Booker raises $5 million, lagging behind multiple Democrats running for White House

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s campaign for president announced Sunday it raised over $5 million in February and March, and it had over $6.1 million cash on hand.
It was among the smallest fundraising figures to be disclosed voluntarily by a Democrat so far, with roughly 10 months left before the start of primary voting.
Six candidates have released totals: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said he raised $18.2 million; California Sen. Kamala Harris raised over $12 million; former Rep. Beto O’Rourke raised $9.4 million; and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., raised $7 million.
Booker outpaced only the political newcomer Andrew Yang, who said he'd raised $1.7 million.
Booker's average online donation was $34, and 82 percent of people had never donated to any of his campaigns before.
The senator announced the figures in an email to supporters.
Booker said Sunday he felt“incredible” about the fundraising haul.
“Money is important, but it is definitely not going to be the barometer with which people make their decisions over who’s going to be the next president of the United States,” Booker said. “And I’m happy that we have the resources we need to be in this race.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kevin McAleenan, new acting DHS boss, has long record in border security

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan speaks in Washington, March 6, 2019. President Donald Trump said in a tweet Sunday that McAleenan will become the acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, after the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. (Associated Press)

President Trump revealed in a tweet Sunday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan will become the acting head of Homeland Security, the sprawling department of 240,000 people, following the resignation of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
McAleenan is a longtime border officer, reflecting Trump’s priority for the department initially founded to combat terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks. Fox News is told Trump wanted the “toughest cop” around on border security, and McAleenan fit the bill.
Administration sources tell Fox News that McAleenan needs to be able to handle the politics involved and change minds on Capitol Hill before he could be seen as potentially taking the job of DHS secretary permanently.
Last month, McAleenan, who as head of CBP was the nation’s top border security official, said the border crisis was at its "breaking point" during a visit to Texas. He reiterated that there are not enough agents to respond.

Kevin K. McAleenan was sworn in as commissioner to U.S. Customs and Border Protection by then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen in March 2018. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection photo by Jennifer Gabris, File)

"That breaking point has arrived this week at our border," McAleenan said along the border. "CBP is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and border security crisis all along our Southwest border, and nowhere has that crisis manifested more acutely than here in El Paso."
Prior to government service, according to his bio, McAleenan practiced law in California. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College.
McAleenan is well-respected by members of Congress and within the administration, and beyond.
“Significant leadership changes today for DHS and CBP. I’m confident Mr. McAleenan’s experience and knowledge will help us better address the current crisis on our southern border. #DHS #BorderCrisis #BorderPatrol #CBP” tweeted U.S. Border Patrol official Matthew Hudak.
Fox News' John Roberts and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan: Trump made the right move picking McAleenan for DHS

The former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Thomas Homan, told Fox News on Sunday that President Trump made the right move replacing Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan.
Homan, a Fox News contributor, called McAleenan one of the smartest men with whom he has worked.
“He knows border issues, and he can hit the ground running,” Homan told Jon Scott on “Fox Report.” “He knows the border... he will start day one.”
Nielsen resigned on Sunday amid the administration’s growing frustration over migrants approaching the Mexico border.
Trump thanked her for her work in a tweet and announced McAleenan would be taking over as acting head of the department. McAleenan is a longtime border official who is well-respected by members of Congress and within the administration. The decision to name an immigration officer to the post reflects Trump’s priority for a sprawling department founded to combat terrorism following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Homan said he blamed Congress and current U.S. law for the border crisis: “We are enticing people to come.”
However, he noted that McAleenan was the kind of man who could tackle the new wave of migration, which has taxed resources along the border.
“He will think outside the box,” Homan said. “Kevin will put his foot on the gas.”
Fox News' Jon Scott and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pres. touts relationship with Israel at Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas

President Donald Trump waves as he leaves the stage after speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership meeting, Saturday April 6, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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UPDATED 3:10 PM PT – Sat. April 6, 2019

President Trump said the United States’ relationship with Israel is at its highest point in history.
Speaking at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas today Saturday, the president touted the historic action his administration has taken to recognize Israel, and strengthen its place in the world.
These moves include last month’s recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and last year’s opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
President Trump also pointed out republicans have not allowed anti-Semitism to take root in their party, compared to recent comments by some Democrats.
“And now the Democrats have allowed the terrible scourge of antisemitism to take root in their party and in this country,” said President Trump.
The president’s comments were referring to anti-Semitic tropes made by Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar.
Democrats have been accused of failing to condemn her actions, and instead allow her to sit on the powerful foreign affairs committee.

Ex-spy Valerie Plame now eyes US House seat instead of Senate

Former CIA operative Valerie Plame gestures while testifying on Capitol Hill, in an undated photo. (Associated Press)

Ex-spy Valerie Plame is considering running for an open U.S. House seat in New Mexico after previously saying she would launch a Senate bid.
Plame, a Democrat, said she will make a decision soon about going after the seat currently held by Democrat U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, who is stepping down to run for the U.S. Senate.
“Right now, I am going around and meeting with people,” said Plame, a Democrat. “I have a lot to learn and I would like another opportunity to serve my country.”
Her decision to focus on the House after indicating interest in the Senate stems from wanting to “continue Ben Ray’s legacy.”
Plame, 55, told media outlets last month that she planned to run a for Senate seat being held by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., after he announced he would not seek re-election. Plame has been highly critical of President Trump. In 2017, she crowdfunded nearly $90,000 to buy a stake in Twitter in an unsuccessful effort to ban the president from the platform.
The former CIA operative was thrust into the national spotlight when she was outed in a 2003 column that cited officials with the George W. Bush administration as sources of a leak. Plame maintained the revelation was an effort to discredit her then-husband Joe Wilson, a former diplomat who was critical of Bush's decision to invade Iraq.
Plame wrote a memoir: “Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House," which was later made into a film.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans Central America trip to examine 'root causes of migration'

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he will travel to El Salvador this month to discuss the poverty and violence that's causing waves of migrants to seek asylum in the United States. (Associated Press)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will head to El Salvador this month to meet with lawmakers to get to the root cause of why Central American migrants make the arduous journey to the United States.
Newsom, a Democrat, will travel to the capital city of San Salvador, just as President Trump and U.S. border officials are calling for tougher security measures amid a spike in Central American migrants attempting to enter the U.S. through Mexico.
“While the Trump Administration demonizes those who are fleeing violence from Central America, California is committed to lifting up our immigrant communities and understanding the root causes of migration,” Newsom said in a statement. “I am looking forward to traveling to El Salvador in April to talk with the nation’s leaders and activists while deepening the bond between our families and communities.”
California is home to the largest number of El Salvadoran immigrants, Newsom’s office told the Sacramento Bee.
Trump has assailed Central American and Mexican leaders for not doing enough to stop large migrant caravans headed toward the U.S. border. Many of the migrants include children and travel in caravans for protection.
Most are asylum seekers fleeing violence and poverty. Critics of Newsom's impending trip argue that international travel is the president's responsibility and that he's just boosting his anti-Trump credentials, the Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs reported.
“I’ve got areas in my district that are flooding,” state Assemblyman Devon Mathis, a Republican, told the paper. “Not in Central America. Come see the central San Joaquin Valley. ... Come down to where we have Third World conditions."

“I’ve got areas in my district that are flooding. Not in Central America. Come see the central San Joaquin Valley. ... Come down to where we have Third World conditions."
— Assemblyman Devon Mathis, a California Republican

El Salvador has one of the highest murder rates in the world, due in part, to gangs like MS-13, which was started by Salvadoran immigrants in the U.S. and spread to El Salvador and other countries.
The trip will be Newsom’s first abroad as governor, according to the paper. His predecessor Jerry Brown traveled to Russia, China, Germany and other nations as part of his efforts to combat climate change.

Ex-Dem staffer pleads guilty to 'doxxing' McConnell, others in GOP during Kavanaugh hearings

Jackson Cosko pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from posting to the Internet the personal information of five GOP senators. (Linkedin)

A former House Democratic staffer pleaded guilty Friday to five federal offenses related to posting online the personal information of five Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, during hearings for then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The charges against Jackson A. Cosko, 27, include making public restricted personal information, computer fraud, witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
In addition to McConnell's information, Cosko posted the home addresses and phone numbers of GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky -- as well as then-Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Cosko reportedly became angry about the senators' support for Kavanaugh despite sexual assault allegations that President Trump's nominee was facing during the hearings. Cosko intended to intimidate the senators and their families, according to court records. Kavanaugh's nomination was ultimately confirmed.
At the time of his arrest, Cosko was working as an unpaid intern for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who fired him soon after. He was previously employed as a computer systems administrator in the office of Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., a job that gave him "intimate knowledge of, and broad access to" the computer systems in Hasan's office, according to court records. But he had been fired from Hassan’s office in May 2018 for failing to follow office procedures.
After the firing from Hassan's office, Cosko became angry and repeatedly burglarized the office without being detected, court records said. He copied gigabytes-worth of data, including dozens of user names and passwords belonging to Senate employees and "contact information for numerous sitting U.S. senators," according to court records.
Cosko was arrested Oct. 3, 2018, one day after a staffer discovered him working on a computer in Hassan's office, where Cosko was not authorized to be. Records show Cosko sent a threatening email to the staffer the evening he was confronted.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in Washington on June 13. He could face between two and five years in prison.
Cosko previously held positions with other prominent Democrats, including former Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, also of California and the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain and the Associated Press contributed to this report.