Vice President JD Vance immediately stopped his anti-fraud rally in Bangor, Maine, on Thursday when an audience member collapsed during his remarks.

Vance was addressing a crowd at Bangor International Airport as part of the Trump administration’s push to crack down on Medicaid and Medicare fraud.

The vice president was in the middle of discussing how the administration is going after waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars when he noticed the medical emergency unfolding in the audience.

“All I’m saying is that Donald Trump and J.D. Vance care about fraud and the people of the state. And care about your tax dollars going to where it’s actually supposed to go!” Vance said.

Vance stopped, then asked, “Guys, do we have somebody over here with an issue? Okay. Let’s get a doctor in here. Sounds like we have somebody that maybe fainted or—”

“Got him? Okay. All right,” Vance said, showing genuine concern.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you would just make a pathway so that the law enforcement and doctors can get to that person. Are we okay? Are we good? She has care. Okay, sounds good,” Vance said.

Another person in the crowd shouted, “How about voter fraud?”

“I just want to be respectful. I will not answer any more questions here. I will let this person get the treatment and the care she needs,” Vance responded. “Let me just say two quick words. Number one, let’s all say a prayer for the friend here and make sure God looks after him or her, looks after her health.”

The VP quickly added, “And number two, what I would say is, it is the coolest job that I’ve ever had to be the vice president of this great country. It’s the coolest thing to be able to come here in the beautiful state of Maine and the beautiful month of May and to be able to spend time with you,” Vance said.

“Let me just say this job has given me more confidence than ever that this country, its best days are ahead of it! As much as I’m sometimes frustrated by Washington DC as much as I’m frustrated by the politicians who seem to care more about illegal aliens than the citizens of this country and the citizens of this state, what I have learned over the last 18 months is that we have the most talented, the most compassionate, and the toughest people anywhere in the world.”

Vance concluded by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, America is the best country and it’s going to be the best country for many years to come. God bless you all. Thank you for having me. It’s good to see you all!”

WATCH:

JD Vance says he’s cutting his event in Maine short because someone in the crowd is having a medical emergency — but then proceeds to babble on for a couple more minutes pic.twitter.com/25lCzqZYPR

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 14, 2026

No further details about the audience member’s condition have been released as of Thursday afternoon.

The Gateway Pundit is praying for their swift recovery.

The post JD Vance Calls for Prayers and Ends Anti-Fraud Rally in Maine Early After Noticing Audience Member Having Medical Emergency (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Blood is thicker than water (and oil).

The brutal war in Ukraine is in its fifth year, and seemingly nowhere near the end, despite statements to the contrary by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and US President Donald J. Trump.

But already on the horizon, there appear dark clouds suggesting further military conflicts may be about to erupt.

Today, May 13, 2026, the State Duma of Russia adopted in the third and final reading a law that allows the president to use the armed forces abroad to “protect” Russian citizens.

The use of Russian troops will also be possible if Russian citizens are arrested, detained, or… pic.twitter.com/3EhfUXX0e0

— Visioner (@visionergeo) May 13, 2026

Euronews reported:

“Russia’s State Duma approved a law allowing the use of the armed forces “to protect Russian citizens abroad,” which de facto permits Vladimir Putin to invade other countries.

Russia’s lawmakers have passed a law formally authorizing the Kremlin to deploy troops abroad to ‘protect Russian citizens’, giving Russian President Vladimir Putin the authority in practice to invade foreign countries.”

“According to the State Duma documents, the ‘bill was drafted to protect the rights of Russian citizens in the event of their arrest, detention, criminal or other prosecution pursuant to decisions of foreign courts vested with criminal jurisdiction by other foreign states without Russia’s participation’.”

Russia’s State Duma passes bill allowing Putin to send troops to “protect” Russians arrested abroad

The amendments will apply to Russians who are prosecuted by foreign courts or international judicial bodies whose jurisdiction the Kremlin rejects.https://t.co/3NJDwKaFtl

— The Insider (@InsiderEng) May 13, 2026

Among the main justifications of the Russian government for the war in Ukraine was the protection of the Russian-speaking populations – something that the Euronews report calls a ‘false argument’, but it’s rooted in fact.

“Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, claimed that the proposed legislation would ‘counter the campaign of rampant russophobia that continues abroad’.”

Read more:

TRUMP TO OIL TANKERS: “SHOW SOME GUTS!” – President Says Iran’s Navy Is Finished, Urges Ships to Sail Through Strait of Hormuz

The post WW3 WATCH: Russian Parliament Approves Law Authorizing Military ‘To Protect Russian Citizens Abroad’, as Critics Warn It Allows Putin To Invade Other Countries appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The sordid and tragic story of former attorney Alex Murdaugh does not appear to be over quite yet.

Murdaugh was thrust into the national spotlight after his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, were found dead on their South Carolina hunting property in 2021, as WHNS-TV reported.

Murdaugh was immediately cast as a prime suspect, eventually leading to a historic and nationally covered six-week trial in 2023.

The former lawyer was ultimately convicted on two counts of murder and was eventually sentenced to two life sentences.

However, on Wednesday, the South Carolina Supreme Court announced it had overturned Murdaugh’s double murder convictions, according to WYFF-TV.

To be clear, this does not mean that Murdaugh is suddenly a free and innocent man. Rather, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruling will trigger a retrial.

The Supreme Court appeared cognizant of the impact its unanimous 5-0 decision would have.

“Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial,” the justices wrote.

The reason for such a heavy decision?

Back in February, Murdaugh’s defense team argued that a new trial was needed due to their belief that the clerk of the court had tampered with the jury. The defense also contended that the judge in the original case had made a mistake by allowing Murdaugh’s financial crimes to be discussed at length in the trial.

(Murdaugh was charged with stealing millions of dollars from his former law firm and clients.)

It appears the Supreme Court agreed.

“Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury,” the state’s high court explained.

Hill was accused by Murdaugh’s defense of fishing for a guilty verdict by making comments to the jury like, “look at this body language” and “watch him closely” to help sell a book that she would eventually publish titled “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders.”

“The best way to sell books was a guilty verdict,” one of Murdaugh’s defense attorneys said during a hearing. “A guilty verdict would be better for the sale of books.”

WHNS added: “Hill pleaded guilty in 2025 to misconduct in office, obstruction of justice and perjury. Hill was charged with taking more than $11,000 in bonuses and using her public office to promote her book. She also showed sealed crime scene photos to members of the press and lied under oath in a hearing.”

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said it’s likely Murdaugh will remain behind bars.

“While we respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision, my Office will aggressively seek to retry Alex Murdaugh for the murders of Maggie and Paul as soon as possible,” he said. “Let me be clear—this decision does not mean Murdaugh will be released. He will remain in prison for his financial crimes.

“No one is above the law and, as always, we will continue to fight for justice.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Court Overturns Former Attorney Alex Murdaugh’s Double Murder Convictions appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s former Chief of Staff pleaded guilty to three felony charges in a public corruption probe in a case involving Democrat Gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra.

Democrat Xavier Becerra is currently running for California Governor. He is the definition of the California swamp.

Becerra previously served as the California Attorney General and, in the Biden Administration, as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

New:
Dana Williamson —Gov. Newsom’s ex-top aide + Xavier Becerra’s former campaign manager pleads guilty in case involving Becerra’s campaign funds.

Her plea deal involves 3 felonies:

•Conspiracy to Commit Bank & Wire Fraud, False Tax Return, and Making False Statements pic.twitter.com/NI4s07UxSM

— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) May 14, 2026

Last November, Feds charged Dana Williamson and other co-conspirators with 23 counts of obstruction of justice, false statements, bank and wire fraud on Wednesday, according to the indictment reviewed by The Sacramento Bee.

“Williamson, who left the Governor’s Office in December 2024, is named along with Greg Campbell, Sean McCluskie and two others on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. There are 23 counts in total; the 18 bank and wire fraud charges each carry a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines,” The Sacramento Bee reported.

Newsom’s office desperately distanced itself from the scandal.

“Ms. Williamson no longer serves in this administration. While we are still learning details of the allegations, the Governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity. At a time when the President is openly calling for his Attorney General to investigate his political enemies, it is especially important to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of one’s peers,” Newsom’s office told the Sacramento Bee.

According to federal prosecutors, between February 2022 and September 2024, Williamson and co-conspirators diverted $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign for personal use.

The money was funneled through various business entities and disguised as pay, according to federal prosecutors.

Per the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California:

According to court documents, between February 2022 and September 2024, Williamson conspired with others to divert approximately $225,000 in funds from a dormant political campaign to an associate’s personal use. Collectively, they funneled the money through various business entities and disguised it as pay for what was, in reality, a no-show job.

The indictment also alleges that Williamson conspired with a business associate to create false, backdated contracts after receiving a civil subpoena in January 2024 from the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans made to Williamson’s business.

Williamson also subscribed to false tax returns claiming more than $1 million in business deductions for what were actually personal and nondeductible expenditures, such as private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, home furnishings, and designer handbags, as well as deductions for no-show jobs for friends and family.

When questioned by FBI agents in connection with ongoing investigations into the diversion of campaign funds, the backdated contracts, and allegations of public corruption, Williamson made false statements to the agents regarding each of those topics.

Williamson is scheduled to make her initial appearance on the charges at 2:00 p.m. in the U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento.

The United States concurrently unsealed charging documents related to this case for two other individuals charged by information.

The post Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Charges Related to Case Involving Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Xavier Becerra appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Divers performing routine maintenance at the Converse Reservoir dam on Big Creek Lake on Wednesday found a grenade-type improvised explosive device (IED) submerged underwater, directly threatening the primary drinking water supply for the entire city of Mobile and surrounding areas.

The device was located during a scheduled underwater inspection of the dam.

The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) immediately alerted the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, which coordinated a multi-agency response involving the Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team, the FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordinance Detail, ALEA Bomb Squad, and Daphne Search and Rescue.

A grenade-type IED was found underwater at the Converse Reservoir dam in Mobile, AL — federally designated critical infrastructure that supplies drinking water to hundreds of thousands.

Divers found it during routine maintenance pic.twitter.com/i1m9xeArHq

— D. Scott @eclipsethis2003 (@eclipsethis2003) May 14, 2026

The team safely retrieved the IED and detonated it off-site with no injuries or damage to the dam or water supply.

MAWSS Director Bud McCrory issued a statement emphasizing the seriousness of the incident to local station Fox 10.

“Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe,” McCrory said. “This is an unprecedented threat, and we are fortunate that this device was discovered before it could cause serious damage to our water supply or harm to individuals. We are grateful for the professionalism and competency of our law enforcement partners – as well as the quick thinking of our contractors and divers – in identifying this device and safely destroying it.”

The Converse Reservoir dam at Big Creek Lake is federally recognized critical infrastructure.

WHY DID SOMEONE PLANT AN UNDERWATER BOMB ON THIS CRITICAL PUBLIC STRUCTURE?

Divers surveying Converse Reservoir dam in Mobile for routine maintenance discovered a grenade-type improvised explosive device underwater.

A multi-agency team including the FBI Bomb Squad and local… pic.twitter.com/Ulu3qU3hWA

— NewsForce (@Newsforce) May 14, 2026

Built in the early 1950s, the lake supplies roughly 60 million gallons of drinking water per day to hundreds of thousands of residents in Mobile and surrounding communities.

Officials have confirmed the water supply was never compromised and remains safe.

As of Thursday afternoon, no suspects have been named, and no motive has been publicly disclosed.

The FBI and local law enforcement are actively investigating how the device ended up at the dam.

The Department of Homeland Security has also been notified.

Authorities have not released details on the exact construction of the IED beyond describing it as a grenade-type improvised explosive.

The Gateway Pundit will continue monitoring the investigation for any updates from the FBI, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, or MAWSS.

The post Underwater Bomb Found at Dam That Supplies All of the Drinking Water for Mobile, Alabama appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.