Florida
Obama grand jury convening in Florida would be major boost for Trump
The Department of Justice’s federal grand jury case to investigate Obama administration officials over their 2016 assessment of Russian election interference could take place in Florida, which would likely provide a more favorable legal environment for the DOJ.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has authorized federal prosecutors to investigate statements and testimony from Obama administration officials regarding alleged ties between President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, directly targeting what Trump has long labeled the “Russia Hoax,” while potentially diverting attention from renewed scrutiny over the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Speculation among legal experts has centered on Florida as a possible location, and the New York Times reported on Tuesday that prosecutors would present the case to a grand jury in South Florida, should the evidence warrant it, citing people briefed on the move who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing investigations.
Newsweek has contacted the DOJ as well as former President Barack Obama’s office via email outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
While the venue for the grand jury has not yet been announced, and federal authorities have not indicated when or where jurors will be seated, placing the investigation outside Washington, D.C. would serve as a tactical win for Trump.
Bondi’s move coincides with the Senate’s confirmation of Judge Jason A. Reding Quiñones as the first U.S. attorney of Donald Trump’s second term, and whose appointment fuels speculation centered on the Southern District of Florida as a possible location.
What to Know
Legal experts, such as attorney James Burnham, have called South Florida the “logical” choice for the location of the grand jury, especially in light of setback suffered by the Trump administration in Washington, D.C.
“All eyes on the Southern District of Florida and its newly confirmed US Attorney Jason Reding Quinones, ” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
Trump won the state with 56.1 percent of the vote in the 2024 presidential election. Grand juries are selected from the surrounding community, which in Washington, D.C., means they’re largely drawn from a predominantly Democratic population—Donald Trump received only about 6.6 percent of the D.C.’s vote in the 2024 election.
The Department of Justice has sparred with James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who issued a temporary restraining order in March blocking Trump’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan nationals—prompting Trump to label him a “Radical Left Lunatic” and call for his impeachment.
The DOJ filed a rare misconduct complaint against Boasberg after he blocked immigration enforcement actions and warned that Trump officials might “disregard federal court rulings,” which the administration saw as evidence of bias.
Trump administration officials are wary to present evidence in a D.C. court that took decisions pertaining to the Russia investigation that began in 2017, The New York Times reported. And having a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney like Quiñones in Florida could significantly influence the process. U.S. attorneys have wide discretion in prioritizing cases, allocating resources, and shaping how aggressively prosecutions are pursued.
Why Florida Could Host the Grand Jury
Federal rules typically require grand juries to operate where the alleged criminal conduct occurred.
For Florida to be the venue, one path could see prosecutors attempt to establish a jurisdictional link between the FBI actions pertaining to the Russia investigation launched under the Obama administration and the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents in 2022.
Prosecutors might argue that actions set in motion in 2016 eventually led to conduct involving classified documents in Florida, justifying the Southern District as the location.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Who Is Jason A. Reding Quiñones?
Confirmed in a 52-44 party-line Senate vote, Jason A. Reding Quiñones now leads one of the nation’s busiest federal districts.
Quiñones is a Miami native and the son of a Cuban political refugee. He graduated from Florida International University’s law school in 2008, worked in corporate law, served as a U.S. Air Force military lawyer, and later became a Justice Department prosecutor in Miami. Despite early poor evaluations and a dropped discrimination complaint, he transitioned to the civil division and received satisfactory reviews.
What People Are Saying
John Solomon, columnist and journalist, told the Real America’s Voice channel on Tuesday: “This is a major development. We told you last week that Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, had given permission for a strike force to begin. That’s a very specific tool the Justice Department uses on major conspiracies. And we told you then we would know it was getting serious when the grand jury jumped into action.
“We now know that a grand jury will be impaneled—most likely, my sources are telling me, it could be in Florida, where the raid of President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home happened.”
Attorney, James Burnham wrote on X on Tuesday: “All eyes on the Southern District of Florida and its newly confirmed US Attorney Jason Reding Quinones. Given various setbacks in DC during Trump 45, the extraordinarily lopsided beltway jury pool, and the factual connection to Palm Beach–SD Fla is a logical place for DOJ to pursue this incredibly high stakes grand jury investigation.” X
Judge Quiñones told the Miami Herald: “As the son of a Cuban political refugee and a proud Miami native, I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence that President Trump, Attorney General Bondi, and the United States Senate have placed in me. As the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, I will work tirelessly to protect the American people, restore impartial justice, and defend the rule of law without fear or favor.”
What Happens Next
It remains unclear what charges, if any, the grand jury will consider, who will be investigated, or when proceedings will begin.
The Justice Department must first formally convene the grand jury.
Austin Smotherman will carry a three-stroke lead into the weekend at the Cognizant Classic at The Palm Beaches.
Smotherman followed his opening 62 with a 2-under-par 69 on Friday at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. That brought him to 11 under, comfortably clear of Taylor Moore, who is in second after his second straight 4-under 67.
Cognizant Classic scoreboard
“Yeah, leading a PGA Tour event, come on, pretty awesome,” Smotherman said.
Smotherman, 31, is in fine position for his first win on the PGA Tour since turning pro a decade ago. He has won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour, including last June.
Afterwards, he credited himself with playing “Austin Smotherman golf.” When asked what that meant, he responded, “as boring and simple as it can be.
“That’s what I want to do out there. I feel like I ball strike it good enough to have that kind of boring golf, a bunch of fairways ideally,” he said.
He suffered three bogeys Friday after a bogey-free opening round, but the key stretch for him after starting on the back nine was between Nos. 17 and 3. He birdied four holes in that stretch, starting with a 54-foot bomb at the par-3 17th hole.
“Anything under par I thought would have been (good) following up a round like yesterday, which was a special one,” he said, “and try not to get too far ahead of myself thinking I’m going to make every long putt I’m looking at, like kind of was the feeling yesterday, and then today I still make a 55-footer on 17.”
Moore overcame a bogey in each half of his round with three birdies on either nine, more than counterbalancing the rough patches to earn his second straight solid score.
“I think very different 67s,” Moore said when comparing his rounds. “I didn’t hit many fairways yesterday, kind of grinded a lot, had a couple chip-ins, which obviously helps. I thought I struck the ball much better today. Drove it in the fairways on the par-5s, I felt like. Yeah, still had a few up-and- downs, obviously, with the tough windy conditions this afternoon, but overall I thought it was solid.”
Canadian A.J. Ewart had the round of the day, a 64 that powered him to 7 under for the week. He’s tied with Colombia’s Nico Echavarria (72), and Joel Dahmen is in fifth at 6 under after a second consecutive 68.
Ewart, who played for nearby Barry University in college, came in with some familiarity.
“We used to come and watch this tournament when I was at school. I think I came up here twice, maybe three times and watched,” Ewart said. “I had never actually played the golf course, but I felt like I knew it just from watching it.”
Irishman Shane Lowry, one of the most recognizable players in the field, is in a large knot for sixth at 5 under after posting a 67. Defending champion Joe Highsmith made the cut on the number at even par.
Notable players who missed the cut included Webb Simpson (1 over), Gary Woodland (2 over), Matt Kuchar (2 over) and Canada’s Adam Hadwin (3 over).
Kim maintains narrow lead in Singapore
Auston Kim maintained a narrow lead over three seasoned competitors with a 3-under-par 69 on Friday at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore.
Kim carded five birdies and a double-bogey at the par-5 16th hole at Sentosa Golf Club to move to 9-under par, one shot ahead of major champions Minjee Lee of Australia (64 on Friday) and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (67) and three- time LPGA Tour winner Haeran Ryu of South Korea (68).
Lurking two shots back at 7-under in the no-cut event are Australia’s Hannah Green (66), Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen (68), Sweden’s Linn Grant (69) and England’s Mimi Rhodes (69).
Kim, an LPGA Tour member since 2024, has been knocking on the door of her first tour win. The American has eight finishes in the top 10 and was the runner-up at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship last season.
“I think just sticking to my process. I’m trying to earn each shot and win each shot and win each day,” Kim, 25, said of her strategy heading into the weekend. “I can put a hundred percent of my focus into every single shot and try my best to execute each time, I’ll do well.”
Lee soared into contention with an eagle at the par-4 second hole and six birdies in a bogey-free round.
“I think just I holed a few more putts out there,” Lee said of the difference between Friday’s play and her opening-round of 72. “I holed a few long ones and I also holed out for eagle on the second. That always helps the score.”
Jutanugarn had six birdies, including three straight from holes Nos. 5-7, and one bogey.
Ryu collected four birdies in a round free of bogeys, but not free from pain.
“Today, my neck was so bad and I cannot turn it around, it’s so hard, my neck,” Ryu said. “But yeah, golf is not perfect. I just think about it, just hit the fairway and the green. Yeah, that’s good for me. There’s a lot of birdies, and yeah, I’m so happy.”
Angel Yin matched Lee for the low round of the day with a 64 to move into a tie for ninth at 6-under.
Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand (72) remained a 2-under posting four birdies and four bogeys.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand is tied for 33rd at 1-under after a round of 70.
Vibe Coding the Vote: Austin Founder Launches AI Election Tool
How to watch Tennessee Volunteers: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Feb. 28
Musician performs under the aurora in Nenana — without gloves, in 17 degrees
Arizona Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Feb. 27, 2026
George Dunklin’s legacy of conservation in Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
ICE blasts Washington mayor over directive restricting immigration enforcement
Did the EU bypass Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s €90 billion loan?
How the federal government is painting immigrants as criminals on social media
Where Iran’s ballistic missiles can reach — and how close they are to the US
Has India’s influence in Afghanistan grown under the Taliban?
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology7 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology7 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Politics7 days agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT