Politics
Former U.S. Space Force Officer Wants to Serve His Country Again, But Who’s Going to Extend a Helping Hand? President Trump, Defense Secretary Hegseth, or Air Force Secretary Ashworth?
Image: Wikimedia Commons (U.S. Space Force photo by Joshua Conti)
Retaliation for refusing the once-mandated COVID-19 shot no longer has a place in today’s U.S. military. Careers were destroyed, and here’s one of the most egregious examples.
Joshua Zermeno enlisted in the Air Force in 2010. After a few years of serving as a B-52 strategic bomber mechanic, a previously earned mechanical engineering degree provided the opportunity to apply to Officer Training School (OTS).
After OTS, Zermeno was commissioned in the Air Force as a second lieutenant and began Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). Finishing number two in his class, in 2015, he was then assigned to fly the RC-135, a reconnaissance aircraft.
In 2018, he was given the opportunity to transition career paths once again. He began working with rockets, assisting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SpaceX, and other space-related entities.
In 2021, he was selected as one of the first officers to be commissioned into The United States Space Force, and his oversight on space lift operations continued to expand.
“Everything seemed to be going well,” Zermeno told The Gateway Pundit. “That is, until the [shot] mandate came down from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin [in August 2021].” He took objection to the now-rescinded mandate for “personal reasons,” and “that didn’t go well with the base commander,” he shared.
Within three weeks, he received a Letter of Reprimand (LOR). A few weeks after receiving the LOR, he received “a do not promote” guidance from his base commander.
“I was passed over for promotion to Major,” he explained. “Things just started spiraling out of control, and I received a second LOR.”
Without a religious exemption or religious waiver for the shot, Zermeno was essentially forced to apply to “voluntarily separate” using an administrative discharge process created specifically for service members refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.
To his surprise, “The Air Force decided it wasn’t in their best interest to separate me.” Rather, he was “kicked out” of government buildings and was assigned to remote, menial jobs.
Shockingly, after being denied voluntary separation, Zermeno was threatened with Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) punishment. “I was going to be put up against a discharge board in January [2023],” he explained.
But at the final hour, former Defense Secretary Austin rescinded the mandate on January 10, considering it “an unfair, overbroad, and completely unnecessary burden on our service members.”
“I was in the clear. This is over,” thought Zermeno. “But about a month later, I received a second ‘do not promote,’ for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine” he said.
“I was passed over [for promotion] and forced to involuntarily separate months after the COVID mandates were rescinded” he added, pointing out that “when they separated me, they labeled it for a failure to promote.”
Despite his harrowing experience, Zermeno still expresses interest in reinstatement.
“When I saw the Executive Order by President Trump to [‘make reinstatement available to all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged solely for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to be reinstated’], I immediately started reaching out to my previous base and no one knew what was going on.”
Zermeno then reached out to the Department of the Air Force, which is responsible for United States Space Force members. He was told “they have no guidance at all, and are waiting on guidance from the Department of Defense.”
Week after week, he continues to be told “they have no guidance on how to logistically make it happen.”
Will President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, or Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth intervene? A former Air Force Captain who served honorably awaits the answer.
The post Former U.S. Space Force Officer Wants to Serve His Country Again, But Who’s Going to Extend a Helping Hand? President Trump, Defense Secretary Hegseth, or Air Force Secretary Ashworth? appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Judge Subramanian DENIES Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Bail for the Fifth Time – Disgraced Rapper Will Remain in Prison Pending His October 3rd Sentencing

Judge Subramanian: no “exceptional reasons” to release Diddy before sentencing.
Recent Judge Subramanian’s decisions may indicate hard times for Diddy come sentencing.
We have been following the pre-sentencing motions in the high-profile criminal trial of rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
The defense: ‘Sean Diddy’s Combs’ Conviction Is Racist and Sexist’, Say Disgraced Rapper’s Lawyers on Yet Another Legal Filing Trying to Release Him on Bail Pending Sentencing
The Prosecution: Prosecutors Oppose Sean Diddy Combs’ 50M Bail Package, Ask for ‘Substantially Higher’ Sentence Than Before
Look who appeared: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial: Ex-girlfirend Who Disappeared and Did Not Testify Against Rapper as ‘Victim 3’ Now Writes Letter to Judge to Grant Him Pre-sentencing Bail
Diddy has had his request for bail denied for the 5th time.
Today, we learn that federal judge Subramanian has yet again declined to grant Sean “Diddy” Combs bail, saying he found no ‘exceptional reasons’ to release him pending his October sentencing.
ABC News reported:
“Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution, which the judge said mandates incarceration. His sentencing is set for Oct. 3.
Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs remains a risk of flight and a danger to the community, pointing to the violence exhibited on 2016 hotel surveillance footage that shows him kicking and dragging Cassie Ventura.”
Combs remains a risk of flight and a danger to the community: Judge.
The judge ruled that the ‘swinger lifestyle’ argument does not fly in a case that includes ‘evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the prostitution’. And the record, he wrote, contains evidence of all three.
Subramanian: “’While Combs may contend at sentencing that this evidence should be discounted and that what happened was nothing more than a case of willing ‘swingers’ utilizing the voluntary services of escorts for their mutual pleasure, the Government takes the opposite view: that Cassie Ventura and Jane were beaten, coerced, threatened, lied to, and victimized by Combs as part of their participation in these’.”
Read more:
As He Awaits Sentencing in Prison, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Joins ‘Self-Improvement’ Program To Curb Drug Use and Violence Against Women
The post Judge Subramanian DENIES Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Bail for the Fifth Time – Disgraced Rapper Will Remain in Prison Pending His October 3rd Sentencing appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Nearly 78,000 New Applicants Flood ICE Recruitment to Help Crack Down on Illegal Immigration (VIDEO)

In a scorching new development under the Trump-backed ICE reign, Acting Director Todd Lyons confidently announced that “we have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up,” referring to the agency’s massive recruitment surge launched just one week prior.
This seismic surge in interest aligns with ICE’s newly launched “Defend the Homeland” recruitment blitz, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security on July 29, 2025.
ICE is budgeting for 10,000 new agents, dangling $50,000 signing bonuses, student‑loan forgiveness, enhanced overtime pay, and upgraded retirement plans to attract recruits.
According to the press release:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today launched a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) campaign to recruit brave and heroic Americans to join ICE as federal law enforcement agents and remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets.
“Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.”
To support this effort, ICE is offering a robust package of federal law enforcement incentives, including:
- A maximum $50,000 signing bonus
- Student loan repayment and forgiveness options
- 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents
- Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers
- Enhanced retirement benefits
Backed by significant new funding through the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE is rolling out patriotic recruitment posters and benefits to attract the next generation of law enforcement professionals to find, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens.
During the Fox interview, Todd Lyons delivered the incredible news.
“We have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up. We’re going through and finding those people who really want to serve the country and truly be in law enforcement. I think it’s a great way to recruit now.
We’re taking back our re-hired annuitants — people who left the job early because they weren’t allowed to do the law enforcement mission.
But we have so many people who are now interested in working with ICE because, under Secretary Nome’s leadership, they’re seeing that we have a viable law enforcement partner in the community. You’re actually out making a difference. We’re really ecstatic about seeing the increase in new recruits who are applying.”
WATCH:
10,000 MORE OFFICERS: Your country is calling on YOU to serve at ICE.https://t.co/3c7b0Ry86A pic.twitter.com/ChJW7eUxt9
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) August 4, 2025
The post Nearly 78,000 New Applicants Flood ICE Recruitment to Help Crack Down on Illegal Immigration (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls on Trump to Commute George Santos’ Excessive 7-Year-Sentence: ‘Some Members of Congress Who’ve Done Far Worse Still Walk Free’

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑GA) has formally thrown down the gauntlet.
On Monday, she submitted a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney pleading for President Trump to commute the 87-month federal sentence of ex‑Congressman George Santos (NY‑03)—a punishment she calls “a grave injustice” and emblematic of a justice system fractured by politically selective persecution.
Greene wrote on X:
“BREAKING: I just sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging President Trump to commute the sentence of former Congressman @MrSantosNY.
A 7‑year prison sentence for campaign‑related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse still walk free.
George Santos has taken responsibility. He’s shown remorse. It’s time to correct this injustice. We must demand equal justice under the law!”
Greene signed her letter Aug. 4 to Pardon Attorney Edward Martin Jr. at the Justice Department, demanding Trump use his executive power to undo what she calls a “grave injustice.”
Drawing on inside knowledge, she described Santos as “without a prior criminal record,” “sincerely remorseful,” and portrayed his case as campaign-related maleficence, nothing warranting “one of the most extreme sentences in recent history.”
Green also reminded officials of the roster of current or former lawmakers who actually broke laws or ethics rules yet never lost a day.
The letter reads:
“I am writing to request that your office urge the President to commute the sentence of former Congressman George Santos. In April 2025, Mr. Santos was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. I wholeheartedly believe in justice and the rule of the law, and I understand the gravity of such actions. However, I believe a seven-year sentence for such campaign-related matters for an individual with no prior criminal record extends far beyond what is warranted.
As a Member of Congress, I worked with Mr. Santos on many issues and can attest to his willingness and dedication to serve the people of New York who elected him to office. He committed himself to serving his constituents and did whatever it took to represent their interests in Washington, D.C. He is sincerely remorseful and has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, my office has spoken with a pastor of his who discussed the regret and remorse of Mr. Santos, agreeing that the sentence imposed is a grave injustice.
While his crimes warrant punishment, many of my colleagues who I serve with have committed far worse offenses than Mr. Santos yet have faced zero criminal charges. I strongly believe in accountability for one’s actions, but I believe the sentencing of Mr. Santos is an abusive overreach by the judicial system.
Commuting his sentence would acknowledge the severity of his actions and simultaneously provide a path forward in allowing him to make amends for his crimes and strive to better serve the people in his community.
I respectfully request you to urge the President to commute the sentence of Mr. George Santos.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
BREAKING: I just sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging President Trump to commute the sentence of former Congressman @MrSantosNY.
A 7-year prison sentence for campaign-related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse… pic.twitter.com/Isj2mxlhsd
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) August 4, 2025
According to the Advocate, Trump can pardon Santos, but has not been asked about it.
The Advocate reported:
“He lied like hell, and I didn’t know him,” Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty during an interview at the White House. “But he was 100 percent for Trump. I might’ve met him. Maybe, maybe not, but he was a congressman and his vote was solid.”
[…]
In the Newsmax interview, Trump seemed to question the severity of Santos’s sentence. “It sounds like a lot,” he said. “Is it seven years he just went away? It’s a long time.”
Trump went on to say that while he hadn’t been approached about pardoning Santos, the door remained open. “Nobody’s talked to me about it,” he said. “They really haven’t talked to me about [Santos]. They have talked to me about Sean [Combs], but they haven’t talked to me about [George]. But again, with him, I have the right to do it. Nobody’s asked me, but it’s interesting.”
In April, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Santos to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after a guilty plea in August 2024.
Those charges stemmed from fabricating donor names, laundering campaign funds, misusing donor money, and claiming unemployment while campaigning.
Santos took to social media earlier this year to criticize the ruling and pleaded with President Trump for leniency.
He wrote:
This is the hardest statement I have ever written. I write this humbled, chastened, and fully accountable for choices that shattered the faith so many placed in me.
I betrayed the confidence entrusted to me by many. For that, I offer my deepest apology.
When I pled guilty, I did so without reservation. I said then, and I repeat now, that my conduct betrayed my supporters and diminished the institution I was privileged to serve. Those words have weighed on me every day since.
I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead. I asked the Court for a sentence that balances accountability with the chance to prove through sustained, measurable action that I can still contribute positively to the community I wronged.
I believe that 7 years is an over the top politically influenced sentence and I implore that President Trump gives me a chance to prove I’m more than the mistakes I’ve made.
Before the sentencing, Santos had slammed federal prosecutors for going easy on violent criminals while trying to make an example out of him.
“I will however remind everyone that they want me to go to prison for 87 months while they let sex traffickers walk freely, they give drug lords slaps on the wrist and most importantly refuse to prosecute the cabal of pedophiles running around in every power structure in the world including the US Government,” he wrote on X.
The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls on Trump to Commute George Santos’ Excessive 7-Year-Sentence: ‘Some Members of Congress Who’ve Done Far Worse Still Walk Free’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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