FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: James Comey 'brought shame to the FBI again' with '86 47' post

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: James Comey 'brought shame to the FBI again' with '86 47' post

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino issued a sharp and public condemnation of the bureau's former director, James Comey, Saturday, accusing Comey of disgracing the agency as authorities investigateComey's controversial "86 47" Instagram post. In a statement posted to X,Bongino saidComey's actions are another example of failed leadership that continues to haunt the agency. "Former FBI Director James Comey brought shame to the FBI badge, yet again, this past week," Bongino wrote. "The Director and I spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning up messes left behind by former Director Comey. And his latest actions are no exception." Trump Says Comey Knew 'Assassination' Meaning Behind Deleted Social Media Post Comey, dismissed by PresidentDonald Trumpin 2017, sparked outrage after posting a photo to social media Thursday showing seashells arranged to say "86 47," a phrase widely understood to mean to "get rid of" the 47th president. Though Comey later deleted the post and claimed it was misunderstood, many, including Trump, say the meaning was clear. "He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant," Trump said Friday on Fox News. "If you're the FBI director, and you don't know what that meant,that meant 'assassination,'and it says it loud and clear." Read On The Fox News App Comey offered a follow-up statement online, saying he "didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence" and that it "never occurred to me." Bongino strongly rejectedthat explanation, describing it as part of a larger pattern of misconduct. In his post, Bongino wrote: Former Fbi Director James Comey Meets With Secret Service After Controversial '86 47' Post "As the Deputy Director of the FBI, I am charged, standing with Director Patel, with managing the most powerful law enforcement agency in the world. The Director and I are also responsible for looking at grave mistakes made by people within the FBI in the past, and ensuring they never happen again." He stressed the FBI's continuing commitment to supporting federal law enforcement partners investigating any threats involving public officials, past or present. "While the FBI does not have primary investigative responsibility for investigating threats against the POTUS, and we do not make prosecutorial decisions, we do have the ability and authority to support other federal agencies for violations of federal law," Bongino said. "And we certainly have a responsibility to comment on matters involving former FBI officials, and allegations of law-breaking." The U.S. Secret Service has already interviewed Comey about the incident.FBI Director Kash Patelsaid in a separate statement that the bureau is "in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran." Bongino noted that this latest controversy is part of a general legacy of dysfunction inherited from Comey's leadership, which he and Patel are working to fix from the inside out. "As I've stated in the past, I cannot post openly about all the things the Director and I are doing to reform the enterprise, but I assure you, they are happening," Bongino wrote. "Sadly, many of those agenda items are the result of former Director Comey's poor decision-making and atrocious leadership. "And to those who doubt me, I assure you, when you see what the Director and I see from the inside, it's even worse." Bongino said he chose to post his statement now because his scheduled interview with FOX Business anchorMaria Bartiromo, which will air Sunday on"Sunday Morning Futures,"was recorded earlier in the week, before the Comey post was made public. "I'm addressing this now, rather than on our interview with Maria Bartiromo [Sunday], because we recorded that interview earlier in the week prior to the incident with Comey," he explained. He closed with a message to the country that echoed his support for the law enforcement community and the reforms underway at the FBI. "God bless America, and all those who defend Her," he said. Bongino, a former NYPD officer and longtime Secret Service agent, was appointed deputy director of the FBI earlier this year. His leadership under Director Kash Patel reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to restore accountability and integrity to the FBI after years of what many see as politically motivated misconduct. The FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for further comment. Original article source:FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: James Comey 'brought shame to the FBI again' with '86 47' post

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 17, 2025

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: James Comey 'brought shame to the FBI again' with '86 47' post

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: James Comey 'brought shame to the FBI again' with '86 47' post FBI Deputy Director Dan Bong...

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Polish presidential election to test if PM's pro-EU vision is Trump-proof

Polish presidential election to test if PM's pro-EU vision is Trump-proof

By Alan Charlish WARSAW (Reuters) -Poles vote on Sunday in a presidential election that will decide whether Warsaw follows the pro-European path set by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, or takes a step towards bringing back nationalist admirers of U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump's return to power has energised eurosceptics across Europe, and Sunday's ballot will be the sternest test of Tusk's pro-European vision since he came to power in 2023, ousting the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. The election pits Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, from Tusk's Civic Coalition (KO), against conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by PiS. Trzaskowski has been cast as the frontrunner, likely to face Nawrocki in a run-off, due on June 1 if no candidate wins over 50%. Media blackout laws forbid the publication of opinion poll results from Saturday morning until voting ends on Sunday. Also competing are far-right candidate Slawomir Mentzen from the Confederation party, Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia of the centre-right Poland 2050 and Magdalena Biejat from the Left. The Polish first round vote takes place on the same day as a second round presidential run-off in Romania, where George Simion, a nationalist who campaigns to "Make Romania Great Again", faces centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. A victory for two eurosceptic candidates would send shockwaves through the EU at a time when it is grappling with the twin challenges of Russia's invasion of Poland's eastern neighbour Ukraine and Trump's tariffs. Polls in Poland open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 9 p.m. Around 29 million people are eligible to vote. The Polish president has limited executive powers but can veto legislation. That has allowed outgoing President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, to stymie efforts by Tusk to undo judicial changes put in place under the PiS, which Tusk says hamper democracy. Trzaskowski has pledged to cement Poland's role as a major player at the heart of European policymaking and work with the government to roll back PiS's judicial changes. 'END THE CHAOS' "I would definitely strengthen relations with our partners... within NATO and the EU," he told state broadcaster TVP Info on Friday. "I will also ask lawmakers to give me the bills Duda vetoed to sign... I also hope that we will end the chaos in the justice system that PiS left us." Nawrocki's campaign was rocked by allegations, which he denies, that he deceived an elderly man into selling him a flat in return for a promise of care he did not provide. But Trump showed support by meeting Nawrocki in the White House. Nawrocki casts the election as a chance to stop Tusk achieving unchecked power and push back against liberal values represented by Trzaskowski, who as Warsaw mayor patronised LGBT marches and took down Christian crosses from public buildings. "The cross that my opponent took down in Warsaw... 1,000 years of heritage of the Polish state, is our strength, is our energy," he told a rally in the eastern city of Lublin. Unlike some other eurosceptics in central Europe, Nawrocki supports military aid to help Ukraine fend off Russia. However, he has tapped into anti-Ukrainian sentiment among some Poles weary of an influx of refugees from their neighbour. He has said Polish citizens should get priority in public services and criticised Kyiv's attitude to exhumations of the remains of Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War Two. (Reporting by Alan Charlish)

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 17, 2025

Polish presidential election to test if PM's pro-EU vision is Trump-proof

Polish presidential election to test if PM's pro-EU vision is Trump-proof By Alan Charlish WARSAW (Reuters) -Poles vote on Sunday in a ...

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South Korea's presidential candidates prepare to face off in first debate

South Korea's presidential candidates prepare to face off in first debate

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's presidential candidates will face off in their first TV debate on Sunday evening ahead of a snap election on June 3 to choose a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. Sunday's debate, the first of three TV debates scheduled over the next two weeks, will focus on how to revitalise the struggling economy, one of the hot-button election issues. Asia's fourth-largest economy contracted in the first quarter as exports and consumption stalled amid fears over the impact of Washington's aggressive tariffs and political turmoil at home. South Korea has begun trade talks with the United States and is seeking a waiver from the tariffs. After U.S. President Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on South Korea in April, Seoul was one of the first countries to hold face-to-face talks with Washington, following in the footsteps of Japan. Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition Democratic Party's candidate and the frontrunner in the race, has vowed to raise artificial intelligence investment up to 100 trillion won ($71.52 billion) and offer a production tax credit of up to 10% for semiconductors manufactured and sold domestically. Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate for the conservative People Power Party, has pledged to create a government agency dedicated to innovating regulations and invest over 5% of the budget in research and development. Lee holds a lead with 51% support in the latest Gallup Korea poll released on Friday, with Kim trailing far behind at 29%. Former President Yoon was ousted last month over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, stoking political turmoil and triggering the election. Lee called earlier in the day for constitutional reform to allow a four-year, two-term presidency and a two-round system for presidential elections through a referendum. South Korean presidents currently serve a single five-year term. He also vowed to curb the presidential right to declare martial law and hold to account those responsible for the December 3 martial law declaration. "We must gather the people's strength to root (them) out and strictly hold (them) accountable," he told a press briefing. ($1 = 1,398.1200 won) (Reporting by Hyunsu YimEditing by Shri Navaratnam)

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 17, 2025

South Korea's presidential candidates prepare to face off in first debate

South Korea's presidential candidates prepare to face off in first debate SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's presidential candidates wil...

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Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency

Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency

Libraries across the United States are cutting back on e-books, audiobooks and loan programs after the Trump administration suspended millions of dollars in federal grants as it tries to dissolve theInstitute of Museum and Library Services. Federal judges have issued temporary orders toblock the Trump administrationfrom taking any further steps toward gutting the agency. But the unexpected slashing of grants has delivered a significant blow to many libraries, which are reshuffling budgets and looking at different ways to raise money. Maine has laid off a fifth of its staff and temporarily closed its state library after not receiving the remainder of its annual funding. Libraries in Mississippi have indefinitely stopped offering a popular e-book service, and the South Dakota state library has suspended its interlibrary loan program. E-book and audiobook programs are especially vulnerable to budget cuts, even though thoseofferings have exploded in popularitysince the COVID-19 pandemic. "I think everyone should know the cost of providing digital sources is too expensive for most libraries," said Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association. "It's a continuous and growing need." Library officials caught off guard byTrump's cuts PresidentDonald Trumpissued an executive order March 14 to dismantle the IMLS before firing nearly all of its employees. One month later, the Maine State Library announced it was issuing layoff notices for workers funded through an IMLS grant program. "It came as quite a surprise to all of us," said Spencer Davis, a library generalist at the Maine State Library who is one of eight employees who were laid off May 8 because of the suspended funding. In April, California, Washington and Connecticut were the only three states to receive letters stating the remainder of their funding for the year was cancelled, Hohl said. For others, the money hasn't been distributed yet. The three states all filed formal objections with the IMLS. Rebecca Wendt, California state library director, said she was never told why California's funding was terminated while the other remaining states did not receive the same notice. "We are mystified," Wendt said. The agency did not respond to an email seeking comment. Popular digital offerings on the chopping block Most libraries are funded by city and county governments, but receive a smaller portion of their budget from their state libraries, which receive federal dollars every year to help pay for summer reading programs, interlibrary loan services and digital books. Libraries in rural areas rely on federal grants more than those in cities. Many states use the funding to pay for e-books and audiobooks, which are increasingly popular, and costly, offerings. In 2023, more than 660 million people globally borrowed e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines, up from 19% in 2022, according to OverDrive, the main distributor of digital content for libraries and schools. In Mississippi, the state library helped fund its statewide e-book program. For a few days, Erin Busbea was the bearer of bad news for readers at her Mississippi library: Hoopla, a popular app to check out e-books and audiobooks had been suspended indefinitely in Lowndes and DeSoto counties due to the funding freeze. "People have been calling and asking, 'Why can't I access my books on Hoopla?'" said Busbea, library director of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System in Columbus, a majority-Black city northeast of Jackson. The library system also had to pause parts of its interlibrary loan system allowing readers to borrow books from other states when they aren't available locally. "For most libraries that were using federal dollars, they had to curtail those activities," said Hulen Bivins, the Mississippi Library Commission executive director. States are fighting the funding freeze The funding freeze came after the agency's roughly 70 staff members were placed on administrative leave in March. Attorneys general in 21 states and the American Library Association have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration for seeking to dismantle the agency. The institute's annual budget is below $300 million and distributes less than half of that to state libraries across the country. In California, the state library was notified that about 20%, or $3 million, of its $15 million grant had been terminated. "The small library systems are not able to pay for the e-books themselves," said Wendt, the California state librarian. In South Dakota, the state's interlibrary loan program is on hold, according to Nancy Van Der Weide, a spokesperson for the South Dakota Department of Education. The institute, founded in 1996 by a Republican-controlled Congress, also supports a national library training program named after former first lady Laura Bush that seeks to recruit and train librarians from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds. A spokesperson for Bush did not return a request seeking comment. "Library funding is never robust. It's always a point of discussion. It's always something you need to advocate for," said Liz Doucett, library director at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine. "It's adding to just general anxiety." ___ Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 17, 2025

Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency

Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency Libraries across the United States are cu...

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FDA approves Novavax COVID-19 shot but with unusual restrictions

FDA approves Novavax COVID-19 shot but with unusual restrictions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has issued along-awaited approval of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccinebut with unusual restrictions. Novavax makes the nation's only traditional protein-based coronavirus vaccine – and until now it had emergency authorization from FDA for use in anyone 12 and older. But late Friday, the FDA granted the company full approval for its vaccine for use only in adults 65 and older – or those 12 to 64 who have at least one health problem that puts them at increased risk from COVID-19. Vaccines made by Novavax's competitors Pfizer and Moderna already are fully licensed for use in anyone 12 and older, and also are authorized for use in children as young as 6 months. Next month, influential advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were set to debate if yearly COVID vaccines still should be recommended for everyone or only certain people at higher risk. The Novavax decision suggests the Trump administration may already have decided how to proceed in advance of that meeting. Novavax chief executive John C. Jacobs welcomed the licensure. "Market research and U.S. CDC statistics indicate that older individuals and those with underlying conditions are the populations most likely to seek out COVID-19 vaccination seasonally. This significant milestone demonstrates our commitment to these populations and is a significant step towards availability of our protein-based vaccine option," he said. In its Friday approval letter, the FDA didn't explain the restrictions although they reflectskepticism about vaccinesfromHealth Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.and other Trump officials. Novavax originally showed its vaccine was safe and effective in a 30,000-person clinical trial. The FDA had been on track to grant Novavax full approval – without restrictions -- by its April 1 target date, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential agency matters. Novavax later announced the FDA instead was asking it to run an additional trial after approval, which is highly unusual. FDA did order several additional trials to be completed in the next few years, some examining whether the vaccine might be associated with some heart conditions. Another required study must assess the benefits of continuing vaccination in 50- to 64-year-olds who don't have health problems that increase their risk from COVID-19. —- The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

byDaniel Coleman

in

May 17, 2025

FDA approves Novavax COVID-19 shot but with unusual restrictions

FDA approves Novavax COVID-19 shot but with unusual restrictions WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has issued along-awaited...

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