DNC policy platform slammed over ‘explicit’ Title IX protections for LGBT students: ‘Flagrant lawlessness’
Delegates at the Democratic National Convention are set to vote Monday on the Democratic Party’s 2024 policy platform, which includes “explicit” Title IX protections for LGBT students that were just blocked by the Supreme Court. The Democratic National Convention released the final 2024 Democratic Party platform Sunday night, after the one created during President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign was eventually scrapped. Vice President Kamala Harris announced her own presidential bid shortly after, generating a need for revisions that would better align with her own policy positions and a new vision for the party. The latest party platform mimics the Biden administration’s attempted rule making on Title IX to widen the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity. “After Friday’s SCOTUS order, the Biden-Harris Title IX rules are in effect in less than 50% of the country — underscoring the flagrant lawlessness of this policy, as well as the deep unpopularity of this issue,” Nicole Neily, the president and founder of parental rights group Parents Defending Education, told Fox News Digital. “Americans agree on relatively little these days, but opposition to progressive gender policies is one of the few issues that transcends racial, political, and socioeconomic lines — so doubling down on this issue is a risky move.” Matt Sharp, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian nonprofit that also focuses on parental rights issues, said the decision to include transgender protections in the Democratic Party’s platform “flies in the face of growing opinion” about expanding the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity. “I think it’s really concerning to see the DNC platform sort of keep going down this same path that courts time and time again have pushed back on, have not allowed to move forward, and that ultimately the American public is not in favor of,” Sharp said. CAITLYN JENNER SAYS SCOTUS RULING AGAINST BIDEN-HARRIS TITLE IX CHANGE IS ‘GREAT NEWS’ FOR WOMEN’S SPORTS Sharp pointed out how efforts to redefine sex and sexual discrimination go all the way back to President Barack Obama’s administration. Once Trump took office, he rolled back the rule, but then it was put back in place by Biden. “This has been a continuing pattern for several administrations to push this, but not only are the courts rebuffing it, but that the American public themselves are too, and we’re seeing it through more and more courageous female voices standing up against this,” Sharp said. Reed D. Rubinstein, senior vice president at America First Legal, the right-wing legal organization founded by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, called the move to add protections for transgender students under Title IX “old news.” “The left has fought this reality for well over a decade — it has repeatedly attempted and repeatedly failed to amend Title IX in Congress. Twice, it has attempted to change the law by administrative fiat. To protect girls’ sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms, the Trump administration reversed the Obama administration’s ‘Dear Colleague’ letter that asserted ‘sex’ and ‘[gender identity’ are coextensive],” Rubinstein told Fox News Digital in a statement. “The Trump administration issued a Title IX rule that survived every single left-wing court challenge. Now, the courts have stopped the Biden-Harris administration’s attempt to rewrite the statute by regulation. But the Supreme Court, unanimously, has made it clear the word ‘sex’ in Title IX does not mean ‘gender identity,’ but rather, biological sex, male or female. Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign for comment but did not receive a response. In addition to Title IX protections for transgender students, the DNC party platform also contains language that states Democrats will continue “to relieve the crippling burden of student debt” in 2024 — another policy effort under Biden that was rolled back by the Supreme Court. The platform blames Republicans for “block[ing] our student debt relief.” The Supreme Court ruled against the Biden administration’s plans for student debt cancelation last year, arguing the president stepped outside the bounds of his authority when he announced a plan to cancel up to $400 billion in student loans through executive action.
‘Putrid’ DNC antisemitism denounced by counterprotester who says Dems have ‘lost the Jew vote’: ‘We’re done’
CHICAGO — A counterprotester outside the anti-Israel march on the Democratic National Convention told Fox News Digital the event represented “Jew hatred” and that the message will push Jewish voters to support former President Trump in November. “It is putrid Jew hatred under the guise of a political movement,” Anna Steinberg, director of Israel365, told Fox News Digital on the perimeter of the city’s Union Park as anti-Israel protesters were gathering before their march on the DNC on Monday. Steinberg, a Ukrainian Jewish refugee, told Fox News Digital that she believes the Democratic Party’s position on the war in Gaza will lead to a massive shift in Jewish voters backing Trump. “I think the Democratic Party has lost the Jews,” Steinberg said. “I think we’re gone. I think we’re gone. Eighty percent of Jews stayed in Egypt. 80% of Jews supported Obama. We are not voting for the Democrats anymore. We are not. We are done. We are not that stupid. We have broken that trauma cycle. We are done.” JOSH SHAPIRO DENIES ANTISEMITISM PLAYED ROLE IN HARRIS’ VP PICK Recent polling in deep-blue New York state suggests that Trump has taken the lead against Democrat presidential candidate Vice President Harris when it comes to Jewish voters, which Steinberg told Fox News Digital is a sentiment she has seen firsthand. “More people than I ever thought in my life, Jews have historically voted Democrat … all voted Democrat, they were part of the Democratic Party, they are now voting for Trump, vocally voting for Trump.” Steinberg said. “Thank God, we’ve woken them up.” HARRIS MEETING WITH ANTI-ISRAEL ‘UNCOMMITTED’ MOVEMENT OPENS SPECULATION ABOUT ARMS EMBARGO Steinberg continued,” It only took Oct. 7, 12,000 innocent babies, men and women for us to realize the predicament we are in, and we are finally voting for the party that has our back: the Republican Party and President Donald J. Trump.” Jewish voters have traditionally supported Democrat candidates for decades. According to an analysis by the American Enterprise Institute, Jewish voters have on average supported Democrats over Republicans by a margin of 71% to 26% since 1968. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Jewish voters supported Biden over Trump 68% to 30% in 2020, while in 2016 the same group chose Clinton over Trump by a margin of 71% to 26%. Fox News Digital’s Michael Lee contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News Politics: Peace on a Tightrope
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Live DNC Coverage: Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum host special Democracy ’24 coverage of the DNC beginning tonight at 10 p.m. ET on Fox News Channel. Follow along for more. What’s happening… -Dean Phillips has no regrets calling to oust Biden… -Former Rep. George Santos enters plea in fraud case… -Anti-Israel protests erupt outside DNC… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday “accepted” President Biden’s ceasefire plan that could end the 10-month war in Gaza, but whether the fighting actually stops depends on Hamas. Speaking to reporters from Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposal put forward last week by the White House in coordination with leaders from Qatar and Egypt looked to “bridge the gaps” between the warring parties and has been “accepted” by Netanyahu. “He supports it,” Blinken said. “It’s now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.” “The parties – with the help of the mediators, the United States, Egypt and Qatar – have to come together and complete the process of reaching clear understandings about how they’ll implement the commitments that they’ve made under this agreement,” he added….Read more ‘1,000 TIMES OVER’: Dean Phillips has no regrets about calling to oust Biden ‘two years ago’ …Read more ‘UNPARALLELED HUBRIS’: Fetterman spox openly contradicts boss on Israel …Read more GEORGE PLEADS GUILTY: Former Rep. Santos enters plea in federal wire fraud, ID theft case …Read more SENATE MAJORITY BATTLE: Democrats’ Senate campaign chair says senators skipping convention ‘know what’s best’ for them and their states …Read more COUNTER-PROGRAMMING: Trump, Vance hitting the campaign trail all week to counterprogram Democrats’ convention …Read more STEEL CITY SCANDAL?: Diners furious after PA eatery cleared for ‘staged’ Kamala Harris stop …Read more BLANK SLATE: Harris camp website void of policy plans amid DNC …Read more ‘DISGRACEFUL’: Vance calls out Harris’ recent focus on lowering prices: ‘You should have been doing your job’ …Read more ‘ERODES DEMOCRACY’: Liberal Washington Post columnist calls on Harris to talk to journalists …Read more DESCENDING ON DNC: Anti-Israel protests erupt outside DNC …Read more PASS OR FAIL?: Chicago DNC demonstrations to put Illinois’ no-cash-bail law to the ultimate test …Read more UPSTAGED: Anti-Israel protester grabs mic, disrupts delegate party at DNC …Read more HAMAS HOSTILITY: Terrorist flag spotted at rally outside DNC …Read more PRESSURING PUTIN: Ukraine takes out Russian bridges in move against Moscow counteroffensive …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.
Chicago grocery owner skeptical of Harris ‘gouging’ plan: ‘What exactly are we trying to control?’
Local grocery store owners struggling with inflation might face price caps to curb “price gouging” if Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the next president. As part of Harris’ economic agenda, she plans to implement federal price controls on groceries and other everyday expenses. But a local grocery store owner in Chicago – where the Democratic National Convention is underway – says he’s not sure “what we’re trying to control.” “Most of the grocers that I know and associate with are very conscious of having products that we’re pricing things according to what we pay for them, not necessarily as to what the market bears,” HarvesTime grocery store owner Hristos “Chris” Dallas told Fox News Digital in an interview Monday. “It doesn’t exactly go the same with other parts that affect the pricing, though. So, for example, we’re standing in front of the refrigerator, and this refrigerator cost me more when I installed it a few years ago than the first store that I opened up in the entirety of the store,” Dallas said. “So, what exactly are we trying to control?” CRITICS BLAST HARRIS’ GRASP OF INFLATION, ATTACK ON BUSINESS AHEAD OF POLICY SPEECH: ‘LUNATIC BEHAVIOR’ The Harris campaign announced on Wednesday that she would institute a “federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries” as president in an attempt to stop “big corporations” from taking advantage of consumers. Critics have blasted the policy and have said such measures could lead to shortages, black markets, and hoarding, reflecting past distortions seen when countries have attempted to control prices by decree. Dallas, a proponent of the “small mom-and-pops” against conglomerate takeover, questioned whether the issue of so-called “price gouging” is simply the difference between production costs and selling prices, or if it includes all the factors involved in getting the product to market. “A tomato, for example, that’s grown in southwest Michigan – a few years ago there was a certain wage and there were employees to be had in order to do that job in picking. Today, we have to pay twice or three times more in order to get the same product. So, how can we say or where do we say that there is price gouging or natural price increase? So, I’m confused as to what would constitute gouging,” Dallas, who neither identified as a Republican or a Democrat, said. ‘RUBBER-STAMPED’: KEY DEM HIT OVER BIDEN-HARRIS SUPPORT ON BORDER, INFLATION “Inflation always impacts, but politicians have a lot to do with inflation,” he said, adding that former President Trump’s policy proposal for across the board tariffs would also raise the cost of products abroad and make goods more expensive. “I don’t begrudge anybody for making a decent wage, but artificially increasing minimum wage increases everybody’s wage,” he said. “So, when you have a product that’s produced that it would take, for example, $3 labor costs to make it the next thing you know is that $3 becomes five or $6 per item that’s going to be affected, whether it’s food or whether it’s clothing or whatever have you, the end price is going to increase.” “If something goes higher one end, it will affect something at a different end,” he said. HARRIS DOES ABOUT-FACE ON SEVERAL FAR-LEFT POLICIES, DISTANCES HERSELF FROM BIDEN While Dallas said he’s against price controls at the grocery store level, he added some level of price-control regulation may be necessary to prevent large grocery chains from stomping out small, independently-owned stores in rural areas. “It’s a battle that we fight every day,” Dallas said of rising product costs. Harris’ price gouging proposal would give authority to the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to impose harsh penalties on companies for setting excessively high prices. Republican economists have criticized the move, calling it “Marxist” and “lunatic behavior.” They also challenged the merits of Harris’ claim that food and grocery providers are artificially inflating prices. “Actual consumer prices have been going up less than producer prices, which means that businesses, if anything, are price gouging themselves,” Richard Stern, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, told Fox News Digital in a previous interview. “If the prices are going up more than the cost of doing business, then [the consumer price index] would be going up faster than [the producer price index], and it’s not.” Harris’ plan also includes efforts to remove tax benefits from Wall Street investors through a bill called the Stop Predatory Investing Act, aimed at curtailing predatory practices by major investors who acquire large numbers of single-family rental homes. Fox News Digital’s Jeffrey Clark and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Iran is ‘increasingly aggressive’ in its operations to target US presidential campaigns: Intel community
The intelligence community said it has observed “increasingly aggressive Iranian activity” during the 2024 election cycle, involving influence operations targeting the American public and presidential campaigns. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said Monday that Iran “seeks to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions.” TRUMP, VANCE HITTING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THIS WEEK TO COUNTERPROGRAM DEMOCRATS’ CONVENTION “Iran has furthermore demonstrated a longstanding interest in exploiting societal tensions through various means, including through the use of cyber operations to attempt to gain access to sensitive information related to U.S. elections,” the agencies said in a joint-statement. “In addition to these sustained efforts to complicate the ability of any U.S. administration to pursue a foreign policy at odds with Iran’s interests, the IC has previously reported that Iran perceives this year’s elections to be particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests, increasing Tehran’s inclination to try to shape the outcome.” The intelligence community said it has observed “increasingly aggressive Iranian activity” during the 2024 election cycle, specifically involving “influence operations targeting the American public and cyber operations targeting presidential campaigns.” “This includes the recently reported activities to compromise former President Trump’s campaign, which the IC attributes to Iran,” they said. The FBI has been investigating Iranian cyber hacking attempts against Trump’s presidential campaign, after Politico began receiving internal Trump campaign documents. The Trump campaign said the documents were obtained “illegally from sources hostile to the United States,” who “intended to interfere in the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process.” Iranian hackers broke into the account of a “high ranking official” on Trump’s campaign in June 2024. The hack by Iran came “after recent reports of an Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump around the same time as the Butler, PA tragedy.” “The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital. “Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications are doing the bidding of America’s enemies and doing exactly what they want.” But the intelligence community said it is “confident that the Iranians have through social engineering and other efforts sought access to individuals with direct access to the presidential campaigns of both political parties.” “Such activity, including thefts and disclosures, are intended to influence the U.S. election process. It is important to note that this approach is not new,” they said. “Iran and Russia have employed these tactics not only in the United States during this and prior federal election cycles but also in other countries around the world.” FBI INVESTIGATING IRAN’S HACK OF TRUMP CAMPAIGN DOCUMENTS The agencies stressed that “protecting the integrity of our elections from foreign influence or interference is our priority.” “As the lead for threat response, the FBI has been tracking this activity, has been in contact with the victims, and will continue to investigate and gather information in order to pursue and disrupt the threat actors responsible,” they said. “We will not tolerate foreign efforts to influence or interfere with our elections, including the targeting of American political campaigns.” The intelligence community said it is working closely with its public and private sector partners to “share information, bolster security, and identify and disrupt any threats.” “Just as this activity demonstrates the Iranians’ increased intent to exploit our online platforms in support of their objectives, it also demonstrates the need to increase the resilience of those platforms,” they said, urging Americans to use strong passwords, official email accounts for official business, updating software, avoiding clicking links or opening attachments from “suspicious emails,” and turning on multi-factor authentication. The 2024 presidential campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris told Fox News it “vigilantly monitors and protects against cyber threats, and we are not aware of any security breaches of our systems.” Iran has long been suspected of running hacking campaigns targeting its enemies in the Middle East and beyond. Tehran also has long threatened to retaliate against Trump over the 2020 drone strike he ordered that killed prominent Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani. In its report, Microsoft stated that “foreign malign influence concerning the 2024 US election started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity.” The analysis continued: “Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations have been a consistent feature of at least the last three U.S. election cycles. Iran’s operations have been notable and distinguishable from Russian campaigns for appearing later in the election season and employing cyberattacks more geared toward election conduct than swaying voters.” “Recent activity suggests the Iranian regime — along with the Kremlin — may be equally engaged in election 2024,” Microsoft concluded.
Harris proposes major corporate tax hike, reversing Trump era cuts
CHICAGO — As the Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday, Vice President Harris called for upping the corporate tax rate as the party’s presidential nominee unveiled her first big ticket proposal to raise revenues. The Harris campaign confirmed to Fox News that the vice president is proposing to raise the rate that major businesses pay from 21% to 28%, describing it as “a fiscally responsible way to put money back in the pockets of working people and ensure billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share.” “As President, Kamala Harris will focus on creating an opportunity economy for the middle class that advances their economic security, stability, and dignity,” campaign spokesperson James Singer said in a statement. TRUMP, VANCE, HIT KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES THIS WEEK TO COUNTER-PROGRAM DEMOCRATS’ CONVENTION The move, if it were to become law, would likely raise hundreds of billions of dollars, according to projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The announcement comes as Harris is beginning to offer details on how she’d govern if she is elected president and how she would try to pay for expensive ideas she proposed last week, including expanding the child tax credit and easing the cost of homeownership and lowering medical debt. HARRIS, TRUMP HOLD DUELING RALLIES IN BIGGEST OF THE BATTLEGROUNDS The announcement would also constitute a major rollback of the 2017 tax cuts, the signature domestic legislation passed during former President Trump’s administration that dramatically cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Trump has pledged to cut taxes if he returns to the White House. “Our plan will massively cut taxes,” Trump said at a campaign event on Monday at a factory in York, Pennsylvania. “I gave you the best tax cut in history.” And he signaled that he would aim to use tariffs against competitors and allies alike by pushing for legislation called the Trump Reciprocal Trade Act. But the Harris campaign says Trump’s proposed tariffs on overseas goods “would punish middle and working class Americans, so he can cut taxes for the richest Americans.” Portions of the Trump tax cuts sunset at the end of 2025, which will spur a major debate next year over what parts should be extended. TRUMP RUNNING MATE VANCE AIMS TO TURN BLUE WALL STATES RED Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller pointed to the Harris proposal in a social media post, writing, “[B]ye-bye economic growth, new hirings, investment, expansion, onshoring, and so much more!” The new stance by Harris aligns her with the most recent federal budget proposal by President Biden, which also proposes boosting the corporate tax rate to 28%. Harris replaced Biden four weeks ago at the top of the Democrats’ 2024 ticket after Biden announced he was ending his re-election bid and supporting his vice president as his successor. But veteran Republican consultant and strategist Alex Castellanos told Fox News such proposals will do Harris no favors at the voting booth. “She does not need the spotlight on her or her policies. She’s been two sides of too many issues. And if she supports raising the corporate tax, that’s a job killer. You don’t need to hurt working people directly. All you need to do is hurt the companies working people work for,” Castellanos said. Fox News’ Emily Reynolds contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Dean Phillips ‘tried to’ oust Biden ‘two years ago,’ would do it ‘a thousand times over’ despite blowback
The lone House Democrat who challenged President Biden for the 2024 nomination said he has no regrets about sounding the alarm on his candidacy early – despite the blowback he’s received from members of his own party. “You know, I never could have imagined it would have happened this way,” Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., told Fox News Digital of Vice President Kamala Harris’ meteoric rise to the top of the ticket. “Of course, I tried to do this almost two years ago. I ran for president nine months ago. And of course I would have liked to have seen him do this sooner. But the way it has transpired is beyond miraculous.” HARRIS AND TRUMP HOLD DUELING RALLIES IN THE BIGGEST OF THE BATTLEGROUNDS Phillips became a pariah within the Democratic Party for a time after he launched a longshot primary campaign against Biden late last year. He had argued for months beforehand that the 81-year-old president needed to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders. It came at a heavy political cost for the Minnesota Democrat – in addition to facing blowback from fellow Democrats, Phillips also struggled to get his name on the primary ballot in states like Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. He ended up dropping his presidential campaign in early March, just over three months before Biden’s disastrous debate performance against former President Trump, which precipitated his eventual ouster. “I knew it was going to be a tough journey,” Phillips said. “Was it painful? Yeah. Was it difficult, and did I shed some tears, have some tough days? Of course. But I knew the principle mattered.” DNC HOST CHICAGO, HAUNTED BY 1968 CONVENTION RIOTING, BRACES FOR BLOODSHED “I knew it’d probably cost my career, probably cost some friendships, probably cost my standing in this party – and it did. But I’m celebrating today because the objective, at least half of it, has been achieved.” Phillips added that if Harris won in November, “it will all have been worthwhile and I would have done it a thousand times over.” He said “many” – but not all – of his relationships with the party have been mended since then. “I’ve had a lot of wonderful reach outs and hugs and high-fives from a lot of interesting corners of the party,” Phillips said. “If people know that I was simply trying to be the Paul Revere, not the George Washington, I’d like to think history might treat that kindly.” CHICAGO GETTING ‘WINDOW DRESSING FOR DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION’: FORMER CHIEF He made the comments on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention, where Biden is expected to take the stage as the main headliner on the first of four nights of programming leading up to Harris formally accepting the 2024 nomination. Asked by another reporter what he wanted to hear from Biden, Phillips said, “I’m not as concerned about what he says, what I’m concerned about is what we make him feel. Because he did a remarkable thing.” “It happened later than I would’ve liked, but he did it,” Phillips said. “I want this room to erupt in gratitude and celebration, I really believe he deserves it.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
JD Vance campaigns in Philly on Day 1 of the DNC in Chicago
Sen. JD Vance of Ohio called out Vice President Kamala Harris for her campaign promise to lower prices “on day one,” despite her current influential role in the White House. “We have a country that is being failed by its present leadership,” Vance said. “And don’t let anybody gaslight you here, because Kamala Harris is running around the country and saying that on Day One, she wants to bring the cost of goods and the cost of housing under control.” Vance held a campaign event in Philadelphia on Monday, where he focused on contrasting the Trump-Vance campaign agenda with that of Harris. “She says that on Day One, she wants to make groceries and homes more affordable for American citizens. Well, Kamala Harris, where have you been? Because you’ve been vice president for about 1,300 days.” “Day One was three and a half years ago. You should have been doing your job then and not promising to do it now,” Vance added. VANCE DISMISSES POLLS THAT SHOW HARRIS AHEAD: ‘WILDLY ACCURATE’ While recently on the campaign trail, Harris said that if elected she would bring down food prices, end price gouging and lower housing costs. But Vance highlighted the current high prices on electricity, food and gas, saying, “This is all because of the policies of Kamala Harris.” “This is the person who’s promising that she’s going to fix the very problems that she has been creating for 1,300 days, and now she wants the American people to give her a promotion,” he told attendees. 2024 SHOWDOWN: HARRIS APPEARS TO CALL TRUMP A ‘COWARD’ IN CAMPAIGN TRIAL APPEARANCE Vance focused on oil and energy as he made a pitch to voters in Pennsylvania, a state that will play a crucial role in determining the 2024 election. “We are, first of all, going to unleash Pennsylvania energy workers. We are going to drill, baby, drill. Let’s. We’re going to stop buying energy from tinpot dictators all over the world who hate this country,” Vance said. “We’re going to start buying it from our own land, from our own people, from our own workers. And that’s going to start on Day One of the Trump presidency.” Vance also said that Harris “has got quite the running mate,” referencing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “The closest Tim Walz has ever come to combat is when he let rioters burn Minneapolis to the ground a few years ago,” Vance said. Walz has faced backlash recently regarding the validity of his status and service in the military. Vance answered questions from local reporters during the campaign event, after saying, “It is disgraceful that Kamala Harris pretends to run for the presidency of the United States, but she refuses to stand before the American people without a teleprompter standing between them. Kamala, what are you so afraid of?” Vance’s event came on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
Texas Tribune, ProPublica and FRONTLINE share Online Journalism Award and national Edward R. Murrow Award
The three newsrooms shared awards for our coverage of the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
Former Rep. George Santos pleads guilty in federal wire fraud, ID theft case
Former U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, short-circuiting the federal fraud case that led to his expulsion from Congress just weeks before it was set to go to trial. “I betrayed the trust of my constituents and supporters. I deeply regret my conduct,” the New York Republican said as he entered the plea in a Long Island courtroom. Santos, 36, said he accepted responsibility and intends to make amends. He faces more than six years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines and owes at least $370,000 in restitution. Senior Federal Judge Joanna Seybert scheduled Santos’ sentencing for Feb. 7. EX-LAWMAKER GEORGE SANTOS OFFERING CAMEO VIDEOS WITH HIS DRAG QUEEN ALTER EGO Santos was indicted on felony charges that he stole from political donors, used campaign contributions to pay for personal expenses, lied to Congress about his wealth and collected unemployment benefits while actually working. Santos was expelled from the U.S. House after an ethics investigation found “overwhelming evidence” that he had broken the law and exploited his public position for his own profit. The case has been set to go to trial in early September. If that had happened, federal prosecutors said Monday that they were prepared to call some 40 witnesses, including members of Santos’ campaign, employers and family members. Santos was once touted as a rising political star after he flipped the suburban district that covers the affluent North Shore of Long Island and a slice of the New York City borough of Queens in 2022. But his life story began unraveling before he was even sworn into office. At the time, reports emerged that he had lied about having a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree along with other questions of his biography. New questions then emerged about his campaign funds. He was first indicted on federal charges in May 2023, but refused to resign from office. Santos has previously maintained his innocence, though he said in an interview in December that a plea deal with prosecutors was “not off the table.” Asked if he was afraid of going to prison, he told CBS 2 at the time: “I think everybody should be afraid of going to jail, it’s not a pretty place and uh, I definitely want to work very hard to avoid that as best as possible.” Separately Monday, in Manhattan federal court, Judge Denise Cote tossed out a lawsuit in which Santos claimed that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ABC and Disney committed copyright infringement and unjustly enriched themselves at his expense by using videos he made on the Cameo app for a “Jimmy Kimmel Live” segment. The judge said it was clear that Kimmel used the clips, which were also posted to YouTube, for the purposes of criticism and commentary, which is fair use. Santos had begun selling personalized videos on Cameo in December shortly after his ouster from Congress. He subsequently launched, then quickly abandoned, a longshot bid to return to Congress as an independent earlier this year. In a radio interview that aired Sunday, Santos said he has taken comfort in being a “somewhat private civilian” again. “I really don’t miss the rubber chicken dinners and the rah-rah-rah parties and fundraisers,” he said of his former life. With his criminal trial looming, he said in the WABC interview that he was “terrified.” “This is not absolutely an easy process to go through. It really hurts and it really messes with your psychological health,” he told host Cindy Adams. As the trial date neared in recent weeks, Santos had sought to have a partially anonymous jury, with his lawyers arguing in court papers that “the mere risk of public ridicule could influence the individual jurors ability to decide Santos’ case solely on the facts and law as presented in Court.” He also wanted potential jurors to fill out a written questionnaire gauging their opinions of him. His lawyers argued the survey was needed because “for all intents and purposes, Santos has already been found guilty in the court of public opinion.” Judge Joanna Seybert agreed to keep jurors’ identities public but said no to the questionnaire. Prosecutors, meanwhile, had been seeking to admit as evidence some of the financial falsehoods Santos told during his campaign, including that he’d worked at Citigroup and Goldman Sachs and that he had operated a family-run firm with approximately $80 million in assets. Two Santos campaign aides previously pleaded guilty to crimes related to the former congressman’s campaign. His ex-treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty in October to a fraud conspiracy charge, implicating Santos in an alleged scheme to embellish his campaign finance reports with a fake loan and fake donors. A lawyer for Marks said at the time his client would be willing to testify against Santos if asked. Sam Miele, a former fundraiser for Santos, pleaded guilty a month later to a federal wire fraud charge, admitting he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while raising money for Santos’ campaign.