Latest news with #Geoff's
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Mutually Assured Law Enforcement Destruction
Earlier this week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided at least nine restaurants in the nation's capital, requesting proof that the establishments are not flouting the law by employing illegal aliens. Washington, D.C., presents itself as a so-called sanctuary city for illegal aliens, so the mere fact ICE agents targeted a few businesses there is hardly surprising. What is perhaps more newsworthy is the specific names associated with those raided restaurants. One of those restaurants, Chef Geoff's, is owned by Geoff Tracy, the husband of CBS News anchor and former vice presidential debate co-moderator Norah O'Donnell. Another of the raided restaurants is owned by former Biden White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, and a third is owned by the left-wing activist Spanish restaurateur, José Andrés. Following the raids, a predictable debate has unfolded: Did the Trump administration "politicize" law enforcement by siccing ICE agents on White House critics and foes? Maybe; maybe not. Regardless, and with all due respect to the pearl-clutchers, permit a moment of unfettered bluntness: I simply do not care. And I highly suspect tens of millions of other Americans don't care either. After years of politicized law enforcement, many of us are now sufficiently jaded so as to be well past the point of shock at new examples. Did the ICE raid pearl-clutchers express similar dismay when, in 2013, Obama-era IRS director Lois Lerner admitted to targeting conservative groups in an attempt to improperly strip them of their tax-exempt status? Did they care when, that same year, the elderly nuns of the Little Sisters of the Poor were forced to sue the Obama administration in order to not violate their faith and subsidize abortifacients? Did the pearl-clutchers care when the Biden administration sued pro-life activists for praying outside abortion clinics? Did they care when the same administration threw the book at seemingly every "J6-er" defendant—even those who innocently traipsed through the open doors of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021? Did they care when that administration imprisoned Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for rejecting subpoenas of the bogus, made-for-TV Jan. 6 House committee? Above all, did they care when that administration crossed the ultimate Rubicon by prosecuting its preeminent political opponent, the then-former president and leading presidential hopeful? The answer to all these rhetorical questions is simple: no. Of course they didn't care. So you'll have to spare me for not viewing it as a particularly big deal that a few Washington restaurants had the feds show up to request immigration papers. In fact, I'll go further: It would be a good thing if the Trump administration sent a message by targeting these three Washingtonian restaurants. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents enter an apartment complex looking for a specific undocumented immigrant convicted of a felony during an early morning operation in Dallas. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents enter an apartment complex looking for a specific undocumented immigrant convicted of a felony during an early morning operation in Dallas. LM Otero/AP The well-known kindergarten teaching that "two wrongs don't make a right" notwithstanding, it is also elementary game theory that unilateral disarmament in the face of an insatiable foe is a proven strategic failure. People on the Right had their turn being targeted under former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and it would be folly for conservatives to assume a faux "high road" now that they are in power. True, a prior generation of Republicans would have been content to morally preen and rest on their laurels, content with what this column has referred to as "principled loserdom." But those days are over. Indeed, those days must be over—not merely for the good of the Right but for the good of the country. While resource scarcity poses real constraints and some degree of prosecutorial discretion is thus inescapable, it is also true that American law enforcement has become much more politicized in recent decades. That trend began with the Obama administration, and it reached a nadir with the Biden administration. Patriotic Americans who care about the rule of law and our constitutional order ought to lament this sordid state of affairs—not just the latest twist in the long-running saga but the whole sad story. The key question, then, is how to undo the damage and restore Left-Right prosecutorial and law enforcement relations to the pre-Obama status quo ante. To borrow another of this column's favorite phrases, the only way out here is through. Both sides of America's fraught political divide must come to accept a Cold War-era paradigm of mutually assured destruction. This mindset saved the planet from nuclear holocaust once, and now it can help us return our domestic politics to something resembling normalcy. But for the Left to accept the threat of mutually assured destruction, they're going to have to first see the other side bare its fangs a bit. Some noses must be (proverbially) bloodied. And frankly, given the unprecedented magnitude of the past few years' lawfare campaign against President Donald Trump, sending ICE agents into a few restaurants barely even registers. I want an end to the "politicized law enforcement" wars. So should you. It is ironic that we need a short-term escalation in order to have a chance of reaching a long-term stasis. But it's the cold, hard truth. Josh Hammer is Newsweek senior editor-at-large, host of "The Josh Hammer Show," senior counsel for the Article III Project, a research fellow with the Edmund Burke Foundation, and author of the new book, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West (Radius Book Group). Subscribe to "The Josh Hammer Report," a Newsweek newsletter. X: @josh_hammer. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE Agents Raid D.C. Restaurant Owned by CBS News Star's Husband amid Trump's War with Paramount
A Washington, D.C., restaurant owned by the husband of CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell was reportedly raided by federal agents as part of the Trump administration's continued crackdown on immigration. The New Mexico Avenue location of Chef Geoff's — one of two D.C. restaurants owned and operated by O'Donnell's husband, Geoff Tracy — was subject to a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the morning of Tuesday, May 6. Local outlet Fox 5 reported that nearly a dozen agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered the restaurant at around 10:30 a.m. ET and demanded to see employees' I-9 documents. The agents reportedly stayed in the restaurant for around 90 minutes, though ultimately, no one was arrested or detained. Chef Geoff's isn't the first D.C.-area restaurant to face a recent ICE raid. Massachusetts Avenue eatery Millie's was also reportedly raided Tuesday morning, with officers wielding a search warrant signed by an ICE agent — not a judge. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that local law enforcement was not involved in the raids. "I have heard those reports… I am disturbed by them,' Bowser stated. '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." Related: D.C. Mayor Orders Removal of Black Lives Matter Mural She Commissioned After House GOP Threatens to Do It for Her In a statement to Fox News Digital, an ICE spokesperson said, 'U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is conducting worksite enforcement across the nation to ensure businesses are following U.S. immigration and employment laws. This includes recent worksite enforcement operations [in] the D.C. area, during which more than 100 Notice of Inspections were served to local employers at various business. No arrests were made as part of these worksite enforcement operations." The raid on Tracy's business comes amid Trump's battle with CBS as part of his vendetta against 60 Minutes, where O'Donnell is a correspondent. Trump claimed that the newsmagazine show edited a Kamala Harris campaign interview in October 2024 to improve her chances of winning the White House, and CBS News has since released unedited transcripts from the interview to the public to counter the allegations. The legal team for CBS News' parent company, Paramount, argued that Trump's lawsuit against a historic network is an 'affront to the First Amendment and is without basis in law or fact,' noting that news shows regularly edit interviews for clarity, context and airtime. Additionally, in an April 13 post on Truth Social, Trump called for his appointed FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, to impose fines and strip CBS of its broadcasting license over 60 Minutes segments on Greenland and Ukraine. 'They are not a 'News Show,' but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as 'News,' and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing,' he claimed of the popular Sunday night broadcast. 'Hopefully, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as headed by its Highly Respected Chairman, Brendan Carr, will impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial, for their unlawful and illegal behavior," he continued. "CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE Agents Raid D.C. Restaurant Owned by CBS News Star's Husband amid Trump's War with Paramount
A Washington, D.C., restaurant owned by the husband of CBS News senior correspondent Norah O'Donnell was reportedly raided by federal agents as part of the Trump administration's continued crackdown on immigration. The New Mexico Avenue location of Chef Geoff's — one of two D.C. restaurants owned and operated by O'Donnell's husband, Geoff Tracy — was subject to a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the morning of Tuesday, May 6. Local outlet Fox 5 reported that nearly a dozen agents from the Department of Homeland Security entered the restaurant at around 10:30 a.m. ET and demanded to see employees' I-9 documents. The agents reportedly stayed in the restaurant for around 90 minutes, though ultimately, no one was arrested or detained. Chef Geoff's isn't the first D.C.-area restaurant to face a recent ICE raid. Massachusetts Avenue eatery Millie's was also reportedly raided Tuesday morning, with officers wielding a search warrant signed by an ICE agent — not a judge. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that local law enforcement was not involved in the raids. "I have heard those reports… I am disturbed by them,' Bowser stated. '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." Related: D.C. Mayor Orders Removal of Black Lives Matter Mural She Commissioned After House GOP Threatens to Do It for Her In a statement to Fox News Digital, an ICE spokesperson said, 'U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is conducting worksite enforcement across the nation to ensure businesses are following U.S. immigration and employment laws. This includes recent worksite enforcement operations [in] the D.C. area, during which more than 100 Notice of Inspections were served to local employers at various business. No arrests were made as part of these worksite enforcement operations." The raid on Tracy's business comes amid Trump's battle with CBS as part of his vendetta against 60 Minutes, where O'Donnell is a correspondent. Trump claimed that the newsmagazine show edited a Kamala Harris campaign interview in October 2024 to improve her chances of winning the White House, and CBS News has since released unedited transcripts from the interview to the public to counter the allegations. The legal team for CBS News' parent company, Paramount, argued that Trump's lawsuit against a historic network is an 'affront to the First Amendment and is without basis in law or fact,' noting that news shows regularly edit interviews for clarity, context and airtime. Additionally, in an April 13 post on Truth Social, Trump called for his appointed FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, to impose fines and strip CBS of its broadcasting license over 60 Minutes segments on Greenland and Ukraine. 'They are not a 'News Show,' but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as 'News,' and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing,' he claimed of the popular Sunday night broadcast. 'Hopefully, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as headed by its Highly Respected Chairman, Brendan Carr, will impose the maximum fines and punishment, which is substantial, for their unlawful and illegal behavior," he continued. "CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE says 'workplace inspections' conducted at 100 DC restaurants
The Brief ICE has been conducting what they call "workplace inspections" at dozens of D.C. restaurants. They told FOX 5 their agents went to 100 restaurants on Wednesday, asking for employee verification forms. Restaurants have three days to provide the forms. No arrests have resulted from these inspections. WASHINGTON - Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents visited 100 restaurants and businesses in D.C. on Wednesday, conducting what they're calling "workplace inspections." While no arrests were made, it has put workers and businesses on edge as they wonder what the end goal is. What we know Federal agents have served dozens of inspection notices to restaurants and businesses in D.C. so far. No one has been detained as a result, leaving many questioning why ICE is coming to these businesses. FOX 5 was sent photos of federal agents conducting these enforcements in parts of the District on Wednesday. They're being done by Homeland Security investigations, which is a part of ICE. Federal officials are saying these are not raids. READ MORE: Law enforcement spotted in DC days after visits to restaurants in the area Local perspective Agents were at Chef Geoff's restaurant in Northwest D.C. on Tuesday. FOX 5 was told the DHS agents were polite and took about 10 minutes, asking for I-9 employment verification forms. These I-9 form verifications are standard but typically done in a much different manner with notice and usually through the mail. Chef Geoff's says that paperwork is managed at a different location so they'll be sent next week. The same thing happened at nearly a dozen other upscale and popular D.C. restaurants that we are aware of, including Millie's in Spring Valley. Surveillance video showed agents inside Tuesday afternoon. Another Northeast D.C. restaurant, Cynthia, posted on social media Wednesday saying they were also visited by agents. They, too, said the agents were polite, and no arrests were made. Still that hasn't assuaged their fear. READ MORE:ICE agents went into DC restaurants asking to see staff I-9 forms What they're saying "From what we've heard, they've come in delivered the letter and they've left so there hasn't been any incidents where they're arresting people in the restaurants at this time so when they say they're doing workplace enforcement that is correct, but the way they're doing it is done in a way to intimidate both the business owners and the community," said Abel Nunez, executive director with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN). These types of workplace inspections are happening throughout the country by ICE right now. Advocacy groups like CARECEN have been reminding workers and employers about their rights. "The moment we told them about the operations people were afraid, we've seen less traffic, less delivery drivers on the road, some restaurants saying they couldn't open because they didn't have enough personnel," Nunez said. What's next No one has been detained during these workplace inspections and businesses have three business days to provide those employment verification forms.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE agents raid DC restaurant belonging to husband of CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell
The Washington, D.C., restaurant belonging to the husband of CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell was raided by ICE on Tuesday. A local D.C. Fox affiliate reported that ICE agents went into the Chef Geoff's restaurant on Tuesday morning and asked to see staff members' I-9 forms proving they are legally allowed to work in the U.S. The visit reportedly sent staff into "a panic." Chef Geoff's is owned by Geoff Tracy, who is married to the longtime CBS News anchor and correspondent. Ice Files Detainers Against 2 Illegal Aliens, Including 1 Facing Attempted Murder Charges For Shooting Spree The restaurant belonging to CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell's husband was raided by ICE agents this week. According to Fox 5, "Nearly a dozen law enforcement and immigration officials wearing DHS uniforms" went into the restaurant located on New Mexico Avenue, Northwest. The agents were at Tracy's restaurant for around 90 minutes, though no one was taken into custody. Read On The Fox News App The ICE stop-ins have occurred at multiple D.C. restaurants in recent days. The outlet reported that restaurants in Dupont Circle and Columbia Heights have been visited by ICE agents, as well. Millie's — a restaurant near D.C.'s Massachusetts Avenue — told Fox 5 that seven agents entered the restaurant on Tuesday, as well, demanding to see I-9 forms. According to staff, the agents had a warrant that was signed by another ICE agent, not a judge. Ice Touts Record-breaking Immigration Enforcement During Trump's First 100 Days An exterior view of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., is seen on July 6, 2018. In a statement to The Washingtonian, Millie's owner, Bob Blair, recalled that the agents "all came in all of the public entrances at the same time." Blair slammed the government inspections, saying, "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." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser weighed in on the raids, telling the outlet, "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." Bowser added that D.C. law enforcement is in no way involved with the raids. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture The raids come as President Donald Trump's administration remains committed to deporting illegal immigrants from the country. Trump is also suing O'Donnell's employer, allegedly that CBS deceptively edited a 2024 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to aid her presidential campaign. ICE, CBS and Chef Geoff's did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Original article source: ICE agents raid DC restaurant belonging to husband of CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell
