Category: blaze media

Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.) was in front of the Oversight Committee this week when he was confronted by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) about fraud in his state — and his reaction did not make him look good.

“Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison, you have presided over one of the worst government fraud scandals in American history. This was money intended to feed hungry children, help kids with autism, provide food and shelter and health care to the needy, and more,” Mace began.

“You both allowed billions in these American taxpayer dollars to be pillaged and plundered by Somali pirates. You knew this was happening. You chose to do nothing about it. And in some cases, you even enabled it,” she continued.

“My questions this morning, my first go to Governor Walz. And I hope you learned some lessons from your last hearing with me on the Oversight Committee. Have you learned anything since then?” Mace asked.

“I did,” Walz responded angrily. “That if I didn’t speak up, two of my people would be dead, Congresswoman, and I warned you.”

“Governor Walz, what is a woman? Have you learned that lesson? Do you know what a woman is?” she asked, ignoring his previous response.

“I’m not here to be your prop for your obsession,” Walz said.

“If you can’t define what a woman is, you certainly can’t define what fraud is,” she responded, before asking Walz how much money was spent on autism in Minnesota in 2017.

“I don’t have those numbers in front of me,” he answered.

As Mace continued to question him on the fraud, Walz repeatedly answered that he wasn’t there to be Mace’s “prop.”

“Congresswoman Nancy Mace held him to account,” BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler comments.

“Of course, you remember his nickname, Tampon Tim. The reason that we call him Tampon Tim is not to be vulgar. It’s not because we’re petty and we’re hurling an ad hominem at him,” Wheeler says.

“It’s because Governor Tim Walz put tampons in boys’ bathrooms in Minnesota. Because he won’t answer the question, ‘What is a woman?’ Because he’s so captured by leftist ideology,” she adds.

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​Camera phone, Free, Sharing, Upload, Video, Video phone, Youtube.com, The liz wheeler show, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze original, Blaze originals, Tim walz, Tampon tim, Nancy mace, Minnesota fraud, Somalians, Somalian fraud, Somalian immigrants 

As part of his affordability agenda, President Trump has been looking for ways to bring down housing costs.

He’s had some success. Mortgage rates are lower than at any point since his first term. The National Association of Realtors’ Housing Affordability Index has started ticking up again. And as Trump noted during his State of the Union address, the cost of buying a house has dropped about $5,000 since he took office.

Affordability is the target. A serious policy needs to increase the number of homes Americans can actually buy, not just score points against investors.

More work remains. Trump brought a guest to the State of the Union to make the point. Rachel Wiggins, a Houston mom of two, told a story many families recognize: She bid on 20 homes and “lost all of those bids to gigantic investment firms that bypassed inspection, paid all cash, and turned all those houses into rentals, stealing her American dream,” Trump said.

That experience explains the executive order Trump signed to curb large institutional investors from dominating the single-family market — driving up prices for buyers and renters alike while shrinking supply for both.

Trump’s order sets a clear policy: Large institutional investors should not buy single-family homes that families could otherwise purchase. It does that by restricting federal approval, insurance, guarantees, securitization, and other forms of facilitation for institutional purchases of single-family homes that could go to owner-occupants. It also limits the disposal of federal assets in ways that transfer single-family homes to large institutional investors.

The order goes farther. It directs the administration to promote sales to individual owner-occupants — people who actually live in the homes and care for the neighborhoods — through first-look policies, disclosure requirements, and anti-circumvention provisions. It also directs the legislative affairs office to produce legislation to codify the order.

The order includes narrow exceptions for build-to-rent projects planned, permitted, financed, and constructed as rental communities, as well as other tailored cases. It also directs the Treasury Department to tighten rules affecting housing acquisition and instructs the attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission chairman to review major acquisitions, especially serial purchases, and to prioritize antitrust enforcement as warranted.

Trump also directed Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to require owners and managing agents of single-family rentals participating in federal housing assistance programs to disclose indirect owners, managers, and affiliates and to report changes in ownership.

In other words, Trump offered a concrete proposal: prioritize owner-occupants, expand supply, and curb the worst market distortions without choking off lawful investment that supports construction and growth.

RELATED: What ‘democratic socialism’ really means to young voters

Photo by Jeremy Weine/Getty Images

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) offered something else.

Warren unveiled legislation last week before the Senate Banking Committee, where she serves as ranking member. Her approach targets the tax incentives that support housing investment. It would impose higher taxes on any person or entity that owns more than 50 single-family homes. It would also bar access to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages and restrict purchases of foreclosed homes.

That is less a housing plan than a punishment plan. It aims to drive investors out, even though big investors have never owned more than about 4% of U.S. housing stock. The core problem is supply: The country does not have enough homes for a growing population. The answer is not to chase away capital that can help build housing. The answer is to align incentives so that families — owner-occupants — get first priority.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Warren’s co-sponsor, said he’s willing to work with anyone trying to bring down home prices. Trump should take him up on that offer and make the point directly: The goal is not to punish firms that operated lawfully. The goal is to create rules that prioritize families, encourage construction, and expand affordable supply.

Affordability is the target. A serious policy needs to increase the number of homes Americans can actually buy, not just score points against investors.

​Elizabeth warren, Donald trump, Housing fix, Housing costs, American dream, Executive order, Build to rent, Senate banking committee, Opinion & analysis, Blackrock, Blackstone, Wall street, Scott turner 

Actor Marlon Wayans says the latest iteration in the “Scary Movie” satirical franchise will “cancel the cancel culture.”

The Wayans brothers are returning to helm the franchise after they were kicked off the sequels to the first two blockbuster movies by the disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

‘What we’re trying to do is bring back laughter. … You have to cancel the cancel culture.’

After the trailer to ‘Scary Movie 6’ dropped, Wayans described the film in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“What we’re trying to do is bring back laughter,” he said. “This is about bringing back comedy the way it used to be. And I think the only way to do it is you have to cancel the cancel culture.”

The movie satires are known for making mocking references to famous horror flicks, but Wayans said the newest version is trying to make a mark on the debate over censorship in art.

“We’re gonna do what we always do. We’re gonna make fun of everybody because we’re equal opportunity offenders,” he explained. “We have a recipe, we have a formula that you can’t mimic or copy. You could try, but it’s very specific. It’s how we grew up, and it’s how we see the world. It’s the household we were raised in with the sense of humor that we all were governed with, that we inherited from our mother.”

The film includes the return of many of the characters from earlier movies.

“We like to be fearless,” he added. “Yet still do things with kid gloves to let people laugh at themselves.”

RELATED: Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans rejects cancel culture: ‘It’s sad that society is in this place where we can’t laugh anymore’

Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET

Wayans has previously decried the effect of cancel culture on comedy.

“It’s sad that society is in this place where we can’t laugh anymore. I ain’t listening to this damn generation. I ain’t listening to these folks: these scared-ass people, these scared executives,” he said during a 2022 interview.

“Y’all do what you want to do? Great. I’m still gonna tell my jokes the way I tell them,” he added. “And if you want to make some money, jump on board. And if not, then I’ll find a way to do it myself. I know my audience.”

‘Scary Movie 6’ will be released in theaters on June 5.

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​Marlon wayans scary movie, Wayans brothers cancel culture, Scary movie cancel culture, Comedies against cancel culture, Politics 

A California high school is investigating a math teacher after he gave his students Algebra I quizzes that many described as sexist and fat-shaming.

Veteran educator Tom Chan was placed on leave, according to a message from Lowell High School Principal Jan Bautista on Monday to parents.

‘They’re finally teaching real world math in schools.’

The San Francisco Chronicle documented some of the politically incorrect questions.

“The amount of money you spend on a date varies inversely to how much they weigh. A typical girl that weighs 120lbs will cost you $55,” one problem reads.

Students were asked to “derive the variation equation” and then figure out how much to spend on a date “with Ashely who is 220lbs.”

“The fat kid from last time wouldn’t be quiet about the candy I was eating in front of him, so I punted him into the air,” another question reads.

“How tall are you, and how much do you weight?” students were asked.

A spokesperson for the San Francisco Unified School District released a brief statement to the Chronicle.

“We take these concerns seriously and are actively investigating,” Laura Dudnick said.

“It’s pretty shocking,” one parent said about the quizzes. “The fact that nobody has brought this up to the school and he’s been there a really long time.”

Some online took the opportunity to take their own comedic jabs.

“They’re finally teaching real world math in schools,” one comment reads.

“This precisely the sort of practical question that will get kids to take math seriously,” an NRO writer said.

RELATED: Pro-Ice student suspended over posters at California high school where hundreds of anti-ICE students walked out

“Y’all wanted culturally relevant education,” another user responded.

“Ask a 220 pound girl on a date and she’ll pay for everything,” online raconteur David Burge replied. “This why I got an 800 on the math section of my Dude Aptitude Test.”

“I’m more upset that 9th graders are doing simple ass math that Chinese kids do in the 4th grade,” another said.

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​California math teacher on leave, Sexist math questions, Fat shaming math questions, Teacher tom chan, Politics 

The Supreme Court has granted a request from a group of California parents to reinstate a ruling that bans schools from hiding “children’s gender presentation” from them — and forces them to follow the parents’ instructions regarding the names and pronouns the children use.

BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey counts this as a win.

“Parents should absolutely know if their child is going by different pronouns or declaring that they are a boy at school. Right now in California, a student can go to school, say that ‘I want to transition to the opposite sex,’ and the student doesn’t have to notify parents,” she explains.

“They can socially transition that child. They can also get that child to a particular professional that will help them get the psychiatric care and the different medical treatments that they are seeking in order to look like the opposite sex,” she says.

Stuckey recalls a case out of California concerning Abigail Martinez, who lost custody of her teenage daughter Yaeli because she refused to support her transition.

Yaeli was placed in a group home, and a judge ruled that she could begin cross-sex hormones — but Yaeli took her own life.

“That’s what happens when you remove kids from the homes of parents who simply want what is best for their kids,” Stuckey says.

“You’ve got people framing this as, like, ‘Oh, it’s protection from abuse when the school won’t inform the parents of what’s really going on.’ The opposite is true. No one cares about your child the way that you do. No one knows your child the way that you do. The school does not care if your child lives or dies,” she continues.

However, while Stuckey is pleased with the ruling, she points out that it was only ruled unconstitutional because of the parental rights aspect, and there’s a long way to go before all of it is “completely illegal and stigmatized and criminalized.”

“You should actually go to prison if you are calling a child by the wrong, non-biological pronoun and encouraging them to change sexes,” Stuckey says.

“The Supreme Court is not where they need to be in understanding what is actually driving this gender deception among kids. It’s not genuine gender dysphoria,” she continues.

“It is pornography. It is propaganda. It is sexual perversion and even sexual abuse that’s going on. It has very little to do with gender dysphoria. So we’re not yet to the root of all of this in driving this out legally and ideologically, but this absolutely is a win for parents,” she adds.

Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?

To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Video phone, Free, Upload, Camera phone, Video, Sharing, Youtube.com, Relatable with allie beth stuckey, Relatable, The blaze, Blazetv, Blaze news, Blaze podcasts, Blaze podcast network, Blaze media, Blaze online, Blaze originals, Supreme court, Gender transition, Gender dysphoria, Transgender, Trans rights, Trans activism, Trans activist 

A website that tracks online outages reports that tens of thousands of users have been unable to reach the Amazon website or have had trouble doing so on Thursday.

The Downdetector website reported a peak of more than 20,000 outages at about 3:45 p.m. ET, with many users reporting problems with checkout and payment errors.

‘WHOA. is anyone else’s Amazon all crazy right now??’

An Amazon spokesperson told Blaze News: “We’re sorry that some customers may be experiencing issues while shopping. We appreciate customers’ patience as we work to resolve the issue.”

Amazon also claimed that AWS is functioning as normal.

Many reported their outage experiences on social media.

“WHOA. is anyone else’s Amazon all crazy right now?? I’m shopping for something (or trying to) and there are no prices! No Prime listings! Everything has a ‘see options’ button instead and IT MAKES YOU ADD IT TO YOUR CART TO SEE THE FREAKING PRICES,” said one user. “NO. NO. WE ARE NOT DOING THIS.”

“Came on here just to verify Amazon is down, twitter never fails,” said another.

“Is Amazon down? Can’t login,” another user asked.

“Anyone else having problems with ordering something on Amazon? The app doesn’t seem to be working and neither does the online site,” said another.

“Folks, is Amazon glitching out? Everything I click on shows as unavailable,” said a user from Portugal.

Others posted screenshots of an error message they claimed to have received.

“Sorry, something went wrong on our end. Please go back and try again or go to Amazon’s homepage,” the reported message read.

RELATED: Amazon store with ‘Just Walk Out’ automation was actually supported by workers in India

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​Amazon outages, Iran strikes amazon, Amazon down, Users on amazon, Politics 

President Donald Trump declared Thursday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would soon no longer lead the agency.

Trump announced that Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) will take over for Noem on March 31, adding that she would be tapped as the special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere.

‘In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security.’

Trump’s decision followed reports that he had been displeased with Noem’s performance for months, rumors the White House rejected in December. Speculation emerged that Noem’s removal was a result of her testimony before House and Senate committees earlier this week, during which she claimed the president approved a $220 million DHS ad campaign, a claim the White House denied.

Noem reacted to Trump’s announcement by expressing her gratitude to the president, adding that she looks forward to collaborating with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in the new role.

“Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. @SecRubio and @SecWar are incredible leaders and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren,” Noem wrote.

“The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security. In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security,” she continued. “We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard.”

RELATED: Noem is OUT — and Trump has named her replacement

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Some politicians expressed gratitude for Noem’s time at the DHS, while others celebrated her departure.

“I appreciate Secretary Noem’s service to our country. She will do a great job dealing with the drug cartels in her new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of Americas, and I know she will continue to contribute in the future. However, I think it was time for a change,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote, “President Trump was elected to secure our border, crack down on sanctuary cities and keep our country safe. I appreciate @Sec_Noem’s dedication to that mission. Thanks to the president’s leadership and her help, incredible progress has been made, and I know she will do a fantastic job as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.”

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) released a video reacting to the DHS leadership shake-up, saying, “Hey, Kristi Noem, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

RELATED: Government-paid traffickers? Noem testifies Biden administration funded abuse of migrant kids

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

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​News, Kristi noem, Donald trump, Trump, Trump administration, Trump admin, Department of homeland security, Dhs, Markwayne mullin, Lindsey graham, Rick scott, Jb pritzker, Tomi lahren, Politics 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ran on the pledge to provide free universal child care, and now that promise is coming to fruition starting this fall with the K-2 program.

Except … it’s more expensive than private day care, costing approximately $36,500 per child.

“That’s $13,000 more per child than the private market! Let me repeat that. [The] program designed to make child care less expensive and cheaper is 55% more expensive than the system that already exists,” scoffs Glenn Beck.

On this episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” Glenn debunks the socialist promise of “free,” predicting that Mamdani’s day-care debacle will dissolve in three stages.

“You can almost explain every socialist program in three steps,” he says.

“Step one, you got to declare something a right. Housing is a right. Health care is a right. Child care is a right … because once you declare it a right, you never talk about the cost again. You talk about morality.”

Anyone who dares question the numbers — like why jump from $23,000 for private child care to $36,000 per child — “instantly becomes a villain,” he says.

“The second step is they promise you that it’ll only cost the rich … the millionaires — the people who aren’t paying their fair share of taxes,” Glenn continues.

“Here’s the problem. Millionaires, unlike most people, are very mobile, OK? They don’t like something? They move.”

He brings up the mass exodus of wealthy people in France after the president implemented the wealth tax in 1982 to fund a bunch of “free” programs for lower socioeconomic classes.

“When [the rich] leave, what happens? The tax base collapses,” says Glenn.

He explains that socialists sell “tax the rich” initiatives by promising voters it will only hit the “top 10%,” but once that top 10% flees, the socioeconomic class right below them slides into the crosshairs and starts shouldering those same punishing taxes.

This pattern of exodus and replacement continues, eventually bringing about the final step: “The system becomes unsustainable.”

“Here’s why it breaks,” says Glenn. “Because the government, Marxism, socialists, they don’t respond to signals — the market signals. … They respond to political incentives, so who cares if it’s $36,000 over [$23,000]?”

“When [socialism] doesn’t work, they know all they have to do is just find a way to convince you that somebody else is screwing you, and you’ll continue to vote for them. That’s a lot easier than fixing things,” he continues. “So the costs rise, bureaucracy grows, fraud appears, and suddenly the system costs far more than the private system it replaced.”

This is almost certainly the Big Apple’s dark destiny, he argues, because “it started with [step one].”

To hear more of Glenn’s analysis, watch the video above.

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​The glenn beck program, Glenn beck, Zohran mamdani, Socialism, Free programs, Marxism, Nyc, New york city, Free daycare, Blazetv, Blaze media 

While the situation in the Middle East has remained volatile since the commencement of Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion on Saturday, the United States has been working overtime to support Americans attempting to evacuate Israel and the surrounding regions.

As military operations against Iran enter their sixth day, the State Department and related agencies have provided updated guidance for U.S. citizens seeking to depart the region.

‘Since February 28, the Department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East, approximately 8,500 arrivals yesterday.’

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee previously offered “fairly limited” options for Americans attempting to evacuate the region, including a bus service to Taba, Egypt, where travelers could attempt to catch an outgoing flight or continue to the airport in Cairo, Egypt. The bus service is still operational, according to a Thursday update from U.S. Embassy Jerusalem.

RELATED: Only one Democrat joins GOP as Senate rejects effort to halt Trump’s Iran strikes

Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

The service was initially offered by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. Per the Thursday update, U.S. Embassy Jerusalem “has started offering” the same bus service to Taba.

The update also announced that Ben Gurion Airport reopened Thursday for “limited inbound flights” to Tel Aviv.

“We have no information yet on when outbound flights may become available,” the embassy’s security alert said.

There have been, however, some outbound flights for Americans facilitated by the Department of State.

According to a State Department media note released on Wednesday, “a Department of State charter flight of American citizens departed the Middle East in route to the United States as part of our ongoing efforts to assist Americans’ return home. Additional flights will be surged across the region.”

The note added that American citizens in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are encouraged to fill out and submit a crisis intake form or contact the department’s 24/7 task force.

A State Department spokesperson told Blaze News Thursday, “Since February 28, the Department has facilitated the safe return of over 20,000 American citizens from the Middle East, approximately 8,500 arrivals yesterday. Thousands more have successfully transitioned to safe havens in Europe and Asia or remain in active transit.”

The spokesperson added that the State Department’s 24/7 task force has “assisted nearly 10,000 Americans abroad, including offering security guidance and travel assistance.”

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​Politics, Iran, Operation epic fury, Operation roaring lion, Israel, United states, State department, Tel aviv, Ben gurion international airport, Egypt, Cairo egypt, Us embassy jerusalem, Mike huckabee 

Misty Roberts — accused of having sex with a drunken 16-year-old boy during a boozy pool party at her home while she was mayor of a small town in Louisiana — has been found guilty of felony child sex crimes.

KPLC-TV on Tuesday evening reported that Roberts was found guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile — both felonies.

‘Go fight your friend. He’s the one who did it.’

The station noted that the jury “deliberated for less than an hour” before reaching a verdict. Her sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 17. Roberts will have to register as a sex offender.

Blaze News previously reported on the initial arrest and resignation of the 43-year-old Roberts.

Roberts was arrested on Aug. 1, 2024, and charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, according to the Louisiana State Police.

Roberts — who was the first female mayor of DeRidder and was serving her second term — resigned on July 27, 2024.

In her resignation letter to the city council, Roberts explained her decision to step down by saying: “I must adjust my focus and priorities.”

The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office requested the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit to investigate a complaint regarding allegations of sexual relations between a minor and Roberts.

Roberts hosted a boozy pool party at her home in July 2024 during her second term as mayor, prosecutors said.

RELATED: Marriage meltdown: Mom-of-two teacher busted for alleged child molestation of student; reportedly loses custody of kids

During the seven-day trial, jurors were shown text messages between Roberts and her teenage son, with the pair discussing what type of alcohol the teens wanted for the party hosted at her home.

KPLC reported on the victim’s testimony about the night of the pool party, noting that Roberts told him he “looked good, started winking at him, and dancing on him.”

In his closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Charles Robinson highlighted a “lewd and lascivious photo” which KPLC described as Roberts “wearing a bikini as the teen smiles up at her.”

The victim said Roberts kissed him near the pool, then led them into a room of her home.

The victim — who was 16 years old at the time — testified that Roberts removed her top, he pulled his pants down, and then they had sex.

During explosive testimony Tuesday, the victim — who was a friend of Roberts’ son — told the jury he was extremely intoxicated when he and Roberts had sex, KPLC reported.

“I was kind of dizzy,” the victim told the courtroom. “I had to put my hands on the couch. My eyes were just, like, closed.”

The teen added, “While it was happening, I couldn’t feel my body.”

“After we had sex, I kinda was realizing what was happening,” the victim stated.

The boy recalled Roberts noticing what appeared to be a cell phone seen in a window of the room.

Roberts’ son told the pair that someone at the party had recorded their sexual encounter on video, according to the victim.

The victim testified that a “big argument” between Roberts and her son took place, during which she said, “Go fight your friend. He’s the one who did it.”

According to KPLC, the victim told jurors that Roberts “was trying to get him to fight me. She was trying to get the blame off of herself.”

The boy said he was “kind of shell-shocked” and added, “I just went to my truck and sat there.”

The teen said Roberts’ nephew later came up to him outside and said, “What you did was kind of messed up, but it’s her fault.”

According to KPLC, a 14-year-old at the party testified that he witnessed the victim and Roberts having sex. The teen told the court that Roberts “was acting real crazy” when she came back downstairs after the sexual encounter.

Another witness who was 17 at the time of the alleged incident admitted on the stand that he lied when he first told investigators in 2024 that he was asleep and didn’t see anything, KPLC reported, adding that he testified Monday that he actually did see Roberts and the victim having sex.

“It just seemed the easiest thing to do was to keep up with the lie,” he told the jury, according to the station.

‘I played dumb and denied it.’

Roberts’ nephew told the court he believed he saw the two engaging in sexual activity based on their movements but admitted he hadn’t seen any “private parts.”

Roberts’ daughter testified that she saw her mother and the teen “on top of each other” on the night of the party, KPLC reported.

The victim said those who knew about the incident had a plan “to not tell anyone because it was embarrassing” to Roberts’ nephew, Roberts’ son, and himself.

KPLC reported that Duncan Clanton, Roberts’ ex-husband and father to their two children, testified that his ex-wife told him she had sex with a juvenile, which their son confirmed to him.

Clanton added to jurors that Roberts requested that he call the victim’s family to gauge their reaction, which he said he did.

Clanton said DeRidder City Councilman Joseph Daniel Reynolds contacted him about the incident, and afterward he texted Roberts: “I played dumb and denied it.”

In another text, Roberts wrote to her ex-husband, “I can’t keep hurting others, friends, and family. Lord knows I’ve done enough.”

Clanton assured Roberts via text message that she was a great mom, according to prosecutors.

However, during cross-examination, Clanton was asked if his ex-wife was a great mom, and he responded, “No.”

Roberts’ lifelong best friend and former sister-in-law, Jill Weaver, texted her son — Roberts’ nephew, who attended the party — “Lie till you die” about what happened, according to KPLC.

Weaver was asked if she instructed her son to not contact authorities about the incident: “Did you consult with him on how to keep the police out of this?” Weaver responded, “Probably.”

The mother of the victim texted Roberts about the possibility that her son impregnated her, but Roberts assured the mom that she was on birth control, according to messages shown in court by prosecutors.

A DoorDash driver also informed the court that he delivered Plan B emergency contraception to Roberts’ home in 2024 and left it at her front door and that a customer named “Misty C” made the order.

KPLC reported, “He said he knew it was Roberts’ house because he had brought his kids trick-or-treating there before.”

The news outlet added that the DoorDash driver had “heard rumors of Roberts’ alleged crimes in the following days and believed that he had delivered the contraceptive for that incident.”

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​Child sex crimes, Crime, Louisiana, Mayor arrested, Misty roberts, Misty roberts trial, Sex scandal 

The Department of Homeland Security has fired back at a Minnesota prosecutor who announced an investigation into federal agents’ actions in Minnesota.

The office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said Monday it was investigating Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and other federal agents and opening an online portal for the public to send in tips about their “potentially unlawful behavior.”

‘Politicians are laying blame at the feet of law enforcement instead of looking in the mirror.’

A DHS spokesperson responded to the investigation in a statement via email to Blaze News.

“This does nothing to make Minnesota safer. Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II, and the Supremacy Clause,” the DHS spokesperson said.

“What these States are trying to do is unlawful, and they know it. Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law,” the spokesperson continued. “Politicians are laying blame at the feet of law enforcement instead of looking in the mirror at how they have fueled the hatred and violent attacks we are seeing against federal law enforcement officers.”

The spokesperson went on to cite increased violence against federal officers, including a 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.

“We are calling on Democrats, like Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, to stop spreading this garbage,” the spokesperson concluded.

Moriarty’s investigation likely includes video captured of Bovino tossing a canister of irritant at protesters and a photograph of an agent spraying irritant directly into the face of a protester pinned to the ground.

RELATED: Sex toys, other objects allegedly thrown at cops at Minneapolis ICE facility, prompting dozens of arrests — but not by DHS

“Our [Transparency and Accountability Project] team is actively investigating 17 incidents that have been brought to our attention by the community, including Gregory Kent Bovino’s actions,” reads the statement from Moriarty.

Bovino had been praised by many for his aggressive tactics, but he left Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis after the deaths of anti-ICE protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Border czar Tom Homan was placed in charge of the operation, and he removed all federal agents after reaching an agreement with state and local leaders.

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On the same day that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) admitted to having an affair with a former staffer who tragically committed suicide by self-immolation, the U.S. House of Representatives sidelined a bill that would potentially have brought transparency to matters of sexual misconduct among members of Congress.

On Wednesday, the House voted “yea” on a motion to refer a subpoena sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) to the House Ethics Committee.

‘I think it is DISGUSTING how Congress protects its own corruption. No wonder the American people hate us.’

The bill, which passed 357-65 in favor of referring the resolution to the Ethics Committee, directs the committee to “preserve and publicly release records of the Committee’s review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives.”

Though she sponsored the bill, Mace appears to be upset by the vote to refer the subpoena to the House Ethics Committee because its leadership has made clear that it does not intend to move forward with the disclosure.

Ethics Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and ranking member Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement: “Victims may be re-traumatized by public disclosures of interim work product, excerpts of interview transcripts, and certain exhibits. And witnesses, who often only speak to the Committee confidentially or on condition of future anonymity, could fear retaliation if their cooperation is made public.”

Mace took to X shortly after the resolution was sent to committee to condemn the outcome of the vote.

“Our resolution to expose predators in Congress was killed. Your government is more concerned with protecting predators than protecting women. The establishment watches out for itself,” Mace wrote. “Remember this when they ask for your trust. This is what corruption looks like.”

RELATED: ‘I made a mistake’: Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who set herself on fire

Photographer: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) signaled her support for the subpoena and said she was disgusted by the move to send the subpoena to the Ethics Committee, which she said is where “stuff” goes to “die.”

“I think it is DISGUSTING how Congress protects its own corruption. No wonder the American people hate us,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said on X.

Mace made another post with all of the names of her colleagues who voted in favor of sending the subpoena to the committee. She then admonished them: “Shame on every single one of you who voted to protect predators in Congress over the women they prey on.”

Though her first resolution was unsuccessful, Politico reported that Mace did have some success in forcing another vote, this time to subpoena the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights for records about sexual harassment awards and settlements under the Congressional Accountability Act.

Mace was able to successfully force that vote after reaching an agreement with Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) to limit the range of the subpoena to only members of Congress, as well as another small caveat, according to Politico.

Mace celebrated the win on X and made a promise to the American people: “After the full House voted to keep covering up Ethics Committee records of Members of Congress who engaged in sexual harassment records [sic], the Oversight Committee passed our motion to subpoena the taxpayer-funded settlement SLUSH FUND used to silence victims. Every Member of Congress who used your money to silence victims they harassed will be exposed, and we look forward to reviewing the records from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. We will make sure YOU, the people, know their names.”

Calls for disclosure of the so-called slush fund have been going on for years. In late 2024, then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) called for the release of the payouts and the names associated with them. The “slush fund” was estimated to be over $17 million at the time.

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House Republican leadership has officially called for disgraced Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales to drop his re-election bid.

The scandal-ridden congressman faced calls to resign after reports indicated he had an affair with a staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later committed suicide by setting herself on fire. Gonzales dodged the allegations for weeks but admitted to the affair in a Wednesday interview, prompting an official call to step down from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) as well as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.).

‘Let’s get to work.’

“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously,” Republican leadership said in a joint statement. “Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation.”

“We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”

RELATED: ‘I made a mistake’: Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who set herself on fire

Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

Gonzales’ primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, nearly unseated him in 2024, and the two candidates are currently heading to a runoff in May. Herrera holds a narrow lead over Gonzales in the 2026 primary and has embraced leadership’s calls for his opponent to step down.

“I would like to thank Speaker Johnson and House leadership for holding Congressman Tony Gonzales accountable for actions that have tarnished the office,” Herrera said in a post on X. “I’m looking forward to representing the district the way the people of West Texas have always deserved. Let’s get to work.”

RELATED: ‘Really disgusting’: Damning alleged texts prompt Republicans to call for scandal-ridden Tony Gonzales’ resignation

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Gonzales has not yet confirmed whether he will step down from the race. His office did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

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Jasmine Crockett’s run for Senate has come to an end, with Democrat James Talarico handily beating the congresswoman and advancing to the general election — and BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock is not surprised.

“She didn’t campaign against her number-one opponent. She campaigned against Donald Trump,” Whitlock says, pointing out that her campaign ad featured a shot of Crockett staring straight ahead while a voice-over of Donald Trump insulting her played.

“Who told her that was going to work? Letting Trump talk accurately about you on camera for 30 seconds — that somehow was going to win you [the] election?” Whitlock asks.

However, Chad O. Jackson doesn’t believe it’s the time to be running any victory laps.

“Her opponent, James Talarico, is far worse than Jasmine Crockett is, in terms of his effectiveness in pushing the agenda that they’re pushing. It’s interesting because Jasmine Crockett has become this kind of household name in a negative way for a lot of Republicans and conservatives, for the very reason that she’s very boisterous and she’s very out there and what many people would call ‘ghetto,’” Jackson tells Whitlock.

“James Talarico is much more silent, but he’s much more deadly. Talarico represents a lot of what’s wrong, but he also is a heretic and he’s a fraud. He is a proponent of the social gospel, the, you know, liberation theology,” he explains.

“He has this so-called faith-forward agenda, where he adheres to a kind of progressive theology, and he’s been effective in terms of pushing leftist secularist policies here in the state of Texas,” he continues.

“Somebody like a Jasmine Crockett or an AOC — they’re easy to point at and say, ‘Oh, these people shouldn’t be in Congress; they shouldn’t be in politics,’ and I fully agree with that. But … it’s really easy to defeat their policies. These more silent and yet deadly people are more effective — and therefore more dangerous,” he adds.

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A letter circulating on social media appears to show that a California high school has suspended a student over signs showing support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The letter from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego and dated February 27 affirmed that students have a right to free speech but asserted that the signs violated a policy against “conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment,” according to a picture.

‘This is divisive language. Being American means tolerating protests.’

The letter said that the student was caught on video “posting flyers in the learning commons and in hallways that stated I Love ICE from Real Americans.”

It went on to define the “fighting words” doctrine: “While a high bar, in a school context, words that are intentionally used to provoke a violent reaction or target a marginalized group’s right to be on campus can be restricted to maintain safety.”

It said the student would be suspended for March 2 and indicated that one-day suspension was the student’s first suspension of the year.

Torrey Pines High School is also the location of a walkout protest against ICE that included hundreds of students. The school did not sanction the protest and warned students that they would be marked truant if they left the campus.

A bilingual Latino newspaper in San Diego supported the suspension.

“Students suspended at Torrey Pines HS over ‘We [heart] I.C.E. by Real Americans’ posters. Critics say it’s unfair after anti-ICE protests,” read the post by La Prensa.

RELATED: 100 outraged community members denounce grade school teacher over 2-word pro-ICE post

Photo by Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

“The difference: not loving ICE doesnt [sic] mean protesters are not ‘real Americans.’ This is divisive language. Being American means tolerating protests,” the outlet wrote unironically.

The school’s administration acknowledged emails from Blaze News but did not provide comment.

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Americans remain deeply divided over the U.S.-Israel-initiated conflict in Iran, with opinions ranging from stark disapproval to strong support.

But Glenn Beck wonders how our founding fathers would have viewed America’s current military conflict with Iran. To dive into this query, he invites Professor Jonathan Turley, author of “Rage and the Republic,” to “The Glenn Beck Program” for an in-depth constitutional breakdown.

Glenn cuts straight to the heart of the matter: “How would the founders have looked at the situation in Iran?”

Turley doesn’t mince words: “They would not have looked kindly upon it.”

“The framers divided the power over war between Congress and the president, and so under Article 2, Section 2, the president is declared the commander in chief, but under Article 1, Section 8, Congress alone may declare war,” he explains. “So the framers wanted to make it difficult to go to war; they didn’t like foreign entanglements.”

However, since World War II, which was the last time war was formally declared, Congress has “evaded its responsibility” by passing vague resolutions, like Authorizations for Use of Military Force, Turley explains, and as a result, “The courts have largely deferred to the political branches.”

All considered, is President Trump acting within established authority?

“The answer is yeah,” says Turley. “I mean in the sense of the modern interpretation of the Constitution, not quite if you look at the original intent.”

“There’s no question that [President Trump] is using the authority used by past Democratic presidents, including President Barack Obama,” he adds, criticizing the hypocrisy of Democrats like Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), who defended Obama’s unilateral 2011 military attack on Libya but are now “expressing horror” at Trump’s similar decisive action against Iran.

Glenn adds that under the current War Powers Resolution, presidents can engage in hostilities for up to 90 days but only if they properly notify Congress to start the clock — yet “not a single president has ever filed the paperwork” and “Congress doesn’t insist,” so “the clock never starts,” allowing indefinite unilateral actions without real checks.

Turley notes that the War Powers Act has long been contested by presidents of both parties as infringing on Article II authority, and while the standard 60 days would likely suffice for this limited operation, efforts like Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine’s resolution to force an immediate halt carry little force due to a built-in exception allowing responses to imminent attacks.

“Every attack now is imminent. Every attack we launch is preemptive. I mean, the Iranian government is firing missiles randomly at other countries. So the question is, what does this resolution even do?” he asks.

“And can’t the president veto this anyway?” asks Glenn.

“Right,” says Turley, although he speculates that resolution likely won’t pass.

“The interesting dynamic here on the Hill is to see how many of these members are willing in the middle of combat operation to say, even symbolically, even though it’s sort of a paper tiger, ‘You better stop now,”’ he adds.

Turley then highlights another layer of congressional dysfunction amid the conflict: the ongoing partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown.

He warns that it would be “breathtaking” if Democrats maintain their blockade on funding Homeland Security and TSA — demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms amid the ongoing partial DHS shutdown — right “in the middle of this conflict” with Iran.

To hear more of Glenn and Turley’s conversation, watch the video above.

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President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) would replace Kristi Noem as the homeland security secretary beginning March 31.

‘Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.’

Trump made the announcement shortly after several news reports claimed he was considering firing Noem and weighing a replacement.

Rumors first surfaced in early December that Trump was unsatisfied with Noem and considering her removal. However, the White House was quick to dismiss the reports as “total Fake News,” stating that the secretary was “doing a great job implementing the president’s agenda and making America safe again.”

Those claims resurfaced this week, after NBC News reported on Thursday that Trump “has grown frustrated” with Noem and was “unhappy” with her testimony before House and Senate committees, citing anonymous sources.

The news outlet stated that Noem told senators that Trump had signed off on a $220 million Department of Homeland Security ad campaign encouraging illegal aliens to self-deport.

“The president tasked me with getting the message out to the country and to other countries where we were seeing the invasion come from, with putting commercials out that told them that if they were in this country illegally, that they needed to leave or we would detain them and remove them and they’d not get the chance to come back to America the right way,” Noem told lawmakers during Tuesday’s hearing.

When asked to clarify whether Trump had asked her to run the advertisements, Noem replied, “We had that conversation, yes.”

RELATED: Republican senator melts down over Trump administration’s deportations

Markwayne Mullin. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

However, a White House official rejected that claim.

“POTUS did not sign off on a $220 million dollar ad campaign. Absolutely not,” a White House official previously stated.

Trump announced that Mullin would take over for Noem in a post on social media on Thursday afternoon.

RELATED: Government-paid traffickers? Noem testifies Biden administration funded abuse of migrant kids

Kristi Noem. Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026,” Trump wrote. “The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”

He commended Mullin for “a tremendous job representing the wonderful People of Oklahoma,” describing the senator as a “MAGA Warrior.”

“Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda,” Trump continued. “As the only Native American in the Senate, Markwayne is a fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities. Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. Markwayne will make a spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Neither the DHS nor the White House immediately responded to a request for comment.

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Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Ventura, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing online records from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The California Highway Patrol arrested the 44-year-old pop star around 9:30 p.m., the Times said, adding that she was booked around 3 a.m. Thursday.

It wasn’t Spears’ first run-in with the law.

Her car was impounded, and she was released just after 6 a.m., the paper said.

The Times said Spears’ occupation was listed as “celebrity.”

Spears is scheduled for a May 4 hearing in Ventura County Superior Court in Ventura, the paper said.

The Times said it wasn’t able to immediately reach a Spears’ representative Thursday morning.

RELATED: ‘All we can do is keep praying’: Britney Spears’ father gives first interview in a decade, believes controversial conservatorship may have kept pop star alive

It wasn’t Spears’ first run-in with the law.

She was arrested in 2007 in Los Angeles County not long after her divorce from Kevin Federline was finalized, the paper said, adding that Spears was charged with misdemeanors for an alleged hit-and-run and driving without a license.

The Times said the case was dropped in October 2008 after a jury split 10-2 in favor of acquittal.

Variety said Spears recently sold her song catalog.

The outlet also said Spears in January wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post that she “will never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons.”

More from Variety:

Spears was released from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021 and has largely kept a low profile since then. The pop superstar has not released an album since 2016’s “Glory,” and she last performed live in the U.S. in 2018, when she closed out her “Piece of Me” tour with a show at the Formula One Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. She had been scheduled to return to Las Vegas in 2019 for a second residency, “Domination,” but she ultimately postponed the show and stepped away from performing indefinitely.

Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, was in control of the pop star’s assets during the conservatorship. Following his daughter’s release from it, Jamie Spears in December 2022 asked, “Where would Britney be right now without that conservatorship? And I don’t know if she’d be alive.”

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In the latest about-face in his nascent term in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) has reversed course on a promise he made about traffic in the Big Apple.

The New York Post reported Thursday that Mamdani has walked back his commitment to enact a “daylighting” policy at intersection crosswalks.

‘We always take a holistic approach, and we really look at the unique conditions and context of each location.’

Daylighting is a policy designed to ban parking near pedestrian crosswalks, allowing for safer travel by foot throughout the city.

Mamdani publicly declared in February that “we deserve to have all [intersections] daylighted,” according to the Post.

RELATED: LGBTQ champion Zohran Mamdani faces backlash over photo with ‘anti-homosexuality’ Ugandan lawmaker

Photographer: Amir Hamja/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images

However, Mamdani’s Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn indicated Tuesday that this promise was more talk than walk.

“Daylighting is definitely one important tool but as a few of us have mentioned earlier, we always take a holistic approach, and we really look at the unique conditions and context of each location,” Flynn told the city council.

The Post previously reported that enacting a universal daylighting policy across the city would be extremely costly for New Yorkers. The city would lose an estimated 300,000 parking spots and could foot a bill as large as $3 billion.

“The Mamdani administration is committed to following the data, listening to the evidence, and working with City Council and our experienced advocacy partners to expand daylighting effectively and maximize street safety across the five boroughs,” Mamdani spokeswoman Dora Pekec said in a statement to the Post.

This isn’t the first campaign promise Mamdani has reneged on.

Last month, Mamdani brought back homeless encampment sweeps during a massive snowstorm that swept the city. Mamdani had promised to ditch the policy during his campaign. At least 19 people died outdoors during the cold snap on Mamdani’s watch.

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Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas has officially admitted to having an affair with a former staffer who tragically committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

The scandal-ridden Republican owned up to the affair in a Wednesday interview with Joe Pags the day after receiving a lackluster electoral outcome in his Texas primary. Gonzales has notably maintained the endorsement of prominent Republicans, including President Donald Trump.

‘There’s a whole lot more to the story.’

“I made a mistake,” Gonzales said. “I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith. And I take full responsibility for those actions.”

“Since then, I have reconciled with my wife, Angel,” Gonzales added. “I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever.”

RELATED: Scandal-plagued Texas congressman forced into runoff rematch — after barely escaping defeat last time

In newly released text messages Gonzales allegedly exchanged with former district staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, Gonzales seemed to pressure Santos-Aviles to “send [him] a sexy pic” and to name her “favorite position.” Santos-Aviles appeared to push back on his advances, saying he was “going too far boss.”

When asked about the sexually explicit text messages released by Santos-Aviles’ widower, Adrian Aviles, Gonzales declined to confirm their validity. Gonzales instead deferred to the House Ethics Committee, which recently launched its investigation into the Texas Republican’s conduct.

“I’ll let the investigation play out and share all the different details on it,” Gonzales said. “I will say there’s a whole lot more to the story.”

Gonzales is now facing a primary rematch with gun YouTuber Brandon Herrera, who narrowly secured more votes than the incumbent, forcing the two rivals into a runoff.

RELATED: ‘Really disgusting’: Damning alleged texts prompt Republicans to call for scandal-ridden Tony Gonzales’ resignation

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Herrera has been a harsh critic of Gonzales’ personal and political record, saying, “2 weeks ago this man called me a liar because I accused him of committing the heinous acts that he just publicly admitted to doing,”

“Is there anyone left who still trusts this now objectively proven liar?”

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