At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, demanded answers from Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi about the validity of a Justice Department (DOJ) request for Vermont state officials to turn over Vermonters’ sensitive personal voter registration information to the Trump Administration. The request, signed by Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon, demands sensitive voter file information, including voters’ partial social security numbers. The conversation continued and Bondi said: “Well, it would remain confidential with my office…We’ve asked that of every state, Senator.” Sen. Welch said: “Right. And I’m asking about Vermont, and what the factual basis is…” Here is the conversation below:
Sen. Welch: “There is a point of view that is in dispute here about the fairness of elections. But you have the power as the U.S. Attorney General to use the authority of your office to make demands on states, and you did that with Vermont. That’s within your right to do it. I’m not disputing your legal authority to do it.”
Bondi: “Is Vermont disputing turning over the information to our office?”
Sen. Welch: “Vermont is—the Secretary of State is—and you can resolve that with her.”
Bondi: “And we have every right to have that information, Senator. Why wouldn’t they want to turn it in?”
Sen. Welch: “You’re a prosecutor with the awesome authority to make the decision that you’re going to start an investigation against a state, or against an individual. And I know from your experience as a county prosecutor and as the Attorney General in Florida, you took seriously that obligation to have a factual basis before you’d proceed, right?”
Bondi: “Senator, I take that role, I take my oath very seriously. And I take fair and free elections in this country very seriously.”
Sen. Welch: “We all do.”
Bondi: “And that information—our office is entitled to have that information. And we are involved in litigation on that, and I assume we’ll be involved in litigation with Vermont.”
Sen. Welch: “What I’m asking is: do you or does your head of this voting section have any factual basis that you can point to that justifies your demand that Vermont turn over all of this confidential voting rights information?”
Bondi: “Well, it would remain confidential with my office…We’ve asked that of every state, Senator.”
Sen. Welch: “Right. And I’m asking about Vermont, and what the factual basis is…”
On Tuesday 10/07/2025 at approximately 4:27pm, a Trooper assigned to the Westminster Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop on Interstate 91 in the town of Brattleboro after observing a motor vehicle violation. Through investigation, it was determined that the operator, Billie Jo Wilder (49) was in Possession of a Controlled Substance. Wilder was issued a citation to appear in Windham County Superior Court on 12/02/2025 at 8:30 AM to answer the charges.
Shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, emergency responders received a report regarding a vehicle that had overturned on Fort Bridgman Road in Vernon. Upon arrival, the crews found the vehicle resting on its roof, with a utility pole damaged. The incident resulted in the closure of Fort Bridgman Road between Ox Cart Road and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church as crews worked to clear the roadway and repair the power lines.
A hiker was assisted on Mt. Monadnock after an injury. On Tuesday, New Hampshire Fish and Game received a notification from New Hampshire State Police Dispatch regarding an injured hiker on the Dublin Trail near Old Troy Road. The victim, 79-year-old Mary Cornog from Peterborough, NH, was hiking alone when she fell and sustained multiple injuries. After medical assistance, Cornog was able to walk with help to the trailhead at Old Troy Road, arriving around 2:10 p.m. She was then transported to Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough by a Peterborough Fire and Rescue ambulance for further evaluation and treatment. Cornog was well-prepared for her hike on Mt. Monadnock and has extensive experience hiking the mountain. Outdoor enthusiasts are advised to purchase a Hike Safe card at https://wildnh.com/safe, which supports Fish and Game search and rescue efforts. For safe hiking tips and a list of essential gear, please visit hikesafe.com.
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital CEO Christopher Dougherty was placed on a leave of absence following concerns from the Green Mountain Care Board about the non-profit hospital’s financial stability and the accuracy of its financial reporting. The board expressed concern about a potential “solvency crisis” and modified the hospital’s budget, requiring a resubmission of corrected financial information by January 31, 2026.
Three teens were killed in a crash in Francestown, New Hampshire, on Tuesday
night. Police say it happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Route 47. They say the car
the teens were in went off the road, crashed into a telephone pole and rolled
onto its roof. All three people inside the car were ejected and died at the scene.
Troopers identified them as Aiden Brissette, 19, of Bennington, New Hampshire;
Seth Fowler, age 19; and Luis Torres, 18, both of Antrim.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to build out its social media
surveillance program, and Vermont could play a major role. That’s according to
federal contracting records reviewed by Wired magazine. The records show ICE
is looking for a private vendor to search social media to help with future
enforcement efforts. The documents are only drafts, but they highlight
Vermont’s ICE facility in Williston as a potential location for the work. A
contractor team could include around two dozen employees and would focus on
the eastern U.S.
WTSA SPORTS FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 9th 2025
THE BLUE JAYS DEFEATED THE YANKEES LAST NIGHT 5 – 2, toronto winning that series 3 – 1. The Blue Jays secured their first trip to the American League Championship Series since 2016.
The Detroit Tigers kept their season alive by defeating the Seattle Mariners in Game 4, forcing a deciding Game 5 on Friday. The Blue Jays will face the winner of that series in the ALCS.
THE BRUINS DEFEATED THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS YESTERDAY IN THEIR SEASON OPENER 3 – 1. THE BRUINS ARE HOME AT TD GARDEN TONIGHT AGAINST THE BLACK HAWKS, PUCK DROPS AT 7PM.
THE CELTICS BEAT THE GRIZZLIES YESTERDAY 121 – 103 IN THEIR 1ST PRESEASON GAME.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: The Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants: 8:15 p.m. Kick off on Prime Video