House Republicans cry ‘vindication’ after Hunter Biden guilty plea
Congressional Republicans are claiming vindication after Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax-related charges on Thursday – and warning President Biden not to pardon his son. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, told Fox News Digital that he believes the plea “absolutely” affirms the accusations and findings GOP lawmakers have levied against the First Family since before President Biden took office. “It’s also vindication for the whistleblowers,” he added, accusing Hunter Biden’s defenders of trying to “wreck their careers.” He said of the president potentially pardoning him, “I think it would be an abuse of that power for the President to do that, but I think a lot of people will be surprised if Joe Biden doesn’t.” HUNTER BIDEN FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS IN GUN TRIAL The White House has said multiple times that the president will not pardon his son, but that has not stopped Republican-led skepticism from pouring in. It comes after a bombshell House GOP report, which the White House has pushed back on, that accused the president of committing “impeachable offenses” by allegedly helping enrich himself and his family through foreign deals. Meanwhile, House Ways & Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., whose committee is one of three that was investigating Biden via impeachment inquiry, similarly said the guilty plea upheld the testimony of whistleblowers who came to his panel. HUNTER BIDEN TRIAL ENTERS DAY 5 AFTER TESTIMONY FROM SISTER-IN-LAW-TURNED-GIRLFRIEND: ‘PANICKED’ “Hunter Biden’s decision to plead guilty once again affirms the integrity of the IRS whistleblowers who recommended these exact charges over two years ago before being stonewalled by the Biden-Harris Justice Department. Had Joseph Ziegler and Gary Shapley not come forward, putting their reputations and careers at great risk in the process, Hunter Biden would have received a sweetheart plea deal for merely two misdemeanors,” Smith told Fox News Digital. Smith added as a veiled warning, “It remains to be seen whether President Biden will abuse the power of his office to ensure his son avoids the consequences of his felony tax crimes.” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., who also co-led the probe, said, “Hunter Biden is finally admitting the obvious: he didn’t pay taxes on income he received by selling access to his father, Joe Biden.” A member of that committee, Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital, “We also can’t let Hunter Biden’s plea deal distract from the fact that he was the bag man in the Biden family’s influence peddling scheme that saw them amass some $27 million by selling political access to ‘the big guy,’ Joe Biden.” “For more than a decade, Hunter and his associates enriched themselves at the expense of the American people. By all means, Hunter needs to be held to account, but this is by no means the end when it comes to equal justice under the law,” Fallon said. DOJ REVEALS IT HAS BIDEN TRANSCRIPTS AT ISSUE IN CLASSIFIED DOCS CASE AFTER INITIAL DENIAL Biden and his allies have consistently pushed back on accusations levied by House Republicans, dismissing them as misrepresentations and political attacks. But that has not convinced GOP lawmakers like Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who warned Biden not to pardon his son. “Hunter Biden’s bait-and-switch stunt is a clear effort to avoid a messy trial that would reveal his father’s role in the family’s corrupt business dealings. Americans will once again witness the Bidens’ corruption go unpunished as President Biden will likely pardon his son on his way out of the Oval Office,” Biggs said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that “no,” Hunter Biden would not get a presidential pardon from his father, hours before he entered his guilty plea. Biden himself said in June that he would “abide by the jury’s decision” when asked if he would pardon his son.
Grassley releases new details of Iran-backed assassination plots against Trump, Biden and others
Senator Chuck Grassley released FBI records on Thursday showing that Iranian-backed plotters sought to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other prominent American political figures in relation to the killing of Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was the head of the Quds Force, part Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC). The records, provided to Grassley through legally protected whistle blower disclosures, reveal that Iran potentially targeted “politicians, military people or bureaucrats” including President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and former candidate Nikki Haley. TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: GRASSLEY DEMANDS SECRET SERVICE ANSWER EXPLOSIVE CLAIMS IN BODYCAM FOOTAGE “Bad actors are determined to wreak havoc on our country, and American political leaders across both parties are sitting squarely in the crosshairs,” said Senator Grassley in a statement. “In this extraordinarily heightened threat environment, federal agencies ought to be laser focused on building up public trust and reassuring the American people of their efforts to carry out their protective missions.” “I won’t stop pressing for answers until Congress and the American people are afforded the transparency they deserve,” Grassley concluded. A native of Pakistan with ties to Iran, Asif Merchant, has been charged for his involvement in the assassination plot. Merchant provided evidence to the FBI in a proffer agreement. According to the FBI records, Merchant believed he was in for a kill-for-hire scheme that would offer him a cut of $50,000 for successful completion. In his interrogation, Merchant provided options for shooting former President Trump at both indoor and outdoor speaking engagements. BODYCAM FOOTAGE TAKES VIEWERS TO PENNSYLVANIA ROOFTOP MOMENTS AFTER TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT Merchant further expressed that he could hit a target up close or from further away, that a pistol would be best for indoors, but a rifle was necessary otherwise. He believed he had about a 50% chance of success, according to the FBI records. Asif Merchant communicated with Iran via English language notes smuggled in packages for different extended family members. Some congressional Republicans have argued that the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July was plotted by foreign actors from Iran or Pakistan. Grassley’s office has been behind the release of bodycam footage from local police in Pennsylvania since the assassination attempt, demanding accountability from multiple agencies. Grassley said that a DHS-FBI briefing from earlier this week “yet again failed to provide full transparency, necessitating this letter and the public disclosure of the unclassified proffer.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The FBI did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Politics: Hunter’s New Plea
Welcome to the Fox News’ Politics newsletter, with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Here’s what’s happening… – Top 5 moments from Trump’s town hall – Nikki Haley gets a new job Hunter Biden plans to change his plea to guilty on federal tax charges brought against him by special counsel David Weiss, his attorney said in court Thursday, shocking federal prosecutors. Abbe Lowell, the first son’s attorney, said Thursday in federal court that President Biden’s son intends to switch his plea and intends to plead guilty. He initially pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutor Leo Wise said that “this is the first we are hearing about this.” A source familiar with the special counsel’s team told Fox News digital that this is not a done deal for Hunter Biden, and that it’s currently just an offer the defense put on the table. The development comes after Hunter Biden’s lawyers had prepared to argue he was too high or drunk to pay his taxes, the New York Post reported Thursday. ….Read more SPENDING SURGE: Biden throws $7.3B at ‘clean energy’ with national debt at $35T …Read more HUNTER ON TRIAL: Hunter Biden’s federal tax trial begins with jury selection …Read more TRUMP TRIAL: Jack Smith’s new indictment against former president goes to court Thursday …Read more RUSSIA HOAX 2.O: Republicans ‘skeptical’ of DOJ move to block Russian election interference …Read more EVERYTHING UNDER THE ‘SUN’: House GOP demands answers from Hochul over ex-aide accused of being agent for China …Read more COMPLEX PROBLEMS: House GOP bill to detain migrant gang members unveiled amid Aurora chaos …Read more COLLUSION CLAIM REDUX: Harris fundraiser hints Trump working with foreign leaders to win election …Read more ‘FAILED’: Former senator launches ad campaign against anti-Trump DA Fani Willis …Read more BATTLE FOR THE SENATE: New poll gives edge to Republican aiming to oust red-state Democrat …Read more ‘BIGGEST TAX INCREASE’: Trump makes grave prediction about economy if Harris wins …Read more WHO’S SECOND BANANA?: Where Vance, Walz favorability ratings stand 60 days to Election Day …Read more ‘TOUGHEST ON RUSSIA’: Trump touts foreign policy chops at Fox News town hall …Read more ‘WORLD WAR III TERRITORY’: Top 5 moments from Trump’s Fox News town hall in key battleground state …Read more NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Expert explains dramatic influx of migrants crossing border from Canada …Read more ‘COMING NEXT’: Nikki Haley finds a new job …Read more TURN THEM OVER: America First Legal sues Judge Merchan for financial disclosures …Read more ‘RICHER AND STRONGER’: Trump lays out economic plan in NYC address …Read more UNDER PRESSURE: Canada launches sudden crackdown on immigration: report …Read more ‘CLARIFY THE FACTS’: Melania Trump memoir says she’s been victim of media ‘misrepresentation’ …Read more ‘AUTHORITARIAN’ PLAYBOOK: NYT publishers details how Trump could ‘increase his attacks’ on press in 2nd term …Read more ‘STARTLING FAILURE’: Watchdog group notches win over DOJ in case about secret surveillance of Congress …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
FBI raids homes of top aides for New York City Mayor Eric Adams
The FBI on Wednesday raided the homes of at least three high-ranking members of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, Fox News Digital has confirmed. FBI agents showed up to the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III early Wednesday and seized electronic devices. Agents also searched the home of Timothy Pearson, a former high-ranking official in the New York Police Department who now advises the mayor on public safety. Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office and the New York City Law Department for comment but did not immediately hear back. The FBI’s New York City field office declined to comment on the raid when reached by Fox News Digital. The FBI also conducted a raid on the home of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, according to the New York Post. The NYPD told Fox News Digital it “is aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving members of service. The Department is fully cooperating in the investigation. Any questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” The searches marked the latest sign of legal trouble in Adams’ administration. He is a first-term Democrat and former New York City police captain. In November, federal agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan and raided the home of one of his top fundraisers. While Adams has denied any wrongdoing, he confirmed last month that he had received a subpoena from federal prosecutors. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Trump trial stemming from Jack Smith’s probe delayed past Election Day
Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan will not hold the trial for former President Donald Trump on charges stemming from special counsel Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 investigation until after the 2024 presidential election. Chutkan held a status hearing Thursday morning in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in which lawyers for former President Trump pleaded not guilty on his behalf related to charges from Smith’s new indictment after the Supreme Court ruled a president is immune from prosecution for official acts in office. TRUMP SKIPS FEDERAL COURT HEARING THURSDAY, PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES IN JACK SMITH’S ELECTION CASE In an order Thursday afternoon, Chutkan set deadlines for replies and paperwork from federal prosecutors and Trump’s legal team for Nov. 7th — after Election Day. Trump did not appear in court Thursday. His lawyers pleaded not guilty on his behalf. Smith was in court Thursday morning. The case pertains to Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Last week, the former president was indicted and issued revised criminal charges by Smith, who alleges Trump pressured former Vice President Mike Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes, in addition to mounting fake electors in key states that went to President Biden and to attest to Trump’s electoral victory. The new indictment keeps the prior criminal charges but narrows and reframes the allegations against the Republican presidential nominee after a Supreme Court ruling that conferred broad immunity on former presidents. Specifically, the indictment has been changed to remove allegations involving Department of Justice officials and other government officials. It clarifies Trump’s role as a candidate and makes clear the allegations regarding his conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence in his ceremonial role as president of the Senate. The new indictment removes a section of the previous indictment that had accused Trump of trying to use the Justice Department to undo his 2020 loss. The Supreme Court recently ruled in a 6-3 decision that Trump was immune from prosecution for official White House acts. Trump has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights. Those charges, to which Trump pleaded not guilty, remain. Smith alleges Trump participated in an effort to enlist slates of fake electors in key states won by Biden to attest that Trump had in fact won and that Trump pressured Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes. The special counsel’s office said the updated indictment, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., was issued by a grand jury that had not previously heard evidence in the case. The new grand jury has only heard this new information. Sources familiar with the matter tell Fox News that discussions surrounding the superseding indictment will likely not speed things up, and it is unlikely it will go to trial before the November election. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Border officials reveal which foreign gang they are making key ‘priority’ amid crimes in multiple states
Senior border officials are targeting a Venezuelan street gang as a priority after a surge in gang activity in states including Texas and Colorado, with members being tied to a string of crimes across the country. Officials tell Fox News not only that Tren de Aragua are a growing threat, but also that they are “targeting them as a priority.” It comes after a number of warnings about the bloodthirsty gang’s presence in the U.S. Fox News Digital reported in July that officials warned that TdA had been given a “green light” to fire on or otherwise attack law enforcement in Denver, Colorado. Border Patrol officials have previously warned about the gang being a threat to communities. AFTER VIDEO OF ARMED VENEZUELAN GANG SHARED BY LOCAL OFFICIAL GOES VIRAL, COLORADO CITY TAKES ACTION Fox previously reported that CBP had distributed intelligence bulletins to agents revealing tattoos and identifiers for the gang. TdA is said to specialize in extortion, kidnapping, murder and sex trafficking. Federal authorities have been warning that the gang is trying to establish itself in the U.S., where police are already linking it to organized crime. The FBI has also warned that the gang could team up with MS-13. The gang recently hit the headlines when footage went viral of gang members carrying guns and entering apartments at a Denver apartment complex. This week, four more individuals were arrested in Aurora in connection with a shooting at an apartment complex in July. In Texas, the Dallas Police Department tells Fox News that it has seen gang activity in the north Dallas area linked to TdA. COLORADO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FIRES BACK AFTER GOVERNOR’S OFFICE DISMISSES ARMED GANG TAKEOVER AS ‘IMAGINATION’ “Our department is collaborating with other agencies to address possible crimes linked to this and other gangs in our city. We are dedicated to preventing criminal activity in our community and ensuring the safety of our residents,” Dallas PD officer Michael Dennis told Fox. The gang has also been tied to the shooting of two NYPD officers in June, and it drew additional attention when it emerged that the brother of the suspect in the killing of Georgia student Laken Riley had ties to the gang. The rise of the gang has been linked to the three-year crisis at the southern border, during which a massive number of Venezuelans have flooded through the U.S. border and have been released into the country. While numbers of encounters at the border have dropped sharply in recent months, the effects of the crisis are still being felt, and it is likely to be a top issue for voters in November. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Recently the Treasury designated Tren de Aragua a significant transnational criminal organization and offered financial rewards for the conviction of three of its leaders. “Tren de Aragua leverages its transnational networks to traffic people, especially migrant women and girls, across borders for sex trafficking and debt bondage,” the Treasury Department said in a statement at the time. “Tren de Aragua members often kill them and publicize their deaths as a threat to others.” Back in April, FBI Director Christopher Wray acknowledged that the agency was tracking the gang. “We’re certainly tracking that particular gang, TdA, as we refer to it. We have Safe Streets violent gang task forces in all 56 of our field offices, which are focused specifically on gangs and other similar violent criminal enterprises,” he told lawmakers. Fox News’ Michael Lee and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
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The Texas Tribune is launching a network of community newsrooms to engage more Texans with reliable local information.
Jim Jordan subpoenas Biden admin over Kamala Harris ‘border czar’ role
The House Judiciary Committee sent a subpoena for information on Vice President Kamala Harris’ efforts in her capacity as “border czar” amid concerns about unaccompanied migrant children. Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, subpoenaed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday over accusations that the Biden administration has lost track of thousands of children who crossed the border unaccompanied by a parent or guardian. “According to new Committee estimates, ‘Border Czar’ Kamala Harris and HHS have LOST contact with 145,000+ unaccompanied alien children after placing them with sponsors, including ILLEGAL ALIENS,” the committee posted on X. “We’re subpoenaing more information from ‘Border Czar’ Harris and HHS about these UACs.” TRUMP OUTPERFORMING 2020 SUPPORT AMONG HISPANICS, WHO PREFER HIM ON IMMIGRATION, POLL SHOWS Jordan compelled Becerra to turn over documents “sufficient to show the number of unaccompanied alien children whom HHS has been unable to contact directly through Safety and Well-being Calls after such UACs’ release to a sponsor,” according to a copy of the subpoena obtained by Fox News Digital. “[A]lthough HHS claims to be unaware of the information that the Committee is seeking, HHS has known about the Committee’s specific request and subpoena for more than six months and appears to possess responsive documents and information,” Jordan wrote. “Indeed, in calls with Committee staff, HHS has acknowledged it understands the Committee’s requests.” Instead of heeding those requests, Jordan alleged that HHS “spent more than a year obstructing the Committee’s oversight, including by disingenuously framing the Committee’s request for data regarding UACs who fail to answer Safety and Well-being calls as separate and distinct from the Committee’s request for the number of UACs HHS has been unable to contact.” TRUMP UNLEASHES ON HARRIS, TALKING IMMIGRATION, CHINA IN EXCLUSIVE ‘LIFE, LIBERTY & LEVIN’ INTERVIEW “In light of HHS’s continued obstruction, and in an effort to facilitate the prompt production of the material the Committee seeks, the Committee is left with no choice but to issue another subpoena to compel the production of information regarding the total number of UACs who themselves have failed to answer a Safety and Well-being call after being placed with a sponsor,” the subpoena letter said. While the subpoena does not target Harris directly, Jordan’s actions are part of broader House Republican efforts to scrutinize the Democrat presidential nominee’s record as President Biden’s vice president in the lead-up to the November election. VIDEO SHOWS ARMED GANG AT TROUBLED COLORADO APARTMENT BUILDING BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY MIGRANTS Harris’ candidacy has renewed GOP scrutiny of her role in tackling the root causes of mass migration from Central and South America, a mission handed to her early on in Biden’s term. In addition to the letter and subpoena for Becerra, Jordan’s committee is planning two hearings on “the Biden-Harris Border Crisis” – a Friday panel in Harris’ home state of California and another hearing in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. HHS said it does not comment on ongoing litigation, when reached for a response. Fox News Digital also reached out to the vice president’s office for comment.
Top Biden official put on notice for refusing to reveal key info on terror watchlist migrants
FIRST ON FOX: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is facing a grilling from Congress for the Biden administration’s refusal to turn over the nationalities of people arrested on the FBI terror watchlist at the border by Border Patrol. “I suspect that the real reason you’re unlawfully withholding this information about terror suspects’ nationalities isn’t due to privacy or security concerns, but rather partisan concerns that it would alarm the American people,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in a letter to Mayorkas. “Once again, you’re attempting to hide evidence of the Biden-Harris administration’s border crisis.” Customs and Border Protection (CBP) wrote to Fox News last week again denying a request to provide the nationalities of suspects on the FBI terror watchlist arrested at the southern border between ports of entry by Border Patrol. BIDEN-HARRIS ADMIN REFUSES TO REVEAL NATIONALITIES OF TERROR WATCHLIST MIGRANTS NABBED AT BORDER The watchlist, now called the Terrorist Screening Dataset, includes known or suspected terrorists, as well as additional individuals believed to pose a potential threat to the U.S., including affiliates of individuals on the watchlist. The request sought only the nationalities of those encountered and no further information, but it was denied. Fox made the request in October last year, and was initially denied in May, citing privacy and security concerns. The agency doubled down on that reasoning last week. “[Customs and Border Protection (CBP)] is committed to protecting the identity of individuals and avoiding divulging information about any individual by either direct or indirect means,” the agency said in a letter to Fox. “Releasing data for a particular nationality, or nationalities, that reflect a small number of individuals could lead to identification, especially by organizations familiar with the individuals.” The agency also claimed that the release of the information would reveal investigative techniques used in processing and apprehending terrorists. BIDEN ADMIN REFUSES TO REVEAL TERROR WATCHLIST NATIONALITIES AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EXPLODES ON HIS WATCH “By providing this information, it could allow targets to alter their behavior to avoid detection and exploit the gaps in CBP’s law enforcement intelligence, as well as compromise national security. Additionally, providing the requested information could disclose terrorist travel trends by geographic area which could help tip off terrorists about the government’s knowledge of travel plans, allowing the terrorists to take countermeasures against the investigators and their investigations,” it says. The agency argued that the disclosure of nationalities could allow bad actors “to undertake countermeasures to avoid CBP’s law enforcement activities and exploit any vulnerabilities in CBP’s law enforcement efforts.” Cotton, however, was not convinced by the reasoning provided. “Of course, if the Biden-Harris administration impartially enforced our laws and deported illegal aliens regardless of their origin, terrorists wouldn’t be able to game the system in the manner you describe.” He later says that “the American people have a right to know who is crossing our border, especially when those illegal aliens have ties to terrorism.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS “And that right, contrary to your bizarre assertion, ‘far outweighs’ the privacy rights of illegal aliens suspected of terrorism,’ he said. “Honestly I can’t believe I even have to write that sentence.” The letter requests the information by Sept. 10. There were 172 encounters of nationals on the terror watchlist at the border between ports of entry last fiscal year and more than 560 at the ports of entry. Fox News’ Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Energy groups pan Biden-Harris $7.3B ‘clean energy’ spending ahead of battleground visit
FIRST ON FOX: Energy groups slammed the Biden-Harris administration’s $7.3 billion “rural electrification” funding drawn from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ahead of President Biden’s Thursday announcement in battleground Wisconsin. “This is all about politics, this has nothing to do with science, these are not scientifically good energy sources that he’s promoting,” founder John Droz Jr. of Wise Energy Decisions Alliance told Fox News Digital on Thursday. “There’s three elements that a proper energy source should have,” he said. “One is to do it with reliability, number two is economics, and third is environmental impact. The answer is that no one basically is thinking about those type of things. Instead, decisions are made by President Biden and others based on what is deemed to be politically correct.” GREEN GOVERNANCE THE NEW GUISE FOR MERCANTILISM, WILL LEAD TO GLOBAL INSTABILITY: EXPERT Funded by the Democrats’ signature Inflation Reduction Act, the billion-dollar price tag is the largest investment Biden has thrown toward the “rural electrification” effort since the Green New Deal, which typically consist of constructing wind turbines. According to a White House fact sheet, it will support 16 rural electric cooperatives across 23 states to provide affordable electricity to about 5 million rural households. The Biden-Harris administration claim it will enhance grid reliability, lower energy costs, and create thousands of jobs, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Turner, founder of the environmental group Power the Future, said Biden’s timing for announcing the program “is not just coincidental.” “Here we are 61 days before the election, and just now they happen to announce seven and a half billion dollars for a very important swing state,” Turner told Fox News Digital. “I am sick and tired of hearing that these investments are going to lower costs because utility bills are up 30% since the Biden administration took over, and all we’ve done is continue to, quote, unquote, invest in wind and solar, and prices have not come down, and evidence of that is around the world.” ‘RUINED BY NEGLIGENCE’: DAVE PORTNOY BLASTS NANTUCKET WIND FARM AFTER BROKEN BLADE SHUTS DOWN BEACHES “You don’t need to spend any money at all. That’s the funny thing is that the energy industry hasn’t needed government money for it to operate. It needs government cooperation.” The Biden-Harris administration has long been implementing environmental policies that prioritize natural resources over fossil fuels and other traditional sources of energy. In June, the White House enacted new rules seeking to aid companies involved in clean energy, as the White House argued the investments will help communities tied to the energy sector that predate the green movement. “Rather than forcing on rural Americans’ energy sources they don’t want, the administration ought to be removing the obstacles to energy sources that they do want,” Ben Lieberman, environmental policy researcher at the Competitive Enterprise Institute told Fox News Digital. “I don’t sense among rural Americans that there’s this desire dire for wind and solar and geothermal. They just want affordable energy, and that means affordable fossil fuels first and foremost. And so I think, rather than throwing tax dollars around, the administration should do a lot more just by removing the impediments to energy sources that don’t need federal money, but just need less regulatory and permitting burdens.” BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BLASTED FOR ‘HYPOCRISY’ ON OFFSHORE WIND AS IT SCRAMBLES TO PROBE WHALE DEATHS On the one-year anniversary of the IRA last year, more than 40 energy groups and think tanks demanded that Congress put an end to what they described as “Green New Deal-type policies” in the law that serve to benefit China over the U.S. “It was passed with no votes from Republicans. It cost Joe Manchin his career, and it was only after the fact that the administration admit it really wasn’t about inflation, it was about green spending,” Turner, who led the letter to Congress last year, said. “They just called it the inflation Reduction Act because inflation was on everybody’s mind, and this is a perfect example of that.” On a press call before Biden’s announcement, a senior White House official said, “It’s the largest investment in rural electrification since FDR administration and will spur economic development and lower costs for millions of Americans.” “And it will create 4,500 permanent jobs and 16,000 construction jobs. He will hear from people on the ground about how these and other investments from his agenda are changing their lives for the better,” the official said. Fox News Digital’s Jessica Chasmar and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.