Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Chair of the Benghazi Committee Just Launched an Investigation Into the Trump White House

The Chair of the Benghazi Committee Just Launched an Investigation Into the Trump White House
US President Donald Trump speaks alongside his daughter, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Senior White House Adviser Jared Kushner during a Cabinet Meeting. (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Didn't see that coming.

As of November 2017, over 130 political appointees working in the Executive branch with President Donald Trump continued to access classified material on a regular basis with no security clearance. The Trump administration has not released the exact number remaining, but they may soon have to.

Representative Trey Gowdy, the one-time chair of the Benghazi commission, plans to launch a more thorough investigation in the wake of the Rob Porter scandal. Porter resigned after details regarding past allegations of domestic violence. Porter was on the November list of appointees with access to the Oval Office with no security clearance or background check. President Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner also appeared on that list.


Gowdy, a Republican from South Carolina, formally requested the White House release additional information on security clearances for all senior staffers. The Republican lawmaker directed chief of staff John Kelly to provide a current list of all top aides serving President Donald Trump with pending security clearance statuses.

Porter served in the White House for over a year without a security clearance, which many critics call excessive. Also under scrutiny is the sheer number of appointees working closely with the president without completing the necessary background checks or clearances. The risk to national security caught the attention of Gowdy's committee.

Gowdy announced his initial investigation involving the FBI on Wednesday, then expanded it to include direct questions to the White House on Thursday.

“You can call it official. You can call it unofficial,” Gowdy said Wednesday.

I'm going to direct questions to the FBI that I expect them to answer. And if they don't answer them, then they're going to need to give me a really good reason.”

More from News

Karoline Leavitt and Scott Bessent
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Dragged After Making Mind-Numbing Claim About Trump's Tariffs Reversal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is getting called out after she attempted to justify President Donald Trump's sudden reversal on his proposed tariffs, telling reporters that his actions make sense because he has a master plan to make the world bend the knee.

Trump declared a full 90-day suspension of all the “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight April 10—except for those on China—in a dramatic about-face from a president who had long championed his historically high tariff rates as permanent.

Keep ReadingShow less
religion signs
Noah Holm on Unsplash

People Explain What Stopped Them From Going To Church Anymore

There's been a perception of a bit of an exodus from religion for the last several decades. But humanity has gone from no organized religions to oppressive religious regimes to rebellion and back again over the last several millennia.

But is the 21st century when religion finally fails to bounce back?

Keep ReadingShow less
Jojo Siwa; Mickey Rourke
ITV

Mickey Rourke Reprimanded After Indirectly Aiming Anti-Gay Slur At JoJo Siwa On 'Celebrity Big Brother'

Dance Moms dancer, Nickelodeon child star, singer, and reality TV staple Jojo Siwa had a rough few months in 2024 over some problematic comments and behavior.

But 2025 is looking brighter as the public rallies to her defense.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barack and Michelle Obama
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Michelle Obama Expertly Shuts Down Baseless Rumors That She And Barack Are Divorcing

Speaking on Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors that she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, were getting a divorce.

Obama addressed the recent divorce rumors for the first time, while also reflecting on the personal choices she’s made since departing the White House in 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kristi Noem Ripped Over Her Lack Of Gun-Handling Skills While Cosplaying As ICE Agent

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was criticized after she had an ICE officer seemingly dodging her aim after she pointed a gun towards his head while filming a video.

In a 20-second video posted to X on Tuesday, Kristi Noem stands flanked by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, brandishing a gun. Wearing a vest marked "ICE," along with dark cargo pants and a cap, Noem addresses the camera while the two agents remain silent beside her—though some X users expressed concern for the safety of one of them.

Keep ReadingShow less