SCOOP: House Republicans target dozens of vulnerable Democrats on eve of tax filing deadline

April 14, 2026 9:47am EDT / Fox News

NRCC charges Democrats ‘sided with Bernie and AOC to vote against critical tax relief’ for working families

By Paul Steinhauser Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: On the eve of the deadline for Americans to file their taxes, House Republicans are taking aim at Democrats for voting against the tax cuts the GOP passed and President Donald Trump signed into law last summer.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the House GOP’s campaign arm, on Tuesday launched ads targeting 28 potentially vulnerable Democrats in this year’s midterms for “voting for the largest tax hike since World War II and making working families’ lives harder.”

The digital ads, released on the eve of Tax Day 2026, come as the GOP works to protect its fragile House majority in the midterms, when the party in power faces traditional political headwinds and usually loses congressional seats. Republicans for weeks have been spotlighting the cuts, which they insist will give them a political bounce with voters.

“This Tax Day, remember who made it worse,” the narrator in the ads says.

SCOOP: HOUSE SPEAKER JOHNSON’S ALLIES UNLEASH $10 MILLION CAMPAIGN TO SPOTLIGHT TRUMP TAX CUTS

An exterior view of the House side of the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 12, 2026, in Washington D.C.(Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

The narrator touted that “Republicans fought to protect your hard-earned paychecks,” and argued that the Democrats targeted in the spot “sided with Bernie and AOC to vote against critical tax relief for you. Higher costs, less freedom, more pressure on you…. This Tax Day, don’t forget.”

The tax cuts were a key component of the Republicans’ massive domestic policy measure, which was passed nearly entirely along party lines by the GOP-controlled House and Senate.

FIRST ON FOX: HOUSE REPUBLICANS LAUNCH MAGA MAJORITY PROGRAM IN MIDTERM BATTLE

The law is stuffed full of Trump’s 2024 campaign trail promises and second-term priorities, including extending the president’s signature 2017 tax cuts and eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392811127112

“Vulnerable Democrats made a choice: higher taxes, tighter budgets, and more pain for working families. Voters will make theirs,”NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella argued in a statement.

TRUMP BOOSTS HOUSE GOP’S WARCHEST AS MIDTERMS IN BATTLE FOR CHAMBER’S MAJORITY

But the rival Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) charges that the GOP’s tax policies are unpopular.

“The American people overwhelmingly hate the Republican Tax Scam,” DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton told Fox News Digital. “No amount of political Tax Day spin will change the reality that hardworking families are getting more and more pissed at House Republicans for jacking up the price of gas, groceries, and healthcare while billionaires get to cash in on massive tax breaks.”

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6392255435112

A record 70% of voters questioned in a Fox News national poll conducted late last month said the taxes they pay are “too high,” marking an 11-point increase from a year earlier, and the highest level of dissatisfaction since the question was first asked in 2004.

The NRCC digital ads, backed by a modest buy, take aim at Democratic Reps. Adam Gray, Derek Tran and Dave Min of California, Darren Soto and Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Frank Mrvan of Indiana, Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan, Don Davis of North Carolina, Nellie Pou of New Jersey, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, and Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford of Nevada.

Also targeted are Reps. Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Riley of New York, Greg Landsman, Marcy Kaptur, and Emilia Sykes of Ohio, Henry Cuellar and Vicente González of Texas, Eugene Vindman of Virginia and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez of Washington State.

The ads will also run in Democratic-controlled open seats in Maine’s 2nd District, New Hampshire’s 1st District, New Jersey’s 11th District, and the 9th District and 35th District in Texas.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast.

以黎代表在华盛顿举行会谈 17国外长吁以黎“把握机会”

2026年4月14日 23:36 / 联合早报

3月2日，真主党攻击以色列后，黎巴嫩被卷入这场伊朗战争。以色列之后对黎巴嫩发动多轮袭击，至今造成逾2000人死亡、超过100万人流离失所。 （法新社）

以色列和黎巴嫩政府代表星期二在美国首都华盛顿举行会谈。包括英国在内的17国外交部长发表联合声明，呼吁两国“把握这一机会”。

法新社报道，英国外交部星期二（4月14日）公布的这份联合声明说，“直接谈判可为黎巴嫩、以色列以及整个地区带来持久的安全铺平道路”。

声明呼吁，“各方紧急缓和局势，并抓住美伊停火所带来的机会”。

这份声明由英国、澳大利亚以及法国、比利时、荷兰、西班牙等欧洲国家外长签署，但德国、奥地利、匈牙利和意大利并未加入签署。

在美国国务卿鲁比奥的斡旋下，以色列和黎巴嫩星期二进行数十年来首次直接会谈。

3月2日，真主党攻击以色列后，黎巴嫩被卷入这场伊朗战争。之后，以色列对黎巴嫩发动多轮袭击，包括4月8日对贝鲁特的一次猛烈空袭，至今造成逾2000人死亡、超过100万人流离失所。

声明说，签署国“以最强烈措辞谴责”真主党对以色列的攻击，以及“以色列对黎巴嫩的大规模空袭”。

各国也表示，欢迎黎巴嫩总统奥恩推动开启直接对话的倡议，并“准备支持”相关讨论。

奥恩周二发声明说：“我希望在华盛顿举行的这次会议……能标志着黎巴嫩人民，特别是南部民众所遭受的苦难走向终结的开端。”

以黎代表在华盛顿举行会谈 17国外长吁以黎“把握机会”

2026年4月14日 23:36 / 联合早报

3月2日，真主党攻击以色列后，黎巴嫩被卷入这场伊朗战争。以色列之后对黎巴嫩发动多轮袭击，至今造成逾2000人死亡、超过100万人流离失所。 （法新社）

以色列和黎巴嫩政府代表星期二在美国首都华盛顿举行会谈。包括英国在内的17国外交部长发表联合声明，呼吁两国“把握这一机会”。

法新社报道，英国外交部星期二（4月14日）公布的这份联合声明说，“直接谈判可为黎巴嫩、以色列以及整个地区带来持久的安全铺平道路”。

声明呼吁，“各方紧急缓和局势，并抓住美伊停火所带来的机会”。

这份声明由英国、澳大利亚以及法国、比利时、荷兰、西班牙等欧洲国家外长签署，但德国、奥地利、匈牙利和意大利并未加入签署。

在美国国务卿鲁比奥的斡旋下，以色列和黎巴嫩星期二进行数十年来首次直接会谈。

3月2日，真主党攻击以色列后，黎巴嫩被卷入这场伊朗战争。之后，以色列对黎巴嫩发动多轮袭击，包括4月8日对贝鲁特的一次猛烈空袭，至今造成逾2000人死亡、超过100万人流离失所。

声明说，签署国“以最强烈措辞谴责”真主党对以色列的攻击，以及“以色列对黎巴嫩的大规模空袭”。

各国也表示，欢迎黎巴嫩总统奥恩推动开启直接对话的倡议，并“准备支持”相关讨论。

奥恩周二发声明说：“我希望在华盛顿举行的这次会议……能标志着黎巴嫩人民，特别是南部民众所遭受的苦难走向终结的开端。”

Court orders DC judge to end criminal contempt inquiry into Trump officials involved in deportation flights

2026-04-14 10:57 AM ET / CNN

By Devan Cole

35 min ago

PUBLISHED Apr 14, 2026, 10:57 AM ET

Donald Trump Immigration National security Aviation news

See all topics

US District Judge James Boasberg stands for a portrait at E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, DC, on March 16, 2023.

Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post/AP/File

A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered US District Judge James Boasberg to end his efforts to hold Trump administration officials accountable for flouting his orders in a high-stakes immigration case.

The decision comes almost exactly a year after Boasberg, the chief judge of the federal trial-level court in Washington, DC, said in a blockbuster ruling that “probable cause exists to find the government in criminal contempt” for defying his orders to temporarily halt the deportation of migrants under a powerful wartime authority invoked by President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration appealed several times to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals so the contempt proceedings never fully got underway, halting the judge’s work while it considered whether he had the power to move ahead with the inquiry.

But now, a pair of Trump appointees on the appellate court has decided to fully stamp out Boasberg’s plans, saying in a sharply worded opinion that his contempt probe represented “a clear abuse” of power given that the administration had previously identified then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as the official responsible for deciding to allow the deportations in question to continue.

“The district court proposes to probe high-level Executive Branch deliberations about matters of national security and diplomacy. These proceedings are a clear abuse of discretion,” Neomi Rao and Justin Walker, who are appeals court judges, said in the unsigned opinion.

“The district court has launched an intrusive criminal contempt investigation into whether the government acted willfully when it transferred suspected Tren de Aragua members to Salvadoran custody. But the end of this investigation is a legal dead end,” the court said.

Judge Michelle Childs, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, dissented.

This story is developing and will be updated.

Kash Patel taunts Swalwell with FBI sit-down as resignation fallout grows

2026-04-14T10:58:32-04:00 / Fox News

Patel invited the California Democrat to sit down with the FBI after several women accused him of sexual misconduct

By Ashley Oliver Fox News

Published April 14, 2026 10:58am EDT

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6393049853112

Swalwell resigns from Congress amid sexual misconduct claims

Fox News correspondent Max Gorden reports on Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announcing his resignation following sexual assault allegations on ‘Special Report.’

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday invited Rep. Eric Swalwell to sit down with the bureau for an interview after the California Democrat resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations, escalating the pair’s long-running feud.

Patel’s offer came as Swalwell said he planned to resign from Congress while facing mounting scrutiny following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a claim from a former aide who said he assaulted her. Swalwell has denied the allegations, while separate ethics and criminal probes are underway.

Patel also urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

“@EricSwalwell has maintained that none of the allegations against him are true, and now that he’s resigned, we would welcome him to sit down with the FBI and share any information he has,” Patel wrote on X. “We also encourage and welcome any person with relevant information to any of these matters to speak with us. Door is open to all.”

‘SMART DECISION’: SWALWELL’S RESIGNATION SPURS PRAISE FROM BOTH PARTIES AFTER BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS EMERGE

Lawyers for Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., have threatened the FBI with legal action if the bureau forges ahead with releasing decades-old files relating to his relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images ; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Patel introducing potential federal exposure for Swalwell, a seven-term congressman and a leading California gubernatorial candidate before he dropped out of the race, comes after the pair served on opposite sides of the House Intelligence Committee during the height of the probes into whether President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.

ERIC SWALWELL FACES MANHATTAN SEX ASSAULT PROBE AFTER ENDING CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN AMID ALLEGATIONS

Patel, formerly a senior aide on the committee, wrote a book titled “Government Gangsters” in which he listed out dozens of members of the so-called deep state. He noted in the book that the list was not exhaustive and omitted “corrupt actors of the first order such as Congressmen Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell.”

Patel spokeswoman Erica Knight revived remarks from a viral spat between Swalwell and Patel last year during a congressional hearing.

“Director Patel: ‘I’m gonna borrow your terminology and call bull—- on your entire career in Congress. It has been a disgrace to the American people.’ [2013-2026],” Knight wrote, quoting Patel’s exchange with Swalwell.

SWALWELL ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS TORPEDOED GUBERNATORIAL BID

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-CA, speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel in the Rayburn House Office Building on September 17, 2025 in Washington, D.C.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Patel last month ordered a review of decade-old FBI files concerning Swalwell’s past association with accused Chinese spy Christine Fang, a move Swalwell’s lawyers characterized in a letter as an “extraordinary use of FBI resources to target a political enemy.”

Swalwell has had hostile relationships with many Republicans. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stripped Swalwell of his intel committee seat in 2023, saying at the time that he was untrustworthy and so “we’re not going to provide him with the secrets to America.”

Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign over the weekend following a San Francisco Chronicle report detailing allegations from a former staffer who accused him of assaulting her on two occasions while she was allegedly too intoxicated to consent to relations with him.

The House Ethics Committee announced Monday it opened an investigation into Swalwell, while the Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed it had opened a criminal investigation into him.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Swalwell has denied what he said are the “serious, false allegations” against him but has still also apologized in recent statements for unspecified “mistakes” he has made.

Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell’s office and the FBI for comment.

Ashley Oliver is a reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. Email story tips to ashley.oliver@fox.com.

称伊朗来电望达成协议 特朗普：核问题是阻碍谈判症结

2026年4月14日 23:48 / 联合早报

伊朗在美国和以色列一个多月的轰炸中，遭受严重的破坏与人员伤亡。图为伊朗首都德黑兰早前被炸成废墟的一栋民居楼前，摆放着遇难者的照片。 （法新社）

（华盛顿综合电）美国总统特朗普称，美国接到了伊朗打来的电话，对方表示非常希望达成和平协议。不过，特朗普指出，谈判症结在于核问题，如果伊朗不同意将浓缩铀交给美国，那就没有协议可言。

美国和伊朗上周末的停火谈判以失败告终，但特朗普星期一（4月13日）在白宫对记者说：“我可以告诉你们，对方已经给我们打电话了。他们想达成协议，非常非常想。”

他只说打电话的是“伊朗代表”，没说究竟是哪些官员。

特朗普坚称，美伊谈判的症结是核问题，美国首先要做的是收回伊朗的浓缩铀。“我们同意了很多事情，但他们不同意这一点，不过我认为他们最终会同意的。我几乎可以肯定。事实上，我非常肯定。如果他们不同意，那就没有协议，永远不会有协议。”

特朗普早前恫言，美伊的两周停火在4月21日到期，如果在这之前未能达成协议，伊朗不会有好下场。

美国媒体星期一报道，上周六（11日）在巴基斯坦首都伊斯兰堡举行的谈判中，美国要求伊朗暂停铀浓缩活动20年，换取解除制裁。隔天，伊方回应称最多只能暂停五年，特朗普断然拒绝。

美国官员称，美方曾要求伊朗将高浓缩铀运出境外，但伊方坚持留在境内，不过愿意大幅稀释这些核燃料。

一名官员告诉美国有线电视新闻网（CNN），美伊的谈判仍在进行，双方都在努力寻求外交途径来结束战争。

美国副总统万斯接受福克斯新闻台采访时则说，美国和伊朗已经就停战明确划定红线，目前球在伊朗那一边，关键是伊朗能否展现足够的灵活性。

彭博社引述消息人士报道，美伊正在商讨，争取于暂时停火到期前再举行一轮面对面谈判，以达成更长期的停火协议。第二轮谈判的方案之一是重返伊斯兰堡，但也讨论了其他地点。

消息说，土耳其和埃及在调停美伊停火的外交努力中发挥了作用，因此美伊如果再举行谈判，这些国家也可能提供场地。

伊朗或促胡塞武装封锁红海航道报复

至于全球深切关注的霍尔木兹海峡通行问题，《华尔街日报》引述阿拉伯官员报道，沙特阿拉伯努力敦促美国放弃封锁霍尔木兹海峡并重返谈判桌，以免伊朗被迫采取行动使冲突升级，扰乱其他重要航运通道。

这些官员说，沙特警告，伊朗可能通过封锁连接红海和亚丁湾的曼德海峡（Bab al-Mandeb）进行报复。这条红海航道对沙特的石油出口至关重要。

霍尔木兹海峡虽被封锁，沙特却可通过陆地管道将原油向西输送至红海，使它的石油出口恢复到战前水平，约每日700万桶，因此它不能让红海的出口通道也被封锁。

伊朗的盟友、也门胡塞武装控制着曼德海峡的大片海岸线，它在加沙战争期间阻断了这条水道。阿拉伯官员透露，伊朗正在向胡塞武装施压，要他们再次封锁这一咽喉要道。

与伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队关系密切的半官方通讯社塔斯尼姆（Tasnim）称，如果美国封锁霍尔木兹海峡，伊朗可能关闭红海通道。

美军星期一说，它在霍尔木兹海峡的封锁范围，将向东延伸至阿曼湾和阿拉伯海，不过包括粮食、医药品和其他基本必需品的人道援助运输在接受检查后将获放行。

遭美封锁港口 伊朗批美严重侵犯主权

同日，伊朗常驻联合国代表伊拉瓦尼致函联合国秘书长古特雷斯，抨击美国封锁伊朗港口严重侵犯伊朗主权，严重违反国际海洋法的基本原则。

古特雷斯随后呼吁各方尊重在霍尔木兹海峡的航行自由。联合国粮食及农业组织也促请各国，不要限制能源和化肥运输，并警告，这类限制过去曾导致全球粮价飙升。

法国能源巨头道达尔能源（TotalEnergies）总裁普亚内也说，霍尔木兹海峡复航，即使须支付通行费，对全球市场来说至关重要。

称伊朗来电望达成协议 特朗普：核问题是阻碍谈判症结

2026年4月14日 23:48 / 联合早报

伊朗在美国和以色列一个多月的轰炸中，遭受严重的破坏与人员伤亡。图为伊朗首都德黑兰早前被炸成废墟的一栋民居楼前，摆放着遇难者的照片。 （法新社）

（华盛顿综合电）美国总统特朗普称，美国接到了伊朗打来的电话，对方表示非常希望达成和平协议。不过，特朗普指出，谈判症结在于核问题，如果伊朗不同意将浓缩铀交给美国，那就没有协议可言。

美国和伊朗上周末的停火谈判以失败告终，但特朗普星期一（4月13日）在白宫对记者说：“我可以告诉你们，对方已经给我们打电话了。他们想达成协议，非常非常想。”

他只说打电话的是“伊朗代表”，没说究竟是哪些官员。

特朗普坚称，美伊谈判的症结是核问题，美国首先要做的是收回伊朗的浓缩铀。“我们同意了很多事情，但他们不同意这一点，不过我认为他们最终会同意的。我几乎可以肯定。事实上，我非常肯定。如果他们不同意，那就没有协议，永远不会有协议。”

特朗普早前恫言，美伊的两周停火在4月21日到期，如果在这之前未能达成协议，伊朗不会有好下场。

美国媒体星期一报道，上周六（11日）在巴基斯坦首都伊斯兰堡举行的谈判中，美国要求伊朗暂停铀浓缩活动20年，换取解除制裁。隔天，伊方回应称最多只能暂停五年，特朗普断然拒绝。

美国官员称，美方曾要求伊朗将高浓缩铀运出境外，但伊方坚持留在境内，不过愿意大幅稀释这些核燃料。

一名官员告诉美国有线电视新闻网（CNN），美伊的谈判仍在进行，双方都在努力寻求外交途径来结束战争。

美国副总统万斯接受福克斯新闻台采访时则说，美国和伊朗已经就停战明确划定红线，目前球在伊朗那一边，关键是伊朗能否展现足够的灵活性。

彭博社引述消息人士报道，美伊正在商讨，争取于暂时停火到期前再举行一轮面对面谈判，以达成更长期的停火协议。第二轮谈判的方案之一是重返伊斯兰堡，但也讨论了其他地点。

消息说，土耳其和埃及在调停美伊停火的外交努力中发挥了作用，因此美伊如果再举行谈判，这些国家也可能提供场地。

伊朗或促胡塞武装封锁红海航道报复

至于全球深切关注的霍尔木兹海峡通行问题，《华尔街日报》引述阿拉伯官员报道，沙特阿拉伯努力敦促美国放弃封锁霍尔木兹海峡并重返谈判桌，以免伊朗被迫采取行动使冲突升级，扰乱其他重要航运通道。

这些官员说，沙特警告，伊朗可能通过封锁连接红海和亚丁湾的曼德海峡（Bab al-Mandeb）进行报复。这条红海航道对沙特的石油出口至关重要。

霍尔木兹海峡虽被封锁，沙特却可通过陆地管道将原油向西输送至红海，使它的石油出口恢复到战前水平，约每日700万桶，因此它不能让红海的出口通道也被封锁。

伊朗的盟友、也门胡塞武装控制着曼德海峡的大片海岸线，它在加沙战争期间阻断了这条水道。阿拉伯官员透露，伊朗正在向胡塞武装施压，要他们再次封锁这一咽喉要道。

与伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队关系密切的半官方通讯社塔斯尼姆（Tasnim）称，如果美国封锁霍尔木兹海峡，伊朗可能关闭红海通道。

美军星期一说，它在霍尔木兹海峡的封锁范围，将向东延伸至阿曼湾和阿拉伯海，不过包括粮食、医药品和其他基本必需品的人道援助运输在接受检查后将获放行。

遭美封锁港口 伊朗批美严重侵犯主权

同日，伊朗常驻联合国代表伊拉瓦尼致函联合国秘书长古特雷斯，抨击美国封锁伊朗港口严重侵犯伊朗主权，严重违反国际海洋法的基本原则。

古特雷斯随后呼吁各方尊重在霍尔木兹海峡的航行自由。联合国粮食及农业组织也促请各国，不要限制能源和化肥运输，并警告，这类限制过去曾导致全球粮价飙升。

法国能源巨头道达尔能源（TotalEnergies）总裁普亚内也说，霍尔木兹海峡复航，即使须支付通行费，对全球市场来说至关重要。

The Odds: Trump’s approval

2026-04-14 9:49 AM EDT / CNN

By Ainsley Ehlers, CNN

The Odds: Trump’s approval

CNN News Central’s John Berman and Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten dig through new data on where the President stands with some of the key voting blocs that propelled him to the White House.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/14/politics/video/the-odds-trumps-approval-cnc-kalpar

3:19 • Source: CNN

Ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows seeks reimbursement from DOJ for legal fees incurred in Trump-related probes

2026-04-14T09:36:23-0400 / https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-meadows-reimbursement-justice-department-legal-fees-trump-probe/

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is asking the Justice Department to reimburse him for legal fees he incurred in multiple federal and state investigations into President Trump, according to sources with direct knowledge of the request.

The request comes at the same time the Justice Department is also fielding a variety of different requests for payouts from Mr. Trump himself, as well as claims from a number of pardoned Jan. 6 rioters seeking damages for injuries they allege they suffered at the hands of Capitol Police.

Mr. Trump and his two sons sued the IRS earlier this year seeking $10 billion in connection with the leak of his tax returns, and his lawyers have separately sought $230 million from the Justice Department in two administrative claims. In 2024, an Internal Revenue Service contractor, Charles Littlejohn, was sentenced to five years in prison for leaking Mr. Trump’s federal tax records, as well as those of his oldest sons and the Trump Organization, to The New York Times in 2020.

Meadows was a key supporter of Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election after his loss to Joe Biden.

He was never charged in connection with special counsel Jack Smith’s indictment against Mr. Trump over the 2020 election interference case, but he was criminally charged in parallel state cases in Georgia and Arizona.

In November, Mr. Trump pardoned Meadows and others who supported his bid to overturn the election. The state prosecutor in Georgia dropped the charges against Meadows, Mr. Trump and others shortly thereafter.

Meadows still faces legal uncertainty in Arizona, where he was charged for his role in trying to change the outcome of the 2020 election through the use of so-called fake electors.

His actions were also heavily scrutinized by the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Mr. Trump’s supporters. As part of that probe, Meadows provided lawmakers with text messages and other records as part of a congressional subpoena.

CBS News could not immediately determine how much money Meadows is seeking or whether the Justice Department intends to honor his request, which was made by his attorney George Terwilliger in early February.

“On a case-by-case basis, the Department of Justice considers requests for private counsel reimbursement from current and former employees who face lawsuits that arise from their actions on behalf of the federal government,” a Justice Department spokesperson said.

“The Department assesses each request according to its regulations and provides reimbursement under established parameters.”

A lawyer for Meadows declined to comment. Meadows did not respond to a request for comment.

Federal regulations give the Justice Department authority in certain cases to provide counsel to current or former government officials, or to reimburse them for the costs of retaining private representation if they are involved in criminal, civil or congressional proceedings in connection with actions they took in the course of their official duties.

The department also has an internal administrative directive which lays out the rates at which it reimburses, which are generally much lower than market rate.

The Justice Department customarily weighs a variety of factors when determining whether to reimburse current or former employees for legal costs.

Historically, most requests are not honored if the employee does not seek reimbursement from the outset, but the department has discretion to make exceptions. Other considerations include whether the person was acting in his or her official duties and whether it is in the interest of the United States.

A variety of previous Office of Legal Counsel opinions have also laid out some of the more specific circumstances under which those employees may be reimbursed.

In one 2020 opinion, the OLC found that government employees who were interviewed as witnesses in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election who hired private lawyers were eligible for reimbursement.

“Reimbursing the attorney’s fees of these witnesses therefore would generally be in the interest of the United States, at least for witnesses who were not a subject or a target of the investigation,” the opinion stated.

It was not clear how the Justice Department might apply its regulations and past interpretations of those rules to Meadows.

Meadows is separately seeking reimbursement for legal fees in Georgia, under a state law that allows defendants to make such a request in situations where a prosecutor is disqualified for misconduct, according to court filings.

According to those filings, he paid the law firm Griffin Durham more than $569,000 for representation in that case, and is directly responsible for all unpaid or unbilled additional professional fees totaling a little more than $19,000.

Separately, lawyers from the firm McGuireWoods also billed Meadows nearly $1.3 million, of which Meadows paid nearly $650,000, according to a sworn statement from Terwilliger.

After Terwilliger left the firm and continued representing Meadows on the Georgia case and other related matters, including Smith’s investigations, he charged him a flat fee of $20,000 a month in 2024 and $12,000 a month in 2025, the filing shows.

Meadows also paid a flat fee of $200,000 to Paul Clement, a prominent former DOJ appellate lawyer who represented him when Meadows tried to get his state case moved to federal court.

The court filings did not detail how Meadows funded his defense, though prior reporting by Notus shows that at least some of his bills may have been paid for by Personnel Policy Operations, a nonprofit created by Meadows’ employer, the Conservative Partnership Institute.

In 2024, a progressive group called Accountable.U.S. asked the D.C. Attorney General’s office to investigate whether the arrangement to pay some of his bills violates IRS rules for non-profit organizations.

CBS could not immediately determine the status of that request.

The Justice Department is not expected to consider reimbursing Meadows for fees incurred in the Georgia case until the state makes a determination. Sources said he may then petition the department to pay the balance.

Meadows is one of a number of other defendants in the Georgia case seeking reimbursement for legal fees totaling more than $17 million, according to court filings.

The outcome of those requests remains unclear, since the fee reimbursement law did not go into effect until May 2025, and the case was indicted in 2023.

Lawyers for the county have argued the defendants’ requests violate the Georgia constitution because they are seeking payment retroactively.

The Georgia Court of Appeals is currently weighing whether to accept the case.

While that case plays out publicly in state courts, the Justice Department’s determination on the matter is not likely to be made public.

Unlike internal Justice Department tort settlements which can be obtained through public records requests, decisions on whether to provide counsel or reimburse attorney fees is treated as privileged — even though the cost is borne by taxpayers.

Jared Eggleston contributed to this report.

特朗普：美伊谈判或未来两天于巴基斯坦重启

2026年4月14日 23:56 / 联合早报

4月11日，美国总统特朗普从白宫南草坪出发，在登上海军陆战队一号前与记者交谈。 （法新社）

美国总统特朗普星期二暗示，美国和伊朗的谈判可能在未来两天于巴基斯坦重启。

特朗普星期二（4月14日）就美伊和谈前景接受《纽约邮报》采访时说：“你最好留在那里，因为未来两天可能会发生一些事情，而且我们更倾向于去那里。”

他说，陆军参谋长穆尼尔在谈判中做得“非常出色”。“他太棒了，因此我们更有可能重返那里。”