A federal judge in Portland, Oregon issued a temporary restraining order that bars federal officers from shooting or firing tear gas at nonviolent protesters and journalists outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the city\u2019s residential South Waterfront neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Democrats in Congress heard emotional testimony from<\/a> Luke and Brent Ganger, the brothers of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, who was shot dead by an Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on 7 January as she tried to drive away from agents.<\/p>\n Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis in Congress, called for Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, to be fired or impeached.<\/p>\n Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky senator who turns 84 this month, reportedly checked himself into a hospital on Monday night \u201cin an abundance of caution\u201d after experiencing \u201cflu-like symptoms\u201d.<\/p>\n A federal judge in Portland, Oregon issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday that bars federal officers from shooting or firing tear gas at nonviolent protesters and journalists outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the city\u2019s residential South Waterfront neighborhood.<\/p>\n Frustrated by her persistence in asking questions about Jeffrey Epstein during an Oval Office event he wanted to use to promote himself and his party, Donald Trump scolded the CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins for supposedly not smiling enough in his presence.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Democrats on Capitol Hill offered apologies and promises of accountability on Tuesday amid often harrowing testimony from people who had experienced violent encounters with federal agents engaged in Donald Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n With Republicans conspicuously absent, the forum of senators and representatives heard from<\/a> Luke and Brent Ganger, the brothers of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, who was shot dead by an Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on 7 January as she tried to drive away from agents.<\/p>\n Luke Ganger said he and his brother were there \u201cto ask for you help\u201d and suggested the sense of loss his family felt had been deepened by subsequent events in Minneapolis, where a protester, Alex Pretti, also aged 37, was shot dead by two border patrol agents on 24 January.<\/p>\n \u201cThe deep distress our family feels at Renee\u2019s loss in such a violent and unnecessary way is complicated by feelings of disbelief, distress and desperation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last few weeks, our family took some consolation, thinking that perhaps Nee\u2019s death would bring about change in our country. It has not.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Government lawyer tells judge wrongfully detained immigrants are being held in Minnesota because ‘the system sucks’<\/p>\n Pressed by a federal judge in Minnesota on Tuesday to explain why wrongfully detained migrants he ordered released are still in custody, Julie Le, a lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials she works with refuse to follow her legal advice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe system sucks, this job sucks\u201d, a frustrated and overworked Le told US District Judge Jerry Blackwell according to<\/a> Lou Raguse who was in the courtroom for the NBC affiliate KARE. \u201cI wish you could hold me in contempt so I could get 24 hours of sleep,\u201d Le added.<\/p>\n \u201cI am here to make sure the agency understands how important it is to comply with court orders,\u201d Le also said during the hearing, a local Fox correspondent, Paul Blume, reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Blackwell, who was appointed to the bench by Joe Biden after helping to prosecute the Minneapolis police officer who murdered George Floyd, asked Le and another government lawyer, assistant US attorney Ana Voss, why five immigrants were still in custody weeks after he ordered their release.<\/p>\n Voss reportedly told the judge his orders were sent to the Whipple federal building in Minneapolis but were then modified by immigration officials because of a lack of training, which she blamed on David Easterwood, who leads the ICE field office.<\/p>\n Voss is one of eight lawyers who decided to quit<\/a> the Minnesota US attorney\u2019s office this week, in a second wave of resignations, which will soon bring the total number of departures to 14 during the federal immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n According to KSTP<\/a>, the ABC affiliate in the Twin cities, Voss, as civil division chief, was the point person for most if the hundreds of wrongful detention petitions the office has handled recently.<\/p>\n Le, who was born and raised in Vietnam<\/a>, also compared getting officials from ICE and the justice department to listen to her to \u201cpulling teeth\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.02 EST<\/p>\n Ilhan Omar calls for Kristi Noem to be fired or impeached after killing of two of her Minneapolis constituents<\/p>\n Speaking outside the headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Washington DC on Tuesday, Ilhan Omar, who represents Minneapolis in Congress, called for Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, to be fired or impeached<\/p>\n In her remarks<\/a>, Omar described the recklessness of the \u201coccupying paramilitary forces\u201d conducting the violent immigration sweeps in the city overseen by Noem.<\/p>\n The congresswoman, a frequent target of Donald Trump\u2019s invective who was recently attacked by a Trump supporter, also noted that when Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two of her constituents, were shot and killed by federal officers, \u201cthe president maligned their names and told us not to believe our eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n She also said \u201cthere needs to be accountability for the architect of the terror we are facing in Minneapolis, and so many other cities, which is Stephen Miller\u201d.<\/p>\n Here is a transcript of her full remarks:<\/p>\n I represent Minneapolis, which is currently under occupation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not exaggerate when we say we have schools where two thirds of the students are afraid to go to school.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not exaggerate when we say we have people who are afraid to go to the hospital because our hospitals have occupying paramilitary forces.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not exaggerate when we say our restaurants are shutting down because there are not enough people to drive the employees to work and from work.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not exaggerate when I say we have people who are housing other people because they are afraid to go home.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is all happening in an American city.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have two neighbors, two of my constituents, who were shot by federal agents as cameras recorded, and their President maligned their names and told us not to believe our eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we say it is time for Kristi Noem to go, we mean it now.\ufeff \u201cAnd yes, obviously, if Kristi Noem does not resign and the president doesn\u2019t fire her, Democrats are ready and willing to impeach her.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Mitch McConnell hospitalized with ‘flu-like symptoms’, spokesman for Kentucky senator says<\/p>\n Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky senator who turns 84 this month, reportedly checked himself into a hospital on Monday night \u201cin an abundance of caution\u201d after experiencing \u201cflu-like symptoms,\u201d his spokesperson David Popp tells Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n Popp insisted that McConnell\u2019s \u201cprognosis is positive\u201d and said that the senator, who has suffered a series of public falls<\/a> and moments where his ability to speak suddenly lapsed<\/a> in recent years, remains in \u201cregular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business.\u201d<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.19 EST<\/p>\n Judge orders federal officers to stop teargassing ‘Portland chicken’ and other nonviolent protesters and journalists at ICE facility<\/p>\n A federal judge in Portland, Oregon issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday that bars federal officers from shooting or firing tear gas at nonviolent protesters and journalists outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the city\u2019s residential South Waterfront neighborhood.<\/p>\n The case, part of a class-action lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of a group of protesters and journalists, is titled Dickinson (a.k.a. \u201cthe Portland Chicken\u201d) et al. v. Trump et al. in reference to one of the plaintiffs, Jack Dickinson<\/a>, a protest organizer who wears a chicken costume draped in an American flag.<\/p>\n At the start of a 22-page order<\/a>, US district Judge Michael Simon outlined what\u2019s at stake in the case:<\/p>\n In a well-functioning constitutional democratic republic, free speech, courageous newsgathering, and nonviolent protest are all permitted, respected, and even celebrated. In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case. Our nation is now at a crossroads. We have been here before and have previously returned to the right path, notwithstanding an occasional detour. In helping our nation find its constitutional compass, an impartial and independent judiciary operating under the rule of law has a responsibility that it may not shirk. For that reason, and as more fully explained below, the Court grants Plaintiffs\u2019 motion for a temporary restraining order.<\/p>\n In addition to Dickinson, who has been shot in the back with munitions, subjected to a barrage of pepper balls while seated peacefully on the sidewalk and pepper sprayed directly in the face twice, the other plaintiffs are: Richard Eckman, an 83-year-old protester whose walker was hit with chemical munitions<\/a>; Laurie Eckman, an 84-year-old protester who walked home from one protest soaked in blood after she was shot in the head with a chemical impact munition while holding a sign; Mason Lake, a freelance video journalist who has been shot in the groin with a munition and maced directly in the face; and Hugo Rios, a freelance photojournalist who was shot with pepper balls approximately 20 times and had his camera broken while photographing officers firing pepper balls and throwing tear gas canisters at protestors who were dancing.<\/p>\n The order comes after federal officers fired massive amounts of tear gas<\/a> at peaceful protesters, including children<\/a>, and journalists<\/a> outside the ICE facility on Saturday<\/a>, and then did so again on Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s ruling confirms what we\u2019ve said from the beginning. Federal agents have used unconscionable levels of force against a community exercising their constitutional right to free expression,\u201d Portland\u2019s mayor, Keith Wilson, said. \u201cPortlanders will continue to show up, stand with our immigrant neighbors, and win through peace. Peaceful civic participation isn\u2019t a threat, and these new restrictions on federal agents are an important first step in ending the violence and harm we\u2019ve witnessed in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.08 EST<\/p>\n Trump scolds CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins for not smiling as she asks about survivors of Epstein’s abuse<\/p>\n Frustrated by her persistence in asking questions about Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> during an Oval Office event he wanted to use to promote himself and his party, Donald Trump scolded the CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins for supposedly not smiling enough in his presence.<\/p>\n The exchange began with Collins pointing out that Trump\u2019s attempt to frame the disclosures in the latest batch of Epstein files as damning only for Democrats by pointing out that they also revealed that Epstein had close ties to two of his allies, Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick, his commerce secretary.<\/p>\n Trump shrugged dismissively as Collins mentioned Musk and Lutnick and said that while he had not read their friendly emails with Epstein, the late sex offender he was also friends with for 17 years. \u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019re fine,\u201d Trump said, \u201cotherwise there would\u2019ve been major headlines.\u201d There were, in fact, headlines about the revelations that Musk<\/a> and Lutnick<\/a> were closer to Epstein than they had previously stated.<\/p>\n When Collins noted that \u201ca lot of women who are survivors of Epstein are unhappy with\u201d the way the justice department redacted the documents, including, \u201centire witness interviews are totally blacked out\u201d, Trump attempted to end the discussion by saying: \u201cI think it\u2019s really time for the country to get on to something else, now that nothing came out about me\u201d.<\/p>\n Donald Trump chafed at questions about Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender he socialized with for 17 years, after signing a bill in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/AP<\/p>\n The president then suggested that there was \u201ca conspiracy against me\u201d, in reference to a previously disclosed email exchange in which the author Michael Wolff had urged Epstein to \u201chelp finish\u201d Trump\u2019s 2016 campaign by coming forward after the Access Hollywood recording of Trump\u2019s claim that he liked to grab women by their genitals was published. Epstein, however, did not agree to do that, so there was no conspiracy.<\/p>\n When Trump tried to end the exchange by repeating, \u201cI think it\u2019s time, now, for the country maybe to get on to something else\u201d, Collins asked: \u201cBut what would you say to people who feel they haven\u2019t gotten justice, Mr President?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d an irritated Trump shot back. He then launched into a personal attack on Collins, a former reporter for the conservative Daily Caller who he has repeatedly vented anger at during both of his terms in office.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would say to people the survivors who feel that they haven\u2019t gotten justice?\u201d Collins asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, you are the worst reporter,\u201d Trump said disdainfully. \u201cYou know, she\u2019s a young woman,\u201d Trump said the Republican lawmakers arrayed around his desk. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen you smile,\u201d he said, turning back to Collins. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known you for ten years. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen a smile on your face,\u201d Trump said bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Collins interjected, \u201cI\u2019m asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s abuse, Mr President.\u201d<\/p>\n Ignoring her reply, Trump continued his rant: \u201cYou know why you\u2019re not smiling? Because you know you\u2019re not telling the truth. And you\u2019re a very dishonest organization, and they should be ashamed of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese are survivors of a sexual abuser\u201d Collins replied.<\/p>\n Trump then ended the exchange by turning to another reporter who obliged by changing the subject away from Epstein, the notorious pedophile the future president called<\/a> \u201ca lot of fun to be with\u201d at the height of his abuse. \u201cIt is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,\u201d Trump said of his friend in 2002.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s aides were so proud of the tantrum he threw at Collins on Tuesday that they immediately clipped video of the exchange<\/a> and posted it on an official White House social media account with a caption suggesting he had \u201cnuked\u201d her.<\/p>\n In 2020, Trump memorably stormed out of a news conference <\/a>when Collins refused to help him take the floor away from another reporter Trump had cut off for asking what he called \u201ca nasty question\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.59 EST<\/p>\n Trump repeats claim that federal government should run elections in some states<\/p>\n Asked by a reporter to explain his suggestion on Monday, to podcaster-turned-FBI deputy-director-turned-podcaster-again Dan Bongino, that the US should \u201cnationalize\u201d elections and have them run by the federal government, Trump repeats his false claims that elections in states he lost in 2020 were \u201ccrooked\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to see elections be honest,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you think about it, the state is an agent for the federal government\u201d in the conduct of elections for federal office, the president claimed, which is an incorrect statement of the provisions for elections in the US constitution, which give states the power to run their own elections.<\/p>\n Trump claimed that when there are \u201crigged crooked elections\u201d the federal government should have the power to take control of the counting of votes. He went on to cite what he said were American cities where previous elections were corrupt, specifically naming Detroit, Philadelphia and Atlanta, cities with large numbers of Black voters.<\/p>\n In 2020, Trump lost all three of the states those cites are in, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia, to Joe Biden, but refused to admit that he had lost and instead shared conspiracy theories about the vote counts and pressed local officials to claim the results were fraudulent. In court, however, his lawyers failed to produce any evidence to support those claims in dozens of cases.<\/p>\n After his 2020 loss, Trump notoriously called the secretary of state of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, and pressed him to \u201cfind 11,780 votes\u201d and declare that they were fraudulently cast for Biden, to deliver the state\u2019s electoral votes to him instead. As president, he had no role in the counting of Georgia\u2019s votes, but he apparently now wants the Republican Congress to change the law to give him that right.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they can\u2019t count the votes legally,\u201d Trump said, the federal government should be prepared to step in.<\/p>\n When it was pointed out to him that this would violate the Constitution, Trump did not address the question but moved on to take another question.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.03 EST<\/p>\n Trump uses appearance to sign government funding bill to air grievances and campaign for Republicans<\/p>\n Donald Trump is currently speaking, at length, at a televised ceremony in the Oval Office to sign the spending package to end the partial government shutdown, using the opportunity to boast about what he calls his accomplishments, unveil a new red campaign hat and invite Republican lawmakers to praise him and tout what they call the policies that should deliver them success in the midterm elections for the House and Senate they are in danger of losing.<\/p>\n The cap has the slogan \u201cAmerica Is Back\u201d on the front, the numbers 45 and 47 on the side, to refer to Trump\u2019s two terms, as the 45th and 47th president on the side.<\/p>\n After Trump signed the bill, he took questions from the reporters invited to be present.<\/p>\n The funding re-opens the federal government and keeps the Department of Homeland Security funded for two weeks, to allow Democrats and Trump to negotiate reforms to how the administration\u2019s immigration crackdown is conducted.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.45 EST<\/p>\n The White House press secretary just announced<\/a> that Donald Trump plans to sign the funding bill to end the partial government shutdown in a few minutes, at 4:30 pm ET.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Here’s a recap of the day so far<\/p>\n The House narrowly passed a package of five annual funding bills, and a stopgap measure to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) open for two weeks \u2013 ending the partial government shutdown. By a vote of 217-214, the package funds most of the federal government through 30 September. It includes a short-term bill to fund DHS until 13 February. The bills head to Trump\u2019s desk for his signature, and tee up a bitter negotiation between Democrats and the White House over guardrails for federal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has continued to sow doubt in the election system. While appearing on former deputy FBI director Dan Bongino\u2019s podcast on Monday, the president called on Republicans to \u201cnationalize the voting,\u201d in at least \u201c15 places\u201d, although he did not clarify which ones. In the interview, Trump repeated baseless claims that undocumented immigrants being \u201cbrought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally\u201d. Later, the White House deflected and said the president\u2019s comments were in reference to the Save Act \u2013\u00a0a piece of legislation which would require people registering to vote to present proof of citizenship in person, like a passport or birth certificate.<\/p>\n James Comer, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee, announced that former president Bill Clinton, and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, have agreed to appear for closed-door depositions as part of the committee\u2019s ongoing investigation into the handling of Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> and Ghislaine Maxwell\u2019s crimes. Hillary Clinton will give testimony first, on 26 February, and the former president will appear for his deposition on 27 February. Their respective testimonies will be transcribed and filmed.<\/p>\n Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, is running her own review into the 2020 election with Donald Trump\u2019s approval, the Guardian has learned, working separately from a justice department investigation even as she joined an FBI raid of an election center in Georgia last week. Her presence at the raid drew criticism from Democrats<\/a> and former intelligence officials, who questioned why the country\u2019s top intelligence officer with no domestic law enforcement powers would appear at the scene of an FBI<\/a> raid.<\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has vowed to challenge a federal judge\u2019s ruling that blocks the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the US. \u201cSupreme Court, here we come,\u201d said<\/a> assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin. \u201cThis is lawless activism that we will be vindicated on.\u201d Judge Ana Reyes, a Joe Biden appointee, issued a halt on the expiration of the program for more than 300,000 Haitian immigrants who are living and working with authorization in the US.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Renee Good’s brothers testify on Capitol Hill<\/p>\n On Capitol Hill, Renee Good\u2019s brothers \u2013\u00a0Luke and Brent Ganger \u2013\u00a0are testifying before Democratic lawmakers at a hearing to discuss the violence and use of force by federal immigration agents throughout the country.<\/p>\n \u201cThe completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day, or a rough week, or isolated incidents,\u201d Luke Ganger said in his opening remarks. \u201cThese encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever. I still don\u2019t know how to explain to my four year old what these agents are doing when we pass by.\u201d<\/p>\n Luke and Brent Ganger, brothers of Renee Good, who was fatally shot on 7 January by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis, attend a public forum to discuss the use of violent force by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, 3 February 2026. Photograph: Kylie Cooper\/ReutersShare<\/a>White House deflects Trump’s call to ‘nationalize’ elections, says it is in reference to Save Act<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters outside the White House today, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president\u2019s comments on Dan Bongino\u2019s podcast, where he urged<\/a> Republicans to \u201cnationalize the voting\u201d in 15 states, were in reference to the Save Act. This is a piece of legislation which would require people registering to vote to present proof of citizenship in person, like a passport or birth certificate. <\/p>\n \u201cThe president believes in the United States constitution. However, he believes there has obviously been a lot of fraud and irregularities that have taken place in American elections,\u201d Leavitt said, re-upping Trump\u2019s unfounded claims of election fraud. \u201cVoter ID is a highly popular and commonsense policy that the president wants to pursue, and he wants to pass legislation to make that happen for all states across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Karoline Leavitt speaks to the media at the White House, 3 February 2026. Photograph: Will Oliver\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.09 EST<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters today, Walz added that federal officials have yet to confirm to the governor the identities of the officers who shot and killed Alex Pretti.<\/p>\n \u201cThis assault on Minnesota for whatever false reason they want to give, and it continues to change, they don\u2019t care,\u201d Walz said of the Trump administration<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re just the test grounds for this and what works here and what doesn\u2019t work here.\u201d<\/p>\n The governor had choice words about the arrival of Tom Homan, Trump\u2019s \u201cborder czar\u201d, in the Twin Cities. Homan replaced the belligerent border official Gregory Bovino in Minnesota following Pretti\u2019s death.<\/p>\n Walz said the \u201conly reason\u201d Homan was now in charge was because \u201cDonald Trump was watching TV last Saturday, a week ago, saw the horrific aftermath of Alex\u2019s murder, and told them that this doesn\u2019t look good \u2026 This is reality TV for him, and he was losing in the ratings.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘This is called damage control’: Walz slams Noem as immigration officers issued body cameras in Minnesota<\/p>\n Minnesota governor Tim Walz slammed homeland security Kristi Noem at a press conference today. When asked about her latest update, that all immigration officers deployed will be issued with body cameras, Walz said Noem is the \u201cabsolutely worst choice for any cabinet position\u201d. The governor also noted that he\u2019s asked for body camera footage of Alex Pretti\u2019s fatal shooting which he\u2019s yet to receive.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is called damage control,\u201d Walz said. \u201cI put no stake in what she says at all. But here\u2019s the good thing, every single Minnesotan has a camera. Keep filming. Keep keeping track of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.34 EST<\/p>\n House narrowly passes funding bills to end partial government shutdown<\/p>\n The House narrowly passed a package of five annual funding bills, and a stopgap measure to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) open for two weeks \u2013\u00a0ending the partial government shutdown.<\/p>\n By a vote of 217-214, the package funds most of the federal government through 30 September. It includes a short-term bill to fund DHS until 13 February.<\/p>\n The continuing resolution was met with severe pushback from House Democrats, who say that the Trump administration<\/a> will not use the window to negotiate in good faith, and argue any guardrails on federal immigration enforcement (including the use of judicial warrants and the need for officers to remain identifiable) should be guaranteed now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.13 EST<\/p>\n House oversight chair sets dates for Clintons’ depositions<\/p>\n James Comer, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee, announced that former president Bill Clinton, and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, have agreed to appear for closed-door depositions as part of the committee\u2019s ongoing investigation into the handling of Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> and Ghislaine Maxwell\u2019s crimes. Hillary Clinton will give testimony first, on 26 February, and the former president will appear for his deposition on 27 February. Their respective testimonies will be transcribed and filmed.<\/p>\n The Clintons\u2019 concession follows a months long standoff between the pair and Republicans on the oversight committee, which included Comer marking up legislation to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce it became clear that the House of Representatives would hold them in contempt, the Clintons completely caved,\u201d Comer said in a statement. \u201cWe look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n On Monday, the Clintons finally agreed to testify as part of the House investigation. \u201cThey negotiated in good faith. You did not,\u201d Angel Ure\u00f1a, a spokesperson for the Clintons, replied to Comer, in a post on social media. \u201cThey told you under oath what they know, but you don\u2019t care. But the former president and former secretary of state will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.34 EST<\/p>\n Man accused of attacking Ilhan Omar appears in federal court<\/p>\n The man accused of spraying congresswoman <\/a>Ilhan Omar<\/a> with an unidentified substance at a Minneapolis town hall last week is appearing before a federal judge today.<\/p>\n The justice department charged Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, on a single count of \u201cforcibly assaulted, opposed, impeded, intimidated and interfered\u201d with Omar \u2013 a crime that carries up to a year in prison.<\/p>\n A magistrate judge today denied Kazmierczak\u2019s request for release while he awaits trial.<\/p>\n In a criminal complaint and attached affidavit, signed by an FBI<\/a> special agent, a forensic team determined that the substance sprayed at Omar was a mixture of \u201cwater and apple cider vinegar\u201d. Court documents state that Kazmierczak rushed the lectern after Omar called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)<\/a> to be abolished \u201cfor good\u201d and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, Kristi Noem, to resign<\/a>. \u201cShe [Noem] is not resigning. You\u2019re splitting Minnesotans apart,\u201d Kazmierczak said after he sprayed the lawmaker, according to the affadavit.<\/p>\n Ilhan Omar reacts as a man (not pictured) disrupts her by spraying an unidentified liquid in her direction during a town hall. 27 January 2026. Photograph: Maria Alejandra Cardona\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.37 EST<\/p>\n![\"Robert](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tait.jpg\")
Robert Tait<\/p>\n
\ufeff
\ufeff\u201cWhen we say there needs to be accountability for the architect of the terror we are facing in Minneapolis, and so many other cities, which is Stephen Miller, we mean we need accountability for him now.\ufeff
\ufeff
\ufeff\u201cSo thank you all for being here. Thank you for joining the call to get ICE out of our cities, for us to dismantle this department that is not just rogue, but unlawful.<\/p>\n![\"Senate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770184449_22_5000.jpg\")
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell freezes during remarks to reporters \u2013 videoShare<\/a><\/p>\n