President Trump

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

President Trump has complained that the federal investigation into Russia’s interference with the election is a “witch hunt” or a “hoax” by Democrats who want to destroy his presidency.

But on Thursday, the president told reporters that he has no intention of trying to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, who is overseeing the investigation.

“I haven’t given it any thought,” Trump told reporters at his golf club in New Jersey, where he’s been on a working vacation, USA Today reports. “I’ve been reading about it from you people. You say, ‘Oh, I’m going to dismiss him.’ No, I’m not dismissing anybody.”

Trump even said he supports the investigation and the probe by federal lawmakers.

“I want them to get on with the task,” Trump said. “But I also want the Senate and the House to come out with their findings.”

Trump’s comments are curious since he and his allies have tried to discredit Mueller and his team as the leaders of a “witch hunt.”

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The FBI is investigating claims that American diplomats in Cuba received severe hearing loss from a covert sonic device.

The allegations prompted the U.S. to eject two Cuban diplomats from Washington, drawing a strong denial from Havana that anyone targeted Americans with a covert device.

The Associated Press reports that a group of U.S. diplomats began suffering hearing loss in the fall of 2016. 

A months-long investigation by the U.S. concluded that diplomats had been exposed “to an advanced device that operated outside the audible sound and had been deployed either inside or outside their residences.”

The Cuban government issued a strong denial.

“Cuba has never permitted, nor will permit, that Cuban territory be used for any action against accredited diplomatic officials or their families, with no exception.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

An SUV fleeing Border Patrol agents crashed on a San Diego freeway, killing three people in the vehicle.

The chase began after two agents on patrol on Interstate 15 discovered that the SUV’s license plate was tied to a murder and human smuggling suspect, Border Patrol Agent Tekae Michael told the Associated Press. 

“This is a major corridor for drug tracking and human smuggling, the 15,” Michael said.

The SUV sped off after the agents tried to pull over the vehicle, resulting in a high-speed chase until the driver lost control and tumbled off the highway.

The California Highway Patrol said two of the SUV’s occupants died at the scene, and a third was pronounced dead at a hospital. A fourth occupant suffered serious injuries.

Authorities didn’t release the identities of the SUV’s occupants.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A two-year ATF sting intended to crack down on illegal guns and drugs in the San Francisco area lead to the arrests of more than 75 people.

ATF authorities said it was the largest bust of its kind in the agency’s history, Mercury News reports. 

Earlier this week, more than 1,000 law enforcement officers swarmed areas of San Francisco and San Mateo counties as part of Operation Cold Day. Authorities retrieved 90 guns, 48 stolen vehicles and more than six pounds of dugs, including cocaine and heroin.

“One firearm in the hands of a gang member or a prohibited person is one firearm too many. It only takes one round from one gun to end a life,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder said during a news conference at the San Francisco Police Department. “We targeted those who created a pipeline to stream firearms into the community and then placed them into the hands of violent criminals.”

The investigation is still ongoing.

Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort tipped off authorities to a meeting between between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer during the presidential campaign.

Manafort, whose home was raided by the FBI late last month, divulged the meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya about three months ago, Bloomberg News reported Thursday. 

The controversial meeting involved Trump’s son, other campaign representatives and a Russian lawyer who pledged to have compromising information about Hilary Clinton.

Manafort divulged the meeting to lawmakers following a congressional request for Russia-related information during the campaign.

Manafort also handed over more than 300 documents to Congress.

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