A landmark antitrust trial against Live Nation began this week in New York with the Department of Justice seeking to prove that the entertainment company, which owns Ticketmaster, maintains an illegal monopoly over the concert ticket industry.
U.S. Justice Department lawyer David Dahlquist summarized the charges during opening statements on Tuesday, per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-trial-ecfd6cb3e77459412584ed002653bc8f">Associated Press</a>. 
“This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition,” Dahlquist said. “Today, the concert ticket industry is broken.”
Attorney David Marriott, who is representing Live Nation, said it wasn’t so. “We’ll let the numbers do the talking. We do not have monopoly power,” he said in response.
The complaint alleges that the company engages in &#8220;anticompetitive conduct&#8221; that results in higher fees, fewer opportunities for artists, and limited ticketing options. 
Per <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-trial-doj-what-to-know-rcna261400">NBC News</a>, Live Nation controls 400 musical artists and owns or controls 265 concert venues in North America. 
“Through interconnected agreements associated with Live Nation’s various roles as ticketer, promoter, artist manager, and venue owner,” the complaint states. “Live Nation has created a feedback loop that pushes ticketing and ancillary fees higher while allowing Live Nation to be on all sides of numerous transactions and thereby double-dip from the pockets of fans, artists, and venues.”
This trial, expected to last six weeks, came about after a 2024 lawsuit alleged that Live Nation unfairly dominated concert ticketing and promotion, leaving no room for competitors. The filing occurred after the infamous 2022 incident when Taylor Swift&#8217;s Eras Tour pre-sale tickets caused the Ticketmaster site to crash, with thousands of fans and bots swarming the site all at once.
This Taylor Swift incident led to congressional hearings beginning in January 2023.
“To have a strong capitalist system, you have to have competition. You can’t have too much consolidation. Something that unfortunately for this country — as an ode to Taylor Swift, I will say — we know all too well,” Minnesota Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar said at the time, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-loses-it-over-senators-quoting-taylor-swift-songs-at-ticketmaster-hearing">reported</a>.
Ticketmaster began in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. Over the years, the company has been at odds with fans and artists at various points, with many accusing the company of having predatory prices. The rock band Pearl Jam testified before Congress on the issue all the way back in 1994, but their efforts ultimately led nowhere.
Marriott argued during the trial’s opening day that the company supports the music industry and is “all about bringing joy to people’s lives.”
He also said the amount of revenue Ticketmaster and Live Nation rake in is highly exaggerated, as AP noted.

Ticketmaster

DOJ Opens Landmark Antitrust Trial Against Ticketmaster, Calls Concert Ticketing ‘Broken’

Ticketmaster Antitrust Trial Begins Today, DOJ Says Concert Ticket Industry Is 'Broken'

Department of Justice

Entertainment

Lawsuit

New York

Authorities arrested more than two dozen additional people for their alleged participation in an anti-ICE mob that stormed a Minnesota church service last month. 
Attorney General Pam Bondi said that 26 more people had been arrested over the incident at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18, where dozens of people showed up and screamed at congregants during a Sunday morning worship service over accusations that one of the pastors on staff worked for ICE. The protest was streamed live by former CNN host Don Lemon, who claimed he was engaging in independent journalism. 
Multiple left-wing activists have already been arrested over the protest. A judge on Friday unsealed an indictment charging 30 additional people with conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. They were also charged with attempting to interfere with congregants exercising their First Amendment rights. 
“At my direction, federal agents have already arrested 25 of them, with more to come throughout the day,” Bondi said on X. “YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you. This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.”
Those charged included Aziza Mohammed Aboud, Max Richard Adamson, Michael Walker Beute, Ezra Chaim Pye Blumenfeld, Shane Ryan Bollman, Kelly Ann Carey, Monique Cassandra Cullars-Doty, Tiffany Lynn Dunlap, Andrew Jared Edwards, Rachel Rose Goligoski, Amelia Cristin Hansa, Ariel Hauptman, Krista Erin Hogan, Heather Danae Lewis, Danielle Andrea Matthias, Catie Anne Michaelson, Eric Ryan Michaelson, David Anthony Okar, Jarmel James Perry, Cheryl Ann Persigehl, Emmar Monike Pineda-Moreno, Spencer Michael Rodriguez-Bocanegra, Katherine Elizabeth Shaw, Satara Diann Strong Allen, Charles Lee Swenson, Robyn Elise Swenson, Thomas Matthew Tier, Lee Elizabeth Wiedeman Tuggle, John Donald Vergin, and Mark David Weinfurter.
The indictment alleges that two of the defendants, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and Satara Diann Strong Allen, “conducted reconnaissance” around the church on January 17, took video of the area, and made preparations for the next day’s takeover. 
The indictment says that another defendant, Nekima Levy Armstrong, &#8220;interrupted the service with loud declarations about the church harboring a “Director of ICE” and indicating that the time for Judgement had come, and other defendants joined in by yelling and blowing whistles in a takeover attack on the Church, all of which quickly caused the situation in the Church to become chaotic, menacing, and traumatizing to Church members.” 
Another defendant, William Scott Kelly, told young kids at the church that their parents were Nazis, according to the indictment. “Do you know your parents are Nazis? They’re going to burn in hell,” he said, prosecutors allege. 
The indictment said that Lemon, who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/don-lemon-arrested-by-feds-for-role-in-minneapolis-church-protest">arrested</a> last month over his participation, positioned himself in front of one of the church’s exit doors and “physically obstructed” congregants from leaving to ask them questions about immigration policy.

Don Lemon, Nekima Levy-Armstrong

Bondi Charges Dozens In Church Takeover And Signals What Comes Next

Dozens More Arrested For Storming Minnesota Church: 'You Cannot Attack A House Of Worship'

Don Lemon

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Minnesota

Pam Bondi

St. Paul

A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot was arrested Wednesday on allegations that he traveled to China to illegally train combat pilots with the People’s Liberation Army. 
The Justice Department<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-us-air-force-pilot-arrested-providing-defense-services-chinese-military"> announced</a> that 65-year-old Gerald Eddie Brown, Jr. had been charged with providing and conspiring to provide defense services to Chinese military pilots without authorization in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Brown was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and is expected to make his first court appearance on Thursday. 
“Gerald Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot with decades of experience flying U.S. military aircraft, allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the U.S. armed forces to modernize China’s military capabilities.”
The complaint accused Brown of beginning in August 2023 to conspire with foreign nationals to train People’s Liberation Army Air Force combat pilots. It said that Brown did not obtain the proper license from the State Department to train a foreign military. 
Brown served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years. He commanded sensitive units with responsibilities that included oversight of nuclear weapons delivery systems. He led combat missions and served as a fighter pilot instructor, according to the Justice Department. Before he retired in 1996, he was known by the call sign &#8220;Runner.&#8221; Brown also worked for multiple defense contractors in recent years on flight training. 
The Justice Department said that Brown worked with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national who pleaded guilty back in 2016 for conspiring to hack into the computer systems of multiple defense contractors. 
Brown traveled to China in December 2023, where he allegedly answered questions about the Air Force. According to the complaint, he told a co-conspirator in a message upon landing in China that he now had &#8220;the chance to fly and instruct fighter pilots again!” He did not return to the United States until February 2026. 
“As an Air Force Officer, Brown took an oath to defend our Nation against all enemies foreign and domestic, he broke that oath, and betrayed the country, jeopardizing the safety of our servicemembers and allies,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “We will hold Brown, and anyone conspiring against our Nation, accountable for their actions.”
The case against Brown was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office.

NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500

He Served The U.S. Air Force For 24 Years. He’s Now Accused Of Training CCP Combat Pilots

Former Air Force Fighter Pilot Arrested For Training CCP Combat Pilots

Air Force

China

Military

Billionaire Microsoft co-founder and jet-setting philanthropist Bill Gates apologized to staffers at his foundation for his connection to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and admitted to affairs with two Russian women, whom he assured were not victims of Epstein&#8217;s sex-trafficking scheme.
Gates fessed up to the affairs during a Gates Foundation town hall on Tuesday, and said that Epstein — whom he developed a relationship with beginning in 2011 — found out about the sexual encounters. Gates claimed, however, that his trysts with a Russian bridge player and a Russian nuclear physicist were not connected to Epstein&#8217;s trafficking scheme, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-gates-apologizes-to-foundation-staff-over-epstein-ties-67f39ef5?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqek1UOzXZu5KCDZ0mERHQSw6s9RBN3NcXzfpVds_SV5t0soStlD94LDanyajXI%3D&amp;gaa_ts=699e71fb&amp;gaa_sig=zguMEzSFfJW9zNlBErbyjEXXX-W6sN50DIaUq7Qv_c6u2p2RGor5qZCedkMLbQaMde-3UyR_95uRW8ddmeH2pQ%3D%3D">reported</a>.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told his staff, adding, “To be clear I never spent any time with victims, the women around [Epstein].&#8221;
“I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities,” he acknowledged.
In 2010, Gates met a Russian bridge player who was in her 20s. The young Russian woman was introduced to Epstein in 2013, according to The Wall Street Journal. Epstein reportedly paid for the woman to attend school for a software coding course, and in a 2017 email, the financier asked Gates to reimburse him.
The nuclear physicist with whom Gates admitted to having an affair previously worked at one of Gates&#8217; companies, but Gates did not say if the sexual relationship began while the physicist was under his employment, the Journal reported.
Gates told his staff during the town hall meeting that he traveled with Epstein multiple times, but &#8220;never stayed overnight&#8221; with the convicted pedophile and never visited Epstein&#8217;s infamous island.
Gates&#8217; apology comes after Epstein-related emails from 2013 released by the Justice Department hinted at Gates&#8217; affairs with the Russian women and suggested the trysts were illegally facilitated. One of the emails released by the Justice Department was a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01965732.pdf">message</a> Epstein sent to himself that appears to be a draft of a resignation letter from Gates&#8217; former science adviser, Boris Nikolic. In the message, the writer admits to &#8220;facilitating &#8230; illegal trysts, with married women&#8221; and helping Gates &#8220;get drugs, in order to deal with the consequences of sex with russian [sic] girls.&#8221;
&#8220;In my role as his right hand I have been asked and wrongly acquiesced into participating in things that have ranged from the morally inappropriate, to the ethically unsound and have been repeatedly asked to do thing[s] that get near and potentially over the line into the illegal,&#8221; the message continues.
Last month, a representative for Gates said the claims made in the 2013 email &#8220;are absolutely absurd and completely false&#8221; and come from a &#8220;proven, disgruntled liar.&#8221;
&#8220;The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame,” the Gates representative added.
According to Gates, Epstein only found out about the affairs because Nikolic told him. Nikolic told the Journal that the emails found on Epstein&#8217;s server “were not written on my behalf or at my request.”
Gates has not been accused of committing any crimes connected to Epstein or in relation to his sexual encounters with the Russian women.
The 2013 email also references a &#8220;severe marital dispute&#8221; between Gates and his then-wife, Melinda French Gates. The couple divorced in 2021, a process that began shortly after reports of Bill&#8217;s close relationship with Epstein began circulating in 2019.
Bill told his staff on Tuesday that he first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein pled guilty to procuring a child for prostitution in 2008. Melinda first expressed concerns about his relationship with Epstein in 2013, but he continued to meet with the disgraced financier.
&#8220;To give her credit, she was always kind of skeptical about the Epstein thing,&#8221; Gates said of his ex-wife.
Gates claimed he was aware of an issue that limited Epstein&#8217;s ability to travel, but said that he didn&#8217;t bother to look into Epstein&#8217;s background.
&#8220;It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,&#8221; the Microsoft co-founder added. “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.”

Bill Gates

Bill Gates Admits To Affairs With Russian Women — But Washes Hands Of Epstein’s Crimes

Jeffrey Epstein

Melinda Gates

Russia

Trump Administration

Police in London arrested former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson on Monday over accusations that he shared confidential information with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson, who was Prime Minister Keir Starmer&#8217;s ambassador to the United States before he was fired in September 2025, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. 
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, February 23 and has been taken to a London police station for interview,” a London police spokesman said. “This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
The arrest comes just days after British police <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-over-epstein-files-faces-life-in-prison">arrested</a> former Prince Andrew in connection with his ties to Epstein. The disgraced ex-royal was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a crime that could be punished with life in prison. He was accused of sharing confidential trade secrets with Epstein. 
Mandelson has said he regrets his relationship with Epstein, but denies any wrongdoing.
The arrests follow the release of emails by the Justice Department that shed further light on Epstein&#8217;s relationships with the powerful British political figures.
Previous documents <a href="https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2025/09/Request-No.-1.pdf">released</a> by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee appeared to document a close relationship between Mandelson and Epstein. The documents include a note where Mandelson referred to Epstein as his “best pal” and included a photo of him wearing a bathroom and talking with Epstein. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1048381" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM.png" alt="" width="945" height="619" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM.png 945w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM-300x197.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM-879x576.png 879w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-23-at-12.21.58-PM-768x503.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px" /></div>
Mandelson also told Epstein, after his 2008 convictions for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor, that he stood with him. 
“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened,” Mandelson said. “I can still barely understand it. It just could not happen in Britain.”
The fallout from Mandelson’s ties to Epstein has rocked the British political world. Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chief-of-staff-falls-on-sword-as-party-turns-on-u-k-s-starmer-over-epstein-linked-appointee">resigned</a> after the release of the Epstein files by the Justice Department. McSweeney took responsibility for Starmer’s decision to install Mandelson as the U.K. Ambassador to the United States. 
Starmer has also faced calls to resign amid questions about his knowledge of the link between Mandelson and Epstein.

Mandelson

Former British Ambassador Arrested Over Epstein File Revelations

Former British Official Arrested Amid Epstein File Revelations

Epstein Files

Prince Andrew

United Kingdom

Illinois businessman Thomas Pritzker said Monday he was stepping down from his executive position at the Hyatt hotel corporation over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. 
Emails released by the Justice Department show Pritzker corresponding with Epstein in the years after his 2008 convictions for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor. Pritzker is the cousin of Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and has been the executive chair of Hyatt for over two decades. 
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Pritzker said in a <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260216864815/en/Tom-Pritzker-Retires-as-Executive-Chairman-of-Hyatt-After-22-Years-of-Service-and-Will-Not-Stand-for-Reelection-to-Board-of-Directors">news release</a>. “I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims.”
In a letter to the Hyatt board on Monday, Pritzker said he would not seek to continue as executive chair after his term ends in June 2026. 
“When I look at my care for Hyatt, my respect for good governance and the focus that [my wife] and I have on our legacy, they all lead me to conclude that what is right for Hyatt and for me is that I retire as Executive Chairman of Hyatt effective immediately and not stand for reelection at our 2026 annual shareholder’s meeting,” he wrote in the letter. 
The announcement came after emails showed him corresponding with Epstein about a variety of topics. In one email from May 2012, Pritzker boasted to Epstein about attending an apparent dinner with high-ranking Chinese officials. 
“It was beyond awesome. I should have pushed you to go,” Pritzker <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00712657.pdf">wrote</a>. “Hot sh*t in a cool place.”
Another email exchange from July 2012 included Pritzker <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00629316.pdf">telling</a> Epstein, “Still at same coordinates. Took a bath this week,” and “more good news. Expect to take a bath again next week.”
Other emails included in the Justice Department Epstein files include emails between Epstein and his associates <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02441069.pdf">scheduling calls</a> and <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02246837.pdf">appointments</a> between Pritzker and Epstein. 
Hyatt praised Pritzker in a statement following his announcement. 
“Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth, and we thank him for his service and dedication to Hyatt,” said Richard Tuttle, the chair of Hyatt’s nominating and corporate governance committee.
Over the years, Pritzker made significant <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Thomas+Pritzker">political contributions</a> to both Democratic and Republican political candidates, including former President Barack Obama, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Senator Cory Booker (D-NY), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). 
The release of the Epstein files has led to a shakeup in the business and political world. 
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/keir-starmer-in-hot-seat-after-admitting-he-knew-appointee-was-close-to-epstein">faced pressure</a> after emails shed new light on the relationship between former U.S. Ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson and Epstein. Last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-obama-white-house-lawyer-out-at-goldman-sachs-after-cozy-uncle-jeffrey-emails-with-epstein?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=SEE+IT%3A+‘Uncle+Jeffrey%2C’+Birthday+Wishes+And+‘Xo’+Emails+Rock+Obama-Era+Insider">Kathryn Ruemmler</a>, Obama’s longest-serving White House counsel, announced that she would be leaving Goldman Sachs after emails revealed her cozy relationship with Epstein.
The Trump administration has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-cabinet-secretary-confirms-he-visited-epsteins-island-with-wife-and-children-in-2012">faced questions</a> after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told senators last week that he visited Epstein’s Little Saint James Island with his wife and children in 2012.

MixCollage-17-Feb-2026-10-17-AM-917

Epstein Fallout Forces Top Hotel Exec To Leave — He’s JB Pritzker’s Cousin

'Terrible Judgement': Top Illinois Hotel Exec Exiting Position Over Epstein Ties

Ghislaine Maxwell

Illinois

JB Pritzker

Ex-CNN host Don Lemon pleaded not guilty in a federal court in Minnesota on Friday over his alleged participation in an anti-ICE mob that stormed a St. Paul church last month.
Lemon livestreamed as he accompanied a group of anti-ICE agitators who sat in the Sunday service at Cities Church before loudly interrupting and terrorizing congregants. The video showed Lemon appearing to cover for the group as they met to discuss their plans ahead of time.
Lemon described the operation as a &#8220;secret&#8221; and said, &#8220;[I] can’t tell you what is going to happen, but you’re going to watch it live unfold here on the Don Lemon Show.”
At one point, he said he “turned our camera off of them because they’re giving some critical information here.”
Lemon could also be seen thanking Nekima Levy Armstrong, who is also charged for her alleged role in leading the mob, and kissing her on the cheek. The ex-CNN anchor appeared in court on Friday alongside Armstrong and three other defendants.
Federal authorities arrested Lemon in Los Angeles late last month, charging him with conspiracy to violate the right of religious freedom at a house of worship.
He was also charged with violations of the FACE Act, which prohibits the disruption of worship services. The Biden administration infamously weaponized the FACE Act against peaceful anti-abortion protesters.
Lemon has maintained that his actions during the church-storming incident are protected by the First Amendment since he was there under the guise of being an independent journalist.
He could be heard in his livestream telling multiple parishioners that he was &#8220;not part of the group.”
“I’m just here photographing, I’m a journalist,” he said.
“We’re here just chronicling and reporting. We’re not part of the activist, but we’re here just reporting on them,” he said at another point.
An attorney representing Cities Church said Lemon is not immune from prosecution.
“By pleading not guilty, Don Lemon and other defendants are doubling down on their claim that the press can do whatever they want under the auspices of journalism, while also defending the invasion of a church. This was a coordinated planned operation,&#8221; Renee Carlson, General Counsel for True North Legal, said Friday.
&#8220;The First Amendment does not protect premeditated schemes to violate the sanctity of a sanctuary, disrupt worship services, or intimidate children. There is no ‘press pass’ to trespass on church property or conspire to invade religious worship,&#8221; Carlson said, adding &#8220;It is not ‘journalism’ to accost a pastor who was about to read Scripture to his congregation.&#8221;
During Friday&#8217;s hearing, Abbe Lowell, Lemon’s lead attorney, asked for his client&#8217;s phone back after federal authorities confiscated it during his arrest, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-cnn-minnesota-church-protest-immigration-4a110d3e097f86b696281b5c36ce3339" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press.
The phone is currently in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security and a search warrant for it is sealed, prosecutors said, adding that it can&#8217;t be returned until a search is completed.
When he exited the church, Lemon acknowledged the terror inflicted upon worshippers as he pointed out a father hugging his distraught child.
“You have to make people uncomfortable in these times. If you see how uncomfortable … and how harsh people are being treated on the streets, you have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That is what this country is about,” he later said.
Lemon also engaged in a debate with one of the parishioners who accused the ex-CNN host of merely posing &#8220;as a journalist.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/all-the-times-don-lemon-made-the-case-against-himself-in-his-livestream">All The Times Don Lemon Made The Case Against Himself In His Livestream</a>

Journalist Don Lemon Appears In St. Paul Federal Court For Hearing

‘NOT GUILTY’: Don Lemon Has Day In Court, Rejects Charge In Church-Storming Case

Crime

U.S.

As ex-CNN host Don Lemon livestreamed the storming of a Minnesota church last month, he documented several instances where he appeared to be covering the anti-ICE protesters&#8217; tracks as he accompanied them from start to finish.
Lemon&#8217;s livestream opened with him standing near the group of activists, who he said were &#8220;gearing up for resistance and protest.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
INTENT: The opening to Don Lemon’s insane livestream is an admission of foreknowledge that the group he was in contact with was going to storm a church, based on his prior communications with its leader. <a href="https://t.co/g0GVHB4871">pic.twitter.com/g0GVHB4871</a>
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) <a href="https://twitter.com/BonillaJL/status/2013219366574145723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
The group gathered in a parking lot to practice anti-ICE chants.
At that point in his video, Lemon asserted that the operation was &#8220;secret,&#8221; adding, &#8220;[I] can&#8217;t tell you what is going to happen, but you&#8217;re going to watch it live unfold here on the Don Lemon Show.&#8221;
He continued to conceal the group&#8217;s plans, saying that he &#8220;turned our camera off of them because they&#8217;re giving some critical information here.&#8221;
Lemon could also be seen thanking the members of the group, including its ringleader, Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was also later arrested for her alleged role in carrying out the disruption.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨Pam Bondi just announced the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong, the alleged organizer of last weekend&#8217;s Anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul Church.
Here&#8217;s Don Lemon giving her an awkward kiss before it went down.
Could Don be next? <a href="https://t.co/8qiNyrN3Q1">pic.twitter.com/8qiNyrN3Q1</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/2014361821537272139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;How are you? Good to see you,&#8221; Lemon said to Armstrong as he leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
&#8220;We&#8217;re on, we&#8217;re not saying what it is, what&#8217;s going on, but thank you,&#8221; he said.
Lemon was seen entering the church and could be heard sitting in on the service.
The agitators then began their interruption.
He also acknowledged seeing the terror inflicted upon worshippers inside the church.
&#8220;I&#8217;m looking at a young man who&#8217;s in the corner. He&#8217;s frightened. He&#8217;s scared, he&#8217;s crying. People are leaving church,&#8221; he said.
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/sJY801wVGQMO36wJ5eGDxQVokwToLzr32?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=ad2da589-22a5-4b28-93de-01ab31664461&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=Don%20Lemon%20Stands%20Outside%20Minnesota%20Church&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Fb6639645-345f-4255-93b9-9e952fd9e01d.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
Outside, Lemon showed a father hugging his distraught child.
&#8220;You have to make people uncomfortable in these times. If you see how uncomfortable &#8230; and how harsh people are being treated on the streets, you have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That is what this country is about,&#8221; he later said.
He then asked Armstrong for help tracking down the pastor.
“Who is the person that we should talk to? Is there a pastor or something?” Lemon asked as Armstrong pointed toward the pastor, whom she said “might have run away.&#8221;
Lemon was also seen confronting the pastor, asserting, &#8220;Listen, we live in a — there&#8217;s a Constitution and the First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest.&#8221;
&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think that Jesus would be understanding and love these folks?&#8221; Lemon asked the pastor.
The pastor eventually asks him to &#8220;leave.&#8221;
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/heTuMW7dZshN3QGZL1VSHXpiLgBdQ8FL?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=7ca6fb45-f31f-4b8c-84fe-8b669b6e20e4&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=Don%20Lemon%20Confronts%20Minnesota%20Pastor&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2F773a300c-0de7-4610-8edf-7998b8cf2794.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
Lemon was also seen lecturing a worshipper, who accused the group of &#8220;trespassing.&#8221;
He then attempted to challenge another with &#8220;facts,&#8221; asking questions like, &#8220;Did you know that undocumented people and immigrants commit far less crime than American citizens?&#8221;
When the parishioner said &#8220;we&#8217;re done here,&#8221; Lemon continued to push him: &#8220;You won&#8217;t listen, I&#8217;m giving you the facts.&#8221;
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/LsTMRuPylh561O01LJPBpLPc02oxeZ6ELY?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=ef0dc23d-f4a8-4856-b2d7-f2799f3a5cc2&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=Don%20Lemon%20Lectures%20Churchgoer&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2F151cb151-ac22-4a0b-acdd-1e7d57ad8004.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
Lemon was seen standing outside the church, where he continued to push anti-ICE beliefs on the parishioners as they fled.
&#8220;I imagine it&#8217;s uncomfortable and traumatic for the people here &#8230; but that&#8217;s what protesting is about,&#8221; Lemon said.
The man hit back at Lemon, who said the ex-CNN anchor was posing &#8220;as a journalist.&#8221;
After departing the church, Lemon acknowledged allegedly taking part in keeping the group&#8217;s plans under wraps.
&#8220;What I said was going to happen happened. We could not tell you, you know, what it was,&#8221; he said.
Federal authorities arrested Lemon Thursday evening in Los Angeles. He faces charges of conspiracy to violate the right of religious freedom at a house of worship and violations of the FACE Act, a law that, in part, prohibits the disruption of worship services, which the Biden administration infamously weaponized against peaceful anti-abortion protesters.
He has since been released from custody, but continues to fight the charges.
Lemon claimed he was covering the protest as an independent journalist, asserting that his actions are protected by the First Amendment.
During his livestream, he also told multiple parishioners that &#8220;I&#8217;m not part of the group.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m just here photographing, I&#8217;m a journalist,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;We&#8217;re here just chronicling and reporting. We&#8217;re not part of the activist, but we&#8217;re here just reporting on them,&#8221; he said at another point.

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All The Times Don Lemon Made The Case Against Himself In His Livestream

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The Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-harvard-university-withholding-race-related-admissions-documents">filed a federal lawsuit</a> against Harvard University on Friday, alleging the Ivy League institution has unlawfully withheld admissions data required for a federal compliance review.
The lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to monitor university admissions following the Supreme Court’s 2023 landmark ruling in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard, which effectively ended race-conscious admissions.
The civil action, filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, does not formally accuse Harvard of active racial discrimination. Instead, it seeks to compel the university to produce individualized applicant data, admissions policies, and internal correspondence related to race, ethnicity, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
“Harvard has failed to disclose the data we need to ensure that its admissions are free of discrimination,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will continue fighting to put merit over DEI across America.”
The dispute traces back to April 2025, when the DOJ initiated compliance reviews of Harvard’s undergraduate college, law school, and medical school. The department requested five years of applicant-level data — including test scores (SAT, ACT, MCAT, and LSAT), GPAs, extracurriculars, and essays — disaggregated by race and ethnicity. Federal officials say this level of detail is necessary to determine if the university is circumventing the Supreme Court&#8217;s mandate by using &#8220;race-neutral&#8221; proxies to achieve the same &#8220;racial balancing&#8221; the Court previously deemed unconstitutional.
According to the complaint, Harvard has “slow-walked” the process for over ten months. While the university has produced over 2,000 pages of documents, the DOJ <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1427621/dl">characterizes</a> most of these as &#8220;publicly available&#8221; materials, such as financial aid brochures and aggregated statistics. The government alleges that Harvard has repeatedly missed extended deadlines, with the last meaningful production occurring in May 2025.
“If Harvard has stopped discriminating, it should happily share the data necessary to prove it,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.
The lawsuit highlights the unique position of Harvard as the world’s wealthiest university, boasting a $56.9 billion endowment. Despite its vast private resources, the university remains subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act because it receives significant federal funding. In 2024 alone, Harvard received $686 million in federal research grants; the DOJ notes that the university is currently slated to receive over $2.6 billion in total federal assistance. Under federal law, recipients of such funds must allow the DOJ to examine records to ensure compliance with anti-discrimination statutes.
In the 2023 SFFA ruling, the Supreme Court found that Harvard’s previous admissions program resulted in a significant decrease in the number of Asian American applicants admitted, famously labeling the university’s use of race as a “pernicious stereotype.” The current DOJ investigation aims to verify whether those &#8220;negative factors&#8221; have truly been eliminated. Specifically, the DOJ is seeking &#8220;searchable electronic spreadsheets&#8221; that would allow investigators to compare the qualifications of admitted versus rejected students across different racial groups.
Harvard, which admits only 4.2% of undergraduate applicants and 3.2% of medical school applicants, has defended its processes in the past as holistic and compliant with the law. However, the DOJ argues that by refusing to provide individualized data, Harvard has breached a material term of its federal funding contracts.
The lawsuit seeks no monetary damages or the immediate revocation of federal funds. Rather, it asks the court to declare Harvard in violation of its contractual and statutory obligations and to order the immediate release of the requested documents.
Legal experts suggest the outcome could set a precedent for how much transparency the federal government can demand from private universities regarding their internal selection processes in the post-affirmative action era.

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The Trump Administration Ups The Ante After Harvard Tries To Play DEI Hardball

Justice Department Sues Harvard Over Refusal To Disclose Admissions Data

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Kathryn Ruemmler, former President Barack Obama’s longest-serving White House counsel, announced Thursday she will leave her position of chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs after newly released emails revealed her friendly exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 
The emails, released by the Justice Department, show Ruemmler referring to Epstein as “Uncle Jeffrey,” asking about a possible day trip to his private Caribbean island, and wishing him happy birthday. Ruemmler has denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that her relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. 
“I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction,” Ruemmler <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c9c4ea8a-f806-4a04-b409-a8ec03c00b15">told</a> the Financial Times on Thursday, explaining her decision to leave Goldman Sachs. She is set to officially leave the firm on June 30. 
Ruemmler joined the firm a few years after serving in the Obama White House, where she advised the president on legal matters involving domestic policy, foreign affairs, and national security. She served as White House counsel from June 2011 to June 2014. 
A spokeswoman for Ruemmler <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/12/business/top-goldman-sachs-lawyer-kathy-ruemmler-to-resign-over-epstein-links/">told</a> the New York Post that she “has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. Nothing in the record suggests otherwise.”
A review of the Epstein files revealed numerous emails between Ruemmler and Epstein in the years after his 2008 conviction for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor. 
In one email from January 4, 2019, Ruemmler <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02605815.pdf">wrote</a>, “Am totally tricked out by Uncle Jeffrey today! Jeffrey boots, handbag, and w=tch!”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1043495" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM.png" alt="" width="2046" height="663" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM.png 2046w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-300x97.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-1024x332.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-768x249.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-6.54.27-AM-1536x498.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2046px) 100vw, 2046px" />
When asked if Epstein had given her the gifts, Reummler spokeswoman Jami Schlicher told The Daily Wire that &#8220;it has been well reported that Epstein&#8217;s MO was to provide unsolicited gifts and do unsolicited favors for people.&#8221;
In another <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02064816.pdf">email</a> from December 2015, Ruemmler told Epstein’s assistant that he was like an older brother to her. 
“Well, I adore him. It&#8217;s like having another older brother!” she said.
Other emails show her wishing Epstein a happy birthday and expressing gratitude for his friendship.
“Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy the day with your one true love,” she wrote Epstein on January 20, 2015. 
Another <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02475866.pdf">email</a> was sent while she was traveling to Megève, a ski resort in France. 
“In the Swiss Air first class lounge drinking good red wine (only one glass!)= and am grateful for your friendship. Will=send reports from Megeve. Xo,” she wrote on December 31, 2015. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1043583" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM.png" alt="" width="1938" height="573" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM.png 1938w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-300x89.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-1024x303.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-768x227.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-13-at-9.27.28-AM-1536x454.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1938px) 100vw, 1938px" /></div>
In a January 17, 2017 email, Ruemmler <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02385988.pdf">asked</a> whether she could visit Little Saint James, a private island owned by Epstein, where accusers say he sex trafficked women and underage girls.
“Our flight Sunday back to NY is from St Luci=. Can we take a day trip to the island on Sat or is it too far?” she wrote after Epstein offered to fly her there. 
Schlicher said the island trip never happened, and characterized Ruemmler&#8217;s relationship with Epstein as professional.
&#8220;Ms. Ruemmler has been clear and consistent from the outset: she knew him through her work as a criminal defense attorney, shared a client with him, received referrals from him, and was friendly in that professional context,&#8221; she told The Daily Wire. &#8220;At times, Epstein sought informal advice, and she provided feedback based on her understanding at the time, without any formal involvement. Ms. Ruemmler has deep sympathy for those harmed by Epstein and if she knew then what she knows now, she never would have dealt with him at all.&#8221;
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has publicly stood by Ruemmler amid the controversy. 
“Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions and sound advice on a wide range of consequential legal matters for the firm,” he said. “As one of the most accomplished professionals in her field, Kathy has also been a mentor and friend to many of our people, and she will be missed.”

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SEE IT: ‘Uncle Jeffrey,’ Birthday Wishes And ‘Xo’ Emails Rock Obama-Era Insider

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A Washington, D.C., grand jury refused to indict six Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday over a video they produced in November urging military members to disobey &#8220;illegal orders&#8221; given by President Donald Trump.
The video — which featured Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and four Democratic House members — was labeled by the Trump administration as a &#8220;seditious&#8221; act. Members of the grand jury, however, did not sign off on the charges brought by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro against the lawmakers, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-orders-democrats-video-e1435655587ad9715c4d1cc776edd545">reported</a>. It remains unclear what specific charges prosecutors were seeking to bring against the members of Congress.
The federal government could attempt to bring charges against the Democrats before a grand jury again. The Daily Wire reached out to the Justice Department for comment.
Slotkin, who organized the video message, <a href="https://x.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/2021401432235155834">said</a> on Tuesday night that the grand jury&#8217;s refusal to indict was &#8220;embarrassing&#8221; for the Trump administration. Last week, the Michigan Democrat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senator-thumbs-her-nose-at-doj-rejects-call-to-answer-for-illegal-orders-video">rejected</a> the Justice Department&#8217;s request to sit down for a voluntary interview and answer questions about the video.
&#8220;Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me. This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition,&#8221; Slotkin posted on X. &#8220;Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed. Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good.&#8221;
The other lawmakers featured in the short clip were Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania.
In the video, the Democrats — who are all military veterans or former members of the intelligence community — told U.S. service members that &#8220;threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home&#8221; and that the Trump administration “is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.&#8221;
&#8220;Our laws are clear, you can refuse illegal orders,&#8221; the Democrats added. &#8220;You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.&#8221;
The video was released as Democrats — and a few Republicans — criticized the Trump administration&#8217;s military strikes on suspected drug runners in the Caribbean Sea. Just weeks after the Democrats made the video, President Trump authorized a military operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
President Trump suggested that the video represented &#8220;SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.&#8221; Trump later clarified that he was not calling for the Democrats to be executed.
&#8220;I would say they’re in serious trouble. I’m not threatening death, but I think they’re in serious trouble,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;In the old days, it was death. That was seditious behavior.&#8221;
The War Department, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, moved to strip Senator Kelly, a retired astronaut and naval officer, of his rank and retirement pay over his participation in the video. Last month, Kelly sued Hegseth, along with Navy Secretary John Phelan, the Department of the Navy, and the War Department, arguing that their action against him violates the First Amendment.

Mark Kelly/Elissa Slotkin

Grand Jury Refuses To Indict Dem Lawmakers Over Video Urging Military To Disobey ‘Illegal Orders’

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A man who once worked for the current mayor of a California city was sentenced to four years in prison for covertly spreading Chinese Communist Party propaganda.
Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, was sentenced to 48 months in prison on Monday by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner for acting as an illegal agent for China from 2022 to 2024. Sun once worked on the city council campaign of Democrat Eileen Wang, the current mayor of the Southern California city of Arcadia.
“For years, Sun received and executed taskings from Chinese government officials, distorted our public discourse by disseminating Chinese propaganda, and surveilled groups in the United States that China viewed as threatening its interests as part of a campaign of intimidation,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg. 
“His conduct represents a brazen violation of our national sovereignty. This sentence reflects our commitment to prosecuting those who would extend the authoritarian reach of the Chinese government on U.S. soil,&#8221; he added.
During his time working as an agent for China, Sun submitted reports to Chinese officials highlighting his work to counter the Falun Gong minority and pro-Taiwanese independence forces and “helping to elect a like-minded individual (&#8216;Individual 1&#8217;) to political office in Southern California,” according to the Justice Department sentencing memo.
While “Individual 1” was not identified in court documents, both the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-10/sentence-chinese-spy-helped-elect-council-member">Los Angeles Times</a> and the <a href="https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2026/02/09/chino-hills-man-advisor-for-arcadia-leader-sentenced-to-prison-for-acting-as-unregistered-agent-for-china/">Pasadena Star-News</a> reported sources confirmed this person was Wang. Campaign documents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-election-interference-california-yaoning-mike-sun-d514395039bea63a8c7b8814d29d1aaa">listed</a> Sun as Wang’s campaign treasurer. Wang, who has not been charged with any crimes, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While her position is officially non-partisan, filings show that Wang switched from identifying as a <a href="https://laserfiche.arcadiaca.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=866849&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=CityofArcadia">Republican</a> to a <a href="https://laserfiche.arcadiaca.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=866847&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=CityofArcadia">Democrat</a>. The Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-21/who-is-the-politician-at-the-center-of-the-latest-chinese-influence-scandal">reported</a> the switch was motivated by housing policies.
In one of his reports to Chinese officials, Sun said that he had “orchestrated and organized my team to win the election for city council” for “Individual 1,” whom he described as a “new political star.”
“Throughout 2022, defendant also worked as the campaign advisor for Individual 1, who was running for City Council in a Southern California city. Individual 1 was elected to the City Council in November 2022,” the sentencing memo said.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Sun was Wang’s fiancé and that he helped bring in donations from sources tied to the Chinese government. Wang previously said she ended her romantic relationship with Sun about eight months before he faced federal charges.
“We broke up the fiancé relationship,” Wang <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-02/china-allegedly-tried-to-influence-this-politician-she-says-shes-not-going-anywhere">said</a> in April 2025. “We keep the friendship.”
Additionally, Sun spied on then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in April 2023 when she visited the United States, and he published a website “targeting the local Chinese-American population&#8221; at the direction of PRC Consulate officials, according to the sentencing memo.
Investigators said that Sun worked with John Chen, a “high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus,” who previously pleaded guilty to acting as a foreign agent for China. Chen was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/california-man-sentenced-acting-illegal-agent-prc-government-and-bribery">sentenced</a> for his efforts to repress U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a persecuted religious minority in China.
In one report submitted to Chinese officials, Sun said he had been in the United States since 1996 to “persist in resisting any hostile forces that undermine the friendship of US-China relations.&#8221;
The House Select Committee on China said the sentencing should serve as a warning for the United States.
&#8220;This case is what the Select Committee has warned for years: the Chinese Communist Party is actively targeting U.S. political systems, all the way down to local elections,&#8221; the committee <a href="https://x.com/ChinaSelect/status/2021270689332764734">said</a>. &#8220;A China-directed agent orchestrated efforts to elect a city council candidate, pushed CCP propaganda through a fake local news outlet, and reported directly to PRC officials, all while on U.S. soil.&#8221;

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Man Who Worked For California Mayor Sentenced To Prison For Spreading CCP Propaganda

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