Biden admin tells doctors to provide emergency abortions when necessary following Supreme Court ruling
The Biden administration is telling doctors that pregnant women should have access to an emergency abortion when it is necessary to save her health, according to a letter being sent from the White House to medical professionals in the wake of last week’s Supreme Court ruling. In a letter from Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to doctors and hospital groups, the pair said hospitals have a legal duty to provide stabilizing treatment, which includes abortions, The Associated Press reported. “No pregnant woman or her family should have to even begin to worry that she could be denied the treatment she needs to stabilize her emergency medical condition in the emergency room,” the letter said. SCOTUS TO HEAR ARGUMENTS IN BIDEN’S LAWSUIT ‘SUBVERTING STATES’ RIGHTS’ ON ABORTION “And yet, we have heard story after story describing the experiences of pregnant women presenting to hospital emergency departments with emergency medical conditions and being turned away because medical providers were uncertain about what treatment they were permitted to provide,” it continued. The high court ruled last week that doctors in Idaho must be allowed to provide emergency abortions despite the state’s near-total ban, in order to comply with a federal law that requires emergency rooms to give “stabilizing treatments” to patients in critical condition. The consolidated cases, Moyle v. U.S. and Idaho v. U.S., received national attention following the high court’s 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. The ruling failed to settle a legal dispute over whether state abortion bans override a federal law requiring hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment. SUPREME COURT RULES IN ABORTION MEDICATION CASE, FINDS GROUP LACKED STANDING TO CHALLENGE FDA APPROVAL The law cited by the Biden administration requires nearly all emergency rooms that receive Medicare funding to provide stabilizing treatment for patients in a medical emergency. If a hospital turns away patients, they could face federal investigations, large fines and the loss of Medicare dollars. In Idaho, enforcement of the federal law in emergency abortion cases had been on hold since January, when the state’s strict abortion ban took effect. The newly enacted Defense of Life Act makes it a crime for any medical provider to perform an abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Doctors who perform an abortion can face prison sentences. The lone exception was only if a pregnant woman’s life, not her health, is at risk. The Biden administration argued the state law conflicted with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, or EMTALA, a federal law that requires health care providers to give “stabilizing treatment” — including abortions — for patients when needed to treat an emergency medical condition, even if doing so might conflict with a state’s abortion restrictions. The state had argued that “construing EMTALA as a federal abortion mandate raises grave questions under the major questions doctrine that affect both Congress and this Court.” Proponents of the state’s abortion restriction accused the Biden administration of “subverting states’ rights,” citing the Dobbs decision, which allowed states to regulate abortion access. Fox News Digital’s Brianna Herlihy as well as The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Shadow campaigns: 7 Democratic candidates who could step in if President Biden drops out of 2024 race
President Biden’s widely panned debate performance has sparked a firestorm of speculation on whether Democrats will switch horses midstream and select a new presidential nominee from a generally accepted list of candidates. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS Harris, 59, would seemingly be the most logical fit, offering the smoothest transition given her position as vice president, and some calls for her to step in have already been issued. “After deep reflection over these past few days, I strongly believe that our best path forward is Kamala Harris,” Tim Ryan, the former Democratic congressman and presidential candidate, wrote in Newsweek on Monday. BIDEN’S CANDIDACY REMAINS UNDER THREAT AS TOP DEMOCRATIC DONORS GET COLD FEET Many experts have raised concerns about the vice president’s approval rating as her poll numbers have plummeted since taking office. Earlier this year, polling showed Harris is viewed negatively by a combined 53% of registered voters and positively by a combined 28% of voters. CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM If Democrats were to make a move away from Biden, potentially at the Democratic National Convention in August, the most talked about successor in recent months has been California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom, 56, has long been accused of running a “shadow campaign” for president over the past year as he has engaged in high-profile events, including trips to China and Israel, and a highly publicized Fox News debate with Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. Newsom, who is headed to New Hampshire this week to headline a Democratic campaign event just days after Biden’s debate performance, has consistently denied any plans to step in for Biden. DEBATE GIVES TRUMP A BUMP OVER BIDEN, ACCORDING TO NEW NATIONAL POLL “I will never turn my back on President Biden,” Newsom said on Thursday following the debate. “I don’t know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back.” Newsom added: “I spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden. I know what he’s accomplished in the last three and a half years. I know what he’s capable of. And I have no trepidations.” MICHIGAN GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER Whitmer, who won re-election in 2022 by a double-digit margin, has previously hinted at interest in a presidential run and has reportedly vaulted to the top of the list in terms of donor preference in recent weeks. Online supporters have been pushing a “Draft Gretch” message and Politico reported after the debate that Whitmer spoke with Democratic Party leadership and disavowed that movement while also warning that Michigan is no longer in play for Biden. BIDEN DONORS ‘FREAKED OUT’ BY HIS RELIANCE ON TELEPROMPTERS AT PRIVATE FUNDRAISERS Whitmer later dismissed that reporting and reaffirmed her support for Biden. “I am proud to support Joe Biden as our nominee and I am behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump,” Whitmer said in a statement on Monday. “Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because he’s got the receipts.” TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG Buttigieg burst onto the national scene in 2020 when he ran for president after serving eight years as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, inspiring the nickname “Mayor Pete.” Speculation has continued to grow that he would be willing to step in if Biden were to drop out of the race, but lukewarm polling numbers and transportation issues across the United States could potentially harm a Buttigieg candidacy. “No, that’s easy,” Buttigieg said Friday when asked if he would support an effort to find a new nominee. PENNSYLVANIA GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO Shapiro, 51, currently serves as the governor in perhaps the most critical swing state in the 2024 presidential election and polling last year showed him with a 57% job approval rating in the commonwealth while 23% disapprove. Shapiro took office in January 2023 after beating his Republican opponent by nearly 15 points. “Popular governor of a critical swing state,” Allegheny County Republican Party chairman Sam DeMarco posted on X following the CNN presidential debate. “If you don’t think he’s getting calls tonight, you’re deluding yourself.” FAUCI SAYS BIDEN’S BID FOR SECOND TERM IS ‘AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE,’ RECALLS ‘POSITIVE’ EXPERIENCE WITH PRESIDENT ILLINOIS GOV. J.B. PRITZKER Pritzker, who was re-elected in 2022 by about 12 points, delivered a victory speech that many believed sounded like a politician who wants to run for president one day. Pritzker said earlier this year that Democrats are “throwing away their votes” if they support anyone besides Biden. Pritzker, 57, a billionaire equity investor and philanthropist, has been one of the most outspoken Democrats against former President Trump. KENTUCKY GOV. ANDY BESHEAR Beshear, from one of the most popular political families in Kentucky, won re-election in the deep red state last year as a Democrat and has recently been rumored to be a top candidate to step in and replace Biden. Beshear told reporters Monday that even though Biden’s recent debate performance was “rough,” he has no intention of sliding into presidential contention unless Biden bows out of the race. “He is the candidate, and as long as he is, I’m supporting him,” Beshear said. Trump has gone ahead of Biden in their 2024 election rematch in the aftermath of last week’s presidential debate, according to a new national poll conducted in the wake of Biden’s extremely rough performance. The former president stands at 41% support and Biden at 38% among registered voters nationwide in a USA Today/Suffolk University survey conducted Friday through Sunday and released on Tuesday. The Democratic incumbent in the White House and his Republican predecessor were tied at 37% in the previous USA Today/Suffolk University poll, which was conducted in May. On Tuesday, the first elected Democrat in Congress called on Biden to step down. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said in a statement Tuesday that Biden should “make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw.” “My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any
Biden meeting with Democrat governors Wednesday following disastrous debate performance
Plans are in the works for President Biden to meet on Wednesday with the nation’s Democratic governors, in the wake of Biden’s extremely rough performance during last Thursday’s first debate with former President Trump. Multiple Democratic sources confirmed that the meeting, which is likely to be virtual, was in the process of being scheduled. The encounter comes after Democratic governors on Monday huddled on a conference call, Multiple Democratic sources confirmed to Fox News that Democratic governors yesterday held a call to discuss the latest developments regarding President Biden’s 2024 rematch with Trump. BIDEN CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHTS MASSIVE JUNE FUNDRAISING HAUL IN 2024 ELECTION REMATCH WITH TRUMP Biden, who at age 81 is the oldest president in the nation’s history, is facing the roughest stretch of his bid for a second term in the White House. This, after his halting delivery and stumbling answers at the debate, sparked widespread panic in the Democratic Party and spurred calls from political pundits, editorial writers, and some party politicians and donors for Biden to step aside as the party’s 2024 standard-bearer. BIDEN TRIES TO FLIP THE SCRIPT ON NEGATIVE NARRATIVE COMING OUT OF DISASTROUS DEBATE WITH TRUMP Monday’s call was organized by Democratic Governors Association (DGA) chair Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota Sources familiar with the call described it as a forum where the governors discussed how to respond to last week’s debate, but that there was no serious talk of urging the president to step aside. One source characterized it as a “gripe session.” Sources also told Fox News that the Biden campaign was aware of the call ahead of time. “Democratic governors are some of the President and Vice President’s most proactive and vocal supporters because they’ve seen how the Biden-Harris Administration’s accomplishments are directly benefiting their residents. The Biden/Harris team is in constant communication with the governors and their teams, including about yesterday’s meeting,” a national Democratic official familiar with the call who asked for anonymity to speak more freely told Fox News. TRUMP GETS A BUMP AGAINST BIDEN IN POST-DEBATE POLL Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas on Tuesday became the first Democratic House or Senate member or governor to publicly call for Biden to step aside as the party’s standard-bearer. A number of the governors, including some who’ve been speculated as potential replacements on the extreme longshot chance that Biden would step away from his re-election bid, have acknowledged the president’s debate performance was shaky but remained committed to supporting the president. One of those governors, Gavin Newsom of California, told reporters in the spin room following the debate on Thursday night that “I will never turn my back on President Biden and I don’t know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight. We have his back.” And Newsom, who’s a top Biden campaign surrogate, said “none” when asked if he had any concerns about Biden’s fitness for office. “I have no trepidation.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Harris outperforms Biden in 2024 showdown with Trump: poll
A new national poll indicates that three-quarters of voters say the Democratic Party would have a better chance of keeping the White House with someone else other than President Biden at the top of the party’s ticket. And the survey, released Tuesday by CNN, suggests that Vice President Kamala Harris performs slightly better than Biden in a matchup with former President Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee. The new poll was conducted entirely after Biden’s extremely rough performance during last Thursday’s face-to-face showdown between the two major party contenders. Biden, who at age 81 is the oldest president in the nation’s history, is facing the roughest stretch of his bid for a second term in the White House. This, after his halting delivery and stumbling answers at the debate, sparked widespread panic in the Democratic Party and spurred calls from political pundits, editorial writers, and some party politicians and donors for Biden to step aside as the party’s 2024 standard-bearer. BIDEN CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHTS MASSIVE JUNE FUNDRAISING HAUL IN 2024 ELECTION REMATCH WITH TRUMP According to the poll, 75% of voters and 56% of Democratic-aligned voters say the Democratic Party would have a better shot at keeping control of the presidency if Biden is replaced as the party’s standard-bearer. By comparison, 60% of voters and 83% of Republican-aligned voters questioned said the GOP has a better chance of winning the presidential election with Trump as the nominee than with someone else. BIDEN TRIES TO FLIP THE SCRIPT ON NEGATIVE NARRATIVE COMING OUT OF DISASTROUS DEBATE WITH TRUMP Trump holds a six-point – 49%-43% – lead over Biden among registered voters nationwide, which is unchanged from CNN’s previous poll in April. And it’s consistent with Trump’s lead in CNN polling dating back to last autumn. But the vice president trails Trump by just two points – 47%-45% – in a hypothetical matchup, according to the poll. “Harris’ slightly stronger showing against Trump rests at least in part on broader support from women (50% of female voters back Harris over Trump vs. 44% for Biden against Trump) and independents (43% Harris vs. 34% Biden),” the poll notes in a release. The survey, which was conducted on Friday through Sunday, entirely after last week’s debate, also tested other high-profile Democrats that have been mentioned as possible replacements in the unlikely event that Biden ends his bid for a second term. California Gov. Gavin Newsom trails Trump 48%-43%, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran for the 2020 Democratic nomination, trails Trump 47%-43%, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is down to Trump 47%-42%, according to hypothetical matchups in the survey. TRUMP GETS A BUMP AGAINST BIDEN IN POST-DEBATE POLL Biden’s campaign has repeatedly insisted that the president has no intention of dropping out of the race. The poll indicates that Biden’s support among Democratic voters has edged up to 91% from 85% in April. Meanwhile, 93% of Republicans back Trump, about equal to his support in April. But the survey spotlights that Trump holds a 10-point advantage among independents. The CNN poll’s release came hours after a USA Today/Suffolk University survey also conducted Friday through Sunday indicated Trump at 41% support and Biden at 38% among registered voters nationwide. The Democratic incumbent in the White House and his Republican predecessor were tied at 37% in the previous USA Today/Suffolk University poll, which was conducted in May. While Trump’s advantage in the new survey was within the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, there were other warning signs for Biden. In numbers from the poll released on Monday afternoon, 41% of Democrats questioned said they wanted Biden replaced at the top of the Democratic Party ticket. Only 14% of Republicans surveyed said they would like to see Trump replaced at the top of the GOP ticket. “There’s no question the debate sent out shock waves across the political landscape,” Suffolk Political Research Center director David Paleologos said. “Democrats in the poll are offering tough love to President Biden by saying to him, ‘You’ve served us well, but try to see yourself last Thursday night through our eyes. Hold your head up high, it’s time to go.’” The poll also indicates that Trump now leads Biden 25% to 17% as the second choice for voters currently backing one of the third-party or independent candidates. That is a switch from late last year, when Biden had the edge. The survey also indicates that Trump supporters – at 59% – are much more excited about their candidate than Biden backers – at 29%. Such a large enthusiasm gap, if it holds, could be consequential when it comes to convincing supporters to actually vote in the autumn election. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Less than a third of voters prefer Biden over Trump to handle immigration: poll
Less than a third of voters prefer President Biden to handle immigration amid a still-raging crisis at the southern border, significantly lower than the number who trust former President Trump on the critical election issue, according to a new poll released Tuesday. The poll from CNN/SSRS comes after last week’s presidential debate and found overall that Trump leads Biden by six points, with three-quarters of voters saying Democrats would have a better shot at holding the presidency in 2024 with someone else at the top of the ticket. But on the subject of immigration, voters were asked if they think Biden or Trump would better handle the issue if president. Just 28% of voters prefer Biden, while a significantly higher 50% prefer Trump, and 21% said “neither of them.” TRUMP REPEATEDLY HAMMERS BIDEN ON BORDER CRISIS TURNING US INTO ‘RATS NEST’: ‘KILLING OUR PEOPLE’ The polling also shows that immigration is a top issue for many voters, with it coming third on the list of priorities behind the economy and protecting democracy, and ahead of abortion, health care, climate change and foreign policy. The poll was conducted via web and telephone between June 28-30, with a representative sample of 1,274 respondents. The poll comes after a tough debate for Biden, which has raised questions for some Democrats about whether he should step aside as nominee. But it was also a debate in which the border crisis, now in its fourth year, was brought up repeatedly. “They’re killing our people in New York and California and every state in the union because we don’t have borders anymore. Every state is now a border,” Trump said. “And because of his ridiculous, insane and very stupid policies, people are coming in and they’re killing our citizens at a level that we’ve never seen.” Republicans have blamed Biden-era policies for the crisis, while the administration has said it needs more funding and reform from Congress to fix a “broken” system. It has also pointed to a drop in numbers recently since Biden took executive action to limit some asylum claims. BLUE STATE DEPLOYS OFFICIALS TO THE BORDER WITH SURPRISING WARNING FOR MIGRANTS Biden pushed back, blaming Trump for obstructing bipartisan legislation and pointing to changes he had made from what he saw as cruel Trump-era policies. “In addition to that, we found ourselves in a situation when [Trump] was president, he was separating babies from their mothers, put them in cages, making sure the families were separated. That’s not the right way to go. “What I’ve done since I’ve changed the law, it’s better than when he left office,” he said. Fox News’ Remy Numa contributed to this report.
Pennsylvania Democrats rally around Biden, blasting ‘premature’ Shapiro speculation
After Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro became the latest name tossed into the nomination hat should President Biden step aside, Democrats in the president’s birthplace either remained silent or rallied around him. While Shapiro himself remained steadfastly behind Biden since the debate, conjecture of him as a potential 2028 contender gave way to Pennsylvania politicos suggesting he may be the man to replace the struggling incumbent. Sam DeMarco, the GOP county chairman in Pittsburgh, reportedly said as the “popular governor of a critical swing state,” Shapiro is “getting calls tonight,” according to the Post-Gazette. The paper also cited Tom Corbett – the state’s last Republican governor – as saying any Keystone State executive is automatically in the presidential conversation due to the commonwealth’s geography, electoral vote tranche, and swing-state status. Multiple other reports named Shapiro as a top potential replacement. STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS RALLY BEHIND BIDEN AFTER PARTY CHAIR SUGGESTS GOP PULL TRUMP’S NOM Shapiro’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but the governor said after the debate that Biden had a “bad night,” but Trump was a “bad president.” “Stop worrying and start working,” Shapiro addressed Democrats while appearing on MSNBC. “We all have the responsibility here to do our part.” While many of the prominent state Democrats Fox News Digital reached out to either did not respond or declined to provide comment, those who did largely sidestepped directly referencing Shapiro while lauding Biden. State Sen. Sharif Street, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s chairman, said he will definitely continue to support Biden. “[A]ny discussion about anyone else is premature at this point,” said Street, whose father, John Street, was a popular Philadelphia mayor. NEW YORK RIPE FOR TRUMP’S TAKING, GOP CHAIR SAYS, CITING BIDEN’S ‘1980-CARTER’ MOMENT “I have the utmost confidence that President Biden’s exemplary record of job creation, protecting a woman’s right to choose and respecting the rule of law will earn him a victory over a compulsive liar, narcissistic and convicted felon in Donald Trump,” he said. In Pennsylvania’s most “swing” congressional district this cycle, Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., also backed Biden, while questioning Republicans who remain behind Trump. “Yeah, well look, I’ve been clear who I’m supporting in this race,” Deluzio said. “And as much as it was a tough night, I think I also heard Donald Trump lie probably 30 times. I heard him say he won’t commit to respecting the election results.” Deluzio said Trump remains a “significant threat to our freedom [and] democracy,” and asked whether his GOP opponent, state Rep. Rob Mercuri, would conversely stand by his 2020 Trump endorsement amid the Shapiro rumblings. Fox News Digital also reached out to the Democratic mayors of Pennsylvania’s five largest cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Reading and Erie. Four of the officials did not respond, while a representative for Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said he could not immediately comment due to first lady Jill Biden’s visit downtown. However, Tuerk previously reacted to Biden’s debate performance by saying the president “stands firm to protect our democracy” while Trump would “sell out our core values for a round of golf with Putin.” While Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace could not be reached for comment, she recently spoke at a Women For Biden event and warned attendees to remember the dread they felt when Trump was elected in 2016 and be sure to vote for Biden. OLBERMANN LEADS LIBERAL MELTDOWN AGAINST CNN CALLING TO ‘BURN IT DOWN’ AFTER BIDEN’S DEBATE PERFORMANCE “Do not think [that feeling] can’t be any worse, because it can.” Fox News Digital also reached out to Sens. Bob Casey Jr. and John Fetterman, as well as several other federal and state House Democrats from Pennsylvania. Representatives for major-county Democratic parties, including Philadelphia, Allegheny and Montgomery, also did not provide comment. Casey, whom Biden has long favored, referencing him as a fellow son of Scranton, broke his silence since the debate for the first time Tuesday in remarks to reporters in his hometown. Biden had a “bad night, but I think people know what’s at stake,” Casey said. “I know [Biden’s] work. I also know that the American people and the people of Pennsylvania are going to focus on these races…” Shapiro’s 2022 GOP gubernatorial opponent, state Sen. Doug Mastriano, conversely said the governor has “obviously been running for president ever since he’s been in politics [by] getting just enough done” and avoiding major controversy. The Gettysburg lawmaker claimed the governor avoided debate on “real issues” during their campaign. He therefore predicted if Biden is no longer the nominee, Shapiro is “not going to have that luxury… should the mantle fall to him, and we’ll see him for the fraud that he is.”
New York v. Trump: Merchan delays sentencing hearing until September
Judge Juan Merchan has delayed former President Trump’s sentencing in New York v. Trump to September, after requests from the presumptive Republican nominee to do so, and no opposition from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump was found guilty in an unprecedented criminal trial last month on all counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, following a six-week trial stemming from Bragg’s investigation. BRAGG DOES ‘NOT OPPOSE’ TRUMP REQUEST TO DELAY SENTENCING; AWAITS JUDGE MERCHAN’S APPROVAL Trump on Monday moved to overturn his criminal conviction in the Manhattan case after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a former president has substantial immunity for official acts committed while in office. He also requested to delay his sentencing, which was set for July 11 — just days before the Republican National Convention where he is set to be formally nominated the 2024 GOP presidential nominee. Bragg, on Tuesday morning, said Trump’s request to toss the verdict was without merit, but did not oppose the request to delay sentencing. Merchan on Tuesday afternoon delayed Trump’s sentencing date to Sept. 18 at 10:00 a.m. TRUMP IMMUNITY CASE: SUPREME COURT RULES EX-PRESIDENTS HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION FROM PROSECUTION “The July 11, 2024, sentencing date is therefore vacated. The Court’s decision will be rendered off-calendar on September 6, 2024, and the matter is adjourned to September 18, 2024, at 10:00 AM for the imposition of sentence, if such is still necessary, or other proceedings,” Merchan wrote in a letter to Trump attorneys and New York prosecutors. TRUMP MOVES TO OVERTURN MANHATTAN CASE AFTER SCOTUS IMMUNITY DECISION Merchan’s decision comes after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on presidential immunity– a question that which stemmed from charges brought against Trump in a different case– a federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith related to the events of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach and any alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. But Trump’s attorneys swiftly acted in seeking to apply the new standard to the Manhattan case, too. Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
Dam bursts on Biden’s Democrat support after Pelosi admits his health is ‘legitimate issue’
Top national Democrats are coming forward with their concerns about President Biden’s candidacy nearly a week after his poor showing at a debate against former President Trump. Hours after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., admitted on MSNBC that discussions about Biden’s mental health are “legitimate,” several high-profile figures on the left went even further with their thoughts on the president’s fitness for office. Former Obama administration Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro told the network a short while later, “believe that another Democrat would have a better shot at beating Trump…I think Democrats would be well to find another candidate.” Adam Frisch – who is running to flip Rep. Lauren Boebert’s current Colorado district from red to blue – also came out with his own statement calling on Biden to step aside Tuesday afternoon. FETTERMAN CITES OWN ‘DIFFICULT’ DEBATE IN ARGUING BIDEN CAN STILL WIN “It has been clear to me for some time — and the debate only reinforced it — neither candidate should be running for president,” Frisch said. “We deserve better. President Biden should do what’s best for the country and withdraw from the race.” And Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the first sitting House Democrat to outright call for Biden to end his campaign. “My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved,” Doggett said in a statement. “Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.” BIDEN’S INNER CIRCLE SILENT AS PARTY REELS FOLLOWING ‘EMBARRASSING’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE Another top Biden ally, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., did not go so far as to call Biden to step aside but he told MSNBC that he would support Vice President Kamala Harris for president if Biden did as well. The outpouring of doubt comes after Pelosi told MSNBC Reports, “I think it’s a legitimate question to say, ‘Is this an episode or is this a condition?’ When people ask that question, it’s completely legitimate – of both candidates.” She also lauded Biden’s record over the last four years, but her comments are a damning acknowledgment of growing public concern about the 81-year-old president’s fitness for office. Biden, for his part, has not indicated he would step aside. His campaign also indirectly attempted to refute concerns by announcing a $264 million fundraising haul for the second quarter of 2024, including $127 million that came in solely during June. JILL BIDEN BACKS HUSBAND AFTER BRUTAL DEBATE, TELLS VOGUE ‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT’ But questions have mounted since his Thursday night debate performance, where he spoke with a hoarse voice, reportedly due to a cold, and stumbled over his own answers several times during the primetime event. Viewers also observed him appearing tired and noticeably less sharp than he looked the last time he faced Trump in 2020. A new CBS News and YouGov poll released over the weekend showed nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters believe Biden does not have the cognitive health to serve as president. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll released Monday shows Trump leading Biden 41% to 38% among nationwide voters.
Migrant accused of raping teen released on $500 bail despite ICE’s calls to hand him over to the agency
A Haitian migrant charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl at a Massachusetts hotel was released on $500 bail last week despite ongoing requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to transfer him to its custody. Cory Alvarez, a 26-year-old Haitian national who was allowed into the U.S. via a controversial parole program that allows up to 30,000 migrants to fly in each month, was charged with aggravated rape of a child in March. ICE said in a statement that Boston’s branch of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) filed a detainer against Alvarez with the local sheriff’s office March 14. A detainer is a request by which authorities alert ICE about an individual they believe to be subject to deportation so they can take the individual into federal custody and deport that person. HAITIAN MIGRANT CHARGED WITH RAPE OF 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL ENTERED VIA CONTROVERSIAL PAROLE PROGRAM: SOURCES In this case, as in many “sanctuary” jurisdictions, the detainer was not adhered to, and Alvarez was released on bail. “On June 27, Plymouth Superior Court refused to honor ERO Boston’s immigration detainer and released Alvarez from custody on a $500 bond,” ICE Boston ERO spokesperson James Covington said. The Boston Globe reported that prosecutors had asked bail to be set at $25,000, but the judge set bail at $500 on the condition he submit to various stipulations, including home confinement and other forms of monitoring. Brian A. Kelley, Alvarez’s attorney, told Fox News Digital Alvarez was released after a three-part hearing that looked at medical records, surveillance and testimony. “No injuries were found on the alleged victim. The video surveillance depicts her going into the room and coming out eight minutes later, her clothing undisturbed and walking by two members of the National Guard without comment,” Kelley said, confirming that Alvarez was released on bail. MAYORKAS CALLS POLICY TO LET 30K MIGRANTS FLY IN EACH MONTH A ‘KEY ELEMENT’ OF BORDER PLAN AFTER LEGAL WIN He also said Alvarez’s bail condition included home confinement and the surrender of his passport, with which he complied. He also pointed to a Massachusetts court ruling that found no authority to hold an individual solely on the basis of an ICE detainer. “I’m hopeful that all Karen Read supporters now find a new cause; supporting the innocence of Cory Alvarez,” Kelley added. Alvarez arrived in June under the parole process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezeualans (CHNV). The policy was first announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, which allowed a limited number to fly directly into the U.S. as long as they had not entered illegally, had a sponsor in the U.S. already and passed certain checks. In January 2023, the administration announced the program was expanding to include Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans and that the program would allow up to 30,000 people per month into the U.S. It allows for migrants to receive work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the U.S. and was announced alongside an expansion of Title 42 expulsions to include those nationalities. The Department of Homeland Security has said the process, which it describes as a “safe and orderly way to reach the United States” is a “key element” of the administration’s efforts to address high levels of migration throughout the hemisphere. Republicans have accused the administration of abusing the parole process with the program. According to official data, the Biden administration has brought over 138,000 Haitians into the U.S. via the CHNV parole program since January 2023.
Biden not in contact with Dem leaders on the Hill, reports say
President Biden has not reached out to Democratic leaders following the disastrous debate performance that has raised questions about his ability to run for re-election, according to reports. Biden – who suffered a crushing defeat last week in the first presidential debate of the election season – has not made contact with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., according to NBC. He also reportedly has not spoken directly with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. However, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has made contact with both Schumer and Jeffries following the debate, NBC reports. BALANCE OF POWER: DEM REP SAYS PEOPLE WILL ‘WANT TO TALK ABOUT’ BIDEN STATUS ON TICKET AFTER DEBATE A White House press official told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that “there has been meaningful outreach at a senior level” between Biden and the Hill. The press official did not offer any specifics on these internal communications. The Democratic Party is currently gaming out its strategy for the November election on both the federal and state levels. Five incumbent Democratic senators are in the most competitive races of the cycle, with nonpartisan political handicapper the Cook Political Report rating the seats of Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., as “toss ups.” CONGRESSIONAL DEMS BLAST RULING ON TRUMP IMMUNITY: ‘EXTREME RIGHT-WING SUPREME COURT’ Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., are in races considered “Lean Democratic.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee was quick to tie the vulnerable Democrats and others running for open seats to Biden, highlighting their past assurances of the president’s ability to lead the country for another four years. Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson contributed to this report.