Important Takeaways:
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested two current U.S. Army soldiers and a former soldier on charges related to the alleged sale of national defense information to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Jian Zhao and Li Tian—both active-duty soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord—were taken into custody alongside Ruoyu Duan, a former soldier. Federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington handed down indictments, leading to their arrests on Thursday.
- Tian and Duan face charges of bribery and theft of government property. Zhao faces similar charges, in addition to conspiracy to transmit national defense information to unauthorized individuals.
- U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the defendants are accused of compromising national security. “The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” Bondi said in a statement. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.”
- FBI Director Kash Patel also commented on the charges. Writing on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Patel noted, “These individuals have been charged with stealing America’s defense intelligence capabilities and empowering adversaries like China in betrayal of our country.”
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Important Takeaways:
- President-elect Donald Trump has quickly moved to nominate a new attorney general after his first choice, Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew amid controversy
- Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the role.
- Bondi, who previously served two terms as Florida’s attorney general, has already received endorsements from key Republican senators, including Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt. Schmitt congratulated Bondi on social media, calling her “an incredible attorney general.”
- Florida Sen. Rick Scott also voiced his support, praising Bondi’s track record of keeping the state safe.
- Gaetz announced his withdrawal after facing a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and payments to underage women. Gaetz has denied the charges, but he cited concerns about becoming a distraction to Trump’s transition process.
- Bondi, a member of Trump’s transition team, expressed her pride in being part of the effort to surround the incoming president with “the brightest and best people.” Trump wasted no time in announcing Bondi’s nomination, hoping to stabilize the transition process after Gaetz’s unexpected exit.
- Meanwhile, another of Trump’s recent nominees, Pete Hegseth, faces allegations of sexual misconduct stemming from 2017. Hegseth, nominated to head the Department of Defense, has denied the accusations. “The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters, declining to comment further.
- In other political news, the GOP has secured a confirmed Senate victory in Pennsylvania, with challenger Dave McCormick officially winning a recount, giving Republicans 53 seats in the U.S. Senate.
- The Republican Party is now expected to push ahead with Trump’s agenda. South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds has already introduced a bill aimed at fulfilling Trump’s promise to abolish the Department of Education.
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