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.
TAMPA, Fla – New SNAP restrictions will start Monday in Florida.
What we know:
These changes will ban the purchase of many sugary sodas, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed, shelf-stable prepared desserts.
Hunger Free America, an advocacy group, is against these restrictions.
Joel Berg, the CEO, said some regulation is a good thing, but he wants to see it support access to healthy foods as a choice.
“We do support mandates to mandate that healthier food is available in stores that do accept SNAP,” Berg said. “So, it makes a lot more sense to make it easier to get healthier food.”
Berg said these restrictions are unnecessary in achieving a healthier America.
“We should make America healthier again by making healthy food more affordable, convenient and physically available,” Berg said. “We shouldn’t micromanage the eating patterns of adults to try to achieve that goal.”
The other side:
This is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic disease epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long.”
What they’re saying:
Berg said that these changes, on top of cuts to the program nationwide, will increase hunger.
“It’s not that low-income Americans don’t want healthier food; it’s that they can’t afford healthier food,” Berg said.
This coincides with the announcement that there will be cuts to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which supplies food to mothers and young children.
“President Trump’s budget just announced that he’s proposing taking away fruits and vegetables from the WIC program for pregnant women and children under five,” Berg said. “So, they’re taking away healthier food.”
The WIC cuts would take away $1.4 billion in fruit and vegetable benefits from 5.4 million people.
Big picture view:
The SNAP changes come as part of the MAHA movement and include more than 20 other states that will implement changes over the next two years.
The Source: Information in this story comes from WIC, SNAP and interviews done by Fox 13’s Danielle Zulkosky.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The engines are revving for one final day of high-stakes bidding and family fun at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction reaches its grand finale today with an action-packed “Super Saturday” lineup, promising to close out the weekend with a full slate of collector car sales, live entertainment, and fan attractions.
“Super Saturday,” presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, officially kicks off at 8 a.m. when gates, food courts, and the exhibitor marketplace open to the public.
What to expect
- 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge begins early, running in tandem with the automobilia auction in the arena.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Thrill-seekers can catch Dodge thrill rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track.
- 10:00 a.m.: New amenities open to the public, including the Stella Artois, Staging Lanes, and Food Court patios, which offer shaded seating and auction views.
- 10:45 a.m.: The national anthem will be performed in the auction arena, signaling the start of the main collector car auction at 11 a.m.
- Afternoon Entertainment: DJ sets run from noon to 5 p.m. across the various patios, and a detailing clinic by Adam’s Polishes is scheduled for 2 p.m. near the South Showcase.
For those unable to attend, the whole event will be livestreamed throughout the day on the Barrett-Jackson website and the HISTORY channel from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Today’s finale comes on the heels of a high-energy Friday that saw significant sales and notable celebrity interest.
Star power was evident throughout the day, particularly with vehicles tied to the Busch family. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Samantha Busch and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Custom Coupe were among the day’s heavy hitters, each fetching $159,500. Kyle Busch’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe also drew a strong bid, selling for $143,000.
Other Friday highlights included:
- 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replica: $137,500
- 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Mamba Edition: $132,000
- 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom SUV: $126,500
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible: $121,000
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
With a festival-style atmosphere and high-profile sales driving momentum, organizers expect a busy crowd for the final push at the auction block today.
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