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Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House ... and the controversy surrounding the death of Peanut the squirrel might have helped ... at least that's what the squirrel's owner thinks.

Mark Longo told TMZ he was humbled and honored that on Monday, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance was at a rally, talking about how "fired up" DT was over the death of Peanut ... which ML is sure helped them at the polls.

Those campaign comments -- as ML sees it -- showed Trump cares about the little guy ... even if that little guy is a medium-sized rodent that took social media by storm with his tricks.

Peanut the squirrel might just get justice after all ... as authorities are investigating a raid that resulted in the tragic death of the beloved social media star, TMZ has confirmed.

Mark Longo, Peanut's owner, tells TMZ ... he has been made aware that the Department of Environmental Conservation is conducting an “internal investigation” into why 2 of his pets were seized  -- and later killed -- from his Pine City home.

ML tells us he does not know too much at this point ... but he is expecting to hear more on Saturday about just what the heck is going on.

The Ohio shooting that nearly took out Bounty Tank -- the famed bounty hunter -- is all on video recorded for his show, and TMZ got the first look at the incident he's lucky to have survived.

This never-before-seen raw footage shows the moment Frank Frazier -- better known as "Bounty Tank" -- is struck by gunfire. You see him rounding a corner outside a house in Akron last month as he tries to serve a warrant, commanding the suspect to put his hands up ... when suddenly 2 gunshots ring out.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is finally weighing in on the 2024 U.S. election, extending his congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory and commending his courage after surviving his July assassination attempt.

At an international forum in Sochi Thursday, Putin shared his admiration for Trump, saying, "His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man."

The Russian leader added ... "He manifested himself in the very correct way, bravely as a man."

Mark Wahlberg's Mexican restaurant went up in flames in Nevada ... and the footage showing Wednesday night's fire is downright shocking.

Check out the video ... people are standing outside Flecha Cantina in Las Vegas, staring through the windows at the blaze raging inside the eatery.

A fire truck is parked in front of the joint, but nowhere can you see firefighters battling the inferno.

Peanut the Squirrel's supporters are making it clear they're pissed NY State officials confiscated and euthanized the animal ... by coordinating multiple bomb threats on state government offices.

The Department of Environmental Conservation is one of 2 agencies that conducted last week's raid at Mark Longo's home in upstate NY's Chemung County -- but DEC offices all over the state have now been evacuated due to the bomb threats.

Sources with the NYPD tell TMZ ... there was a bomb threat claiming an explosive device was planted inside a DEC office in Long Island City ... and, cops believe the threat is related to the Peanut the Squirrel case.

The owners of Peanut the squirrel are still in an emotional whirlwind after their beloved social media star was seized and euthanized by authorities in New York ... and now they're readying to fight back, TMZ is told.

Mark Longo and his wife, Daniela, tell us they are already in the process of legal action ... but they cannot give too many more details at this point. But ML makes it crystal clear ... "Peanut did not die in vain!"

Their story went national after they accused the state of abusing power and wasting taxpayer funds to seize and kill Peanut -- all because of some anonymous claims ... which ML says were all total BS.

Tucker Carlson claims he was once violently attacked by a demon as he slept ... and despite all the naysayers ... one paranormal expert absolutely believes him.

Here's the deal ... the popular TV personality appeared in the new documentary, "Christianities?" ... where he revealed he'd once woken up to find huge claw marks on his sides and shoulder -- ones that didn't match his own hands. He says in no uncertain terms ... demon attack!

"Ghost Hunters" star Steve Gonsalves tells TMZ ... those quick with the jokes and totally dismissive should slow their roll ... 'cause something very well could have happened to the dude beyond typical comprehension.

Judge Mathis says Erik and Lyle Menendez deserve to be free men ... telling us new evidence they were allegedly molested by the father they killed totally changes things.

We got the TV judge Thursday at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, and our photog asked him about the Menendez brothers and their bid to get out of prison after nearly 35 years behind bars.

Judge Mathis says if he was handling their resentencing case, he would reduce the length of their punishment on account of the molestation claims and send them home ASAP.

Big twist for Erik and Lyle Menendez ... a judge who may have been sympathetic to their bid to get out of prison is off the case, and a new judge is coming on board.

The case has been transferred to the Van Nuys Courthouse, which is where the brothers were originally tried for murdering their parents, and the new judge coming into the fold is Michael V. Jesic of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Jesic is a former district attorney who is known as a law and order guy and for being prosecution-oriented ... and he's described as being very smart and fair.

7:50 AM PT -- Ryan Girdusky is doubling down on his controversial comment ... defending his "beeper" remark was nothing more than a joke.

He tells TMZ ... "You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar funded media. Apparently, you can't go on CNN if you make a joke. I'm glad America gets to see what CNN stands for."

Ryan also penned a lengthy essay in response to the controversy, sharing he warned the network he wouldn't apologize for being Republican.

While he confessed to having a "go big or go home" mentality heading into the roundtable, he said he genuinely thought Hasan said he supported Hamas, rather than Palestine.

The Menendez brothers' prison is taking no chances with security threats following the major update in the infamous siblings' case ... TMZ has learned.

A source within the California Department of Corrections tells TMZ ... prison security has been beefed up after L.A. County D.A. George Gascón's announcement, in which he confirmed he would ask a judge to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez -- who are currently serving life without the possibility of parole sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents, Kitty and José Menendez. Gascon filed the document officially asking a judge to resentence them Thursday evening.

We're told guards are working overtime to keep everyone safe inside the prison ... as well as outside the facility, given the likelihood that lookyloos will descend upon the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County.

Charlamagne tha God and Anderson Cooper found themselves in a tense faceoff debating CNN's coverage of former President Donald Trump ... with the radio host suggesting the network doesn't call out 45 for his "fascist" behavior.

The war of words took place during Thursday evening's broadcast, with the CNN broadcaster and the radio personality getting into it on how Trump is discussed versus Vice President Kamala Harris.

As Charlamagne put it ... CNN hadn't held Trump's feet to the fire for the allegedly "fascist" things he's said during his bid for reelection ... including his previous call to "terminate the U.S. Constitution" and "overthrow the election."

The Menendez brothers are a step closer to potentially getting out of prison ... because Los Angeles' District Attorney just filed the document officially asking a judge to resentence them.

D.A. George Gascón filed the motion mere minutes ago ... asking a judge to change the brothers' sentences from life without the possibility of parole to life with the possibility of parole. Because of time served, this would allow them to potentially be released from prison immediately.

It's a long document ... but, basically, the D.A.'s office says Erik and Lyle have been upstanding inmates and no longer present a risk to public safety -- so, there's no reason to keep them locked up.

Kim Kardashian is thrilled the Menendez bros have a shot at freedom, and she's singling out Ryan Murphy as a judicial influencer who got the D.A. to act.

Fact is ... there was a hearing set for Erik and Lyle Menendez to make their case long before Murphy's 'Monsters' dropped on Netflix. But L.A. County D.A. George Gascón did make a point that he accelerated the process because of public interest in the wake of the documentary -- presumably he's referring to the Paramount doc.

As for Kim, she was effusive ... "Thank you, George Gascon, for revisiting the Menendez brothers' case and righting a significant wrong."

L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón just announced he will ask a judge to free Erik and Lyle Menendez ... the 2 brothers convicted of murdering their parents.

Gascón told a jam-packed room filled with reporters and cameras ... he will go to court Friday to file for the resentencing of Erik and Lyle. Based on their ages at the time of the crimes, he will recommend they should be eligible for parole immediately.

This means if a judge signs off Friday or later, a parole board will decide if the brothers should go free.