Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, introduced legislation Wednesday to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraud tied to coronavirus pandemic aid, aiming to hold accountable those who exploited relief programs.

The SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act targets fraud in the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and Restaurant Revitalization Fund, extending the legal pursuit window to 10 years. The move follows a Government Accountability Office report revealing the Biden-era Small Business Administration failed to fully investigate millions of fraud referrals due to inadequate data.

Ernst, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, called the oversight lapses “jaw-dropping incompetence or willful negligence.” She emphasized the bill’s necessity, stating, “Those who stole pandemic-era aid will be held accountable.” Williams echoed her resolve, highlighting the need to ensure justice for small businesses denied aid while fraudsters profited.

The GAO found the SBA approved over $1 trillion in loans and grants, yet its antifraud measures lagged, allowing felons and swindlers to siphon funds—including one case where a fraudster secured $8 million while 2,000 Iowa restaurants went empty-handed. Ernst and Williams aim to close this gap, building on prior efforts to address Paycheck Protection Program abuses.

The legislation, introduced amid ongoing scrutiny of pandemic relief, seeks to recover misappropriated funds and deter future fraud. It now awaits congressional review as lawmakers weigh its implications for accountability and fiscal oversight.

DELUSIONAL Democrat wants Trump to bring deported gang bangers BACK TO AMERICA

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., demanded Tuesday that President Donald Trump reverse the deportation of suspected gang members to El Salvador, calling it a violation of due process. Raskin’s remarks came during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, spotlighting a contentious immigration policy clash.

“I call on my colleagues … to demand the return of people unlawfully taken to El Salvador on that so-called plane full of ‘gang bangers,’” Raskin said, referencing two flights that deported hundreds of suspected Tren de Aragua and MS-13 members last month. The deportations, part of a deal with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to house them in a mega-prison, were halted by a federal judge’s restraining order.

Raskin labeled the move a “blatant violation of American due process and all of our constitutional values,” echoing Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., who argued that deportees deserve a chance to contest gang allegations. “Nobody here is saying that we shouldn’t deport or punish violent criminals, but we are saying that you need to prove that someone is a violent criminal,” Scanlon said.

The Trump administration is appealing to the Supreme Court to resume deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, following Judge James Boasberg’s block. Raskin also sent a letter to officials seeking details on the flights, intensifying the debate over immigration enforcement as deportations reportedly exceed 100,000 since Trump’s second term began in January.

Kid Rock reveals White House styled mansion after 20 years of construction

Kid Rock’s lavish mini White House, a 27,000-square-foot replica perched atop Nashville’s hills, has been revealed after two decades of construction, featuring a golden urinal, a church, and more.

The “Cowboy” singer’s eccentric estate, detailed in a tour with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, boasts a gas station, barbershop, bowling alley, and sweeping views of downtown Nashville. Unlike the real White House’s 16 bedrooms, Rock’s version has just two, with the rest dedicated to entertainment, including oversized furniture, according to podcaster Joe Rogan. Former NFL star Derek Wolfe called it “the wildest s–t you’ve ever seen” after a visit.

The golden urinal and matching shower, showcased to Carlson in 2022, have drawn attention as a nod to Rock’s flamboyant style and his bond with President Donald Trump. “I’m digging Donald Trump,” Rock told Rolling Stone in 2016, praising his business approach. The pair’s friendship was on display Monday when Rock, in a star-spangled suit, joined Trump at the White House for a tariff announcement.

Rock’s replica, complete with a U.S. flag and a gold-coated brass eagle, reflects his patriotic persona. The estate gained renewed buzz after his recent Oval Office visit, cementing his status as a larger-than-life figure in music and politics.

“Iceman” and Doc Holliday legend Val Kilmer dead at 65 after long illness

Val Kilmer, the versatile actor known for iconic roles in “Top Gun,” “Heat,” and “Batman Forever,” died Tuesday at 65, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed. The cause was pneumonia, following a battle with throat cancer diagnosed in 2014, from which he had recovered, she told the New York Times.

Kilmer burst onto the scene in 1984 with “Top Secret!” before soaring to fame as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in 1986’s “Top Gun” opposite Tom Cruise. He later portrayed Batman in 1995’s “Batman Forever” and starred alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in “Heat.” His role as Jim Morrison in “The Doors” further showcased his range. A Juilliard-trained stage actor, Kilmer reprised Iceman in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” his health struggles woven into the character.

Known as “The Man Hollywood Loves to Hate” in a 1996 Entertainment Weekly story, Kilmer’s reputation for intensity preceded him. Yet, director D.J. Caruso told the Times in 2002, “You have to learn to speak Val,” calling him “friendly, buoyant.” Kilmer reflected on his journey in the 2021 documentary “Val,” saying, “I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. … I deny none of this and have no regrets.”

Surrounded by family and friends at his death, Kilmer leaves a legacy of charisma and complexity across decades of film.