, Feds Say
Morris County Hezbollah Scout Was Looking For Terror Attack Spots In NYC, Feds Say A longtime Hezbollah member from Morristown man has spent the past 22 years scouting terror-attack locations in NYC for the organization, according to new federal indictments against him. Alexei Saab, 42, on Thursday was charged in a nine-count indictment for offenses related to supporting the organization, the U.S. Justice Department announced. A Hezbollah member since 1996, Saab provided the organization with photos and intelligence on landmarks across New York City including the Port Authority, Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building, New York Stock Exchange, New York City…
Jason Alexander, John Kerry Part Of Lineup For NJPAC Speakers Series Jason Alexander, John Kerry Part Of Lineup For NJPAC Speakers Series
Jason Alexander, John Kerry Part Of Lineup For Njpac Speakers Series NJPAC's speakers series kicks off in October with a talk by John Kerry, former U.S. Senator, former Secretary of State and the 2004 Democratic nominee for president.  Other speakers include Zanny Minton Beddoes, the editor of The Economist magazine who was named one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes.  Livingston native and Seinfeld star Jason Alexander is also part of the speaker series and is scheduled to appear April 30, 2020.  Rounding out the roster for 2019-2020 are former national security adviser Susan Rice; entrepreneur Peter Diamandis, founder of the XPri…