News From Around the Web
#1 Tax Refunds Are Up — but Falling Short of Expectations - Kelly Tyko for Axios, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D./Jayne, Kelly Loeffler/Leo Fredrico, bill, David Livingston/Rapid Response 47, and Jenna Wright on X
Tax refunds are up this year — but still falling short of expectations for many Americans, despite new tax breaks meant to put more money in taxpayers' pockets. Refunds are one of the biggest cash windfalls many households see all year — and when they fall short, so do plans to pay down debt, save, or spend. The deadline to file federal taxes — or request an extension — is Wednesday for most Americans. This is the first filing season reflecting changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including new deductions that were expected to boost refunds for million So far, refunds are indeed up. The average check is about $3,462, up 11% from $3,116 last year, according to IRS filing season data through April 3....
#2 Swalwell, Gonzales Announce Resignations in Wake of Allegations, Shaking up Congress - Fox News, NBC News, George, Millerd, Joe Khalil, and Vince Langman/New York Post
Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, both resigned Tuesday from Congress in lieu of facing expulsion following sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell vows to fight the allegations but said he must also "take responsibility and ownership" of his mistakes. Swalwell's official resignation from the House is still pending, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., calls Swalwell and Rep. Tony Gonzales' duel resignations "the appropriate thing."#3 LA Sheriff’s Department Launches Investigation Into Allegations Against Eric Swalwell- NBC News, Bruce Snyder, Tara Bull, ConspiracyDailyUpdat, America's Newsroom, and New York Post on X
Former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., faces a new sexual assault allegation from a woman who said he drugged, raped, and choked her in a California hotel room in 2018. "He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness," the woman, Lonna Drewes, said Tuesday at a news conference with her attorneys. "I thought I died." Authorities in Los Angeles County said Tuesday they're investigating the alleged incident involving Swalwell. "The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Bureau is investigating a case involving a female adult who reported being sexually assaulted by Eric Swalwell," the department said in a statement. "The investigation remains in its preliminary stages and is ongoing."#4 ‘I Fell for It:’ Gallego Gives Emotional Remarks Following Swalwell Sexual Assault Allegations - Riley Rogerson for POLITICO, Eric Matheny, MJTruthUltra, George Santos, Victoria, and BlackBetty on X
Sen. Ruben Gallego said his former close friend, Rep. Eric Swalwell, “betrayed” his trust following revelations of sexual assault allegations and denied having any knowledge of the serious accusations lodged against the California Democrat. “Eric Swalwell lied to all of us — lied to the most powerful people in this country — and they trusted him,” Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, told reporters Tuesday afternoon in his office. “I fell for it,” Gallego said, adding that Swalwell “became very good at being a predator.” Swalwell, who served with Gallego in the House, has withdrawn his bid for California governor and announced plans he will resign from Congress following multiple sexual misconduct allegations...
#5 Are Scandal-Plagued Cory Mills’ Days in Congress Finally Numbered? - Candace Hathaway for Blaze Media, Steve Friend, Overton, Manu Raju, BNO News, and Awakened Outlaw on X
The swift resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) to avoid expulsion votes regarding sexual misconduct allegations may trigger a chain reaction on Capitol Hill to remove other lawmakers accused of wrongdoing. Gonzales stated that he planned to file his retirement from office on Tuesday after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who later committed suicide. On Sunday, Swalwell decided he would suspend his bid for California governor after a former staffer claimed he had previously sexually assaulted her. Swalwell has denied the allegations. The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it would open an investigation into the allegations against Swalwell. That same day, Swalwell stated he would resign from Congress, citing his colleagues' intent to expel him...
#6 Johnson Backs Expelling Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick From House - Hailey Bullis for Washington Examiner, Officer Lew, Nick Sortor, JamesGroup37043/Eric Daugherty, and M.A. Rothman on X
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) should be expelled by the House after an ethics investigation found she committed wrongdoing on several counts after a months-long probe into allegations of financial misconduct. Johnson, who has shied away from calling for members to resign before the House Committee on Ethics completes investigations into members, said the panel found “alarming facts” about Cherfilus-McCormick that warrant her ouster. The speaker’s call for Cherfilus-McCormick to be removed from office comes after Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced they would be resigning from Congress amid their own scandals...
#7 DOJ Moves to Dismiss J6 Seditious Conspiracy Convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys Leaders - Misty Severi for Just the News, Ron Cohen, Myles Morell, Joe Hanneman, Shane Jenkins | The Real J6, Jim DaBink/Enrique Tarrio on X
The Justice Department filed paperwork Tuesday to dismiss seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keeper leaders related to the January 6 riot in 2021. The department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to vacate the convictions, including of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, according to the Associated Press. President Donald Trump has already commuted the sentences of over 1,500 Proud Boys and Oath Keeper members, including some of its leaders, but the motion goes further to erase the convictions...
#8 Brian Cole Jr., D.C. Pipe Bomb Suspect, Hit With 2 New Charges - Jacob Rosen for CBS News, Zetta Wire, Kyle Seraphin/Kaelan Deese, Just Human, and Jacqueline Sweet on X
The man accused of planting pipe bombs outside of the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot now faces two additional felony charges, according to a superseding indictment made public Wednesday. Brian Cole Jr. was arrested and charged in December with transporting and planting the two IEDs at the DNC and RNC headquarters. The new indictment adds charges of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and committing an act of terrorism while armed...
#9 GOP Leaders Delay FISA Vote Amid GOP Rebellion - Meredith Lee Hill and Mia McCarthy for POLITICO, Julian Andreone, Samuel Pascal Redfern, Thomas Massie, Breanna Morello, and C247 on X
House GOP leaders postponed a Wednesday procedural vote on an extension of a key federal spy powers program as they scramble to land a deal with hard-liners around changes, acknowledging the truly “clean” extension that President Donald Trump is demanding is currently DOA in the chamber. There are ongoing discussions around modifying the clean, 18-month extension of the surveillance authority known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, that Trump is ordering. GOP leaders acknowledged in private conversations Tuesday night and publicly Wednesday morning that at least some tweaks are necessary to quell a GOP rebellion that could lead to Section 702’s expiration on April 20...
#10 Katy Perry Under Police Investigation Over Ruby Rose’s Sexual Assault Allegations - Christina Dugan Ramirez for Fox News, Rogelio DaPrince, Daugter Of God, Pop Crave/Mike, and Jack Scarizzy on X
Over the weekend, the "Orange Is the New Black" alum, 40, alleged on social media that Perry sexually assaulted her at a Melbourne nightclub 20 years ago. A representative for Perry immediately shut down the "categorically false" claims. "The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous, reckless lies," a representative for Perry told Fox News Digital in a statement at the time. "Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named."
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