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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
President Donald Trump gestures while speaking with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson).
An ongoing clash has erupted between Donald Trump and members of the Pulitzer Prize Board, with the former president now disclosing who will be facing his scrutiny behind closed doors next.
According to court documents assessed by Law&Crime, two notifications were made public on Thursday in the Florida state court. These documents reveal that Kathleen Carroll, a former executive editor at the Associated Press, and Kevin Merida, a former executive editor at the Los Angeles Times and a current board member, are scheduled for video depositions on April 15 and April 21, respectively.
While Carroll is not a named defendant, her prior role as a board member and former co-chair makes her a subject of interest. At this time, the specifics of her questioning remain unclear. Law&Crime has reached out to a Trump attorney for comments regarding the notice concerning Carroll.
Trump is actively gathering evidence to support his claim that the Pulitzer board neglected its esteemed standards by failing to revoke several 2018 awards. These awards were given to the Washington Post and New York Times for their coverage of the Mueller investigation, Michael Flynn, the Steele Dossier, former FBI director James Comey, Donald Trump Jr., a 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer, and Russian troll operations.
The recent notices come on the heels of several other depositions and Trump’s recent demand for documents from Pulitzer board member and New Yorker editor David Remnick. Trump seeks Remnick’s “communications” with the co-founders of Fusion GPS, the organization behind the Steele dossier. The court filing references an August 2016 meeting between Remnick, Glenn Simpson, and Peter Fritsch, requesting details of the discussion and subsequent events over the next six years. Among various articles by Jane Mayer, the New Yorker published a 2019 interview where the co-founders defended their investigative work.
A separate but failed Trump lawsuit explained Trump’s interest in this area, alleging Fusion GPS and his then-opponent Hillary Clinton conspired in a racketeering scheme to cook up a “fraudulent ‘dossier’” that would harm his campaign, his business interests, and cast a cloud over his first term.
The board has made waves of its own in discovery with requests for Trump’s tax returns, records on “medical and/or psychological health” and “any prescription medications,” and for a “complete and unredacted copy” of Mueller’s report, putting to the test Trump’s claims that a “defamatory” board statement backing Russia probe reporting awards harmed his reputation.
Just as Mueller’s former law firm recently opposed a Trump executive order as retaliation for its employment and views of the former special counsel, the board has argued that it took the president’s claims seriously, investigated them, and had the articles independently reviewed — only to be punished with a lawsuit for declining to rewrite history.
After the board resisted the president’s look into its “internal deliberations and review” and lost a long-shot bid to halt the lawsuit in its entirety until he’s out of office, Trump forced Stephen J. Adler, the “independent reviewer” the board relied on, to sit for a deposition. Semafor identified Adler as the reviewer in January.
In 2022, the board released the statement Trump claimed was defamatory, rebuffing his demands to rescind the awards. The statement cited “two independent reviews” of the Times and Post’s reporting — Adler’s conclusions that the prizes “stand,” as “no” aspects of the award-winning articles were “discredited.”
Once his investigation concluded, Mueller famously testified before Congress that Trump was not “exculpated” even though the former special counsel did not allege a grand conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia or obstruction offenses. Trump submits that makes the Russia probe a “Collusion Hoax” and its boosters defamers, even as the special counsel’s report identified “numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump campaign.”
Warning: This article contains content that may be distressing to some readers.
A woman has come forward to CNN, accusing Democratic politician Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct. She recounted a 2024 incident, claiming that after she had left her position in Swalwell’s office, he engaged in unwanted sexual contact. “I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she recalled. “He didn’t stop.”
The woman alleged this was not an isolated incident. She recounted an earlier episode in 2019 when, after a night of heavy drinking, she allegedly woke up naked in a hotel room with Swalwell while still employed by him. She had no recollection of the night’s events but felt certain they had engaged in sexual activity.
Eric Swalwell has denied the accusations made against him. (CNN)
Three additional women have made similar allegations to CNN, accusing Swalwell of various forms of sexual misconduct. Their claims include receiving unsolicited explicit messages and nude photographs from the politician.
One of these women described meeting Swalwell through shared interests in Democratic politics. She recounted an evening where she ended up highly intoxicated in his hotel room. Earlier that night, while at a bar, she said Swalwell had kissed her and touched her leg without her consent, leaving her with only a vague memory of the night’s events.
Another woman, who described receiving unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell, was social media creator Ally Sammarco. She said she initially reached out to the politician on Twitter to discuss politics. “I truly never thought he would respond – I had like 1000 followers at the time,” she said. “And he actually responded.”
Swalwell denied the women’s allegations.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” Swalwell said in a statement to CNN. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a politician and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
An attorney for Swalwell sent two of the women CNN spoke with cease-and-desist letters on Thursday, a day after CNN first reached out to his campaign to request comment, according to copies of the letters they provided CNN. The letters called the women’s accounts “false,” ordered them to retract their statements and warned of potential legal action if they continue speaking out.
The letters said the women’s claims were “undermined” by their “voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years” following the alleged incidents, including the former staffer asking him for job references.
His attorney also sent CNN a letter denying that Swalwell has ever had nonconsensual sex with any woman or ever had sexual relations with any member of his staff.
One member of Swalwell’s staff said they quit immediately after receiving CNN’s detailed list of questions about the allegations.
CNN found corroboration for key elements of each of the women’s claims, including the former staffer who said she was sexually assaulted. Two family members and a friend said in interviews with CNN that she told them about the alleged 2024 assault in the following days, and CNN also reviewed text messages she sent two friends describing her allegations at the same time. “I was sexually assaulted on Thursday,” she wrote to one of her friends, adding: “By Eric.”
Eric Swalwell is a prominent California Democrat. (CNN)
The woman also shared medical records related to her receiving STD and pregnancy testing after the alleged assault.
For the woman who connected online with Swalwell over Democratic politics, a family member and two friends confirmed she told them last year about the incident where she ended up intoxicated in his hotel room. CNN also reviewed messages between her and Swalwell, including a photo he sent her that matches footage of him during a CNN interview in her city on the night they met in person.
The women described a similar pattern of events: Swalwell, who is married and has three children, showed close interest in their lives when they were in their twenties and finding their footing professionally, making them feel special and even starstruck. Then, they said, he would send them increasingly sexual messages. Many said they reciprocated and engaged with him in part because of his position of power. In some cases, those inappropriate exchanges escalated to alleged unwanted physical touch or sexual assault, often tied to episodes of heavy drinking.
The women asked not to be named out of fear of retaliation by Swalwell or professional consequences for speaking out against him.
CNN reviewed screenshots of dozens of messages Swalwell exchanged with the women, many of which are flirtatious in nature. None of the messages reviewed by CNN are sexually explicit. The women said Swalwell generally sent more graphic messages via Snapchat, where messages are automatically deleted after short periods of time. Snapchat also warns senders if screenshots are captured.
The allegations come as Swalwell – a politician from the San Francisco Bay Area, former presidential candidate, and fixture on cable news – has ascended in the polls in California’s competitive governor’s race.
Rumours about misbehaviour by Swalwell have circulated on social media in recent weeks, broadcast by a group of progressive social media influencers. Most of the women who spoke to CNN initially reached out to one of these influencers, and said that before the social media attention, they had assumed they were alone in their experiences with Swalwell.
Three key influencers told CNN that they were not being paid by other campaigns and had not coordinated directly with them in publicising claims about Swalwell.
“This has always been about getting justice for these women and exposing the truth,” said Cheyenne Hunt, a lawyer and former congressional candidate who has shared messages highlighting allegations about Swalwell on social media.
CNN also spoke to other women who worked for Swalwell and said that they had never had any inappropriate interactions with him, with some of them describing him as a supportive and caring boss.
But several of the women who made allegations about Swalwell said that the politician’s actions had long-term implications on their lives, leaving them confused, distraught and scared. They said they decided to come forward after hearing rumours that they were not alone in their experiences with the politician.
“I always felt like if I came forward, I was going to suffer the consequences because he was so powerful,” the former staffer who accused Swalwell of assaulting her said, adding, “I’ve lived in fear every single day.”
‘It just became a secret that I lived with’ The former Swalwell staffer said she started interning for him in 2019 when she was 20 years old and fresh out of university. At the time, Swalwell was a rising star in the Democratic party. A former prosecutor who had defeated a 40-year incumbent to win his suburban San Francisco Bay Area congressional seat, Swalwell made a name for himself as a member of the House Intelligence Committee and an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump.
In April 2019, Swalwell launched an underdog presidential bid, pitching himself as a generational change agent. Inspired by his focus on gun control, the woman moved to California to join Swalwell’s campaign as a junior staffer. “I just believed in what he had to offer so much,” she said.
After Swalwell dropped out of the presidential race in July 2019, she moved to a job in his district office.
Eric Swalwell has been a leading Democratic figure in Congress in recent years. (CNN)
As the woman, who was by then 21, began to work more closely with Swalwell, planning events, arranging his travel, and driving him around his district, he struck up a personal relationship with her. She said that Swalwell, who was 38, praised her work in the office, bringing her to meetings and introducing her to political figures.
“When he talked to you, it was like the sun was shining on you,” she said. “You felt like the coolest person in the room.”
The two began messaging each other on Snapchat, she said. On that platform, she said, Swalwell began making sexual comments and sent her photos of his penis and of him shirtless. He also asked her to send him photos of herself, including nude photos, which she did. She said she found the attention flattering, but also felt nervous because he was her boss.
The woman’s mother told CNN that her daughter told her some months later that Swalwell was communicating with her over Snapchat, and she and her husband found it inappropriate. But the woman didn’t tell her parents at that time that the messages were sexual, the mother said.
Because the messages on Snapchat were automatically deleted, she said she has no screenshots of their exchanges on the app.
“There was Eric the Snapchatting guy, and then there was Eric my boss,” the former staffer said. “It was like two different people completely.”
In 2019, when she was driving Swalwell around his district as part of her staff duties, he told her to stop in a car park, pulled out his penis, and asked her to give him oral sex, she said. She said she briefly complied, before stopping and telling Swalwell she was uncomfortable.
“He said to me, ‘You’re right, it’s probably not good for a politician to be caught with his pants down,’” she told CNN.
In September 2019, she was alone with Swalwell at a bar in his district after a casual gathering with staffers, she said. “I was really, really drunk,” she said.
She said she remembers getting an Uber, and then the next thing she remembered, she woke up in Swalwell’s hotel room the following morning, naked in bed with him.
“I know that there was sexual contact because when I woke up in the morning, I could feel that there was,” she said. Swalwell told her that “last night was great” but she should get going, she said.
That day, she was scheduled to accompany Swalwell to a “hike with your politician” event at a local park; a listing for the event appears on Swalwell’s congressional Facebook page. At the event, she remembered, “I could still feel physically what had happened to me,” but she said Swalwell ignored her, treating her like “someone who he had never seen before in his life.”
Later on Snapchat, she said, Swalwell was much friendlier, telling her how nice their sexual encounter was. “I said to him, ‘I really don’t remember it at all,’” she said. “And he was like, ‘Well, next time, we have to make sure you remember it.’”
The former staffer said that she didn’t tell anyone about either of the incidents with Swalwell at the time. “I just felt so dirty and gross, and it just became a secret that I lived with,” she said. She said it wasn’t clear to her at the time that she had been sexually assaulted, but that she later realized that the encounter was not consensual because she had been so intoxicated.
Eric Swalwell is the leading Democrat in polling for the California gubernatorial race. (CNN)
Swalwell gradually began Snapchatting her less frequently, she said. She moved to a new job in Swalwell’s Washington, DC, office, and left for a new job about a year later. But Swalwell stayed in touch with her, she said, recommending her for jobs and messaging with her from time to time. The former staffer said she tried to stay in touch with Swalwell because of his status as a politician.
Then in April 2024, when the former staffer was 25, Swalwell was invited to speak at a gala in New York City that she attended. CNN reviewed video of Swalwell’s speech at the event, and a photo of the woman there. The woman said she decided to get drinks with Swalwell because he was a powerful person in her field.
The two got drinks at Swalwell’s hotel and a nearby bar, and Swalwell was totally professional, she said. Federal campaign spending records show that Swalwell’s congressional campaign frequently made purchases at both locations she named.
After the gala, she said met up with some colleagues and then sent Swalwell a Snapchat message inviting him to get another drink. One of the colleagues she was with told CNN that she told them at the time that she was going to get a drink with Swalwell. The colleague asked not to be named.
When Swalwell came in a car to pick her up, he put his hand on her leg. “I said, ‘No funny business, like, that’s not what this is,’” she remembered. “And he was like, ‘Okay, okay.’”
But then over drinks, Swalwell told the former staffer that he’d been obsessed with her and he’d never cheated on his wife except with her, she said. “I guess I liked the attention, but I never wanted to sleep with him,” she remembered.
As the night progressed, she said, the two went to another bar and continued drinking. She said she was heavily intoxicated and doesn’t remember leaving the bar.
The next thing the former staffer remembered, she was in bed with Swalwell in his hotel room and he was having sex with her, she said. She said she remembers “flashes of that evening, of him on top of me, me pushing him off, him grabbing me.”
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she said. “He didn’t stop.”
The former staffer woke up in Swalwell’s hotel room the next morning alone and “completely confused,” she said. She had been wearing a dress she needed someone else to zip, so she wrapped herself in a blanket, ran out of the hotel, and took the first cab she saw back to her own hotel, she said. She said she quickly called her mother, who confirmed her account in an interview with CNN.
“My vagina was bleeding the next day after the sex, I had cuts and bruises on my body,” she said. When she looked in the mirror later, “I could see the bruises of where his hand had been on my rib cage and on my legs and near my thighs,” she remembered.
Swalwell messaged her on Snapchat that day saying that the previous night was great and that he hoped she remembered it this time, and telling her not to tell anyone, she said.
She told her partner that Swalwell had assaulted her when she returned home that day, her partner confirmed in an interview with CNN, saying that “she was just so distraught.” She also told two other friends about being assaulted by Swalwell over the following days, according to screenshots of text messages she shared with CNN and an interview with one of the friends. In both text message chains, she referred to the same thing happening to her in the past, writing in one message, “this happened one other time when I was working for him… same pattern: I blacked out and he had sex with me.” Her partner, mother and friend asked not to be named.
Eric Swalwell ran for president in the 2020 primaries but dropped out early. (AAP)
Several days later, she went to a health clinic and got an STD test, and provided screenshots showing that appointment to CNN. She said she told her medical provider that she had been assaulted by a politician, and the provider at the clinic referred to her as “a survivor” in an online message about her test results, a screenshot shows.
She said she never confronted Swalwell directly about the assault or reported it to the police in part because she believed him when he told her he hadn’t made sexual advances toward other women.
“I kept figuring out ways to blame myself: I shouldn’t have reached out to him at all, I should have left, I should have done this,” she said. “Well, Eric shouldn’t have raped me.”
In February, as his campaign for governor was picking up steam, Swalwell and his campaign manager both texted her, offering her work for his campaign, screenshots she provided to CNN show. She declined.
“I’ve always lived with a huge secret,” she said. “I’m not speaking up because I’m looking to ruin Eric Swalwell. The only person who could ruin Eric Swalwell is Eric Swalwell.”
‘All you did was harm me’ Another woman, who had an interest in Democratic politics, said she began messaging with Swalwell online in 2025 after responding to one of his Instagram stories, joking that she might run for office herself. A couple days later, she said, Swalwell followed her and encouraged her to get involved in politics. He later sent her his phone number.
The woman and Swalwell began texting over several weeks, including late at night, discussing politics and their previous work experience as bartenders, screenshots of messages she shared with CNN show. She said she was shocked that a politician was paying her attention. “I kind of almost felt like I was getting catfished,” she said.
In spring 2025, Swalwell said he happened to be coming to her city and asked to meet. He asked for her suggestions for a hotel and places to go, the messages show.
Swalwell and the woman met for dinner and drinks at a steakhouse. She said she told her mother about the meeting with Swalwell in advance, and her mother confirmed that in an interview with CNN. Swalwell asked her about her work history in what seemed almost like a job interview, she recalled.
Partway through their conversation, Swalwell told her that he had to do a CNN interview, and went back to his hotel room. As he was waiting for his live TV hit, Swalwell texted her a photo asking her how he looked, according to a screenshot she provided to CNN. That photo matched Swalwell’s appearance in the interview, and Swalwell also told the CNN anchor that he was visiting the city where the woman lived, according to CNN’s recording.
Afterward, Swalwell took the woman to another bar, where they sat in a back booth, she said. “He was sitting against me, and so I kind of moved away from him, and every time that I would move away from him, he would get closer to me,” she remembered. He touched her leg and ordered a drink for her.
The woman said she tried to turn the conversation to her partner and Swalwell’s wife and children, but Swalwell continued to touch her. She began to get more intoxicated and felt “really fuzzy,” even accidentally walking into the men’s bathroom in the bar, she said.
After she returned to the booth, Swalwell kissed her, she said. “I was shocked that he would do that right in the middle of a public bar,” she said. She said he told him it was wrong, but didn’t want to burn a bridge with a prominent politician, so she stayed at the bar even as she was getting more intoxicated.
The woman said she then ended up in Swalwell’s hotel room without any memory of how she got there. She said that her memory of what happened in Swalwell’s hotel room is “a blur.” She ended up leaving the hotel at 5:41am, according to a screenshot of an Uber receipt she provided to CNN.
The next day, she said, Swalwell sent her disappearing iPhone voice messages saying that he wanted to ensure that his wife didn’t find out about what happened, she said.
She felt emotionally vulnerable and distraught in the following weeks, she said, telling her mother about a month after the fact about what had happened, and later telling two close friends. All three confirmed to CNN in interviews that she had shared her story with them. One friend said that she told them about her experience with Swalwell in December 2025, while the other said she could not remember when specifically she was told.
She said she told Swalwell that she felt “really disgusted and ashamed” about what happened, but he continued contacting her, including offering to use his position to help her renew her passport or saying he could write her a letter of recommendation for her law school applications.
A few days before he announced his gubernatorial bid in November, he texted her, asking how she was, according to screenshots she provided to CNN. The following month, she sent him a long message telling him that “all you did was harm me,” and asking him not to contact her again.
“I won’t bother you again!” Swalwell responded. “Sorry.”
The woman said she continued to stay in touch with Swalwell after that, however, exchanging some friendly messages with him, in what she likened to Stockholm syndrome.
In the cease-and-desist letter to the woman, Swalwell’s lawyer argued that some of these text messages, including one in which she said “you would be an amazing governor,” raised doubt about her account.
The woman told CNN she decided to speak out about what happened to her after hearing rumours about other women accusing Swalwell of misconduct, and realizing she wasn’t alone.
“I suffered a lot in silence… I had no desire to ever come after him or ever come out saying something,” she said. But she concluded that Swalwell “used my vulnerabilities and the fact that I looked up to him to be able to get something from it,” she added.
Explicit messages and nudes Two other women told CNN that Swalwell had sent them unsolicited photos of his penis and other sexual messages on Snapchat after connecting on social media in 2021.
Sammarco said she first connected with Swalwell after messaging him on Twitter in August 2021, asking him about his history of growing up in a Republican family.
Swalwell sent her friendly messages on Twitter, screenshots she provided to CNN show, asking her about her life and work in politics, and sent her his phone number. They began texting, and he offered to share her resume with other congressional offices to help her get a job on Capitol Hill.
Eventually, Sammarco said, Swalwell started texting her late at night to ask personal questions. He sent her a photo of himself drinking wine at home. One screenshot she provided to CNN shows Swalwell musing whether he should “pour a nightcap,” and telling the influencer “now you’re the bad angel tempting me” when she said he should. In another message she showed CNN, he asked, “are you on snap?”
Starting in September 2021, Sammarco said, she and Swalwell exchanged messages on Snapchat almost every day. Swalwell “became very inappropriate, like saying about how hot he thought I was, insinuating we should get together and hook up,” she said. “He was always like drunk texting me, saying, ‘Oh, I’m having a drink. What are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘I am out with my friends.’ Like, I’m 24.”
The politician sent Sammarco selfies of himself in bed or shirtless, as well as unsolicited photos of his penis, she said.
Swalwell asked Sammarco where she lived, she said, and then ran by her apartment building several times, stopping to say hi and giving her hugs but not coming inside. Swalwell also gave her a personal tour of the Capitol, she said.
Their contacts fizzled off when Sammarco met her boyfriend, now her husband, in December 2021, she said. Swalwell “tried multiple times to message me on Snapchat again… and I just, like, won’t respond,” she said. They maintained some contact in the subsequent years, according to messages reviewed by CNN.
Then in November 2025, the same month Swalwell announced his gubernatorial run, he messaged Sammarco again, congratulating her on her “social media dominance,” according to a screenshot she provided to CNN.
Another woman, who works in marketing, said Swalwell first reached out to her on Twitter in April 2021, when she was 27, after she liked several of his posts. “When someone like him starts to talk to you – it’s like, why is he interested in me?” she said.
They began messaging on Snapchat, and the conversation became flirty and sexual after about a month, she said. Swalwell often requested swimsuit or nude photos of the woman, which she sometimes sent. He sent her several videos of his penis, which she did not ask for, she said.
She two never met in person, but messaged on and off for four years, she said. She said Swalwell usually initiated contact. At some points, Swalwell offered to help her with her career, though she said she never took him up on it.
In one flirty exchange reviewed by CNN, Swalwell complimented her on a swimsuit photo she’d shared on Instagram and said it had been too long since they’d last messaged, according to screenshots she provided to CNN. “That swimsuit. Fuck,” he wrote.
CNN spoke with two friends who said the woman told them about Swalwell sending her images of his penis and sexually explicit messages at the time it was happening. One friend also said they reviewed a Snapchat video that wasn’t sexually explicit that Swalwell sent to her.
The woman said she felt “embarrassed and kind of ashamed” about her exchanges with Swalwell.
“When you’re getting unsolicited dick videos sent to you, it just makes you feel like I’m lesser than a person,” she said. “I just wish I’d never answered him.”
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)
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The political aspirations of California Representative Eric Swalwell are facing a significant hurdle as he contends with allegations of sexual misconduct. A former aide has come forward, accusing Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice during her tenure. This revelation has sent shockwaves through his campaign for the governorship, causing a ripple effect among his team.
The allegations, as detailed in a report by The San Francisco Chronicle, involve claims from a woman who served under Swalwell for two years. She asserts that the encounters occurred while she was incapacitated due to intoxication and unable to provide consent. These serious accusations have placed Swalwell, a prominent Democratic figure in the gubernatorial race, under intense scrutiny.
In response to these claims, Swalwell has categorically denied any wrongdoing. However, the ramifications of the allegations are already manifesting within his campaign infrastructure. According to Politico’s report, at least four key staff members have abruptly resigned, signaling potential instability and unrest within his team as they grapple with the unfolding controversy.
Swalwell issued a blanket denial.
Politico then reported that at least four staffers on Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign have abruptly departed.
Rumors have swirled online for days that something discrediting about Swalwell was about to be exposed.
It comes as Swalwell appeared to be pushing through a crowded field of Democrats ahead of California’s nonpartisan June 2 primary.
Swalwell suggested the allegations were timed to tank his rising campaign.
Representative Eric Swalwell, who is running for California governor, was accused of sexually assaulting a former staffer twice when she was too intoxicated to give consent. He’s issued a blanket denial
‘These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,’ he said in a statement. ‘For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women.’
‘I will defend myself with the facts and, where necessary, bring legal action,’ he continued. ‘My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.’
The Democratic congressman has been married to Brittany Ann Watts since 2016 and the couple has three children.
Before the sexual assault allegations came out, Swalwell had appeared to be benefiting politically from another salacious story about him in the news.
Late last month, FBI Director Kash Patel was exposed for trying to resurrect an investigation into a suspected Chinese spy who laid a ‘honey trap’ and targeted Swalwell more than a decade ago.
Patel was trying to have documents released about the investigation.
The Washington Post first reported on the scheme, noting how highly unusual it would be for the FBI to release files from an investigation that didn’t result in charges.
There was no evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell’s part.
California gubernatorial candidate, Representative Eric Swalwell, lost several members of his staff as allegations of sexual impropriety were being revealed to the public on Friday
What Swalwell had done is criticize President Donald Trump and serve as an impeachment manager amid the President’s second impeachment, which revolved around his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.
The Democratic congressman was also listed as one of Patel’s ‘government gangsters’ in the FBI Director’s 2023 book.
Once Swalwell’s team caught wind of the story, his legal people demanded that the FBI halt any release of the documents and threatened to pursue legal action if the bureau didn’t agree to do so, the Post said.
Appearing to be targeted by Trump’s FBI chief gave Swalwell clout with some of California’s Democratic voters.
The latest allegations, however, could tank his campaign.
Politico tracked that members of Swalwell’s senior leadership team are already out the door including Courtni Pugh, a strategic adviser who helped the Democrat get a boost among labor groups.
On Thursday night, Swalwell scrapped a town hall event with Representative Raul Ruiz, blaming illness.
Bracing for allegations to surface, his Democratic opponents had already started attacking the congressman, suggesting he’s a hypocrite for slamming men like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose confirmation was nearly derailed by sexual misconduct allegations.
Several senators withdrew their support of Swalwell following the allegations against him
Others have withdrawn their endorsements and support of Swalwell just months ahead of the gubernatorial primary in June, including multiple senators.
‘I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,’ California Senator Adam Schiff wrote on X.
‘This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.’
‘I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously. What is described is indefensible,’ Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego said.
‘Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.’
Representative Ro Khanna called for ‘appropriate law enforcement investigations and House ethics investigations.’ Fellow candidate Tom Steyer said Swalwell ‘should be nowhere near any position of power.’
Representative Jimmy Gomez announced he was ‘stepping down’ from Swalwell’s campaign.
‘The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction or delay,’ he said.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called on Swalwell via social media to ‘withdraw from the governor’s race and immediately resign from Congress.’
The California Teachers’ Association retracted its endorsements as the California Federation of Labor Unions said it was ‘acting urgently’ to determine ‘next steps.’
Iran’s negotiating team has arrived in Pakistan for peace talks with the United States on ending the war in the Middle East.
Peace demands have been laid out by Iran including the unblocking of assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Iran’s delegation has touched down in Islamabad to engage in peace discussions with the United States. However, Iran has emphasized several preliminary issues it believes need resolution, casting uncertainty over the planned talks in Pakistan.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump declared a two-week ceasefire in the ongoing six-week conflict in the Middle East. This announcement came just hours before a looming deadline, after which Trump had warned of devastating consequences for Iran.
The ceasefire has paused both US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Nevertheless, it has failed to lift Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a situation that has caused unprecedented disruptions in global energy supplies. The ceasefire has also not quelled the concurrent conflict between Israel and the Iran-supported group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on X that Washington had previously agreed to unblock Iranian assets and to a ceasefire in Lebanon, and added that talks would not start until those pledges are fulfilled.
Iranian state media reported that Qalibaf arrived in Islamabad on Friday local time and the delegation includes senior political, military and economic officials, including Iran’s foreign minister, defence council secretary, central bank governor and several members of parliament.
While there was no immediate comment from the White House on the Iranian demands, Trump said in a social media post that the only reason the Iranians were alive was to negotiate a deal.
“The Iranians don’t seem to realise they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!” he said.
US vice president JD Vance, who will lead the US delegation, said he expected a positive outcome as he headed to Pakistan, but added: “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
US vice president JD Vance will lead the US delegation in peace talks with Iran. Source: Getty / Jacquelyn Martin-Pool
Iran has been unable to obtain tens of billions of dollars of its assets in foreign banks, mainly from exports of oil and gas, due to US sanctions on its banking and energy sectors.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a national address on Friday night, laid out the stakes of the talks.
“The permanent ceasefire is the next difficult phase, which is to resolve the complicated issues through negotiation. This, as called in English, is a make-or-break phase,” Sharif said.
Israeli fighting with Hezbollah continues
Israel and the US have said the campaign against militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon is not part of the agreed ceasefire.
Lebanon’s presidency said Lebanon and Israel held a telephone call between their ambassadors in Washington on Friday. It said the call was part of efforts to secure a ceasefire and launch negotiations, adding that the two sides agreed to hold a first meeting on Tuesday at the US state department under US mediation.
Israel launched the biggest attack of the war hours after the ceasefire was announced, killing more than 350 people in surprise strikes on heavily populated areas, Lebanese authorities said.
Israeli strikes continued across southern Lebanon on Friday. One strike on a government building in the city of Nabatieh killed 13 members of Lebanon’s state security forces, President Joseph Aoun said in a statement.
Hezbollah said in a statement on its Telegram channel that it fired rocket salvos at northern Israeli towns in response.
Lebanese authorities say at least 1,953 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since 2 March.
Trump tells Europe to ‘get your own oil’ as Iran conflict fuels shortages
President Trump has ramped up efforts to pressure Iran by coordinating joint military strikes with Israel, focusing on nuclear facilities in Isfahan. In a newly released video, the attacks are prominently featured as part of the campaign against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized the necessity for Iran to alter its conduct. Meanwhile, Jennifer Runyan, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge in Detroit, disclosed that a recent attack on a Michigan synagogue, dated March 12, was motivated by Hezbollah. This revelation has heightened concerns about domestic terrorism, particularly as debates over Department of Homeland Security funding continue.
As Iran finds itself increasingly isolated from its Gulf neighbors, it appears to be strengthening alliances elsewhere. Reports indicate that Tehran has been cultivating closer relations with the Republic of Georgia in the South Caucasus region.
Historically viewed as a prospective candidate for the European Union and NATO membership, the former Soviet republic of Georgia seems to be aligning more closely with Iran. Giorgi Kandelaki, a former member of the Georgian Parliament, explained to Fox News Digital that Iran has established a significant influence in Georgia. This includes operations linked to entities sanctioned by the U.S. for extremist connections, often perceived in Washington as fronts for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In a related development, an anti-war protestor in London carried an Iranian flag during a demonstration organized by the Stop the War Coalition. The march, held on March 7, 2026, called for an end to hostilities amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli tensions with Iran. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Reuters)
An anti-war activist holds an Iranian flag during a march organized by Stop the War Coalition, calling for an end to hostilities amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in London on March 7, 2026.(Jack Taylor/Reuters)
Kandelaki, co-author of a recent report with the Hudson Institute titled Georgia’s Iranian Turn: Tehran’s Rapid Expansion of Influence in a Once-Committed U.S. Ally, said that Tbilisi’s turn toward Iran is bad for Georgians but also bad for U.S. interests in the region.
“Georgia has an overwhelmingly pro-U.S. public opinion committed to Western values with it also being viewed as a traditional U.S. ally in Washington. This reality presents a terrible precedent and reversing this trajectory is in the interest of both the U.S. but also Georgian society,” he added.
While Georgia has remained diplomatically neutral, the Hudson report details the budding ties between the two countries and how Iran uses Georgia as a network for intelligence infrastructure, penetrating Georgia’s religious, educational and cultural institutions to impact society.
Supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party attend a rally in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.(Shakh Aivazov/AP)
As far back as 2007, Iran opened the Georgian branch of Al-Mustafa University, which is considered one of Iran’s main arms for the dissemination of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s ideology abroad, according to United Against a Nuclear Iran.
The U.S. Treasury Department stated in 2020 that Iran’s IRGC-Quds Force uses Al-Mustafa University in Georgia as an international recruitment network for Iran and acts as a conduit for the Islamic Republic’s ideological and security interests.
“Al-Mustafa has facilitated unwitting tourists from Western countries to come to Iran, from whom IRGC-Qud’s Force members sought to collect intelligence,” the Treasury Department said. It also said that the university facilitated student exchanges with foreign universities to develop intelligence sources.
A portrait of the late Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sits at the entrance to the Iranian embassy in Tbilisi on March 6, 2026. (Vano Shlamov / AFP via Getty Images)
A report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies estimated the university’s annual budget is $100 million and has trained tens of thousands of emissaries across the world who spread Iran’s revolutionary ideology.
Iran has utilized sympathetic Georgians to commit international crimes to advance its domestic agenda.
While no links have ever been made with the Tbilisi government, a Georgian national, Agil Aslanov, who had ties to organized crime, was reportedly recruited by the Quds Forces to assassinate a prominent Jewish leader in Azerbaijan in 2022. In another case in 2025, Georgian national Polad Omarov was indicted in federal court in New York City and sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting to assassinate prominent Iranian activist Masih Alinejad, a vocal critic of the Islamic Republic’s use of violence against peaceful protesters.
Georgia once made significant inroads to foster political and security ties with the United States following the Rose Revolution in 2003, becoming a bedrock of regional security in the Black Sea region. After decades of Soviet rule, Georgia aligned itself with the United States, contributing to missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and eventually signed a Strategic Partnership Charter with the United States in 2009.
In this photo taken from video released by Georgian Dream Party on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze speaks after the parliamentary election in Tbilisi, Georgia.(Georgian Dream Party/AP)
Tbilisi’s ties with Tehran have been expanded under the pro-Russia Georgian Dream party that took power in 2012. That bond, according to analysts, has tightened after Georgia’s pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili finished her six-year term in office in 2024 and was replaced by Mikheil Kavelashvili, who was chosen as her successor by a newly established electoral college reportedly dominated by Georgian Dream supporters.
Kavelashvili’s installment followed parliamentary elections in Oct. 2024 marred by some irregularities, according to the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi, in which the Georgian Dream declared victory.
A billboard depicting Iran’s supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader on March 9, 2026.(AFP via Getty Images)
Leadership ties between both countries have steadily grown since the Georgian Dream’s disputed 2024 parliamentary victory.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze visited Iran in May 2024 for the funeral of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter accident, and again in July to attend the inauguration of Iran’s current president, Masoud Pezeshkian, where Iranian news agencies reported both leaders praised the growing relationship between the two countries.
Many Georgian companies are also importing oil and petroleum products from Iran, a key economic lifeline for the regime and its regional war efforts, according to Georgian NGO Civic IDEA. In 2024, Iranian oil export revenue was approximately $43 billion, which accounts for roughly 57% of Iran’s total export revenue.
Iranian flags fly as fire and smoke from an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot rise, following Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran, June 15, 2025.(Majid Asgaripour/WANA)
According to Civic IDEA, between 2022 and 2025, 72 companies registered in Georgia imported Iranian oil and petroleum, including eight inked to donors of the ruling Georgian Dream party, boosting Iran’s revenue stream even while heavily sanctioned by Western nations.
“Georgia has become Iran’s primary sanctions-evasion hub . . . funneling hard currency back to Tehran’s war machine and the IRGC through specific schemes in oil imports,” Nicholas Chkhaidze, national security and strategic communications analyst based in Tbilisi, told Fox News Digital.
Chkhaidze said these Georgian companies that import Iranian oil pay in cash and can bypass international banking sanctions.
“The scale is massive, as Tehran uses the revenue from these schemes to fund its regional operations,” Chkhaidze claimed.
Telephone and email requests for comment sent to the government of Georgia were not returned. A spokesman for Iran’s mission to the United Nations would not comment on the relations between the two countries.
Get ready to click your heels, summon Emily, and prepare for the grand entrance of “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” If the details of the 2006 hit have slipped your mind, fear not—check out the video above for a comprehensive refresher.
It’s no surprise that the original film remains a standout in Meryl Streep’s illustrious career. Luckily, she returns as the formidable Miranda Priestly, joined once again by Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, reprising their roles as Andy Sachs and Emily Charlton. These fashion-savvy characters are back, bringing more humor and sharp banter in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The sequel also introduces fresh talent to the mix, featuring Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, and Lady Gaga.
Not only is the iconic cast returning, but the creative minds behind the original are back as well. Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and director David Frankel reunite for the sequel. Although it took two decades to bring this follow-up to life—and even Anne Hathaway once expressed skepticism about its likelihood—it seems the wait was worthwhile to gather the team behind the original film’s magic.
In the first film, Adrian Grenier portrayed Nate Cooper, Andy’s boyfriend. Their relationship hits a rough patch due to Andy’s demanding job under Miranda Priestly and Nate’s lack of understanding. By the film’s conclusion, they reconnect and decide to remain in touch. Fans have been vocal about Nate, with some considering him less than supportive.
Interestingly, Grenier does not reprise his role as Nate in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The actor revealed that he wasn’t approached to return. “It was certainly disappointing not to get the call for the sequel,” he shared with Page Six. “However, I understand there was some criticism of Nate, which might explain why.”
It isn’t only the original acting team returning to the fray, as screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and director David Frankel also make a comeback for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” It might have taken 20 years for the sequel to materialize (and Anne Hathaway herself once doubted it would happen), but at least everybody waited to include all the people responsible for the first film’s success here.
There’s one significant character who will not return in The Devil Wears Prada 2
20th Century Studios
In “The Devil Wears Prada,” Adrian Grenier plays Nate Cooper, Andy’s boyfriend. During the film, the pair break up — partially due to Andy’s demanding job working for Miranda Priestly and Nate’s lack of support for Andy. Toward the end of “The Devil Wears Prada,” they meet up again and agree to stay in touch. Needless to say, fans have strong opinions about Nate, with some labeling him a terrible boyfriend.
As it turns out, Grenier doesn’t return as Nate in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” According to the actor, he wasn’t asked to reprise the part at all. “Obviously, it was a disappointment that I didn’t get the call to be in the sequel,” he told Page Six. “But I also understand there was some backlash with Nate, the character, so that might have something to do with it.”
Meanwhile, fans can rest assured that Stanley Tucci is back and rocking his power suits alongside our ever-fashionable trio of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt. Make sure to check out Looper’s video above to watch the only recap you need before “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
Background: A section of the 7100 block of Wood Carriage Lane in Leeds, Alabama (Google Maps). Inset: Christie Williams (Jefferson County Jail).
A distressing incident unfolded in Alabama when a young girl ran down the street pleading for assistance, leading police to discover that her mother had attacked her and her sibling with bear spray, according to law enforcement officials.
Christie Williams, aged 36, faces charges of torture or the intentional mistreatment of a child, as indicated by records from Jefferson County Jail examined by Law&Crime. Williams was taken into custody and booked on Monday.
The event occurred on March 8, around 1:45 p.m., when a child was seen sprinting along the 7100 block of Wood Carriage Lane in Leeds, Alabama, desperately seeking help. According to charging documents cited by AL.com, a bystander dialed 911 after noticing that the girl’s eyes were red and her face appeared swollen.
Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin stated, “She was crying for help.” Officers responded promptly, arriving at the child’s residence, and subsequently escorted her and her sibling, both in elementary school, to a nearby hospital for a thorough medical evaluation.
The children reportedly disclosed to the authorities that their mother had sprayed them with bear spray, targeting their eyes and mouth.
“I think it’s terrible,” Irwin told the local outlet. “I don’t think you should be punishing your children with a spray that can be used on a bear. That’s not to be used on humans.”
Bear spray is typically considered stronger than traditional pepper spray, and, if used at very close range, can cause permanent eye damage.
Williams was arrested on Monday. She allegedly stated that her children were being unruly.
She was released on $15,000 bond hours after being booked in the jail. The children were reportedly placed in the custody of child welfare workers.
99 Bikes has recorded a staggering 136 per cent increase in sales over the last week alone – a trend consistent across every state.
Bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters are booming. (iStock)
The latest surge in bicycle sales marks a distinct shift from the COVID-19 era bike boom. Unlike the previous surge, which was fueled by the need to alleviate boredom and escape home confinement, the current wave is driven by practical considerations.
“There’s a noticeable trend of individuals turning to bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters as a viable solution to combat the soaring costs of fuel and as a long-term strategy to manage living expenses,” explains David Miller-Heidke, General Manager of 99 Bikes.
Antoine Vaxelaire, Head of Digital, has observed a remarkable 50 percent increase in online orders for cycling products over the past two weeks compared to last year.
He highlights that cycling is now being embraced not merely as a sport or leisure pursuit, but as a sensible, everyday alternative to mitigate rising fuel prices.
Decathlon Australia customer Jerémie Siguan is loving the switch from car to bike. (Jerémie Siguan)
For many individuals and families, this shift signifies more than just acquiring a new gadget; it represents a strategic replacement for the second family car.
Sydney dad Jerémie Siguan recently invested in a bike for his three-year-old son Django’s daycare runs.
“I’ve always loved cycling for leisure, but it never crossed my mind as a practical, everyday solution – the fuel crisis changed that thinking pretty quickly,” he tells nine.com.au.
“We needed something that could replace the car for day-to-day life, not just the occasional weekend ride.”
The Bronte local says the switch from car to bike has also led to a new routine.
“There’s something that just feels better about being out in the fresh air and moving, rather than sitting in traffic. It’s also given us genuine quality time together, something we didn’t expect but now really value,” he adds.
E-bike subscription services are seeing a 15% spike in inquiries. (iStock)
When it comes to e-bikes, while the savings in fuel are immediate, the upfront cost often ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.
As a result, subscription services have seen a 15% spike in inquiries in recent weeks.
Katrina Khao, Head of Marketing at Lug+Carrie, says the service is effectively “recession-proofing” household budgets in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
“Over the last five years, our users have collectively saved an estimated $1 million in petrol costs by swapping car trips for Lug+Carrie e-bikes,” Khao says.
As the cost of living tightens its grip, the humble bicycle is proving a popular way to commute. For those still paying $2 plus at the pump, the message from the bike path is simple.
“The fuel situation might be what first gets you thinking about it,” Siguan says.
“But once you start riding, you quickly realise the benefits go well beyond just saving money.”
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Bryson DeChambeau, known for his powerful drives, found himself in hot water at the Masters, but not before a humorous start. On Wednesday, he humorously remarked that his celebrity caddie for the Masters par-three contest, comedian Kevin Hart, had ‘one shot and fumbled.’ Unfortunately, by the second round’s closure, that statement could have applied to DeChambeau’s own performance.
From the outset, DeChambeau’s chances for the prestigious green jacket seemed slim. While he did have a glimmer of hope to make the cut after the first round at Augusta, that hope quickly vanished. His attempt didn’t just falter, it completely unraveled.
Initially, there was a possibility that DeChambeau could narrowly make it to the weekend. However, a dramatic collapse on the final hole ensured his early exit from the tournament.
Coming into the Masters, DeChambeau was one of the favorites among bettors, especially given the anticipated rivalry with Rory McIlroy. This year’s tournament at Augusta National was expected to be another thrilling chapter in their ongoing competition.
But by Friday evening, the leaderboard painted a starkly different picture. McIlroy was in a commanding position, leading as the weekend loomed, eyeing another green jacket. In contrast, DeChambeau’s journey ended in a rather spectacular fashion, leaving him out of contention.
DeChambeau’s threat to the North Irishman’s title defense was timid at best, atrocious at worst. He finished six-over, missing the cut.
Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut following the second round of the Masters tournament
The American finished six-over for the tournament after a meltdown at the 18th
Admittedly, he had been better off praying for a miracle on Friday, rather than launching an attack on McIlroy’s lead. Following Thursday’s opening four-over 76, he faced an uphill battle to make the cut. He needed a miracle. Instead, he received another meltdown.
On Thursday, his round unraveled when he twice failed to get out of the sand at Amen Corner. That ended in a costly triple bogey and 24 hours later he suffered the same miserable fate.
Like Thursday’s capitulation, a bunker proved to be DeChambeau’s downfall. His hacked approach shot from the pine straw on 18 found sand and from there the carnage began.
He failed to hack it out of the steep-faced left greenside bunker on the first attempt. And his second was far from a recovery. While he managed to at least scoop it our of the sand this time, his ball landed on the front of the green and trundled all the way down to the fringe.
By the time the ball finally disappeared into the cup and he was put out of his misery, DeChambeau had carded a triple bogey and his Masters had come to a sudden end.
In fairness, DeChambeau did appear to have been handed a saving grace. A birdie at the par-five 15th clawed him back to three-over and just inside the cut line. It should have been an eagle. It needed to be an eagle. But his putt down the hill drifted right of the hole and he had to settle for the birdie.
Yet, even that would not have been enough to negate the damage that unfolded at the last.
Perhaps if he had spent less time joking around with Hart, rubbing shoulders with First Granddaughter Kai Trump and manufacturing his own 3D-printed five-iron, and more time practicing his sand saves, DeChambeau may be seeing a Masters weekend.
The LIV Golf star failed to get out of the greenside bunker at the 18th on the first attempt
DeChambeau had been set to sneak into the weekend before his spetacular metldown
Rory McIlroy set a new record for the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history
Or perhaps it was the age-old LIV Golf factor that once again called his green jacket credentials into question. DeChambeau wasn’t alone in his calamity. The Saudi-backed breakaway’s cohort struggled over the first round. Many failed to redeem themselves.
To add insult to injury? Recent LIV deserters Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed had no issues navigating the treachery of a crips and fast Augusta National.
Reed had admitted this week that his abrupt LIV exit in January was due to wanting ‘that adrenaline back.’ Through the first two rounds, he undeniably rediscovered that thrill.
The American soared into the hunting pack in his LIV liberation with another three-under 69 on Friday.
Meanwhile, Koepka also produced a valiant 69 to claw his way to three-under for the tournament, leaving him tied-13 heading into moving day.
However, neither could match McIlroy. With a birdie at the last, the reigning champion set a new record for the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history.
The Masters has made a mockery of DeChambeau and McIlroy’s rivalry.
ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Friday, Governor Bill Lee embarked on a tour of the Tri-Cities as part of a statewide initiative to mark an early celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Accompanied by First Lady Maria Lee, the governor is on a mission to visit each of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
“We’re on this journey to meet with Tennesseans, to shake hands, and to remind everyone to put aside our differences and focus on what unites us—the fact that we reside in the greatest nation on earth,” Governor Lee expressed.
During Friday’s tour, Governor Lee’s itinerary included visits to two of Tennessee’s historic towns, starting with a stop in Rogersville.
Rogersville Mayor John Metz expressed his gratitude for the governor’s visit, acknowledging the significance of his presence in the community.
“Gov. Lee has been very supportive of our community and the region. Rep. Hicks, Sen. Harshbarger. They’re a great team. We work well together,” Metz said.
The second stop was in Jonesborough.
Jonesborough Mayor Kelly Wolfe told News Channel 11 that it’s always a good day when the governor is in town.
“I think the governor, coming to the end of his term, is certainly aware of the fact that Northeast Tennessee has been very supportive of him, and through everything over the last eight years that has happened, the governor has been incredibly supportive of Northeast Tennessee,” Wolfe said. “We’re very thankful for him. It’s America’s 250th birthday. And for all but three of those years, Jonesborough has been a town.”
According to Lee, the goal for him and the first lady is to get to all 95 counties before the 4th of July.
“It has a lot of history in the beginnings of Tennessee’s history, and Tennessee’s contributed greatly to this country and to what’s made America the country that it’s become,” Lee said. “So we celebrate not only today, but we remember our past as well.”
Lee told News Channel 11 that so far, they have made it to 60 counties.
