Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) is officially under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct, making him the latest California Democrat to face scrutiny as a series of scandals continues to roil Congress.
The bipartisan Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is reviewing allegations that Gomez “may have engaged in sexual misconduct” in violation of the House Code of Official Conduct, including “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.” The committee cautioned that an investigation does not itself establish that Gomez violated any law or House rule. “No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules,” the committee said.
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/18/us-news/rep-jimmy-gomez-friend-of-of-eric-swalwell-accused-of-kissing-staffer/">reported in April</a> that Gomez had been seen kissing a much younger congressional aide in the backyard of then-Rep. Eric Swalwell’s Washington residence in August 2023. Gomez, 51, acknowledged in June that he had engaged in extramarital conduct but insisted that his actions were consensual and did not violate the law or House ethics rules.
“Years ago, I made personal mistakes outside my marriage that have caused real pain to my wife and family,” Gomez wrote in a statement to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/02/politics/jimmy-gomez-house-ethics-investigation">CNN</a>. “Although my actions were consensual in nature and haven’t violated the law or House ethics rules, that doesn’t diminish the impact that these mistakes have made on those I care about the most.”
“I take full responsibility and have committed myself to working through the pain privately with my wife and family,” Gomez added. “I sought professional assistance to help re-center and heal my relationships and move forward with honesty, transparency and respect.”
Gomez said Monday that he would cooperate with the Ethics Committee investigation. The panel specifically cited an allegation involving “inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer,” though it did not provide further details.
Gomez remains on the ballot for reelection in California&#8217;s 34th Congressional District. He advanced through the state&#8217;s top-two primary earlier this year and will face far-left Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres in November.
The investigation comes during an unusually turbulent year for congressional ethics and sexual misconduct allegations. Two lawmakers, including California Democrat Eric Swalwell, have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-to-resign-from-congress-over-sexual-misconduct-scandal">resigned</a> from Congress this year amid sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell has denied wrongdoing. Swalwell&#8217;s departure is particularly notable in the context of Gomez&#8217;s case because the alleged 2023 encounter involving Gomez occurred at Swalwell&#8217;s Washington residence.
The Ethics Committee has also recommended that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-congressman-faces-censure-over-beyond-inappropriate-treatment-of-staffers">be censured</a> after finding that he violated House rules involving sexual harassment and created a hostile work environment. Edwards subsequently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-ends-re-election-bid-after-report-on-beyond-inappropriate-behavior">abandoned his reelection</a> campaign and has denied wrongdoing.
The House has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/as-congress-returns-one-question-looms-which-house-members-could-face-expulsion">considering broader changes</a> to its rules governing relationships between lawmakers and congressional staff. Current House rules do not categorically prohibit members from engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with staffers who work for other members, although a bipartisan congressional task force is considering whether such relationships should be prohibited.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/21/congress/speaker-backs-ban-on-members-dating-staff-01006175">endorsed a broader ban</a>, saying that sexual relationships between lawmakers and congressional staffers are inappropriate in a workplace.
For now, the committee has not determined that Gomez violated House rules, and Gomez maintains that his conduct did not constitute an ethics violation.

House Lawmakers Work On Final Passage Of Signature Budget Bill

Another California Democrat Hit With Sexual Assault Claims

California

California Elections

Congress

Democrats

Eric Swalwell

Ethics

ethics committee

Ethics Complaint

Ethics investigation

House Democrats

House of Representatives

Mike Johnson

Sex Scandal

U.S. House of Representatives

Newly released FBI files reveal that former Rep. Eric Swalwell had a sexual relationship with suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang, known as “Fang Fang,” settling years of public uncertainty over the nature of their relationship.
According to the May 2015 FBI files, released by the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/election-integrity/">White House</a> and reviewed by The Daily Wire, Swalwell told federal investigators that he had “physical relations” with Fang “on a handful of occasions” after meeting her in 2012.
Swalwell told investigators that the relationship was casual and that the two never dated or had a romantic relationship, but said he believed Fang was interested in pursuing a closer romantic relationship with him. Swalwell said that March of 2015 was the last time he had physical relations with Fang.
The revelation is significant because the precise nature of Swalwell’s relationship with Fang had remained disputed since her ties to the California Democrat were first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alleged-chinese-spy-got-close-to-democrat-eric-swalwell-fbi-had-to-intervene">publicly exposed in 2020</a>.
At the time, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2020/12/08/china-spy-california-politicians">Axios reported</a> that Fang had cultivated extensive relationships with American politicians as part of what U.S. intelligence officials believed was a Chinese political intelligence operation. Fang participated in fundraising for Swalwell’s congressional campaign and helped place at least one intern in his congressional office.
Axios reported that Fang had sexual or romantic relationships with at least two Midwestern mayors but did not report that she had a sexual relationship with Swalwell.
Swalwell declined to answer questions about the nature of his relationship with Fang when the Axios story broke, instead saying that he had provided information about her to the FBI and would not discuss information that might be classified.
The newly released interview shows that federal investigators were aware of the sexual relationship by 2015 and that Swalwell himself had disclosed it during the FBI investigation.
The interview also provides additional details about Swalwell’s communications with Fang. He told investigators that the pair primarily communicated through text messages, but also spoke by phone and exchanged emails. Swalwell said he had used his personal Gmail account to communicate with Fang and had reviewed the account before his FBI interview, finding approximately five email exchanges that he offered to provide to investigators.
Swalwell also told investigators that he did not know the source of Fang’s money. He said he assumed Fang or her family was independently wealthy and had never discussed the sources of her income with her.
The files also contain secondhand accounts from people in Swalwell’s orbit describing Fang’s efforts to maintain access to him. One source told investigators that Swalwell’s then-chief of staff had said Fang appeared at Swalwell’s home unannounced on at least one occasion. The source also reportedly heard that Fang had appeared at Swalwell’s door and made it clear to him that she was not wearing underwear.
The FBI documents are dated May 2015, meaning the disclosures came while Swalwell’s relationship with Fang was either ongoing or had only recently ended. Swalwell told investigators that March 2015 was the last occasion on which he had physical relations with Fang.
That timing is particularly notable because federal investigators were becoming increasingly concerned about Fang’s activities around the same period. U.S. intelligence officials later provided Swalwell with a defensive briefing warning him about Fang, after which he said he cut ties with her. Fang left the United States in 2015 amid the investigation.
Fang had cultivated relationships with numerous rising politicians in California and elsewhere between roughly 2011 and 2015. U.S. intelligence officials believed she was operating on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security and gathering political intelligence by developing access to ambitious politicians.
Among her most important targets was Swalwell, who had been elected to Congress in 2012 and joined the House Intelligence Committee in 2015.
Fang’s access to Swalwell extended beyond their personal relationship. According to the FBI files and previous reporting, she was involved in fundraising for his 2014 reelection campaign and helped place an intern in his congressional office. Intelligence officials believed Fang was cultivating relationships with politicians who could eventually rise to positions of national importance.
Swalwell has never been charged with a crime in connection with Fang, and investigators did not accuse him of knowingly participating in a Chinese intelligence operation. The House Ethics Committee also <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/4018047-house-ethics-concludes-swalwell-probe-into-link-to-chinese-spy-taking-no-action/">closed an investigation</a> into his ties to Fang without taking action.
In March, as Swalwell mounted his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-suspends-campaign-amid-sexual-assault-allegations">now-defunct campaign</a> for governor of California, his attorneys sent FBI Director Kash Patel a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/eric-swalwell-cease-desist-letter-fbi-kash-patel-suspected-chinese-spy-rcna266005">cease-and-desist letter</a> demanding that the bureau agree not to release investigative files concerning Fang. His lawyers argued that releasing the files would improperly damage Swalwell’s campaign and maintained that he had never been accused of wrongdoing.

Fang Fang

New FBI Files Blow Open Swalwell’s Long Running Fang Fang Mystery

China

Communist China

Espionage

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Spying

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U.S. Politics

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) made it clear on Thursday that he would not be surprised to see more damaging information come out about Maine&#8217;s Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner.
Fetterman, when asked whether he was &#8220;concerned&#8221; that Platner might be at the center of additional scandals, pointed out the fact that Platner — who assured Senate Democrats earlier in the week that there would be no additional allegations against him — had been dishonest about some of what had already been revealed.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Senator John Fetterman slams fellow Democrat and embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following a string of damaging personal controversies.
&#8220;Well, he lied to everybody. He said that there wasn&#8217;t any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there&#8217;s more and more… <a href="https://t.co/bacJZN8fl8">pic.twitter.com/bacJZN8fl8</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2062573608350744741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Are you concerned that there&#8217;s more to drop?&#8221; one reporter asked.
&#8220;Well, he lied to everybody,&#8221; Fetterman said. &#8220;He said that there wasn&#8217;t any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there&#8217;s more and more other things. So he&#8217;s already lied about that.&#8221;
&#8220;So I assume, you know, it&#8217;s like they say, for every ranch you see in Texas, there&#8217;s 50 that you haven&#8217;t seen. So I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s plenty — a lot of more ranches in P-Hustle&#8217;s life,&#8221; Fetterman added.
Platner, who went by the name &#8220;P-Hustle&#8221; on Reddit, has been the center of several scandals, ranging from his now-covered Nazi-inspired tattoo to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/platner-promises-dem-senators-there-will-be-no-new-accusations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexually explicit</a> text messages sent to several women while he was married. He has also faced backlash for a number of comments he posted on Reddit — some of which were vulgar and at least one in which he mocked and derided a wounded combat veteran and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/didnt-deserve-to-live-leftist-candidate-appears-to-mock-wounded-soldier-in-resurfaced-post">Purple Heart recipient</a>.
The Maine Democrat, who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-am-still-on-the-ballot-janet-mills-reappears-as-platner-stumbles">leading</a> Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) in the primary before she suspended her campaign, is set to face off against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in November.

Sen. John Fetterman

‘He Lied To Everybody’: Fetterman Says Graham Platner Saga Isn’t Over

'He Lied to Everybody': Fetterman Says Graham Platner Saga Isn't Over

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Leftist influencers appear to be bracing for another Graham Platner scandal, preemptively warning their fan bases not to buy into the next shoe to drop.
Platner is the embattled Democratic Senate candidate seeking to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). His campaign has been rocked by a series of personal scandals in recent weeks.
Out of the blue, left-wing political commentator Kyle Kulinski on Thursday claimed “The New York Times is about to run an anti-Platner smear&#8221; from a &#8220;right-wing operative.&#8221;
Keith Edwards, another left-wing commentator and strategist, said the Times story would be about <a href="https://x.com/keithedwards/status/2062557351928828070?s=20">Platner sexually assaulting a woman.</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They’re about to say Platner SA’d a woman <a href="https://t.co/Gb2eUehJQd">https://t.co/Gb2eUehJQd</a>
— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) <a href="https://x.com/keithedwards/status/2062557351928828070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
“It&#8217;s in the story. WaPo racing to get it out as well. I&#8217;m hearing it&#8217;s more than one woman,” he said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It&#8217;s in the story. WaPo racing to get it out as well. I&#8217;m hearing it&#8217;s more than one woman.
— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) <a href="https://x.com/keithedwards/status/2062591865073869125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
With questions and rumors swirling, conservative influencers pounced. 
“So the Democrats are going to defend Graham Platner during his sexual assault allegations while simultaneously accusing Susan Collins of committing a cardinal sin by voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, whom they opposed because of sexual assault allegations,” <a href="https://x.com/CarolineWren/status/2062588889240375502?s=20">GOP fundraiser Caroline Wren said on social media.</a> “This should be fun.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
So the Democrats are going to defend Graham Platner during his sexual assault allegations while simultaneously accusing Susan Collins of committing a cardinal sin by voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, whom they opposed because of sexual assault allegations….
This should be fun. <a href="https://t.co/Tv97NyvalH">https://t.co/Tv97NyvalH</a>
— Caroline Wren (@CarolineWren) <a href="https://x.com/CarolineWren/status/2062588889240375502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
The Bernie Sanders-backed leftist is working overtime to salvage his campaign after damaging revelations about his personal conduct. The Maine Senate Democratic candidate recently made a trip to Washington to rally establishment support as a wave of opposition research uncovers personal misconduct and raises questions about his suitability to serve in the U.S. Senate.
“I&#8217;m not confident of anything,” Sen. Sanders (I-VT) said when <a href="https://x.com/frankthorp/status/2062553965577838771?s=20">asked about potential new Platner revelations.</a> “I didn&#8217;t get any assurances, alright, we got other things to worry about right now. We&#8217;re worried about massive income and wealth inequality and a corrupt campaign finance system. Why don’t you write about that?”
Over the weekend, The Daily Wire exclusively <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-graham-platner-has-active-profile-on-predators-paradise-messaging-app">reported</a> that Platner created an account on the Kik platform, which the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has described as a “predator’s paradise.” The revelation followed another weekend disclosure that his wife, Amy Gertner, previously flagged that her oyster-farmer husband had exchanged sexually explicit texts with as many as a dozen women.
The one-two punch appeared to cross a red line for at least one Democratic senator. 
&#8220;Well, he lied to everybody. He said that there wasn&#8217;t any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there&#8217;s more and more other things, so he already lied about that,” <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2062573608350744741?s=20">Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) said.</a> 
“So I assume, you know, it&#8217;s like they say, for every ranch you see in Texas, there&#8217;s 50 that you haven&#8217;t seen. So I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s plenty, a lot of more ranches in P Hustle&#8217;s life.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
NEW: Senator John Fetterman slams fellow Democrat and embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following a string of damaging personal controversies.
&#8220;Well, he lied to everybody. He said that there wasn&#8217;t any after his Nazi tattoo situation, and now there&#8217;s more and more… <a href="https://t.co/bacJZN8fl8">pic.twitter.com/bacJZN8fl8</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2062573608350744741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>

Senator Bernie Sanders Holds Fighting Oligarchy Event With Senate Candidate Graham Platner

Lefty Influencers Go Into Hyperdrive Ahead Of Next Graham Platner Scandal

Bernie Sanders

Brett Kavanaugh

Maine Democrats

News

Scandal

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Sexual Assault

California Democrat Rep. Jim Costa faced a probe over allegations that he made inappropriate advances toward interns, according to a new report. 
A former House Democrat staffer filed a complaint in 2023 accusing Costa of making unwanted advances toward her in February 2020 when she interned for a different lawmaker, NOTUS <a href="https://www.notus.org/congress/jim-costa-allegations-ethics-committee-investigation">reported</a> Monday. The complaint was later dismissed by the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Conduct after they found they did not have sufficient evidence to proceed. 
The revelation comes amid a flurry of sexual misconduct claims involving members of Congress. Former Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resigned last month over claims of sexual misconduct. Costa has denied any suggestion of wrongdoing, pointing to the conclusions of ethics investigators.
One incident involving Costa allegedly took place during an event at the California State Society when the woman was 22, and he was 67. The woman told the Office of Congressional Conduct that Costa approached her outside the event as she got ready to leave and tried to get her to stay before he asked her to dance with him.
“First, he greeted me, and then said, are you here alone? I said, yes. I said, I’m waiting for my bag. I’m going home. He said, oh no, why would you go home? It’s such a nice night. Don’t you want to dance? I was like, I’ve already danced. He’s like, well, I didn’t dance with you,” she told investigators. 
The woman then said he asked her if she “knew how to shimmy.” She said she did, and they danced while she waited to leave. 
“Every time I leaned back, it seemed like he got farther forward. So I was grateful that I could do a back bend. It was a very uncomfortable situation,” she said. 
“That’s a scary situation. Especially when you’re an intern and you don’t know what relationships that you could mess up,” she added. “Yeah, I guess he started the conversation. I was gracious and responded. And then he immediately asked me to shimmy. I don’t know about you, but it’s a very sexual and awkward dance move.”
The woman later claimed that Costa gave her his personal cell phone number and told her he could help with her career or grab dinner sometime. During a later encounter, the woman said that he asked if she was dating and later ghosted her after she proposed they meet for coffee instead of dinner. 
The woman told NOTUS she only filed the complaint when she felt like her career had enough “cachet” to survive any fallout. She also recounted another incident where he allegedly danced closely with another young intern at a California State Society event. The woman said she and another person broke up the dancing. 
Costa’s office pointed NOTUS to the dismissal of the allegations by ethics investigators. 
“Rep. Costa fully cooperated with a review conducted by [OCC] and the House Committee on Ethics several years ago. The OCC recommended dismissal, and the Ethics Committee unanimously voted to dismiss the matter,” his office said. “The actions of the OCC and the Ethics Committee speak for themselves.”
Four decades ago, Costa issued an apology after he was cited for soliciting a prostitute while traveling in a state-leased vehicle with a prostitute, the Los Angeles Times <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-09-05-mn-13503-story.html">reported</a>.

US-NEWS-CALIFCONGRESS-CAMPAIGN-FUNDRAISING-FR

Another Democrat Caught Up In Scandal — This Time With Interns

Wesley Lowery, a media darling of the Left who made a name for himself talking about race after George Floyd, has been accused of habitually sexually assaulting female journalists.
A number of female journalists claim the Pulitzer Prize winner plied them with alcohol at bars until they left with him and then sexually assaulted them, according to a Wednesday <a href="https://www.cjr.org/feature-2/wesley-lowery-sexual-assault-journalists-attest-experiences.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Columbia Journalism Review.
Lowery, 34, is a best-selling author and has reported for the Washington Post, CNN, and “60 Minutes.” He was also a tenured professor at American University and executive editor of American University’s Investigative Reporting Workshop before he resigned in March amid the sexual harassment allegations.
The alleged encounters happened between 2018 and 2024.
Olivia Messer, now the editor-in-chief of Texas outlet The Barbed Wire, claims that in January 2020, Lowery kept ordering her alcohol at a bar and then pressured her into performing oral sex on him at her apartment. Years later, in 2023, she was again at a bar with Lowery when he was in a supervisory position over her, and the next morning she woke up to find him in bed with her. She said she could not remember having sex with him, but he told her they had.
“Whatever you do, do not tell Cara,” Messer said Lowery told her, referring to American University adjunct professor Cara Kelly, who ended up <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/03/17/wesley-lowery-sexual-misconduct-allegations/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filing</a> multiple Title IX complaints against Lowery.
Ironically, Lowery also helped Messer with a reporting project about failure to address alleged sexual harassment in the Texas Senate.
Imani Moise, a Wall Street Journal reporter, said she met up with Lowery in December, 2018 at a Washington, D.C., bar where he bought her drinks until she was &#8220;sloppy drunk,&#8221; and then ordered an Uber and took her back to his apartment where he perpetrated a “full-blown assault” on her.
They had talked about the #MeToo movement beforehand at the bar.
Moise said that when she was assaulted by a different man as a teenager, she refused to give the police the man&#8217;s name because &#8220;I did not want to see another black man go to jail,&#8221; but she now says, &#8220;I am done with that.&#8221;
Another unnamed journalist, who matched with Lowery on Bumble, said he pressured her to drink more during a spring 2022 date. She woke up in his bed, and &#8220;he was inside of me.&#8221; She was half-conscious for a few moments, and then things went dark again, she said.
Later, she noticed that she had bruises on her body and a cut on her foot. She hooked up with Lowery a number of times afterwards, and a therapist told her, &#8220;Oh, you didn’t have control the first time, so you went back on your terms,&#8221; she said.
An unnamed writer-researcher who worked with Lowery claims that during a February 2024 encounter at a Washington, D.C., hotel, Lowery had a drink waiting for her whenever she came back from the bathroom.
They split an Uber, but when the car dropped her off, the female writer said Lowery pressured her to let him up to her apartment, even accusing her of &#8220;using him&#8221; for a job and saying she &#8220;hadn&#8217;t done anything for him,&#8221; according to a Title IX complaint. She felt her job was on the line and allowed him to come up, where he allegedly tried to get her into the bedroom and pull off her clothes, even when she asked him to go home. She said she pretended to fall asleep, and then he left.
At least three female students at American University said Lowery made them uncomfortable as well.
One student said she went into Lowery’s office during a journalism internship to ask him for advice about how to avoid alarming subjects of a story. He told her to close the door and said, “Well, Sophia, when you go on a date, you don’t just ask ‘Do you want to f&#8212;?’ You build up to it.”
Another female student had a similar complaint, claiming Lowery compared making interview subjects comfortable with asking for consent during sex, “Can I do this, can I do that, is this okay?”
A third student said he lit a candle and sat next to her on the couch in his office, which made her uncomfortable.
Lowery sent messages expressing regret to some of the women, but he has also pushed back on the allegations.
“CJR’s portrayal of these periods in my personal life is incomplete and includes false insinuations about complicated dynamics,” Lowery said in a statement to the Columbia Journalism Review.
“Still, I respect the women who have shared their experiences and take their perspectives seriously. As a young professional, I did not always recognize the power imbalances that surfaced as personal relationships evolved into professional ones, and vice versa. I should have better upheld boundaries that would have protected myself and others, particularly during interactions impaired by mutual intoxication. I have committed to sobriety, now approaching one year, and continue to work with professionals on my understanding of the power dynamics that accompany race, gender, and my professional success.”
In 2014, Lowery was named the National Association of Black Journalists’ emerging journalist of the year.
He wrote a book, &#8220;They Can’t Kill Us All,&#8221; which dealt with racism, police killings, and civil unrest. At one point on Twitter, Lowery said the Tea Party was “essentially a hysterical grassroots tantrum about the fact that a Black guy was president.”
Over the last decade, Lowery has zeroed in on racism and the police, reporting extensively on Black Lives Matter and winning a Pulitzer for a Washington Post database of police shootings called &#8220;Fatal Force.&#8221;
Lowery really rose to prominence after George Floyd&#8217;s death when he published an opinion article titled &#8220;A Reckoning over Objectivity, Led by Black Journalists&#8221; that criticized news outlets for not &#8220;telling hard truths.&#8221;
After that, Lowery was in demand and began receiving invitations to serve on nonprofit boards and speak at events.

Paley Center For Media Presents “Advancing The Story: The Next Chapter In Media Impact”

Race-Obsessed Liberal Star Reporter Accused Of Widespread Sexual Harassment

Race-Obsessed Liberal Reporting Star Accused Of Widespread Sexual Harassment By Colleagues

Race

Sexual Abuse

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) lamented what he called a &#8220;breach of trust&#8221; on Monday in response to the gay <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-investigating-gay-democrat-sex-video-in-senate-room-lawyer-says-charges-could-be-filed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sex tape controversy</a> that has rocked his office over the past week.
Reporters peppered the lawmaker with questions about the staffer who got fired after the emergence of a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-democrat-staffer-caught-filming-gay-sex-tape-in-judiciary-hearing-room-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video showing a man</a>, alleged to be one of Cardin&#8217;s employees, having gay sex inside a Senate committee hearing room.
Cardin said he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; and &#8220;angry,&#8221; according to <a href="https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1736907209995419708" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multiple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1736891891063378255" target="_blank" rel="noopener">journalists</a>.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a breach of trust,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO8FZuK_x5Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cardin also said</a>. &#8220;It&#8217;s my understanding Capitol Police is doing the investigation. It&#8217;s a personnel issue. So, we clearly will be — I&#8217;m not going to comment on the personnel issue and it&#8217;s under investigation.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Cardin on the staffer: <a href="https://t.co/fstAqdBn2h">pic.twitter.com/fstAqdBn2h</a>
&mdash; Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1736897797645848594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Cardin declined to speculate on how the staffer gained access to the hearing room and whether there will be charges.
The senator&#8217;s office previously <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2023/12/16/senate-staffer-out-after-sex-tape-scandal-00132143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> to POLITICO that Aidan Maese-Czeropski, a legislative aide to Cardin, was &#8220;no longer employed&#8221; by the Senate after The Daily Caller <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/12/15/staffer-caught-filming-sex-tape-senate-hearing-room/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published video from the sex tape</a> on December 15.
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Cardin insisted to reporters that &#8220;appropriate steps&#8221; were taken from the standpoint of his office after he became aware of the situation.
In a statement posted to social media, Maese-Czeropski said, &#8220;I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda. While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.&#8221;
A source reportedly told the Daily Caller that the video was filmed in Hart Senate Office Building Room 216, <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/a-look-inside-the-senate-hearing-room-where-james-comey-will-testify-thursday/17376/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">known as the location</a> where the 9/11 Commission presented its findings, Supreme Court nominees have testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and more.
Capitol Police <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4366737-cardin-angry-disappointed-with-ex-staffer-after-sex-tape-reveal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Hill</a> that as of Monday evening it was &#8220;still investigating&#8221; the incident and had no further updates to share.
Cardin, who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, <a href="https://www.cardin.senate.gov/press-releases/cardin-announces-plans-for-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in May that he would not seek re-election in 2024. He <a href="https://www.cardin.senate.gov/press-releases/cardin-named-chair-of-the-senate-foreign-relations-committee/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took on the role</a> as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September after its previous chairman, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), &#8220;temporarily&#8221; stepped down while <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reporter-confronts-sen-menendez-over-attending-classified-briefing-despite-foreign-agent-charge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contending with criminal charges</a>.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who is also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/joe-manchin-announces-he-will-not-seek-re-election-to-senate-in-2024#:~:text=Joe%20Manchin%20Announces%20He%20Will,In%202024%20%7C%20The%20Daily%20Wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planning to retire</a> from the Senate at the end of next year, <a href="https://twitter.com/ReedReports/status/1736868593965600886" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> quipped to journalists staking out Cardin to &#8220;leave that beautiful man alone.&#8221;

Senator Ben Cardin

Democrat Senator Decries ‘Breach Of Trust’ In Gay Sex Tape Scandal

Democrat Senator Decries 'Breach Of Trust' In Gay Sex Tape Scandal

U.S. Senate

Khloé Kardashian got an MRI to prove she has brain trauma caused by now-ex-boyfriend NBA player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nbas-tristan-thompson-confirms-paternity-in-cheating-scandal-allegedly-pressured-mistress-to-have-abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tristan Thompson</a> cheating on her for a second time.
After taking Thompson back post-cheating, the basketball player was publicly exposed for cheating on the reality star again, and getting the third party pregnant.
Kardashian shares a four-year-old daughter with Thompson and had a second child via surrogate with him, apparently starting the process before the second cheating scandal was revealed to Kardashian.
“My last ex-boyfriend, there was a lot of cheating while I was pregnant,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/09/29/khloe-kardashian-brain-trauma-tristan-thompson-cheating/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Dr. Daniel Amen on a recent episode of the family&#8217;s Hulu show, &#8220;The Kardashians.&#8221;
&#8220;All these things I found out about from social media, so it&#8217;s pretty traumatic,&#8221; Kardashian added.
After getting the MRI with the cameras rolling, Dr. Amen said Kardashian has signs of brain trauma, apparently caused by Thompson&#8217;s cheating.
It was exposed back in January that Thompson was the father of a child he had previously denied, culminating in the very public scandal.
Thompson previously admitted to having sex with personal trainer Maralee Nichols, who sued the basketball player for child support, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nbas-tristan-thompson-confirms-paternity-in-cheating-scandal-allegedly-pressured-mistress-to-have-abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Thompson wrote in an Instagram story published in January. “Now that paternity has been established, I look forward to amicably raising our son. I sincerely apologize to everyone I’ve hurt or disappointed throughout this ordeal, both publicly and privately.”
“Khloé, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you,” he shared with his millions of followers. “You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you.” He added, “I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry.”
Nichols notably claimed Thompson pressured her to abort their child and promised she would not get any money from him or his support if she went through with having their kid, providing alleged text messages between the two to court.
A text allegedly sent from Thompson to Nichols said, in part, “You know how I feel. My feelings haven’t changed at all. Won’t be involved at all. [By the way,] if you think having this baby is gonna make you some money, It’s completely wrong.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nbas-tristan-thompson-confirms-paternity-in-cheating-scandal-allegedly-pressured-mistress-to-have-abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA’s Tristan Thompson Confirms Paternity In Cheating Scandal; Allegedly Pressured Mistress To Have Abortion</a>

Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles – June 15, 2022

Khloé Kardashian Got An MRI Because Her Boyfriend Cheated On Her, Says She Has Brain Trauma

Celebrities

Hollywood

Khloe Kardashian

Former President Bill Clinton addressed the death of former prosecutor Ken Starr on Sunday in an awkward reaction.
Starr died a week ago at the age of 76. The attorney was known for leading the investigations into Whitewater and Clinton&#8217;s affair with Monica Lewinsky.
&#8220;[Starr] never filed a charge on Whitewater but put your presidency, your second term, upside down,&#8221; CNN&#8217;s Fareed Zakaria said to Clinton. &#8220;Do you have any thoughts? Any reflection?&#8221;
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Former Pres. <a href="https://twitter.com/BillClinton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillClinton</a> on the rise of populism: part 4 of our interview <a href="https://t.co/nYTWjXO8DX">pic.twitter.com/nYTWjXO8DX</a>
&mdash; Fareed Zakaria (@FareedZakaria) <a href="https://twitter.com/FareedZakaria/status/1571566221690130434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“Well, I read the obituary, and I realized that his family loved him,&#8221; Clinton said. &#8220;And I think that’s something to be grateful for, and when your life is over, that’s all there is to say. But I was taught not to talk about the people that — I have nothing to say.&#8221;
Lewinsky, a former White House intern whose affair with Clinton became public during his presidency, offered her own response to Starr&#8217;s death last week in a Twitter post.
&#8220;As I’m sure many can understand, my thoughts about Ken Starr bring up complicated feelings,&#8221; Lewinsky wrote. &#8220;But of more importance, is that i imagine it’s a painful loss for those who love him.&#8221;
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as i’m sure many can understand, my thoughts about ken starr bring up complicated feelings… but of more importance, is that i imagine it’s a painful loss for those who love him.
&mdash; Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/MonicaLewinsky/status/1569804404928258049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Lewinsky later became the executive producer of the 2021 HBO Max documentary &#8220;15 Minutes of Shame,&#8221; which investigated America&#8217;s culture of public shaming. She also served as a producer for &#8220;American Crime Story: Impeachment&#8221; on FX, which highlighted her relationship with the former president detailed in the Starr Report.
The 1998 Starr Report was a document presented by the attorney to Congress that included sensitive details regarding the relationship between Clinton and Lewinsky and argued for the president&#8217;s impeachment. Clinton was later impeached but acquitted by the Senate.
In 2020, Starr served on former President Donald Trump&#8217;s legal team during his first impeachment trial. The attorney argued against Trump&#8217;s impeachment based on allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“Instead of a once-in-a-century phenomenon, which it had been, presidential impeachment has become a weapon to be wielded against one’s political opponent,” Starr <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/480115-starr-makes-trump-team-debut-we-are-living-in-an-age-of-impeachment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Senate during his words on behalf of Trump.
As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-ken-starr-former-federal-judge-and-clinton-investigator-dies-at-76" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, Starr died in Houston at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center of complications from surgery, according to a statement from his family.
“We are deeply saddened with the loss of our dear and loving Father and Grandfather, whom we admired for his prodigious work ethic, but who always put his family first,” Starr&#8217;s son Randall said.
“The love, energy, endearing sense of humor, and fun-loving interest Dad exhibited to each of us was truly special, and we cherish the many wonderful memories we were able to experience with him. He is now with his Lord and Savior,&#8221; he added.

Bill Clinton

‘His Family Loved Him’: Bill Clinton Breaks His Silence On Ken Starr’s Death With Awkward Reaction

Bill Clinton Breaks His Silence On Ken Starr’s Death With Awkward Reaction

Monica Lewinsky

Disgraced media mogul <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harvey-weinstein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harvey Weinstein</a> could have his 2020 rape conviction face a retrial or dismissed altogether after the 70-year-old was granted an appeal Wednesday by the New York State Court of Appeals.
Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison after a jury convicted him of committing a criminal sex act and rape in the third degree in February 2020. He was later acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault from charges that stemmed from accusations made about incidents in the mid-1990s.
Authorities sentenced him to 23 years in jail.
Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who signed off on the decision and is set to step down at the end of August, granted Weinstein a criminal leave application. Once the attorneys for the former Hollywood executive producer file briefs, the top court will hear Weinstein&#8217;s arguments on whether or not he deserves a new trial, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/harvey-weinstein-granted-appeal-in-new-york-rape-conviction/3837796/?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_NYBrand">NBC</a>.
Attorney Arthur Aidala told NBC News that he updated Weinstein, who stands by his innocence in the conviction.
“We are grateful that Chief Judge DiFiore acknowledged the unique legal issues in this case and we are hopeful the entire court will find that Mr. Weinstein did not receive a fair trial and reverse his conviction,” Aidala said.
Doug Wigdor, who represented some of the victims at trial, called Weinstein “a desperate man,” according to NBC News. However, he said that the court will “ultimately reject his appeal and affirm the appeal court’s well reasoned decision affirming the trial court’s conviction and sentence.”
Weinstein maintains that he is “innocent of these charges.”
“I am so grateful to my attorneys for working hard and smart on this,” Weinstein said in a statement to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/harvey-weinstein-granted-appeal-york-sex-crimes-conviction/story?id=88813324">ABC News</a>. “Their hard work will help me prove my innocence in the end. I look forward to this opportunity to be heard by The New York Court of Appeals.”
A spokesman for Weinstein said in a statement to ABC News that the court&#8217;s decision “demonstrates that there is, in fact, merit to the appeal.”
“There was plenty wrong with the trial and conviction and Harvey&#8217;s attorneys will do what is needed to prove his innocence of the charges,” the spokesman said.
Weinstein&#8217;s lawyers submitted an appeal of their client&#8217;s conviction, stating various reasons why they believe Weinstein was not given a fair trial and is entitled to a new one, including allowing too many witnesses unrelated to the sex assault charges.
“Weinstein’s trial was overwhelmed by excessive, random, and highly dubious prior bad act evidence, none of which shed light on disputed issues relevant to the charged offenses,” Weinstein’s lawyers wrote.
Lawyers also argued the one of jurors should have been removed for previously writing a fictional book that included predatory older men.
“Juror No. 11 was unqualified to sit as a juror, notwithstanding any promise by her to be fair. In addition, based on the imminent publication of her book, she had a pecuniary motive to convict the defendant,” the lawyers wrote.
At 166 pages, the legal document lays out the lawyers&#8217; arguments, stating that the trial court that put Weinstein in jail was too “cavalier.”
Weinstein is currently held at a Los Angeles jail while awaiting trial.
Charlotte Pence Bond contributed to this report.

Jury Deliberations Continue In Harvey Weinstein Rape And Assault Trial

Harvey Weinstein Granted Appeal In Rape Conviction By New York Judge

Harvey Weinstein

New York

Deshaun Watson, the superstar quarterback the Cleveland Browns signed to a record-breaking deal even as a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/were-looking-at-this-seriously-deshaun-watson-could-still-face-discipline-from-nfl">messy sex scandal</a> hung over his head, learned Monday how long he will be suspended in the upcoming season: six games.
Watson, who has been accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct by 25 female masseuses between March 2020 and March 2021, is not expected to appeal the decision. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges and he has settled out of court with all but one of his accusers.
The punishment was handed down by NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a former federal judge, for violations of the league&#8217;s personal conduct, a source told ESPN&#8217;s Adam Schefter. According to Schefter, Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns earlier this year, will not be fined.
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Deshaun Watson will serve a six game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct, disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson ruled Monday, a source told Adam Schefter. <a href="https://t.co/1x3cpIOLT0">https://t.co/1x3cpIOLT0</a> <a href="https://t.co/n1WW6JXIe2">pic.twitter.com/n1WW6JXIe2</a>
&mdash; ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1554083499971321858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Robinson, whose salary is paid jointly by the league and the NFL Players Association, was expected to suspend Watson for as long as a full season. Either the league or Watson and the NFLPA would have three days to submit an appeal in writing.
Cleveland moved on from former No. 1 overall pick <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/2080032/baker-mayfield/">Baker Mayfield</a>, its starter since 2018, when it signed Watson. Mayfield&#8217;s acrimonious exit came when the team managed to trade him to the Carolina Panthers for a late-round draft pick and an agreement to pay a large portion of his salary.
The Browns now have one of the best rosters, built to contend immediately. Until Watson is cleared to play, journeyman <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1877247/jacoby-brissett/">Jacoby Brissett</a> is set to be the starter.
Watson, who played college football at Clemson before being a first-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2017, is widely considered an elite quarterback. He helped lead Houston to a pair of winning records from 2017-2020, throwing a career-high 33 touchdowns in his last season on the field. He sat out all of 2021 in a contract dispute with the team, which forced the trade.
To land him, the Browns gave up their first-round draft picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as their third-round pick in 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024.
Last month, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34248377/houston-texans-settle-claims-vs-team-relation-sexual-misconduct-allegations-involving-deshaun-watson">the Texans reached settlements with 30 women</a> who threatened to sue the organization for its alleged role in the allegations against Watson.
Robinson heard arguments from the league, the union, and Watson&#8217;s attorney Rusty Hardin during a three-day hearing held in her home state of Delaware in late June.
Under the suspension, Watson will still be able to participate in practice during the preseason. He will also be allowed to return to the Browns to practice after sitting out the first three games, according to the league&#8217;s collective bargaining agreement.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing and said he has no regrets for any of his actions during the massage sessions. Watson also said he cooperated with the NFL&#8217;s investigation and &#8220;answered every question truthfully&#8221; that he was asked by the league&#8217;s investigators.

Cleveland Browns Introduce Quarterback Deshaun Watson

Browns’ Superstar QB Deshaun Watson Learns Fate In Massage, Sex Scandal

Browns' Superstar QB Deshaun Watson Learns Fate In Massage, Sex Scandal

Cleveland

Football

Sports

World Wrestling Entertainment boss Vince McMahon has stepped down as CEO amid a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sex-scandal">scandal</a> involving allegations he paid millions in hush money to keep an extramarital affair quiet.
The wrestling impresario, who built his father’s business into a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate, allegedly agreed to pay $3 million to the employee, who has not been named. The company’s board is investigating the payments.
&#8220;I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,&#8221; McMahon said in the press release. &#8220;I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.&#8221;
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Vince McMahon steps down as WWE CEO and chairman amid an investigation into alleged misconduct. <a href="https://twitter.com/BRWrestling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BRWrestling</a> <a href="https://t.co/9KLnBPmCem">pic.twitter.com/9KLnBPmCem</a>
&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1537778719309299719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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McMahon is the husband of former Trump Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon. Their daughter, Stephanie McMahon, will serve as interim CEO and chairwoman until the probe concludes, <a href="https://corporate.wwe.com/investors/news/press-releases/2022/06-17-2022-120023255">the company announced on Friday</a>.
The investigation, which began in April, was first reported Wednesday by <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/wwe-board-probes-secret-3-million-hush-pact-by-ceo-vince-mcmahon-sources-say-11655322722">The Wall Street Journal</a>. The report said McMahon had hired the woman as a $100,000-per-year paralegal and then doubled her salary after the alleged affair began. He then allegedly handed the woman off &#8220;like a toy&#8221; to John Laurinaitis, WWE&#8217;s head of talent, according to the report.
The board learned of the alleged affair from an anonymous email from a purported friend of the woman. The alleged paramour did not accuse McMahon of harassment, according to McMahon&#8217;s lawyer, Jerry McDevitt.
&#8220;My friend was so scared so she quit after Vince McMahon and lawyer Jerry paid her millions of dollars to shut up,” the initial email to the board said.
McMahon allegedly used his own money to pay off the ex-employee, with $1 million upfront and another $2 million to be paid out over five years. The ongoing investigation has reportedly uncovered other similar nondisclosure agreements between McMahon and other employees in the past.
The WWE board statement continued by saying, &#8220;McMahon will retain his role and responsibilities related to WWE&#8217;s creative content during this period and remains committed to cooperating with the review underway.&#8221;
WWE announced that McMahon will appear on SmackDown tonight at 8 p.m. ET live on FOX.
McMahon has been company chairman since buying the company from his father in 1982. Revenue last year surpassed $1 billion for the first time. WWE stars who have become household names in entertainment include Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and John Cena.

Vince and Linda McMahon

WWE Boss Vince McMahon Steps Down Amid Messy Sex Scandal Investigation

Entertainment

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