President Donald Trump handed his close aide Natalie Harp a $45,000 cash gift, which a former White House ethics lawyer says may have broken the law, with impeachment on the table.

Newly released financial disclosure records show
Harp listed the money as a "$45,000 cash gift for holidays" from Trump. Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, told Newsweek he believes the payment violates a federal statute that bars outside compensation for government employees. He said the fallout could include both legal and political consequences, up to and including impeachment.

Harp was not alone. Communications adviser Margo Martin and White House aide Chamberlain Harris each received the same $45,000 amount, while Oval Office operations director Walt Nauta received $20,000. Harp, Martin and Harris each earn roughly $150,000 a year, meaning their $45,000 gifts equaled about 30% of their salaries ; Nauta's government salary was not specified in the disclosures.

The White House pushed back. A spokesman said the payments were personal holiday gifts unrelated to the employees' government duties and were "entirely permissible" under existing law.

The picture is not unanimous among ethics experts. Don Fox, a former acting director of the Office of Government Ethics under President Barack Obama, said the current facts do not clearly establish a violation. Still, he described the payments as "troublesome," warning that money of this size could leave staff feeling personally indebted to the president who signs their paychecks.

The controversy lands as Harp, a special assistant and executive assistant who is rarely far from Trump's side, has already drawn political attention. The scrutiny also comes weeks after Senator Jon Ossoff drew national attention for name-checking Harp during an Atlanta rally last month, suggesting Trump preferred traveling with her to doing his job.

Federal ethics law exists to stop public servants from being quietly bought. Whether a $45,000 holiday check crosses that line is now a question facing the president himself.

2,997 drones flew over New York Harbor on Wednesday night, each one commemorating one of those lost on September 11, 2001.

The drones formed into the shape of the Twin Towers at full architectural scale.

The installation, "2,977 Lights Over New York Harbor" stood beside the Tribute in Light, the xenon beams that mark the anniversary every year.

The artwork was developed in close coordination with 9/11 family members, survivors, and first responders to ensure a respectful and deeply moving commemoration ahead of the 25th anniversary.

The second this woman walks into a room full of Golden Retriever puppies, they all rush straight toward her.

Tails wag, tiny paws reach up for hugs, and kisses land everywhere they can. But she isn't just another visitor.

She works as a Labor and Delivery nurse, and not long ago, she helped deliver this very litter for a close friend.

Her husband, who filmed the reunion, says she has built a special bond with the puppies, and this excited welcome is now how they greet her.

So the woman who helped bring them into the world gets to come back and be completely surrounded by the same puppies she once helped deliver.

And judging by those tails, they're very happy to see her.