Letitia James fires back at ‘baseless’ charges; Trump prepares for physical
New York Attorney General Letitia James, the woman who built her career taking on President Donald Trump, is now under federal indictment. Critics are calling it pure political payback.
Plus, a federal judge just blocked Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, ruling there’s “no rebellion” to justify it.
And the president heads back to Walter Reed on Friday for his second health physical this year.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.
NY AG Letitia James indicted on bank fraud and false statement charges
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been indicted. A federal grand jury in Virginia charged James with bank fraud and making false statements over a 2023 mortgage tied to a home in Norfolk.
The indictment comes just weeks after career prosecutors declined to bring charges and President Trump publicly demanded her prosecution.
Previously, James led the civil fraud case that cost Trump hundreds of millions of dollars and branded him a corporate fraudster.
Trump, in turn, called James “corrupt” and “crooked,” and promised his supporters she’d be next.
The indictment was brought by Lindsey Halligan, a 36-year-old Trump aide and former insurance lawyer with no prosecutorial experience. She was appointed after Trump forced out the top U.S. attorney who had refused to move forward. Halligan insists these charges represent intentional criminal acts.
She previously served as Trump’s personal attorney during his New York trial.
Just two weeks ago, she pushed for the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying to Congress.
James called her indictment political weaponization:
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system. He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding, all because I did my job as the New York State Attorney General … His decision to fire a United States attorney who refused to bring charges against me and replace them with someone who is blindly loyal, not to the law, but to the president is antithetical to the bedrock principles of our country.”
— New York Attorney General Letitia James
The Justice Department’s Weaponization Working Group Chief, Ed Martin, posted on X: “Promises made, promises kept.
James calls the charges baseless and vowed to fight them. Her first court appearance is set for Oct. 24 in Norfolk, Virginia.
Israel approves Trump-negotiated ceasefire, hostage deal
Israel has formally approved Trump’s ceasefire plan, paving the way for the release of every remaining hostage, and possibly, the end of the war in Gaza.
Under the agreement, the ceasefire is expected to take effect within 24 hours.
However, new strikes were still reported in Gaza overnight, even after the announcement.
In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said his cabinet approved the “outline” of the deal, promising the return of both the living and the deceased hostages.
The agreement also calls for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, a series of prisoner exchanges and increased humanitarian aid deliveries into the strip.
Crowds poured into the streets of Gaza City celebrating the news with many hoping to return home after months of displacement.
Trump said he plans to travel to Egypt for an official signing of the ceasefire deal.
“I think it’s going to be great. I think it’s, the hostages will be coming back Monday or Tuesday,” Trump said. “I’ll probably be, I’ll probably be there. I hope to be there. And we’re planning on leaving sometime Sunday. And I look forward to it.”
Meanwhile, NBC News reported the U.S. military is preparing to deploy up to 200 troops to Israel to support stabilization, humanitarian aid delivery and security operations inside Gaza.
Judge blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Chicago
A federal judge has blocked Trump’s controversial move to deploy National Guard troops into Chicago.
U.S. District Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order Thursday, halting the administration’s plan to send troops to Illinois for at least two weeks.
In her ruling, Perry called the Department of Homeland Security’s assessments of ICE protests in the city “unreliable,” saying she found “no credible evidence of rebellion” in the state.
She warned that deploying troops would likely “add fuel to the fire.”
It’s unclear what the order means for units already stationed nearby, including those waiting on standby in Joliet, Illinois.
Meanwhile, an appeals court in the pacific northwest heard arguments Thursday over whether the administration can federalize Oregon’s National Guard to respond to protests in Portland.
A decision is expected in the coming days.
After another failed vote, government shutdown continues into weekend
The government shutdown enters day 10, and there are still no paychecks, progress or an end in sight.
The U.S. Senate is now zero for seven after failing yet again Thursday to advance a plan to reopen the government.
The latest Republican bill, passed earlier by the House, fell short in the Senate, 54 to 45, with three senators — John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; and Angus King, I-Maine — crossing the aisle.
Still, that wasn’t enough to clear the 60-vote hurdle.
So, Washington heads into the weekend with the federal government still closed, with no plans for the Senate to return until late Tuesday afternoon. The stalemate remains unchanged.
Republicans accuse Democrats of holding the government hostage and refusing to pass a “clean” bill that funds agencies without add-ons.
Democrats, meanwhile, say Republicans are blocking a necessary extension of Obamacare subsidies that millions depend on. Without it, premiums will skyrocket.
Trump heads to Walter Reed for second physical this year
Trump heads to Walter Reed this morning for what the White House now calls a “semi-annual” checkup. It’s his second trip this year. It comes as he also plans to visit troops on site and prepares for a possible Middle East trip this weekend.
On Thursday, reporters asked him about the visit:
“I’m meeting with the troops, and I’m also going to do a sort of semi-annual physical, which I do. And I think I’m in great shape, but I’ll let you know. But I know I have no difficulty thus far. Is there wood around here? I’ll knock on it. No difficulty. Physically, I feel very good. Mentally, I feel very good. You know, I did about six, seven months ago, I do physicals. I like to, when I’m around, I like to check always early, always be early. It’s a lesson for a lot of people.”
— President Donald Trump
Back in April, Trump’s doctor said the president was “fully fit.” Then, in July, he disclosed a common, manageable vein condition in his legs called chronic venous insufficiency. This causes swelling in the ankles.
Friday’s visit diverges from the usual once-a-year presidential physical, but the White House presents it as routine: monitoring health, not managing a crisis.
Trump, now 79, has long claimed his exams demonstrate his vitality, and he’s likely to share results once they become available.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
