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The Megyn Kelly Show
Swalwell and Gonzales Resign Amid Scandals, Husband Released in Lynette Hooker Case: AM Update 4/14
00:19:58
Two members of Congress, Democrat Eric Swalwell and Republican Tony Gonzales, announce their resignations as sexual misconduct scandals drive mounting political pressure on Capitol Hill. The U.S. moves forward with a sweeping maritime blockade of Iran following failed nuclear talks, escalating the standoff and targeting any vessels tied to Iranian ports. A federal judge dismisses President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, finding the paper did not meet the legal standard for actual malice in its reporting on the alleged Jeffrey Epstein birthday letter. Bahamian authorities release Brian Hooker without charges in the disappearance of his wife Lynette Hooker, as questions continue to build around his account of what happened on the water. Lean: Discover why LEAN is becoming the choice for real weight‑loss results—shop now at https://TAKELEAN.com use code MK. Supersure Insurance: Simplify your business insurance and get a free coverage...
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- [00:03]
A
Good morning, everyone. I'm Megyn Kelly. It's Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Happy birthday, Yeardley. And this is your AM update. Democrat Congressman Eric Swalwell and Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez announcing they will step down from their congressional seats amid growing political pressure relating to their sexual misconduct scandals.
- [00:24]
B
If the Iranians are going to try to engage in economic terrorism, we're going to abide by a simple principle that no Iranian ships are getting either.
- [00:32]
A
The US Blockade of Iranian ports is now underway as both sides remain in a stalemate over Iran's nuclear ambitions. A federal judge throwing out President Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on that infamous alleged Jeffrey Epstein birthday letter.
- [00:51]
C
I am happy to see that justice is really working in this country. They had no evidence and they had no choice but to release it.
- [00:59]
A
Bahamian authorities releasing the husband of missing American woman Lyne Hooker yesterday without bringing charges related to her disappearance. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. Everybody's talking about weight loss injections because the results can be so dramatic. They work by lowering blood sugar and reducing appetite. But what if you're looking to lose weight but you're not interested in painful weekly injections, especially when you hear about some of those intense side effects? That's why doctors created a weight loss supplement called Lean, and the results could be remarkable. Lean says the studied ingredients in their product have been shown to lower your blood sugar, burn fat by converting it into energy, and curb your appetite and cravings so you are not as hungry. But listen, Lean is not for the casual dieter with only a few pounds to lose. The doctors at Brick House Nutrition created Lean for frustrated dieters with 10 or more pounds to lose. You could get started with 20% off and free Rush shipping, adding Lean to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit takelen.com and enter MK to get your discount. That's promo code mk@takelean.com a pair of congressmen announcing their departures last night amid mounting scandal and political pressure on Capitol Hill. Congressman Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California, resigning from his House seat following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations, the most serious coming from a former congressional staffer who claims Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024, saying the encounters occurred while she was intoxicated and could not consent, though she acknowledges remaining in contact with him and inviting him out for drinks the evening of the second incident. No police report was ever filed. Swalwell suspending his campaign for California governor Sunday night as Political support quickly evaporated on the Hill yesterday, pressure ramping up throughout the day. The House Ethics Committee launching a formal probe into the allegations, a process that would have allowed the committee to recommend potential disciplinary action to the full House. But before that process could play out, and with a vote to expel him looming and having suspended his campaign for California governor the evening before Swalwell announcing Monday afternoon he would step down from his House seat. In a statement, the congressman writing, quote, I am deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. He went on to write that while he believes expulsion without due process would be wrong, it would also be wrong for his constituents to be represented by someone distracted by the controversy. The resignation coming just minutes after Democrat Senator from Arizona Ruben Gallego, allegedly one of Swalwell's closest friends, publicly breaking with Swalwell on X, posting quote, swalwell is no longer fit to be a member of Congress. He should be expelled. Gallego also stating he had, quote, no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell. Meanwhile, Fox News reporting another accuser is expected to speak publicly at a press conference in Beverly Hills today, about an hour after Swalwell's announcement. Congressman Tony Gonzalez, Republican of Texas, also announcing that he will step down amid personal scandals of his own. Gonzalez writing on X, there is a season for everything, and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas. How dare he include a reference to God in this? Gonzalez, married with six children, had already announced he would not seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a young married staffer who later died by suicide. She set herself on fire. The San Antonio Express reporting earlier this year, unlewed texts by the congressman to the staffer shared with the outlet by her irate late husband. That matter had also been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, though Gonzalez has denied any responsibility for the woman's death. The San Antonio Express last week reporting on text messages allegedly showing the congressman soliciting sex and nude photos from another staffer. What is it with these lawmakers with a pair of resignations? The balance of power in the House is expected to remain unchanged. Let's hope the same's not true of these two men's morality. The US Blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz going into effect Yesterday at 10:00am President Trump ordering the maneuver after peace talks in Pakistan failed over the weekend. Vice President J.D. vance on Fox News last night explaining the scope of the blockade.
- [06:05]
B
Not just Iranian flagged vessels, Brett, but any vessel that we know is going to Iranian ports or has come from Iranian ports. You're probably going to see some vessels try to reflag themselves. But of course we're going to know because we have very good intelligence which ships are going in and which ships are coming out that are connected to Iran. They haven't been able to prosecute the case when it comes to weapons of war. What they have done is engaged in this act of economic terrorism against the entire world. They basically threatened any ship that's moving through the Straits of Hormuz. Well, as the president of the United States showed, two can play at that game. And if the Iranians are going to try to engage in economic terrorism, we're going to abide by a simple principle that that no Iranian ships are getting out either.
- [06:47]
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The U.S. backing the effort with significant firepower. At least 15 Navy ships now positioned across the region, including an aircraft carrier and multiple destroyers, according to CNN data showing just one sanctioned tanker making its way through the strait while others immediately turning around. According to Reuters, two vessels reversing course within minutes of approaching the waterway after the blockade took effect. As for where things stand diplomatically, Iran's president Massoud Pezeshkian signaling Tehran is still open to negotiations while warning that pressure on the Strait of Hormuz could have global consequences. According to the New York Times, the US is pushing a 20 year halt to Iranian uranium enrichment and the removal of Iran's nuclear material from the country. Iranian negotiators countering with a five year suspension and insisting on keeping the material, offering to dilute it. The gap reflecting a deeper sticking point with the US Pushing toward zero enrichment, a demand Iran has long rejected as a non starter. More from the vice president last night on fox.
- [07:54]
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What some people call the dust, which is the enriched uranium that the Iranians currently possess. We have said that we want that to come out of their country and, and we would like to take possession of it. That access, that material was actually buried underground by Operation Midnight Hammer. But if you think about this over the long haul, the president doesn't want to leave the next president or the president after that to be worrying about this program. And so we would like to get that material out of the country completely so that the United States has control of it. That's number one. And the second thing is that again, to this point about verification. It's one thing for the Iranians to say that they're not going to have a nuclear weapon. It's another thing for us to put in place the mechanism to ensure that's not going to happen.
- [08:38]
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No new talks have been scheduled, though both sides are signaling they could return to the table the tenuous ceasefire set to expire in just over a week. Coming up, a federal judge sides with the Wall Street Journal, tossing out President Trump's defamation lawsuit over the birthday letter Mr. Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein decades ago and the husband of missing American woman Lynette Hooker, who appears have been lost at sea in the Bahamas, released from jail last night. Here's a question for you. How many brokers does it take to insure your business? If you're like most business owners, the answer is too many. Multiple policies, multiple applications, no clear view of how it all fits together. It's a nightmare. And when questions do come up, it's not easy to get the clarity you need. And when it comes to insurance, you always need it quickly. But super sure changes all that. 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They can help you consolidate everything so it's in one place and they will run interference for you. Okay? So check it out. Supersure.com Megan. Paid for by Super Sure Insurance Agency, LLC, a licensed insurance agency. A federal judge yesterday tossing out President Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its reporting on a birthday letter allegedly sent by Mr. Trump to Jeffrey Epstein more than 20 years ago in July 2025, the Journal Publishing a story headlined, quote, jeffrey Epstein's friends sent him bawdy letters for a 50th birthday album. One was from Donald Trump, according to the report. In 2003, Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell compiling letters from dozens of Epstein's friends and associates years before investigations into the disgraced financier that would ultimately lead to his conviction on two state charges, solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution with a minor. The Journal describing the letter, which it says it reviewed, as containing several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, with Mr. Trump's signature appearing below the waist and concluding quote, happy birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret. President Trump denying that he authored the letter, telling the Journal, quote, I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words. Shortly after the article's publication, Mr. Trump's legal team filing a defamation lawsuit in the U.S. district Court for the Southern District of Florida, naming the journal's parent company, News Corp. Founder Rupert Murdoch, CEO Robert Thompson, publisher Dow Jones and two reporters. Mr. Trump's lawyers arguing the report caused significant financial and reputational harm, damages they said would only grow as the story spread. The Journal's legal team urging the court to dismiss the case, arguing the reporting was accurate and that Mr. Trump could not show the Journal acted with actual malice in its reporting, the standard required for public figures suing for defamation. Yesterday, Obama appointed U.S. district Judge Darren Gales siding with the Journal, dismissing the complaint without prejudice, meaning the president is able to refile at a later date. Judge Gale's finding Mr. Trump had not alleged facts that could establish the Journal acted with actual malice, a notoriously high legal standard for defamation cases brought by public figures, which requires proof that a publisher knew a claim was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Judge Gale's writing quote, to establish actual malice, a plaintiff must show the defendant deliberately avoided investigating the veracity of the statement in order to evade learning the truth. The complaint comes nowhere close to this standard. Quite the opposite. Dow Jones responding in a statement, quote, we are pleased with the judge's decision to dismiss this complaint. We stand behind the reliability, rigor and accuracy of the Wall Street Journal's reporting. President Trump posting on Truth Social that his team intends to refile the case before April 27. Bahamian authorities releasing the husband of missing American woman, 55 year old Lynette Hooker from custody last night. A magistrate previously approving an extension to keep 58 year old Brian Hooker in lockup through the weekend as investigators continued examining the case. But under Bahamian law, Hooker had to be charged or released from jail by yesterday evening. Mr. Hooker taken into custody last Wednesday, four days after he says his wife Lynette fell from their small dinghy into the water and was then swept away by strong currents. Brian telling police Lynette was wearing the engine key to the dinghy, causing the boat to lose power when she went overboard. Brian, with no power and just a paddle in the small boat, says he drifted across the bay, eventually making landfall around 4am Sunday, roughly 4 miles from where he says Lynette went overboard. Once on land, Brian encountering a security guard at a nearby boatyard, telling him Lynette had fallen into the sea. He also reportedly said the two had been drinking before the incident. Key details on Brian's account raising questions from both friends and family. Hear a longtime sailing friend, Daniel Danforth Saturday on Fox News.
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D
They were very, very experienced boaters. If you're an actual boater and people that boat every day know that the story don't really add up. He said that she fell out of the boat, the wind blew him away, that she was swimming back to the sailboat. So he actually acted like he didn't have a lot of concern, like, you know, she would have made it to the sailboat without a problem. And then when he got the land, why didn't he immediately go back to the sailboat to check and see if she had made it or if she did make it to the sailboat, he would expect for her to call out for help too. But you know, seven, eight hours is a long time that you don't cross. Most of the time when we anchor our boat or anybody anchors, you always anchor in a little group in a protected cove. You're not really out exposed to the open ocean on Anchorage. You know, you take the proper captain, you always take proper planning procedures ahead of time and you sure don't go out in a small dinghy in rough waters. That's usually just for going to land back to your sailboat. There's not really a boat made for commuting.
- [15:58]
A
Lynette's daughter, Carly Aylesworth also raising doubts, telling multiple outlets, Brian typically operated the dinghy, making it unlikely Lynette would have had the key. Aylesworth going public in the days after her mother's disappearance, describing a volatile relationship between her mother and stepfather of more than two Decades. Lynette's mother, Darlene Hamlet, echoing those same concerns, detailing a pattern of alleged abuse Friday on Ashley Banfield's Drop Dead Serious podcast.
- [16:26]
E
There was a lot of good times and bad times in my daughter's relationship with her husband. A lot of highs and a lot of lows they had. When it was fun, it was really fun. And when there were bad times, there were bad times. And the fact that she had left him on numerous occasions before and continued to go back even after she had been hurt was something that was very difficult for me to understand. And I did a lot of crying, and I had to prepare myself for what I thought was someday going to happen unless she finally decided she had had enough. I think they loved each other, but they were not good for each other. That's the best way I can say it. When Brian drank, Brian could be mean, hateful, say unpleasant things. That pretty much describes him. He also got physical. It's just like it just progressively got worse. And so this is where we're at now.
- [17:29]
A
Michigan court records show Brian Hooker was acquitted of a child abuse charge back in 2006. According to NBC News. In 2015, Lynette reportedly arrested on assault charges, but a warrant was ultimately denied, with authorities citing insufficient evidence to determine who initiated the incident. A Michigan police report from that night shows both Lynette and Brian accused each other of assault. The search effort turning up very little so far. Searchers reportedly recovering a flotation device Brian claims he threw to Lynette after she fell from the dinghy. Lynette's mother telling Banfield her daughter's apple watch was also uncovered in the search, though it is unclear to her where it was found. A local charter captain telling Fox News the water ranges from about 4 to 10ft deep, depending on the tide, and the sea floor is clearly visible. Lynette's daughter says Lynette is an experienced swimmer. Brian Hooker denies all wrongdoing. His attorney, Terrell Butler, speaking to reporters last night moments before Brian's release.
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Great news, everyone. Mr. Brian Hooker has been released. He should be walking out shortly.
- [18:42]
A
With any conditions?
- [18:44]
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I'm not sure yet. I'm gonna have a quick word with him inside before he walks out and we could go from there.
- [18:51]
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Charlie just got work. He's gonna be released.
- [18:53]
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That is correct, yes.
- [18:54]
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How are you feeling?
- [18:56]
C
I am happy to see that justice is really working in this country. They had no evidence and they had no choice but to release him. It's unfortunate that they had to exhaust the entire investigative period to come to the conclusion.
- [19:14]
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Last week, the search and rescue operation for Lynette turned into search and recovery. Investigators say no charges are being filed at this time, but the investigation continues. CBS News reporting a search warrant for the hooker's boat has allowed authorities to take a digital video recorder, digital tablets and cell phone related equipment. The search warrant alleges these may contain material evidence relating to a missing person case. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megyn Kelly. Join me back here for the MK show live on SiriusXM's the Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at noon east on YouTube.com megankelley and on all podcast platforms,
- [19:59]
F
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- [20:22]
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- [20:22]
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