Democrats seize on Epstein files drama with new transparency calls
Democratic lawmakers are lining up with new vigor to demand the release of all files on Jeffrey Epstein as the topic continues to fracture the right. Some prominent figures within the GOP’s rightmost flank are up in arms after a leaked Department of Justice (DOJ) memo reportedly showed there was little more to Epstein’s case than already known. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, announced he would be filing a resolution on Monday to demand the Trump administration release all files related to the late pedophile’s case. “Either [President Donald Trump] and his acolytes fueled the rumors of the significance of these Epstein files to help his campaign, or something is there!” Veasey wrote on X. “Put up or Shut up!” COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., similarly posted on Saturday, “Why are the Epstein files still hidden? Who are the rich & powerful being protected? On Tuesday, I’m introducing an amendment to force a vote demanding the FULL Epstein files be released to the public. The Speaker must call a vote & put every Congress member on record.” Meanwhile, progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., caused a firestorm of controversy online when she referenced past allegations of sexual assault against the president, all of which Trump previously denied. “Wow who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?” she wrote. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who is running for re-election in a swing state that voted for Trump in 2024, took a similar swing during a recent campaign stop. “He promised to release the Epstein files. Did anyone really think the sexual predator president who used to party with Jeffrey Epstein was going to release the Epstein files?” Ossoff said. A civil war has broken out within the GOP over the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein’s case, with figures like Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of mishandling something that’s long been seen as a priority for Trump’s base. Others, however, like attorney Mike Davis and even Trump himself, are defending the attorney general and calling for an end to the Republican infighting. “If predators or victims won’t talk, then what? The Trump Justice Department has to deal with evidence that exists. Not evidence they wish they had. Nor conspiracy theories. Do you think Pam, Kash, and Bongino are covering for… Bill Clinton?” Davis wrote on X. Trump released a statement on Truth Social over the weekend, “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB – SHE’S GREAT! The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to do the same thing in 2024 – That’s what she is looking into as AG, and much more.” And Democrats appear to have seized on the public back-and-forth as a political cudgel. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., shared a heated exchange with the White House on X over the weekend over an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on what authorities say was a marijuana farm – but Gomez contended the migrants there were picking strawberries. “If you’re now concerned about child exploitation, release the Epstein Files. Your base wants to know,” Gomez replied at one point. ‘GONE TOO FAR’: GOP LAWMAKERS RALLY AROUND TRUMP AFTER MUSK RAISES EPSTEIN ALLEGATIONS It was reported Friday that Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino was considering resigning amid the fallout. Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, however, have signaled they are confident in their work and will remain in place. “The conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been. It’s an honor to serve the President of the United States [Donald Trump] – and I’ll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me,” Patel wrote on X. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Democrats’ efforts.
Biden chief of staff reportedly gave approval for autopen pardons on final day in office
Former President Joe Biden’s chief of staff issued final approval for multiple high-profile preemptive pardons during Biden’s final days in office, according to a new report. Biden’s alleged use of the autopen has become a sticking point for months, as President Donald Trump has said thousands of pardons Biden signed were void and claimed that the former president did not know what documents he was signing through the automated device. Biden issued a series of preemptive pardons on his final day to officials including former Chief Medical Advisor to the President, Anthony Fauci, and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley in an attempt to safeguard them from retribution from Trump. In an article intended to be his defense for the autopen issue, it emerged that, although Biden reportedly made the decision in a meeting, Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients is the one who gave final approval for the use of the autopen, at least in the case of Fauci and Milley, the New York Times reported. WHAT IS AN AUTOPEN? THE SIGNING DEVICE AT THE HEART OF TRUMP’S ATTACKS ON BIDEN PARDONS On Biden’s final day as president, Jan. 19, Biden had a meeting with his aides until nearly 10 p.m. to talk about various preemptive pardons, the Times reports. Emails obtained by the Times show that an aide sent a summary draft of the decisions formalized during that meeting to Zient’s assistant at 10:03 p.m. The assistant sent the email to Zients and others present in the meeting, requesting approval from Zients and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed at 10:28 p.m., the Times reported. Zients replied all to the email three minutes later, the outlet said. “I approve the use of the autopen for the execution of all of the following pardons,” Zients said in the email, according to the Times. Zients could not be immediately reached for comment by Fox News Digital. Additionally, the Times report said that Biden did not personally approve each name included in the broad, categorical pardons. “Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence,” the Times reported. In response, the White House said that the report shed light on Biden’s trustworthiness, and accused the Biden administration of engaging in a cover-up scheme. TRUMP CLAIMS BIDEN PARDONS ARE ‘VOID,’ ALLEGING THEY WERE SIGNED VIA AUTOPEN “The same president who lied through his teeth to the American people for four years about everything from his health to the state of the economy should not be trusted again,” White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in an email to Fox News. “The Biden administration conducted the most egregious cover-up scheme in American politics … The truth will come out about who was, in fact, running the country sooner or later, just as the truth is emerging about the state of Joe Biden’s cognitive and physical health.” Biden granted a total of 4,245 acts of clemency during his administration, 96% of which were granted during his final months in office between October 2024 and January, according to the Pew Research Center. Trump first accused Biden of using an autopen to sign important clemency documents in March. He has continued to bring up the issue, and sent a memo ordering Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch an investigation into Biden’s autopen use in June, and to probe if the usage stemmed from a decline in Biden’s mental acuity. “In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that Biden’s aides abused the power of presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority,” Trump wrote in the memo. BIDEN’S ‘AUTOPEN SIGNATURE’ APPEARS ON MOST OFFICIAL DOCS, RAISING CONCERNS OVER WHO CONTROLLED THE WH: REPORT “This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history. The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden’s signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.” A White House official previously told Fox News Digital that Trump uses his hand signature for every legally operational or binding document. Even so, Trump has admitted that he uses an autopen for letters. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP An autopen is a machine that physically holds a pen and features programming to imitate a person’s signature. Unlike a stamp or a digitized print of a signature, the autopen has the capability to hold various types of pens like a ballpoint to a permanent marker, according to descriptions of autopen machines available for purchase. Fox News’ Andrea Margolis and Pat Ward contributed to this report.
Trump gathers CEOs for unprecedented faith, economy meeting to renew US ‘spiritually and financially’
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump will recognize CEOs and business leaders who donate their time to faith-based charitable works and encourage them to continue investing with the White House Faith Office during a luncheon at the White House on Monday. The president and the White House Faith Office are expected to host the luncheon, which will include more than 60 CEOs and business leaders, in the State Dining Room. TRUMP TO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING WHITE HOUSE FAITH OFFICE Founder of Hobby Lobby David Greene, Chairman and CEO of Jockey International, Inc. Debra Waller, Quest Events founder Lee Dunlap, Aethon Energy founder Albert Huddleston, Shoppa’s Material Handling founder Jimmy Shoppa and others are expected to attend. The president will be joined by Cabinet secretaries for the event, where he is expected to deliver remarks to thank the business leaders and encourage a continued partnership with the White House Faith Office. White House Faith Office senior advisor Pastor Paula White, Faith Director Jenny Korn, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler will attend the event and also deliver remarks. INSIDE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S WHITE HOUSE FAITH OFFICE The luncheon Monday is the first event of its kind, with White House Faith Office officials telling Fox News Digital that they have invited business leaders who work with faith-based charitable organizations “in a big way domestically and internationally.” The president, in his remarks, is expected to explain why the White House Faith Office is so important to his agenda. He will also encourage business leaders to help the Trump administration, specifically on programs concerning foster care and adoption, fatherhood initiatives, poverty alleviation, substance abuse and prisoner reentry. “These are purpose-driven individuals who use their wealth for good in the Earth,” the official said. “Faith and Economy come together to Make America Great Again—spiritually and financially.” “President Trump is not only making America affordable, prosperous and strong again — he is making our country faith-centered again,” Paula White, senior advisor to the White House Faith Office, told Fox News Digital. “CEOs and business leaders who give back their time and treasure is what America is all about.” Trump signed an executive order establishing a White House Faith Office in February. The office empowers faith-based entities, community organizations and houses of worship “to better serve families and communities,” according to the White House. The office is housed under the Domestic Policy Council and consults with experts in the faith community on policy changes to “better align with American values.”
‘A true warrior’: Retiring Rep Mark Green endorses his potential replacement in GOP race
FIRST ON FOX: House Homeland Security Committee Chair Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., on Monday endorsed Matt Van Epps to replace him in the U.S. House of Representatives. Van Epps is a decorated Army veteran and the former commissioner of Tennessee’s Department of General Services (DGS). He launched his campaign to represent Tennessee’s 7th congressional district just two days after Green announced his retirement to pursue a career in the private sector. “Matt Van Epps has my complete and total endorsement,” Green shared in a statement with Fox News Digital. Green revealed that he served in the same Army special operations unit as Van Epps, which he described as “a brotherhood that cannot be replicated anywhere else.” CONGRESSMAN’S LAST DAY IN OFFICE REVEALED AFTER VOTE ON TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ “The momentum behind Matt’s campaign is undeniable. Matt is a true warrior who has fought for our country abroad and is ready to fight for our values here at home,” Green said. MARK GREEN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS BEFORE END OF TERM In a statement shared first with Fox News Digital, Van Epps said he is “deeply honored” to receive Green’s endorsement and “ready to put the people of the 7th District first.” “Congressman Green has left some very large shoes to fill, but I’m ready to step in and continue his work on behalf of Tennesseans,” Van Epps said. Van Epps graduated from West Point in 2005. He served nine combat tours as an Apache pilot for the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade and as a Chinook pilot for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the Night Stalkers. He was appointed DGS commissioner in 2024 and has worked for several Tennessee state agencies, including the Department of Veteran Services and the Department of Transportation. Green announced his retirement from Congress last month, notifying House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that he would resign as soon as the House voted on Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which Republicans managed to pass by their self-imposed July 4 deadline. Green has served Tennessee’s 7th congressional district since 2019. His last day in Congress will be July 20, Fox News was first to report. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP With his announcement, several Republican candidates have announced their own congressional campaigns, including Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight, U.S. Army veteran Jonathan Thorp, Mason Foley of Main Street Health, and state Reps. Jay Reedy, Lee Reeves and Jody Barrett. Fox News Digital reached out to the Republican candidates for comment on the endorsement. Meanwhile, state Reps. Aftyn Behn and Bo Mitchell have announced their campaigns for the Democratic nomination, according to reporting by Tennessee Lookout.
Trump says US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, adds that Putin ‘talks nice and then he bombs everybody’
President Donald Trump said the United States will be sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine while describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a leader who “talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening.” Trump made the remarks as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is planning to meet with the president during a visit to Washington, D.C. Monday and Tuesday. Last week, Trump revealed a new NATO deal that would allow U.S. arms to flow to Ukraine through allied nations. “I’m going to have a meeting with the Secretary General coming in tomorrow. But we basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military. And they are going to pay us 100 percent for them. And that’s the way we want it,” Trump told reporters on Sunday. “I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some. Because they do need protection. But the European Union is paying for it. We’re not paying anything for it. But we will send it, and it’ll be good news for us, we will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump added in reference to Ukraine. SENATE MOVES TO REIN IN TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S FLUCTUATING UKRAINE POLICY “Because Putin had really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening. It’s a little bit of a problem there, I don’t like it,” Trump also said. Trump said last Thursday that under the new NATO deal, “what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons.” US WILL ‘HAVE TO’ SEND WEAPONS TO UKRAINE, TRUMP SAYS DAYS AFTER PENTAGON PAUSE The developments came after the Pentagon previously froze some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot missile interceptors and 155 mm artillery shells. The halt was driven by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby after a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles that showed dangerously low reserves, Politico first reported in early July. Then the Pentagon reversed course about a week later. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said. “Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.” Fox News’ Caitlin McFall, Jasmine Baehr and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Trump’s whirlwind week ahead to include meeting with NATO chief, ‘major’ announcement on Russia
In his 26th week back in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump is expected to make a “major announcement” related to Russia, hold a meeting with the NATO chief, and join a summit in Pennsylvania as America’s race to lead the world on artificial intelligence continues. July 13 marks the one-year anniversary of the first assassination attempt on Trump during the 2024 presidential cycle. Trump spent the anniversary at his home in Bedminster, N.J., before traveling with first lady Melania Trump to the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in the Garden State. Trump returned to the White House on Sunday evening and is expected to have another whirlwind workweek. TRUMP REVEALS NATO SALE TO BOOST ARMS TO UKRAINE AS PUTIN LAUNCHES OVERNIGHT MATERNITY HOSPITAL STRIKE Trump will meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this week following the U.S. president saying last week that the U.S. is selling weapons to its NATO allies for them to be passed along to Ukraine as it continues battling Russia. The NATO chief will be in Washington, D.C., on Monday and Tuesday, and will meet with Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to The Associated Press. Additional details on the meetings, however, have not yet been publicly released. Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that Ukraine can expect to see an influx of weapons. Russia first invaded Ukraine in February of 2022. RUSSIA GIVES RUBIO A ‘NEW AND DIFFERENT APPROACH’ AS TRUMP PUSHES FOR PEACE WITH UKRAINE “In the coming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves,” Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation. “One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump. And you just watch, in the coming days and weeks, there’s going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table.” Trump and Rutte most recently met in the Netherlands in June for a summit, where the NATO chief showed the makings of a blossoming friendship with Trump, including referring to Trump as “daddy” for his handling of the Middle East. Trump teased last week that he would make a “major statement” on Russia in the coming days as the NATO meetings prepare to kick off this week. “I’m disappointed in Russia, but we’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” Trump told NBC last week. “I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,” he added, without elaborating. RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL GAINS STEAM AS WHITE HOUSE APPEARS TO CHANGE TONE ON PUTIN Graham said in his interview on “Face the Nation” on Sunday that “a turning point regarding [the Russian] invasion of Ukraine is coming,” as Congress works to impose new economic sanctions on Russia to help end the war. “For months, President Trump has tried to entice [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to the peace table. He’s put tariffs against countries that allow fentanyl to come in our country, other bad behavior — he’s left the door open regarding Russia. That door is about to close,” Graham said on Sunday. Trump will head to Pittsburgh on Tuesday for Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Dave McCormick’s inaugural Energy and Innovation Summit hosted at Carnegie Mellon University. TRUMP TO MEET WITH ENERGY AND TECH TITANS IN PENNSYLVANIA AMID AI DOMINANCE PUSH The event is slated to focus on the U.S. power grid, America bid to win the AI race against China, as well as promoting the Keystone State as an ideal resource to help power the country’s future with AI and energy. “The United States needs to win the artificial intelligence fight. We have to stop China, and we have to win this war for dominance in AI. And the way you win the war for dominance in AI is to win the war for energy dominance. That’s why our focus is on producing more here in the United States,” said Mike Sommers, CEO and president of the American Petroleum Institute who will attend the summit, told FOX Business of the event. “Over the course of the last few years, energy demand has only gone up by about 2.5% a year. In the next seven years, we expect that energy demand is going to go up by 25%. The question that policymakers have to answer is: ‘Where is that energy going to come from?’ We think it should come from the United States,” Sommers added. The event is expected to attract protesters, with Carnegie Mellon’s president calling on the school community to continue its history of “constructively engaging” with presidencies across the “political spectrum.” “We have a history of constructively engaging with the federal government and administrations across the political spectrum. We view these opportunities as consequential to elevating and advancing both Carnegie Mellon’s mission and impact, and we bring to those moments the full measure of our expertise, our values and our voice in service to the nation,” school president Farnam Jahanian said in a letter previewing the event on Sunday. Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
Newsom, Vance exchange jabs over immigration after VP’s California vacation: ‘Hope you enjoy your family time’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President JD Vance traded barbs this weekend over the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies after the vice president’s vacation to Disneyland in the Golden State. Vance was spending time at the California amusement park with his wife Usha and their two children before Newsom, a Democrat, posted on social media that some migrant families cannot spend the same quality time together because of the administration’s efforts to detain and remove migrants in the U.S. “Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t,” Newsom wrote on X. UNION SAYS FARM WORKER DIED AFTER ICE RAID THAT UNCOVERED UNDERAGE LABORERS The vice president responded by thanking Newsom for the well-wishes without addressing the governor’s comment about families being separated. “Had a great time, thanks,” Vance wrote back. Demonstrators gathered in Anaheim to protest Vance and the administration’s immigration agenda. Vance’s visit came shortly after ICE raids on two farms in California, during which federal agents detained a few hundred suspected illegal immigrants, sparking protests against the immigration enforcement operation. One person was killed in the raids and others were critically injured. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott said 10 illegal migrant minors – including eight unaccompanied – were discovered at a farm in Camarillo and that it was under investigation for child labor violations. IMMIGRATION OPERATION AT CALIFORNIA CANNABIS FARMS LEADS TO CLASH BETWEEN FEDERAL AGENTS AND PROTESTERS CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The operation at the farms came after weeks of anti-ICE protests in Southern California over raids targeting migrant workers at local businesses. In response to those protests that began last month, the administration deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, despite opposition from Newsom.
Shubhanshu Shukla, set to return to Earth, says at Axiom-4 farewell ceremony, ‘Even today, Bharat looks…’
India looks full of ambition, fearless, confident and full of pride from space, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said on Sunday (July 13). Shukla was speaking at a farewell ceremony for Axiom-4 mission astronauts on board the International Space Station. Read on to know more on this.
Haryana: Internet, SMS services suspended in Nuh for 24 hours due to…; banking services continue
Internet and SMS services have been suspended in Nuh, Haryana for 24 hours, with banking and recharge SMS still active.
Missing Delhi University student found dead in Yamuna River after 6 days
A search had been launched following the registration of a missing person FIR at the Mehrauli Police Station.