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Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kristi Noem's agents hit restaurant owned by CBS anchor's husband
By Federal immigration agents targeted a series of Washington, D.C. eateries this week asking for employment information – visiting high-profile establishment linked to CBS anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell. O'Donnell (Pictured), a contributor to '60 minutes' who moderated last year's vice presidential debate, is married to Geoff Tracy, proprietor of Chef Geoff's, one of the restaurants the agents visited. As at a handful of restaurants they visited amid Trump's 'mass deportation' campaign, agents asked to see I-9 forms for staff. The forms are used for employment eligibility. Agents also went to Millie's, a restaurant located near the American University campus in tony Spring Valley, Washingtonian reported. They also hit other restaurants in DC's Shaw neighborhood and downtown. 'They all came in all of the public entrances at the same time,' ownder Bo Blair told the magazine. The visits came amid rumors among DC's restaurants and businesses that ICE raids could be coming. Restaurants have been instructing managers and staff about how to respond when agents arrive. 'I have heard those reports. I've been getting them all morning. I am disturbed by them. It appears as though ICE is at restaurants, or even at neighborhoods, and it doesn't look like they're targeting criminals, and it does look like they're disrupting,' DC Mayor Muriel Bowser told Fox 5. Owners said the visits sent some employees into a panic. Her remark came during a week when she appeared with Trump at the White House as he announced a plan to build a new football stadium in Washington, DC on the site of the old RFK stadium. No one was taken into custody after nearly a dozen officials in Department of Homeland Security Agencies visited the establishment. Restauranteurs said the agents were polite but in some cases said they would be back to follow up. Trump sued CBS last year demanding $20 billion in damages after its '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris after attacking how it was edited. Although many legal experts have attacked the merits of the case, last week parent company Paramount began mediation talks with Trump's reps. Paramount and Skydance media are seeking approval of an $8 billion merger. Senate Democrats this week urged top Paramount shareholder Shari Redstone (pictured) not to settle. ICE didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
ICE Barbie Kristi Noem's agents shock during raid at restaurant owned by CBS anchor's husband
Federal immigration agents targeted a series of Washington, D.C. eateries this week asking for employment information – visiting high-profile establishment linked to CBS anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell. O'Donnell, a contributor to '60 minutes' who moderated last year's vice presidential debate, is married to Geoff Tracy, proprietor of Chef Geoff's, one of the restaurants the agents visited. As at a handful of restaurants they visited amid Trump's 'mass deportation' campaign, agents asked to see I-9 forms for staff. The forms are used for employment eligibility. Agents also went to Millie's, a restaurant located near the American University campus in tony Spring Valley, Washingtonian reported. They also hit other restaurants in DC 's Shaw neighborhood and downtown. 'They all came in all of the public entrances at the same time,' ownder Bo Blair told the magazine. The visits came amid rumors among DC's restaurants and businesses that ICE raids could be coming. Restaurants have been instructing managers and staff about how to respond when agents arrive. 'I have heard those reports. I've been getting them all morning. I am disturbed by them. It appears as though ICE is at restaurants, or even at neighborhoods, and it doesn't look like they're targeting criminals, and it does look like they're disrupting,' DC Mayor Muriel Bowser told Fox 5. Owners said the visits sent some employees into a panic. Her remark came during a week when she appeared with Trump at the White House as he announced a plan to build a new football stadium in Washington, DC on the site of the old RFK stadium. No one was taken into custody after nearly a dozen officials in Department of Homeland Security Agencies visited the establishment. Restauranteurs said the agents were polite but in some cases said they would be back to follow up. Trump sued CBS last year demanding $20 billion in damages after its '60 Minutes' interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris after attacking how it was edited. Although many legal experts have attacked the merits of the case, last week parent company Paramount began mediation talks with Trump's reps. Paramount and Skydance media are seeking approval of an $8 billion merger. Senate Democrats this week urged top Paramount shareholder Shari Redstone not to settle. ICE didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's representatives are in mediation with CBS over Trump's suit against the network
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
CBS News star Norah O'Donnell's husband has his posh DC restaurant raided by ICE
A restaurant owned and operated by CBS News star Norah O'Donnell's husband has been raided by the federal government. Nearly a dozen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents descended on the DC eatery Tuesday, asking to see staffers' I-9 forms that verify their identity. The raid at Chef Geoff's, founded by O'Donnell's husband Geoff Tracy in 2000, resulted in no arrests. It lasted roughly an hour and a half, and local officials are already labeling the raid as evidence of 'fearmongering' from federal officials. Shawn Townsend, President of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, made the claims to Fox 5, the first to report on the federal activity. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said she too was 'disturbed' by the at least 10 operations. 'It doesn't look like [ICE agents] are targeting criminals,' she claimed Tuesday. 'It does look like they're disrupting.' 'We are concerned about the fear-mongering tactics we believe happened today,' Townsend added, as O'Donnell's network continues to face separate scrutiny from officials for what Donald Trump has framed as slanted programming. 'There was no one detained or arrested that I've heard of but regardless of that fact, disrupting food service during lunch hours while restaurants are open is alarming,' the trade association boss continued. 'There is a sense of fear… Immigrants make up a large amount of workers in our restaurants in the district.' The Washingtonian reported the agents also visited Millie's, Pupatella, Chang Chang, Officina and Mi Vida, Jaleo, Santa Rosa Taqueria, Call Your Mother, Clyde's, and Ghostburger to either demand I-9 forms or say they would soon return to do so. Chef Geoff's West End, Tracy's restaurant on the other side of town, seemingly avoided the slew of early morning raids. All of the agents - each dressed in a Homeland Security uniform - asked staff to confirm employees' employment eligibility. Other unconfirmed reports of agents at other DC restaurants have circulated as well. has reached out to Chef Geoff's for comment. The restaurant is located a stone's throw from American University, and features typical American fare and homemade pasta dishes. 'Contemporary American cuisine and a friendly neighborhood feel fit for any occasion,' is how it's described on its website. local officials are already labeling the raid as evidence of 'fearmongering' from federal officials, as O'Donnell's employer faces a separate probe - and lawsuit - from the administration. The outdoor area of Chef Geoff's is seen here Tuesday Agents, meanwhile, were filmed marching into Millie's, where they were reportedly met with pushback from owner Bo Blair. 'They all came in all of the public entrances at the same time,' Blair said of the raid on his place in Spring Valley, which is not far from Tracy's restaurant in Northwest. Blair denied the agents requests to speak with staffers, leading them to leave willingly. Michael Jones, general manager of Pupatella's in Dupont, told Eater agents 'came to the front door' but never entered the building and were 'very cordial [and] polite.' In her statement, Mayor Bowser made clear her municipality's police department played no part in the raids, which come as part of a wider crackdown from the federal government. As part of his mass deportation plan, Trump this week said he would pay $1,000 to illegal immigrants who return to their home country willingly. He has also simultaneously honed in on legacy news stations like CBS, calling federal probes to look into their content. Trump is also the plaintiff in a $20billion lawsuit that lists both Paramount and CBS News as defendants, alleging that an October 60 Minutes segment featuring Kamala Harris was 'deceptively edited.' Despite recent mediation talks reported by several outlets last weeks, a settlement has not been reached. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance later this year, and the deal requires federal approval. Tracy, who is also a chef and owns five restaurants in the area, has been wed to O'Donnell for nearly 25 years. The two share three children, Henry, Grace, and Riley, In an interview with Woman's World in 2021, O'Donnell, 51, called Tracy, 52, her 'best friend. 'Having a partner who makes you laugh and who is supportive means everything,' the then host of CBS Evenings said. She has since stepped away, citing the rigors of the to job. She is still a senior correspondent. CBS, meanwhile, remains on the hook for the $20billion lawsuit, which Paramount is reportedly seeking to settle to the tune of $15-$20million.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's ICE Agents Raid Restaurant Owned by CBS News Star's Husband
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided multiple restaurants in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, including one owned by the husband of CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell. Chef Geoff's, an American eatery founded by O'Donnell's husband Geoff Tracy, had its Northwest D.C. location near American University raided by nearly a dozen ICE agents on Tuesday morning, according to Fox 5. The restaurant, which has been open for more than 20 years, serves a variety of standard American fare, including $17 pizzas, a $19 burger, homemade pasta dishes that range from $20-30 and a variety of salads and bowls. Its website states it offers 'contemporary American cuisine and a friendly neighborhood feel fit for any occasion.' The immigration agents, dressed in Homeland Security uniforms, reportedly asked to see the staff's I-9 forms that verify their identity and employment authorization. The raid took place early Tuesday morning and lasted about an hour and a half. No one was taken into custody. CBS News icon Norah O'Donnell has been married to restaurant owner Geoff Tracy since 2001. / REUTERS The Daily Beast has reached out to Chef Geoff's and the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Shawn Townsend, president of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, told Fox 5 that they were concerned about 'the fear-mongering tactics' used on a number of D.C. restaurants. 'There was no one detained or arrested that I've heard of but regardless of that fact, disrupting food service during lunch hours while restaurants are open is alarming,' he said. 'There is a sense of fear… Immigrants make up a large amount of workers in our restaurants in the district.' The Washingtonian reported that ICE agents also visited Millie's in Spring Valley, Pupatella and Chang Chang in Dupont Circle, and Ghostburger in Shaw to demand I-9 forms. The agents, who said they were doing 'administrative work,' reportedly left Pupatella after staff referred them to the pizzeria's corporate office. 'No raiding, no anything,' Pupatella executive Natasha Neely told the magazine. 'They didn't even enter the building.' At Millie's, agents did not push back when the general manager denied their request to question employees just as the restaurant was opening for lunch. 'They all came in all of the public entrances at the same time,' owner Bo Blair told The Washingtonian. 'We were under the impression that they were focusing on trying to find criminals… And this is just a whole new level of harassment to our hard-working, law-abiding employees.' The raids followed rumors on Monday that ICE agents would begin targeting D.C. restaurant staff and food delivery workers this week. The raids are part of the government's broader push to deliver President Donald Trump's long-promised mass deportation blitz. Trump administration officials have repeatedly sought to assure the public that deportations would target violent criminals. A CBS investigation earlier found, however, that hundreds of people have been deported despite having no criminal history.
