https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/state-senator-to-resign-after-report-he-texted-with-child-porn-suspect/ar-AAWBDnR?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=aae1db96a8b14af288edc07d89613e5e

As Nicholas James Morgan-Derosier, a landscaper accused of possessing child pornography, sat in a North Dakota jail in August 2021, he texted with people on the outside. Among them: one of the most powerful senators in the North Dakota legislature, according to jail records obtained by the news outlet Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

All told, state Sen. Ray Holmberg (R) and Morgan-Derosier exchanged 72 text messages as Morgan-Derosier was being held on the child pornography charges, the Forum reported — although it remains unclear exactly what they communicated about.

Now Holmberg, the state’s longest-serving senator, who was first elected more than four decades ago, has announced his resignation.

“Recent news stories have become a distraction for the important work of the legislative assembly during its interim meetings,” Holmberg said in a statement to The Washington Post. “I want to do what I can, within my power, to lessen such distractions.”

He said he would step down June 1.

Holmberg declined to comment further. His lawyer, Mark Friese, did not respond to a request for comment. Friese told the Associated Press that Holmberg has not been charged with any crimes and does not expect that he will be.

Since first being elected in 1976, Holmberg has become one of the most powerful lawmakers in North Dakota, serving as the chairman of several top committees, the Forum reported. In March, Holmberg announced he would retire once his term ended in November, citing unspecified “medical issues” that “do not afford me the cognitive ability to accurately perform the work required and expected of a senator” representing Grand Forks in eastern North Dakota.

About a month later, the Forum reported that on Aug. 23, 2021, Holmberg and Morgan-Derosier exchanged 65 text messages in the span of about two hours as Morgan-Derosier was in jail facing 10 counts of possessing child pornography. The next evening, the men exchanged an additional seven texts. The Forum based the report on jail records it obtained through a public records request. The records did not detail the contents of the messages.

Morgan-Derosier used a jail messaging service to communicate with Holmberg, the Forum reported.

In response, Holmberg told the news outlet that he did not know Morgan-Derosier was in jail at the time of the text exchange. The senator said he was communicating with Morgan-Derosier about “a variety of things,” including work Morgan-Derosier had been doing on his patio for more than a year. The pair had known each other for a couple of years, Holmberg added, and he had invited Morgan-Derosier to his house “a few times” for drinks and coffee.

“We never went out to dinner at restaurants,” Holmberg told the Forum. “But I don’t want to say much more.”

Holmberg first told the Forum that he had known about the child pornography charges against Morgan-Derosier, which were first filed in state court in March 2021, according to the Grand Forks Herald. Then Holmberg denied knowing about the charges in a subsequent interview with the Forum.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fact-check-false-claim-that-us-special-forces-arrested-dr-anthony-fauci/ar-AAWANH0?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=817b28b4ba25403680074d7cb19cd778

The claim: US Special Forces arrested Dr. Anthony Fauci

Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the face of America's COVID-19 response throughout the pandemic, but an array of social media users recently claimed he is now behind bars.

The narrative originated April 10 with a story from Real Raw News, which has a history of publishing fabricated reporting. The story was shared nearly 2,000 times on Facebook within 10 days, and other users reiterated the claim with standalone Facebook posts as well.

Real Raw News claimed Fauci's car was followed by Special Forces in civilian vehicles who "drew weapons and ordered Fauci’s guards to toss their firearms out the window." The claim goes on to say the soldiers "dragged Fauci from the vehicle, subdued him and carted him off for processing.”

But Fauci has not been arrested. He conducted multiple media interviews after Real Raw news claimed he had been arrested.

USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the claim for comment.

For one, Fauci has made multiple live media appearances since that date. He was seen in an April 10 ABC News interview and an April 11 appearance on MSNBC. Other news organizations such as The Hill and The New York Times reported Fauci's remarks.

No legitimate news outlets or government entities reported an arrest of Fauci.

In addition, an arrest such as this would not involve U.S. Special Forces. Special Forces are not permitted to make citizen arrests under the Posse Comitatus Act. The Act prohibits "the willful use of any part of the Army or Air Force to execute the law unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress."

Real Raw News has previously published false claims

Real Raw News has a history of publishing satire and made-up news reports, many of which have involved military arrests and executions of public figures. Those hoaxes play into the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory. However, QAnon's predictions haven't come true, and its claims have been repeatedly debunked.

The website includes a disclaimer that warns readers not to take its content too seriously: “information on this website is for informational and educational and entertainment purposes. This website contains humor, parody, and satire.” However, the outlet's stories are not directly labeled as satire and are presented as factual assertions, and as a result are widely believed by social media users.

"Long long overdue! Arrest the others now! O bummer can be next!" read a comment on one post reporting Fauci's supposed arrest.

But, Michael Baxter, who is identified as a contributor for the site, has defended the accuracy of various articles in the comments sections.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Dr. Anthony Fauci was arrested by U.S. Special Forces. Fauci made several live media appearances in the days after Real Raw News published the claim. There is no evidence Fauci has been arrested.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/anita-dunn-returning-to-white-house/ar-AAWAgqh?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=817b28b4ba25403680074d7cb19cd778

CBS News

Anita Dunn returning to White House

CBSNews - Yesterday 3:18 PM

Former top Biden aide Anita Dunn is returning to the White House, two sources familiar with the move tell CBS News.

Dunn, a longtime political operative who worked for the Obama White House, worked in a temporary role at the White House at the beginning of President Biden's term and was a top adviser during his presidential campaign.

Ian Sams, who worked on Kamala Harris' campaign as well as Hillary Clinton's, is also beginning a full-time communications job supporting the White House counsel's office in the next few weeks, according to a White House official. Sams has been working at the Health and Human Services Department. The Washington Post first reported the personnel moves.

>Their arrival comes amid forecasts by pollsters and pundits that Republicans are likely to take the House majority in the midterm elections this year and launch what will likely be a slew of GOP-led investigations. The Post reported part of Dunn's role will include responding to potential GOP probes, which CBS News has not independently confirmed. But Dunn's four decades in presidential politics give her ample experience in weathering political storms.

Dunn rejoins the White House from the political consulting firm she cofounded, SKDK.

In the first months of the Biden White House, Dunn played a behind-the-scenes role as a special government employee, a type of position often criticized because it doesn't require filing a public financial disclosure like other presidential appointee posts. Dunn assumed a West Wing role focusing on implementing the president's agenda in his first months in office.

Dunn played a pivotal role in Mr. Biden's ultimately successful presidential campaign as one of his most trusted advisers, and she also co-chaired the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

During the Obama White House, she served as acting White House communications director, and close adviser to the president.