Latest news with #GeoffTracy
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Contributor: Trump wasn't the first to politicize law enforcement
In recent days, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided at least nine restaurants in the nation's capital, requesting proof that the establishments are not employing people illegally. Washington, D.C., long presented itself as a 'sanctuary city,' so the mere fact ICE agents targeted a few businesses there is hardly surprising. What is perhaps more newsworthy is the boldface names associated with those restaurants: Geoff Tracy, the husband of CBS News anchor and former vice presidential debate co-moderator Norah O'Donnell; former Biden White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients; and the activist restaurateur José Andrés. Following the raids, a predictable debate has unfolded: Did the Trump administration politicize law enforcement by siccing ICE agents on the White House's critics and foes? Maybe; maybe not. Regardless, and with all due respect: 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 people who are aghast at these ICE raids 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 the nuns of the Little Sisters of the Poor sued the Obama administration over contraception coverage? Did the pearl-clutchers care when the Biden administration sued antiabortion activists for praying outside abortion clinics? Did they care when the same administration threw the book at too many Jan. 6 defendants — whether an organizer or a tourist? Did they care when that administration imprisoned Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for rejecting subpoenas of the 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, it would be a good thing if the Trump administration sent a message by targeting political enemies. Not because two wrongs make a right, but because unilateral disarmament in the face of an insatiable foe is a proven strategic failure. People on the right had their turn being targeted under Presidents Biden and Obama, and it would be folly for conservatives to take a high road now that they are in power. True, a prior generation of Republicans would have been content to morally preen, to rest on their laurels in '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. American law enforcement has become much more politicized in recent decades. That trend began with the Obama administration, and it accelerated under Biden. 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. The only way out is through. Both sides of America's 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 that the current approach ensures 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 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's latest book is 'Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.' This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. @josh_hammer If it's in the news right now, the L.A. Times' Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
American Military News
08-05-2025
- American Military News
Pic: ICE raids CBS News anchor's husband's restaurant in DC
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials raided a restaurant in Washington, D.C., owned by Geoff Tracy, the husband of CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell, on Tuesday. According to Fox 5, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered 'Chef Geoff's' restaurant in D.C. on Tuesday morning and asked to see the I-9 forms of the restaurant's staff members, prompting the staff members to panic. The outlet noted that the restaurant is owned by Geoff Tracy, who is the husband of CBS anchor Norah O'Donnell. Fox 5 reported that roughly a dozen law enforcement officials and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents wearing Department of Homeland Security uniforms entered the restaurant at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The outlet noted that while no individuals were arrested at the restaurant, the law enforcement officials and federal agents remained at Chef Geoff's for roughly 90 minutes. A picture of Chef Geoff's restaurant was shared Tuesday by Fox 5 anchor Homa Bash on X, formerly Twitter. TODAY: ICE agents went into Chef Geoff's restaurant in Northwest DC – reportedly asked to see I-9 forms from staff. Workers on edge. No one taken into custody. @fox5dc — Homa Bash (@HomaBashNews) May 6, 2025 Fox 5 reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have recently visited multiple other restaurants, including restaurants located in D.C.'s Columbia Heights and Dupont Circle. According to Fox 5, 'Millie's' restaurant told the outlet that seven federal agents visited the restaurant on Tuesday and requested to see the staff's I-9 forms. The outlet reported that the warrant used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at Millie's was not signed by a judge but was signed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. READ MORE: Video/Pics: Illegal immigrant chased, tackled by Border Patrol agents 'It's very high anxiety, anxiety-inducing,' Isa, a resident of Washington, D.C., told Fox 5. 'I think it's really terrible right now that ICE is taking people and sending them away to El Salvador and these other countries to what are basically concentration camps.' In a statement obtained by Fox 5, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that she had heard reports of ICE officials raiding local restaurants and claimed that the ICE officials were 'disrupting' the community. 'I have heard those reports. I've been getting them all morning,' Bowser said. '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.'
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
ICE agents raid DC restaurant belonging to husband of CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell
The 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 "Chef Geoff's" restaurant in D.C. that 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 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. 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 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. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News' Cameron Arcand Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
ICE Raids Restaurant Owned by CBS News Anchor's Husband
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A popular restaurant owned by CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell's husband was one of several businesses targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday. Agents targeted Chef Geoff's, founded by Geoff Tracy, in Northwest Washington D.C., along with multiple other businesses, seeking out I-9 employment authorization documents. Newsweek reached out to ICE via email and Chef Geoff's via contact form for comment Wednesday morning. Why It Matters The District of Columbia is considered a sanctuary city, meaning the heart of a federal government now focused on tougher immigration policy sits within an area where local law enforcement generally does not work with ICE agents. Geoff Tracy and Norah O'Donnell attend the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on December 08, 2024 in Washington, DC. Right: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Geoff Tracy and Norah O'Donnell attend the 2024 Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center on December 08, 2024 in Washington, DC. Right: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File What To Know Reports of planned ICE enforcement action caused concern among Washington, D.C.'s immigrant community Monday, with agents arriving at various businesses across the city Tuesday morning, including Chef Geoff's. Fox 5 reported that U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials were at the restaurant on New Mexico Avenue at around 10:30 a.m., asking to see I-9 employee forms. While other restaurants were targeted in the sweep, the links to O'Donnell and CBS News were not lost on social media, with some Trump supporters saying this is what they had voted for. Critics of the president suggested the raid was politically motivated given its connection to CBS News, with whom the president is currently embroiled in a lawsuit, and because no one was taken into custody. The White House has not commented. I-9 forms are usually issued by employers during the hiring process, to ensure that an individual is legally allowed to work in the U.S. Some managers had to explain that records were not kept on site. Other businesses then reportedly moved to keep their doors closed for the rest of the day. President Trump has been vocal in his displeasure at how D.C. is currently run, issuing an executive order aimed at the "beautification" of the capital. Immigration advocacy group CASA told ABC News it believed ICE was using this order to back its operation Tuesday. When the president returned to the White House, the restaurant industry was among those fearful of tougher immigration policies, as a large share of its workers are migrants, and an unknown number do not have legal status. Some business leaders have said they support stronger border security and vetting measures, while also calling on the administration to create easier legal pathways for workers. What People Are Saying The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, in a statement to Newsweek: "Immigrants make up a significant portion of our workforce at all levels. From dishwashers to executive chefs to restaurant owners, immigrants are irreplaceable contributors to our most celebrated restaurants and beloved neighborhood establishments. The immigrant workforce has been essential to sustaining and growing our local restaurant industry and has been a major contributor to our local economy. "The metropolitan Washington area's restaurant industry employs over 60,000 people and generates billions in annual revenue. At a time when our economy is already fragile, losing even one staff member at a single establishment has a profound impact on the operations of a restaurant and its ability to serve patrons. Disrupting restaurant staffing across the industry can create a damaging ripple effect felt immediately throughout the entire local economy." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, speaking to reporters Tuesday morning: "I have heard those reports, I've been getting them all morning. I am disturbed by them. It appears that ICE is at restaurants or even in neighborhoods, and it doesn't look like they're targeting criminals. It is disrupting. This is not an [Metropolitan Police Department] action, there is no MPD activity involved." Amy Fischer, of Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid, in a statement to ABC: "If ICE wants to snatch up every single immigrant working in food service and delivery, then the entire industry will collapse." President Trump's executive order on D.C.: "It is the policy of the United States to make the District of Columbia safe, beautiful, and prosperous by preventing crime, punishing criminals, preserving order, protecting our revered American monuments, and promoting beautification and the preservation of our history and heritage." What's Next ICE is yet to announce the results of its operation, with further operations across the U.S. expected to continue as the Trump administration looks to deliver on its promise of mass deportations.
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.
