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Who Was Thomas Sanford? What We Know About Michigan Church Shooting Suspect

Police identified the suspect responsible for the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Police provided little information about Sanford, a resident of Burton, Michigan, at their 5 p.m. ET press conference where they named him. More information is expected at another press conference scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

According to public records reviewed by Newsweek, Sanford was a veteran whose only legal issue arose from an apparent dispute over rent payment in Utah. A later mortgage loan through the Veterans Administration (VA) taken out in 2021 against his property Michigan, indicating he served in the U.S. military, although it is currently unclear in which branch.

The suspect's truck had a license plate with "IRAQ" on it as well as window decals that remain unidentified.

Before killing two and injuring several others on Sunday, the suspect rammed his truck through the front doors of the church during service and purposefully set fire to the building. Police said Sanford opened fire with an assault rifle before trying to flee the scene in his vehicle, during which police fatally shot the suspect.

Police are still working to determine motive.

Just in case people don't know who his victims were, they're also known as the Mormons.

President Donald Trump Reacts to Michigan Church Mass Shooting

President Donald Trump issued a statement following the deadly mass shooting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, that left one person dead, and nine others injured.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday afternoon that he has been briefed on the incident and confirmed federal involvement in the investigation.

The attack occurred during Sunday morning services when a suspect drove his vehicle through the church's front doors before opening fire and setting the building ablaze.

Why It Matters

This tragic incident marks another attack on a religious institution in America, prompting immediate federal response and highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety of places of worship.

The shooting occurred just one day after the passing of Russell Nelson, who served as president of the LDS church from January 2018 until his death at age 101.

The attack adds to a disturbing pattern of violence targeting religious communities across the United States, including the recent mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 17 others.

What To Know

The shooting began around 10:25 a.m. local time when the suspect, identified as a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan, rammed his vehicle into the front entrance of the church during sacrament services, local law enforcement said.

Armed with an assault rifle, the gunman opened fire on congregants before intentionally setting the building on fire.

The suspect was killed during a shootout with police as he attempted to flee the scene.

Trump confirmed in his Truth Social statement that "the FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn."

Multiple victims remain trapped inside the church as the fire spread throughout the building, though the blaze has been contained as of 1 p.m. ET. Rescue operations continue with manpower shortages noted as a limiting factor.

Medical mutual aid has arrived from as far as Oxford, Michigan, located approximately 20 miles southeast of Grand Blanc.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi: "I am receiving briefings about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. FBI and ATFHQ agents are en route to the scene now. Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy."

FBI Director Kash Patel: "We are tracking reports of the horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. FBI agents are on the scene to assist local authorities. Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act. Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy."

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: "FBI personnel are responding to Grand Blanc, MI to provide any requested support necessary."

Trump Learns FBI Had 274 Plainclothes Agents at U.S. Capitol on January 6th, Asks Who? and Why?

President Donald Trump reacted to a report that found there had allegedly been 274 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in the crowd during the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. He wants “to know who each and every one” of the agents in the crowd were and “What they were up to.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump noted that the reports findings were “different from what” former FBI Director Christopher Wray had “stated, over and over again!” Trump’s post came after a report by the Blaze found that the “FBI has acknowledged it had 274 plainclothes agents” in the crowd that day, after the agent had refused to “disclose the level of its presence at the Capitol.”

“It was just revealed that the FBI had secretly placed, against all Rules, Regulations, Protocols, and Standards, 274 FBI Agents into the Crowd just prior to, and during, the January 6th Hoax,” Trump said. “This is different from what Director Christopher Wray stated, over and over again! That’s right, as it now turns out, FBI Agents were at, and in, the January 6th Protest, probably acting as Agitators and Insurrectionists, but certainly not as ‘Law Enforcement Officials.'”

“I want to know who each and every one of these so-called ‘Agents’ are, and what they were up to on that now ‘Historic’ Day,” Trump added. “Many Great American Patriots were made to pay a very big price only for the love of their Country. I owe this investigation of ‘Dirty Cops and Crooked Politicians’ to them!”

Trump continued to say that Wray “has some major explaining to do.”

“That’s two in a row, Comey and Wray, who got caught LYING, with our Great Country at stake,” Trump added. “WE CAN NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN TO AMERICA AGAIN!”

Per the Blaze, a “senior congressional source said the number is not necessarily a surprise, since the FBI often embeds countersurveillance personnel at large events.”

According to a “report obtained” by Just the News, the FBI “secretly deployed” more than 200 plainclothes agents into the crowd that day:

Scores of FBI agents and personnel — many from the bureau’s premier Washington field office (WFO) — sent anonymous complaints to the after-action team detailing how agents were sent into an unsafe scenario without proper safety equipment or the ability to identify themselves readily as armed officers to other police agencies the report obtained by Just the News shows.

Breitbart News reported in December 2024, then-Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz revealed that “more than two dozen confidential human sources (CHSs)” had been outside of the U.S. Capitol building during the riot.

Cops probing whether Michigan church shooting has ties to Mormon leader’s death: report

Detectives are probing whether Sunday’s mass shooting and fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan has any connection to the death a day earlier of longtime national church president Russell M. Nelson, according a report.

Investigators are urgently working the shooter’s motive, checking for any recent threats to the congregation and whether the attack’s timing bears any relation to Nelson’s passing on Saturday in Salt Lake City at age 101, to a source briefed on the investigation who spoke to ABC News.

Police have not announced a motive.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said a 40-year-old man from Burton drove a vehicle through the front entrance around 10:25 a.m., then exited and fired “several rounds” at parishioners.

Ten people with gunshot wounds were taken to local hospitals; one victim died, Renye said at an afternoon briefing.
Responding cops — including a Michigan Department of Natural Resources officer and a township officer — confronted the gunman and exchanged fire. The suspect was shot and died at the scene, authorities said.

Hundreds of parishioners were inside the church at the time of the attack, according to law enforcement officials, who say they expect to find additional victims.

Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the oldest person ever to lead the faith, died late Saturday at his Salt Lake City home. He was 101.

The church said Nelson died shortly after 10 p.m. local time Saturday. He is survived by his wife, Wendy; eight of his 10 children from his first marriage; 57 grandchildren; and more than 167 great-grandchildren.

Before church leadership, Nelson built a renowned medical career. A pioneering heart surgeon, he performed Utah’s first open-heart operation in 1955.

He helped develop an artificial heart-lung machine and served in top professional posts, including president of the Utah State Medical Association.

He later served as director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Nelson shifted to full-time church leadership in 1984.

Protesters clash with ICE agents as Trump deploys federal troops to ‘war-ravaged’ Portland

Federal agents began arriving in “war ravaged” Portland, Ore., over the weekend after President Donald Trump ordered military deployment to the city, with at least one clash already erupting outside an ICE facility.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer was seen Friday shoving a protester to the ground, according to video footage captured by KATU-TV.

Another demonstrator was detained as agents confronted crowds outside the South Portland site.
In an early-morning Truth Social post Saturday, Trump said he authorized “full force” to protect what he called “War ravaged Portland” and federal buildings “under siege by ANTIFA, and other domestic terrorists.”

Mayor Keith Wilson, speaking at a late-night press conference Friday, said, “We now have a sudden influx of federal agents in our city.

“We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose,” Wilson said.
Residents reacted sharply to the deployment.

David Schmidt, who lives near the ICE building, told KATU, “Every night, there’s tons of protesters basically being vagrants on the street. … They are making noise constantly, even when nobody from ICE is outside.”

Other locals warned that the federal presence could escalate unrest.

“I just remember watching night after night … in 2020, and I’m just worried that we’re going to see things blow up like they did in 2020,” said Ocean Hosojasso of Portland.

The White House did not provide details on the number of troops or their assignments.

Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to requests for information, according to the AP. A Politico report said the order came as a surprise to many inside the Pentagon.
Trump has recently stepped up his criticism of Portland, saying being there was “like living in hell.”

Protesters outside the ICE site Friday said they want to challenge that narrative.

“I know that our city gets this loud and unfair reputation … but you come here, and it’s peaceful,” Hosojasso said.

Fetterman warns Dems about shutting down government with 2 hurricanes threatening East Coast

WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman warned his party against allowing the government to shut down with two fast-approaching hurricanes nearing the US East Coast.

Fetterman (D-Pa.), who has also criticized past partial shutdowns, argued that allowing the funding lapse to take place could jeopardize response efforts to Hurricane Humberto — which was previously a Category 5 storm — and Tropical Storm Imelda.

“If you have a Cat 5 storm that’s now facing our nation, why would you even have that conversation right now?” the Keystone State Democrat told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” about the shutdown fight.

“I sure [hope] things work out and we don’t shut our government down.”
If Congress fails to act and fund the government for fiscal year 2026, which starts on Oct. 1, there will be a partial shutdown after 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

Democratic leaders have been demanding key concessions from Republicans on healthcare policy such as an extension of the COVID-19 era enhancements to the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year; and a rollback of GOP-championed Medicaid reforms.

Hurricane Humberto intensified into a Category 5 storm Saturday but was downgraded to a Category 4 storm on Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Its current path has it moving out to sea.
Should the government enter a partial shutdown, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be restricted from renewing or selling key flood insurance policies.

Most FEMA employees are expected to work during partial government shutdowns, but the agency’s funds are quickly running dry, which could complicate its response to a significant natural disaster.

Fetterman was the only senator who voted for two stopgap measures, known as continuing resolutions (CRs), that came up for a vote in the Senate just over a week ago to avert a partial shutdown.

He backed both the “clean” CR championed by Republicans and the one favored by Democrats that would give them key wins on healthcare policy.

Given the 60-vote threshold in the Senate needed to break a filibuster, Republicans need Democratic support. The House passed the GOP-championed CR but not the one backed by Dems.

“I’m at, where I have always been, and I will always remain on is, it is always, always wrong to shut our government down,” Fetterman argued. “That is a core responsibility. I’m always going to vote against those things.”

“And if it’s the Republican side or now it’s our side, I’m going to condemn it.”
President Trump has agreed to a last-minute meeting with the top four congressional leaders on Monday to discuss the looming shutdown fight.

That same day, he will also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Fetterman praised Trump’s support for Israel.

SCOOP: Video of Dems railing against past shutdowns unveiled by GOP

House Speaker Mike Johnson tells Fox News Digital Democrats were 'supporting' a shutdown

FIRST ON FOX: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is putting pressure on House Democrats hours before a critical vote on a bill to avert a partial government shutdown before the end of this week.

A video clip, which runs just under two minutes, is a supercut of top Democratic lawmakers emphasizing that their party does not support government shutdowns nor the office closures and mass furloughs that come with them.

"House Democrats have long warned about the consequences of a government shutdown," the text on the screen begins.

The message is immediately followed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., stating during a press conference, "We believe in governance. We want to keep government open. A shutdown is very serious."
"It is not normal to hold 800,000 workers' paychecks hostage. It is not normal to shut down the government when we don't get what we want," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., says on the House floor in another clip.

The video ends with white text on a black screen that reads, "What's changed? Now Democrats want to shut down the government to try to stop President Trump."

"Democrats have railed against government shutdowns. But now they're supporting one," Johnson told Fox News Digital in a written statement. "They're willing to do anything to stop President Trump from implementing his agenda."

It is a marked escalation in the war of words between Democrats and Republicans over a plan President Donald Trump and GOP leaders are pushing to avert a partial shutdown.

The 99-page bill released by House GOP leaders over the weekend would keep the government funded through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2025, on Sept. 30.

It would do so by extending FY 2024 government funding levels, which Republican leaders have celebrated as a victory in that it roughly keeps federal spending levels for another year, rather than the expected increases that come with the annual full-year congressional appropriations bills.

The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), is expected to get a House-wide vote on Tuesday afternoon.

Democrats have strongly condemned the bill after not receiving assurances from Republicans that it would include constraints on Trump's authority, particularly related to government spending.

"The partisan House Republican funding bill recklessly cuts healthcare, nutritional assistance, and $23 billion in veterans benefits," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement with other Democratic leaders. "Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout this fiscal year. We are voting No."

Trump agrees to last-minute meeting with Jeffries, Schumer on government shutdown

WASHINGTON — President Trump agreed to hear out House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a meeting set for Monday amid the looming government shutdown.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) will also join the sit-down as leaders on both sides of the aisle scramble to avert a partial shutdown ahead of the 11:59 p.m. Tuesday deadline.

“Democrats will meet anywhere, at any time and with anyone to negotiate a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Jeffries and Schumer said in a joint statement.

“We are resolute in our determination to avoid a government shutdown and address the Republican healthcare crisis. Time is running out.”
Trump abruptly scrapped a previously planned confab with the Dem leaders last week after consulting Johnson and Thune.

Then, on Wednesday, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought sent out a memo to the heads of federal agencies demanding they draft lists of employees to permanently lay off in anticipation of a partial shutdown.

Schumer called Thune Friday and pushed for a White House meeting due to the rapidly approaching deadline, sources told The Post.

The GOP-led House passed a “clean” stopgap measure to keep the government’s lights on through Nov. 21 earlier this month.

But Senate Democrats blocked the measure, taking advantage of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to break.

Democrats have demanded key concessions on healthcare policy, such as reversing the Medicaid reforms Republicans passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (now the Working Families Tax Cut Act) and demanding an extension of the enhanced subsidies in the Affordable Care Act.

Eric Adams Drops Reelection Bid for NYC Mayor

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced in a Sunday social media video that he has dropped out of the upcoming mayoral race.

Adams started his statement by reflecting on his New York City roots and touting his achievements, and then turned to his campaign update, stating "despite all we've achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign."

The mayor said he dropped out of the race because of “constant media speculation about my future” and the “campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars,” which he said “undermined” his ability to raise “the funds needed for a serious campaign.”

Newsweek has reached out to Adam's campaign for comment via email on Sunday.

Why It Matters

Adams’ announcement follows poor polling and scant establishment support, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul having endorsed Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani earlier this month.

In the months leading up to November, the mayor repeatedly said he would stay in the race. But a federal corruption case and Democrats’ wariness of his relationship with President Donald Trump eroded his support. As his popularity slid, he broke with Democrats and launched his reelection bid as an independent.

What To Know

In the video Adams stated, "Although this is the end of my reelection campaign, it is not the end of my public service. I will continue to fight for this city, as I have for 40 years, since the day I joined the NYPD to make our streets safer and our systems fairer."

The mayor also warned in his video that "extremism is growing in our politics. Our children are being radicalized to hate our city and our country. Political anger is turning into political violence."

Adams has been embroiled in controversy over his connection to Trump as well as a federal corruption case, which a federal judge dismissed in April.

The original case, brought during the Biden administration, accused Adams of accepting illicit campaign contributions and travel perks from Turkish officials and associates in exchange for political favors, including allegations that Adams helped Turkey open a diplomatic building in New York City despite it failing fire inspections.

In the video announcement, Adams touted a decrease in multiple crime areas and an increase in diverse leadership across city departments during his time as mayor.

Wrapping up his video, Adams said, "My fellow New Yorkers, this is your city. Its leaders work for you. I am one of you. My story is your story," adding that he "will keep fighting."

What People Are Saying

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a Sunday statement on X: "For the last four years I've been proud to work with Mayor Adams to make New York City safer, stronger, and more affordable...We have connected more New Yorkers to mental health services and supportive housing...He leaves New York City better than he inherited it and that will always be central to his legacy as mayor."

Let's take a look at how "safer" the city is now:

Queens teen accused of murdering boy, 13, outside Dunkin’ Donuts held without bail: DA’s office

The 16-year-old gunman who allegedly murdered a 13-year-old boy outside of a Dunkin’ Donuts this week will remain behind bars while facing murder and weapons charges that could keep him locked up for 25 years, a Queens judge decided Saturday.

Jaysohn Sykes was denied bail on second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges for allegedly shooting Sanjay Samuel once in the head outside of the Springfield Gardens shop Monday morning, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced.
Sykes, who goes by the nickname “Flex,” was arraigned a day after he turned himself into police at the 105th Precinct in Queens Village.
amuel, a Martin Van Buren High School student, was struck once in the head by the scooter-riding gunman, in what police sources said was a gang related beef. Investigators believe Sykes shot Samuel during a group brawl, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said this week.

What do you think? Post a comment.

Samuel was rushed to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where he was placed on life support and ultimately succumbed to his injuries Wednesday.

If convicted, Sykes, a student at Campus Magnet High School in Cambria Heights, could face up to 25 years to life in prison, according to the DA’s office. His next court appearance is on Sept. 29.

Bombshell email shows top aide to AFT boss Randi Weingarten raising concerns about Mamdani’s lack of experience

A top aide to powerful national teachers’ union president Randi Weingarten claimed Zohran Mamdani lacks the experience to lead New York City — and cited the unpopularity of far-left Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson as a cautionary tale, according to a bombshell email.

Leo Casey, an assistant to Weingarten at the American Federation of Teachers, sent the revealing missive to a Democratic Socialists of America group in May, according to emails leaked by school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, who first reported the exchange.

“A lot of our discussion here is on blocking [ex-Gov. Andrew] Cuomo and winning the election, which is important,” Casey said in an email on a DSA list serve on May 20, just a month before the June 24 Democratic primary won by Mamdani.
“But the ability to govern also needs to be an important consideration,” Casey added. “And winning an election does not necessarily translate into the ability to govern.”

Casey then discussed the disastrous tenure of union-backed progressive Windy City mayor Johnson, who has an 80% disapproval rating from his constituents.

“It is important to face squarely what happened … It has not gone well,” he wrote. “Because Johnson was our candidate, there is no public discussion on the left of what went wrong.
“But something has clearly gone wrong and it can’t just be attributed to our enemies.”

The United Federation of Teachers in New York City, the largest local in Weingarten’s AFT, stayed neutral during the city’s Democratic primary.

But the union backed Mamdani shortly after he trounced Cuomo, City Comptroller Brad Lander and others in the election, snagging the Dem nomination.

Mamdani refuses to disavow sick DSA tribute to cop-killer Assata Shakur

Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani on Sunday refused to disavow a sick tribute to fugitive cop-killer Assata Shakur by his own Democratic Socialist comrades — saying he doesn’t have time to worry about it.

The lefty Big Apple pol was grilled by The Post after a troubling tribute posted last week by the Democratic Socialists of America to Shakur, a k a Joanne Deborah Chesimard, who escaped from prison while serving a life sentence in the 1973 execution-style murder of a New Jersey state trooper and was hiding out in Cuba until her death last week.

“We vow to honor her legacy by recognizing our duty to fight for our freedom, to win, to love and protect one another because we have nothing to lose but our chains,” DSA said on X.
Mamdani ducked questions when asked about the sickening tribute.

“I am running to be the mayor of New York city,” he said. “I am running to represent the people of New York city. My focus is on the issues of the city and I’m accountable to those same New Yorkers.

“I am someone who is entire campaign has been about delivering an affordable city for the very New Yorkers who are being priced out of it and that’s my focus,” the candidate said. “My coalition is one that unites across the vast spread, all focusing on the agenda of affordability.”

Many others ripped the DSA shout-out, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who called it “shameful and depraved.”
Shakur was involved in the cowardly May 2, 1973, murder of state Trooper Werner Foerster during a traffic stop.

Shakur was convicted on murder, robbery and other charges in 1977 and sentenced to life in prison — only to escape the Clinton Correctional Facility in Jersey in November 1979 and remain on the run for more than 45 years.

Her supporters long maintained she didn’t commit the crimes.

James Comey’s ex-No. 2 gives mealy-mouthed answer about whether FBI director authorized leaks

WASHINGTON — James Comey’s former No. 2 at the FBI carefully claimed that he was “not aware” of his old boss authorizing leaks that are central to the indictment handed down against Comey last week.

Andrew McCabe, who served as the FBI deputy director from 2016 to 2018 and has a history of not being forthcoming with the truth, also insisted the evidence in the indictment is “far from clear enough” to support prosecution of Comey for making false statements to Congress.

“All I can say to Jake is I’m not aware of Jim Comey ever authorizing some other person to leak information,” McCabe told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
“That’s not something I experienced personally. It’s not something I saw in all the time I spent working around Jim Comey,” he said.

“So I can’t sit here and characterize his testimony, which I think is far from clear enough to be the basis of a false statement or perjury prosecution.”

Last week, Comey was indicted on one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstructing a congressional proceeding.
The indictment references comments Comey made to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020, in which he denied authorizing “someone else at the F.B.I. to be an anonymous source in news reports” about an unnamed person.

It is not entirely clear whether that unnamed person was President Trump or Hillary Clinton, as the FBI’s separate investigations revolving around the two came up in questioning.

Back in 2019, federal prosecutors recommended indicting McCabe for his actions surrounding a leak during his time as deputy FBI director, but a grand jury did not return that indictment.
A 2018 Justice Department inspector general’s report found that McCabe improperly authorized a leak about a federal probe revolving around the Clinton Foundation in the homestretch of the 2016 presidential campaign.

The watchdog found that “McCabe lacked candor on four separate occasions” when questioned under oath about that leak.

“I never asked Jim Comey to authorize any disclosure to the media because I didn’t have to. At that time in the FBI, there’s [sic] only two people who had the authority to make that decision independently. One was Jim Comey, and the other was me,” McCabe told CNN Sunday..

FBI informant may have slayed 50 victims before feds discovered masterful manipulation

DENVER – A former FBI agent says a serial killer who doubled as an FBI informant for years manipulated agents into believing he was helping them, all the while preying on unsuspecting victims.

Scott Kimball will likely spend the rest of his life in a federal prison in Colorado after he was sentenced to 70 years in 2009. He pleaded guilty to killing four people between 2003 and 2004, and his number of victims could be much higher, according to former FBI Special Agent Jonny Grusing.

“He made a game out of tricking the FBI,” Grusing told Fox News Digital, adding that Kimball’s case was unprecedented. “As long as he won the game in front of him, that’s all that mattered.”

“To have someone who enjoyed manipulating us, putting stuff in our files, and then making people disappear was beyond anything I’d seen,” Grusing said.

Kimball, now 58, was a known serial fraudster who spent time in and out of prison during his youth and early adulthood. In the 1990s, he practiced working the criminal justice system, becoming an informant for local police and blaming his own crimes on cellmates.

After a 2001 arrest for check fraud in Alaska, he befriended his cellmate Steve Ennis, who had been charged in a drug case. To snake his way into a role as an FBI informant, a calculated Kimball convinced Ennis that he could make the drug case go away, and that he had powerful connections that could have witnesses “taken care of.” During the jail stint, he also befriended Ennis’ girlfriend, a stripper named Jennifer Marcum.

After planting the seeds of a murder-for-hire plot, Kimball reported to the FBI that Ennis was planning to have witnesses killed, and shortly thereafter, was granted confidential informant status. He was moved to a lower-security prison and eventually released.

“Our primary victim in our case was Jennifer Marcum,” Grusing said. “Mainly, he convinced Steve [Ennis] to hook him up with Jennifer to get Jennifer out of stripping. So, at the same time he’s making Steve look like the bad guy, he’s taking Jennifer and isolating her and killing her.”

By February 2003, Scott was a bona fide informant operating throughout the western United States, and Marcum was dead.

During his several-year span as an informant, Kimball was responsible for killing four people, including Marcum. He would later confess to killing at least 21 people, and according to Grusing, told his own attorneys, he was responsible for 45 to 50 killings. His other alleged victims all remain unnamed.

After his eventual arrest, authorities would learn that Scott killed LeAnn Emry, another stripper, whom he shot and left for dead in a remote desert area, just one month prior to Marcum’s murder.

In August of that year, Kayci Mcloed went missing. Her murder was eventually linked to Kimball, and he confessed to it.

In 2004, Kimball killed his own uncle, Terry Kimball.

DOJ Directs Prosecutors to Ready Probes of George Soros’s Foundation

Over half a dozen U.S. attorney’s offices around the country have been directed by a senior Justice Department official to draft plans to investigate a George Soros-funded group, multiple reports Friday reveal.

The Open Society Foundations (OSF) is the target of the investigations.

The OSF has been the personal philanthropic fiefdom of multi-billionaire Soros since it was founded in 1993. The Hungarian-born businessman has subsequently never been far from headlines in Europe and the United States, whether by his actions or those of son Alexander.
The New York Times reports the official’s directive, a copy of which was viewed by the outlet, details possible charges prosecutors could file against the left-wing Democratic donor, ranging from arson to material support of terrorism.

ABC News sets out some of the more specific directions:

The order from Aakash Singh, a senior official in Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office, was sent to U.S. attorney’s offices in at least seven states, the sources confirmed, including California, New York, Illinois, Michigan and Maryland.

The letter lists potential charges prosecutors could take under consideration as they prepare to investigate the Open Society Foundations, ranging from material support to terrorism, arson, wire fraud and racketeering, the sources said.

“This DOJ, along with our hard-working and dedicated U.S. Attorneys, will always prioritize public safety and investigate organizations that conspire to commit acts of violence or other federal violations of law,” a spokesperson for the Justice Department told ABC News when approached for comment and/or confirmation of the directive.

A spokesperson for OSF in a statement to ABC News, said, “The Open Society Foundations unequivocally condemn terrorism and do not fund terrorism. Our activities are peaceful and lawful, and our grantees are expected to abide by human rights principles and comply with the law.”
“These accusations are politically motivated attacks on civil society, meant to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the First Amendment right to free speech.

“When power is abused to take away the rights of some people, it puts the rights of all people at risk,” the statement said.

As Breitbart News has chronicled previously, Soros-backed organizations have had close ties both with the White House under previous President Joe Biden and groups working at odds with other government agencies – before and since.

US preps for attacks against drug lords deep inside Venezuela as tensions flare: report

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is reportedly drafting plans to strike drug traffickers inside Venezuela, potentially in weeks, marking a major escalation from targeting the cartel in boats in the southern Caribbean.

President Trump has yet to approve any of the attack plans, but the move comes in response to concerns that Venezuela strongman President Nicolas Maduro, has failed to stem the flow of drugs from his country into the US and elsewhere, NBC News reported.

Initial plans include the use of drones to strike leadership and members of drug trafficking cartels as well as labs, according to the report, which cited four sources familiar with the plans.

“We’ll see what happens,” Trump said earlier this month when asked about whether he would support strikes inside the South American Country. “Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable.”

The Post reached out to both the White House and Pentagon for comment.

Trump has announced at least three strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats since Sept. 2, killing at least 17 people.

While the administration hasn’t presented clear evidence to the public that those vessels were carrying drugs, an official in the nearby Dominican Republic claimed at a press conference that there were drugs detected in the water near one of the boats after a strike.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump had pledged to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs into the US.

Last month, the US government rolled out a $50 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of Maduro.

Privately, Maduro has told intermediaries that he would be willing to make some concessions to the US government to stop the attacks, according to the report.

Maduro has repeatedly denied playing a role in drug trafficking operations in his country.

Since the attacks earlier this month, the US has moved at least eight ships to the region and dispatched multiple F-35 fighter jets, the Pentagon said.

Still, the US continues to coordinate with Venezuela on deportation issues.

Venezuela, once an oil-rich country that is now mired in poverty, is subject to heavy sanctions from the US government.

Several weeks ago, Maduro inked a letter to Trump encouraging him to pursue dialogue. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted the missive.

UKRAINE WAR

NATO Scrambles Fighter Jets As Russia Launches 12-Hour Barrage on Ukraine

On Sunday, Russia initiated one of its most intense aerial assaults on Ukraine since the onset of the war, deploying nearly 600 drones and 48 missiles over a 12-hour period. The capital, Kyiv, bore the brunt of the attack, resulting in at least four fatalities and numerous injuries.

In response, NATO swiftly scrambled fighter jets and placed air defense units on high alert, particularly in neighboring Poland, to secure the alliance's eastern flank.

Newsweek contacted representatives for Russia, Ukraine, and Poland via email and NATO via online form on Sunday.

Why It Matters

This unprecedented attack highlights the escalating nature of the conflict and the increasing threats to NATO member states, while the scale of the attack and the proximity to NATO borders have heightened concerns about the potential for wider regional instability. The incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of current air defense systems and the need for enhanced regional security measures.

The strike ranks among the largest of the war, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. It comes amid heightened tensions following recent NATO air defense operations triggered by drone incursions, as well as unexplained drone activity over Scandinavia that disrupted air traffic in Norway and Denmark this week. As reported by Newsweek, those incidents followed complaints from Poland, Romania, and Estonia about Russian airspace violations, further straining relations between NATO allies and Moscow.

The deployment of fighter jets and temporary airspace restrictions are occurring more often as several NATO nations report drone sightings and other airspace violations.

What To Know

The Russian air assault, lasting more than 12 hours, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left at least four people dead and more than 70 injured in Ukraine, the BBC reported. The attack, which unleashed close to 600 drones and dozens of missiles across seven regions, ranks among the most intense strikes in recent months.

Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily restricted parts of its airspace on Sunday following the Russian attack. Polish radar systems were placed on the highest alert level, and NATO F-35 jets patrolled the skies until the assault concluded, according to the military. No violations of Polish airspace were reported. Airspace near the southeastern cities of Lublin and Rzeszów was briefly closed as a precaution, Politico reported.

Zelensky confirmed that all of the fatalities occurred in Kyiv, where much of the bombardment was concentrated, among them a 12-year-old girl, BBC reported. Zelensky vowed that Ukraine would respond, condemning the “vile” assault as proof that Moscow “wants to continue fighting and killing.” Russia, meanwhile, claimed it had targeted military sites and industrial facilities linked to Ukraine’s defence efforts.

According to Ukrainian news outlet, Ukrainska Pravda, Russia attacked with 643 aerial assets. Hits and falling debris were recorded in 41 locations overnight. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, and Dniprovskyi districts.

Kyiv's air force stated that it neutralized 611 targets in total, including 566 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), two Banderol UAVs, 35 Kh-101 missiles, and eight Kalibr missiles. According to the military, five missiles and 31 attack drones struck 16 sites, while falling debris was recorded in 25 different areas, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The strikes occurred only hours after Zelensky cautioned Europe that the surge in drone activity and airspace violations signaled Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions extend beyond Ukraine, and that Russia is testing European air defenses through recent violations of airspace in multiple NATO member countries.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted that Moscow has no plans to attack EU or NATO member states, as per Politico. However, he warned that Russia would deliver a “decisive response” to any act of aggression against it.

I know that I had already reported about the sightings of some drones over Denmark's and Germany's skies but it was not the only place where they had showed up.

More drones over Denmark, Lithuania stoke fears of Russian aggression, as Kremlin continues strikes in Ukraine

Drones were spotted over Denmark and Lithuania Saturday, stoking increased security concerns and fears of growing Russian aggression.

The sightings were the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent weeks, with previous violations to NATO airspace in Estonia, Poland, and Romania.

In Denmark, drones were spotted near several military facilities overnight, and units of the Danish Armed Forces deployed in response.

The incident came after several drone sightings in the Nordic country earlier this week, including over four airports overnight Wednesday, and in the skies above Copenhagen Monday, grounding flights in the Danish capital for hours.

In Lithuania, three drones were spotted flying near the capital Vilnius’ airport Friday, Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported.

“Russia is testing Europe’s ability to defend itself and trying to influence societies so that people start thinking: ‘Why are we giving everything to the Ukrainians when we can’t even protect ourselves?'” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X Saturday.

“Putin is testing what the Europeans have.”

Zelensky also revealed 92 drones were heading for Poland during the incursion of its airspace earlier this month. Ukraine shot down most, he said, except for the 19 that made it into the NATO country.

The sightings come as the Kremlin continues pounding on war-torn Ukraine.

Two civilians were killed and at least 36 people were hurt across the country, after a new round of Russian attacks late Friday and early Saturday, authorities said.

Zelensky asks Trump for Tomahawk missiles in closed-door meeting to ramp up pressure on Russia to end war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked President Trump in a closed-door meeting this week to sell Kyiv Tomahawk missiles to raise the pressure on Russia to end its bloody war — and the commander in chief is “open” to the move, according to reports and The Post’s sources.

The missiles have far more range than any others sent so far by Western allies — and could be key in strongarming President Vladimir Putin into coming to the negotiating table.

“Sending even a single Tomahawk to Ukraine would scare the s–t out of the Russians more than almost anything else we could do,” a senior congressional aide told The Post.

Tomahawk missiles can fly between 700 and 1,500 miles, which would put the Kremlin within Ukraine’s reach.

That would dwarf the range of ATACMS — the longest-range US weapons Ukraine has received so far, which fly as far as 190 miles.

Zelensky made the request in a closed-door meeting with Trump amid the annual United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan, he revealed to Axios, though he did not specify the type of weapon he asked for.

A source told the outlet that it was for the long-range missiles and that the US president was amenable to the request.

While Trump was open to the move, he did not commit to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of the US-made artillery, a senior US official and Ukrainian official told the Wall Street Journal Friday.

During the sideline discussion at the United Nations, Zelensky asked Trump for more long-range missiles and approval to use such weapons to strike targets on sovereign Russian territory. Trump replied that he didn’t oppose the idea, though both officials said the president didn’t make any commitments to reverse a U.S. ban on such attacks.

A source familiar with the Trump-Zelensky meeting also told The Post that the request was for a weapon that no one else in Europe has, which would fit the Tomahawk.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine might not even need to deploy the weapons if the request is fulfilled, but rather they could be used to send a message to the flailing Russian army.

“By the way, we need it, but it doesn’t mean that we will use it. Because if we will have it, I think it’s additional pressure on Putin to sit and speak,” he told Axios.

Zelensky had made pleas to President Joe Biden, but the previous administration denied the requests over repeated fears of escalation.

JD Vance mocks Russians over ‘stalled’ war in Ukraine with little ‘territorial gain’

WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance on Sunday mocked Russia over its war in Ukraine, noting how little Moscow has “to show for it” after three years and more than a million casualties.

The vice president said he “wasn’t surprised at all” by President Trump’s stunning declaration last week that Kyiv can win back its territories and perhaps go “further.”

“If you go back to the last days of the Biden administration, if you go back to even a couple of months ago, the Russians were conquering large amounts of territory,” Vance told “Fox News Sunday.”

“What’s happening right now, as the president articulated, is [that] Russia is really stalled,” Vance said. “They’re killing a lot of people. They themselves are losing a lot of people. And they don’t have much territorial gain to show for it.”

Trump’s assertion about Ukraine came just after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the United Nations. Trump suggested that Russia is nothing more than a “paper tiger.”

Sources later told The Post that Trump’s apparent shift in his public outlook on the war was a “strategic shift” based in part on new intelligence about Russia’s economy and position on the battlefield.

“The president is looking at the situation. He’s saying, ‘Look, the Russian economy is in shambles. The Russians are not gaining much on the battlefield. It’s clearly time for them to listen to his passionate plea for them to come to the table and actually talk seriously about peace,’ ” Vance said.

“I think what’s changed is the reality on the ground,” the veep said. “Unfortunately, what we have seen over the last couple of weeks, [is that] the Russians have refused to sit down with any bilateral meetings with the Ukrainians.”

Vance famously clashed with Zelensky during their Feb. 28 encounter in the Oval Office, in which he demanded a “Thank You” and commitment to pursuing peace.

Since then, the two have seemingly mended fences.

During a recent interview with Axios, Zelensky denied that the VP was his enemy.

17 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia rescued from occupied territories

More than a dozen Ukrainian children and teenagers were recently rescued from Russian-occupied territories in the country, officials announced this week.

Some of the 35,000 Ukrainian kids believed to have been abducted by Russian troops since the start of the war.

So far, 1,625 of the children have been returned to Ukraine so far, President Volodymir Zelensky said.
One 17-year-old boy who was among those recently rescued was taken in the middle of the night by Russian soldiers and interrogated for hours at gunpoint.

“He was threatened and intimidated because of his pro-Ukrainian stance,” Zelensky’s right-hand man Andriy Yermak wrote on X Thursday.

A 16-year-old girl who rejected a Russian school was allegedly threatened with being separated from her mother, Yermak wrote, while two other children — a 15-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister — survived a munition strike that set their house on fire.

But the siblings were then forced to choose, Yermak said.

“Either the children attend a Russian school, or the entire family must abandon their home,” Yermak wrote on X.

Some of the children rescued had lived in constant fear of being forced to join the Russian army, he said.

Shocking images from Russian state television have shown young Ukrainian boys and girls assembling and firing assault rifles, all while the Russian flag and a portrait of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin loomed in the background.

The abducted kids were also believed to have been forced to build drones for Russian, according to a report by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab earlier this month.

“This is not just indoctrination. This is another proof the use of children in a war machine,” said Mykola Kuleba, founder of Save Ukraine, one of the organizations working to rescue the kids.

Ukraine’s Third Army Corps released chilling drone footage this week alongside intercepted radio communications of Russian soldiers breaking into a home in Donetsk.

TRUMP ON EUROPE

Trump warns Europe ‘being devastated by energy and immigration’ in UN speech

WASHINGTON — President Trump predicted Tuesday that Europe would face “total destruction” if it continues its policies of open immigration and aggressive use of green energy.

During his fiery address to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump urged European allies to follow his lead on border security and fossil fuel exploration, while also demanding they stop purchasing Russian oil and funding Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

“I don’t say that in a braggadocious way, but it’s true, I’ve been right about everything, and I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail,” the president urged his audience.

“I am the president of the United States, but I worry about Europe. I love Europe. I love the people of Europe, and I hate to see it being devastated by energy and immigration,” he further lamented. “This double-tailed monster destroyed everything in its wake, and they cannot let that happen any longer.”

Trump weaved gripes about European policy throughout his 57-minute speech, which at times resembled a campaign address.

“Europe is in serious trouble. They’ve been invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before,” he said at one point. “Illegal aliens are pouring into Europe. … Nobody’s doing anything to change it; to get them out.”

“It’s not sustainable, and because they choose to be politically correct, they’re doing just absolutely nothing about it,” he added. “This will be the death of Western Europe if something is not done immediately.”

Fresh off his state visit to the United Kingdom last week, Trump called out London Mayor Sadiq Khan as “terrible” and accused the Labour Party politician of wanting the British capital “to go to Sharia law.”

The president also bragged that under his leadership, the US has “reasserted that America belongs to the American people” and urged other countries to similarly reclaim their sovereignty.

“What makes the world so beautiful is that each country is unique,” he said.

Turning back to energy, Trump revisited his threat to slap secondary tariffs against Russia, targeting countries that purchase energy from Moscow.

ASIA

Trump administration scores fifth release of American citizen from Afghanistan so far this year

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration just scored its fifth release so far this year of an American citizen held hostage in Afghanistan.

Amir Amiry, who had been held in Afghanistan since December, was set free by the Taliban over the weekend with help from Qatari diplomats who facilitated negotiations, officials said.

Amiry was en route back to the US as of Sunday afternoon, an official familiar with the release told The Post.
“We express our sincere gratitude to Qatar, whose strong partnership and tireless diplomatic efforts were vital to securing his release,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

“While this marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home.”
It is not clear what Amiry was doing in Afghanistan or why he was abducted.

His freedom follows the releases of businessman Ryan Corbett and William McKenty in January, as well as George Glezmann, who was there on a “cultural” trip, and Faye Hall, who was picked up for operating a drone without authorization, in March.

Qatar, which has helped mediate other disputes in the Middle East, worked to broker a meeting between Amiry and the US special envoy to Afghanistan in March, the source said. It isn’t known what if any concessions were made to the Taliban to secure Amiry’s release.

Negotiations carried on for months until a breakthrough was achieved over the weekend.

Doha is also busy working to broker an end to the war in Gaza and secure the release of the Israelis held hostage by Hamas.
The oil-rich country is trying to mediate other conflicts as well, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war, tensions within Venezuela and fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Qatar has maintained diplomatic relations with the regime and pressed for humanitarian corridors to stay open.

Iran Claims to Uncover Israel Nuclear Secrets

Iranian state media on Thursday released a dramatic short video claiming to reveal confidential information and documents allegedly obtained from Israel’s intelligence apparatus concerning the country's nuclear program.

The two-minute clip builds on a broader televized segment aired the previous day by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, which first presented material purportedly from inside Israeli nuclear and other sensitive facilities, including the Dimona site, and highlighted personnel connected to the country’s nuclear efforts.

Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib outlined the scope of Iran’s claims, displaying names, ID cards, and other personal information of alleged Israeli nuclear scientists and officials.

Newsweek has reached out to the foreign ministries or Iran and Israel for comment.

Why It Matters

The broadcasts highlight the ongoing intelligence confrontation between Iran and Israel, which is widely believed to maintain an undeclared nuclear arsenal, while Iran has long accused Israel of espionage and sabotage targeting its nuclear program. The public airing of allegedly sensitive material marks a significant escalation, raising regional tensions and drawing global scrutiny.

The situation is further complicated by the 12-day Israeli military campaign in June, which killed numerous Iranian personnel and exposed Tehran’s intelligence vulnerabilities. At the same time, the potential reimposition of U.N. snapback sanctions over Iran’s nuclear violations adds pressure, heightening stakes for both Tehran and the international community.

What To Know

The two-minute video called Iran exposes Israel's covert nuclear operations was posted on X via Iran's Press TV account. Set against stirring music and visually edited to emphasize tension, the clip is available in English, signaling a clear intent to reach an international audience.

It summarizes the claims made in Wednesday’s longer broadcast, highlighting Israel’s nuclear program and its alleged personnel in a visually striking, fast-paced presentation.

Khatib, a cleric with extensive military and intelligence experience, said the material demonstrated that Israeli intelligence “spies on everyone,” including international figures. He accused Israeli personnel of collaborating with Iran for financial gain, asserting that the infiltration remains ongoing.

Khatib stated: “We identified 189 Israeli nuclear and proliferation scientists and top officials, along with their networks.”

The intelligence minister displayed images of personnel purportedly working across multiple Israeli nuclear sites under corporate covers, including a company named ROTEM. Another individual was presented as a nuclear scientist allegedly involved in proliferation projects with the United States.

Israel has yet to respond to Iran's allegations.

Israel strikes 120 targets in Gaza Strip — including terror tunnels, surveillance post

The Israeli Air Force struck about 120 targets in the Gaza Strip Saturday — including buildings, tunnels and a surveillance post it said were being used by terror groups, as the Jewish state pushed forward with its military operation in the region.

Several gunmen were killed and weapons, including rockets and grenades, were found, according to the Times of Israel.

The Israeli Defense Force released footage of a drone strike against two men seen digging in the ground, who it said were Hamas operatives trying to plant bombs in Gaza City.

The latest strikes killed at least 44 people in the early morning hours Saturday, claimed Gaza health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and military combatants.

The latest strikes come as international pressure grows to reach a ceasefire and an end to the two-year war.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities are investigating reports from hundreds of Israelis who said they received disturbing phone calls in Hebrew offering them money to act as agents for Iranian intelligence.

The bizarre calls, which featured a recorded message, were seen as an attempt at intimidation and recruitment, Israeli officials said.

“Iranian intelligence is looking for official agents — competitive salary, comprehensive security,” said one of the messages that went out Saturday morning, according to Ynet, which shared a recording of the call.

Trump’s 21-point Gaza peace plan revealed — and it’s getting rave reviews from Arab allies

WASHINGTON — All 21 facets of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan were revealed Saturday, including a staunch demand to release all the Israeli hostages in Hamas’ captivity within 48 hours of inking any deal, a push to deradicalize the Palestinian enclave, and a commitment to end all fighting.

The peace plan also paves the pathway to possible Palestinian statehood, lays out steps to revitalize the Gaza Strip, and stipulates that Hamas cannot be part of any governing structure, according to the Times of Israel, which saw a copy of the full plan.

Trump presented the plan to allies Tuesday at the United Nations, but its full scope has not been fully presented to Hamas yet. The plan lays out a series of strong demands to the terrorist organization and makes key overtures to Gazans.

Under the proposal, all sides will work to redevelop Gaza, pour aid into the war-torn enclave at levels not lower than the January 2025 hostage deal.
Israeli Defense Forces would gradually withdraw from Gaza and Israel would agree to release key Palestinian prisoners. Hamas members who agree to peaceful coexistence will get amnesty. Those who want to leave will get safe passage to other countries.

Critically, anyone who wants to return to Gaza after leaving will be allowed to do so.

That marks a shift from February, when Trump talked about having the Palestinians temporarily relocated from Gaza to transform the enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

“I think it addresses Israeli concerns as well as the concerns of all the neighbors in the region,” US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said at the Concordia summit on the sidelines of UNGA on Wednesday.

“We’re hopeful — and I might say even confident– that in the coming days we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough.”

Gaza would also get a temporary government overseen by an international group involving the US, Arab countries, and European nations. They would develop a new economic plan to revitalize Gaza, including reduced tariff rates for an economic zone in the enclave.

Regional partners will give a security guarantee to force Hamas and its allies in Gaza to fulfill their obligations. The US and Arab allies will also craft a stabilization force to build up security in Gaza.

Additionally, Israel will agree not to annex or occupy Gaza and commit that it won’t strike Qatar again — an attack earlier this month that roiled US allies in the Middle East.

Netanyahu expecting to make ‘painful and significant’ concessions under Trump’s ceasefire plan: report

Israel will have to make “painful and significant” concessions under the US plan to end the war in Gaza.

The givebacks will run contrary to several recent  policy positions by the Jewish State — especially a role for the Palestinian Authority in the postwar plan, Israeli television’s Channel 12 reported Saturday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected any role for the Palestinian Authority, insisting that Israel should retain control over the Strip after the war.

President Trump’s latest plan calls for the gradual expansion of the Palestinian Authority’s governing power, after a transition period where an international body will look over the enclave.

The Palestinian Authority, created in 1994 under the Oslo Accords and currently led by Mahmoud Abbas, is a Western and internationally recognized governing body that currently only has limited authority in parts of the West Bank.

It initially administered both the West Bank and Gaza but lost control of the strip to Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections.

All 21 facets of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan were revealed Saturday by the Times of Israel. The plan paves the pathway to possible Palestinian statehood but stipulates Hamas cannot be part of any governing structure.

The suggested transitional government would provide day-to-day services under the supervision of a new international body, until the Palestinian Authority has completed a reform program.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s name has been floated as interim administrator of the transitional government.