Weather Update: IMD issues orange alert for heavy rainfall, monsoon to enter these states soon, check full forecast
Also, IMD has warned of potential heatwave conditions affecting isolated pockets of Jammu division on 26-27 June, and in Punjab & West Rajasthan today.
Biden unveils GOP endorsement, Trump reaches out to historically Dem voting bloc: ‘Against the grain’
ATLANTA — In a presidential election rematch where every vote may count, the campaigns of President Biden and former President Trump are reaching out to key constituencies in an attempt to gain an advantage in what may end up being a photo finish. Aiming to court the small but potentially crucial sliver of moderate Republicans who are disgruntled with Trump as their party’s standard-bearer, Biden’s campaign on the eve of the first presidential debate unveiled an endorsement from former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. The former military pilot and Iraq War veteran who transformed into a major Republican Trump critic after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters aiming to upend congressional certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory on Wednesday charged that the former president is “a direct threat to every fundamental American value” in a video announcing his endorsement. Hours later, standing in the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Kinzinger said that “if you’d have told me three years ago that ‘You’re going to be endorsing a Democrat for president in three years,’ I probably wouldn’t have believed you.” FIRST ON FOX: BIDEN CAMPAIGN TARGETS TRUMP OVER ‘NEGLECT OF DUTY’ ON EVE OF FIRST DEBATE “But I got to tell you, the stakes of this moment are way too high,” Kinzinger added. Another vocal GOP Trump critic, former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, joined Kinzinger at the news conference, along with former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and Georgia Senate Democrat Leader Gloria Butler. “Going against the grain as a Republican and supporting Democrat Joe Biden for president is not easy, but I’m not looking at this election through the lens of being a Republican,” Duncan explained. “I’m looking through the lens of being an American. An American that cares more about the future of my country than the [morally] bankrupt nominee of my party.” Kinzinger’s endorsement and the news conference came on the same day that the Biden campaign launched a new ad in the key battleground states that targets Trump over his actions during the attack three and a half years ago on the U.S. Capitol. The spot, shared first with Fox News on Wednesday, features Genesee County, Michigan, Sheriff Chris Swanson discussing how he watched in horror as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and attacked Capitol police officers. “As a sheriff, it’s awful to watch police officers getting attacked. That’s not supporting this badge and this uniform. I have no desire to work with somebody who divides. That’s not what America is,” Swanson emphasized. WHICH DONALD TRUMP WILL SHOW UP THURSDAY AT THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE? The ad, the endorsements and the news conference were all part of the Biden campaign’s push to hammer the presumptive GOP presidential nominee over what they call “Donald Trump’s attack on American democracy.” Biden has long made what he charges is Trump’s threats to democracy a key focus of his presidency, and he has hammered home the point as he runs for a second term in the White House. It is very likely Biden will spotlight the issue in Thursday’s first presidential debate between the two major party standard-bearers. It’s a pitch that may help the Biden campaign persuade some of the Republicans who supported former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential primaries to consider voting for a Democrat this autumn. “There is still a group of Republicans that are kind of very uneasy going with Donald Trump. They feel like… it’s unthinkable to vote for a Democrat. So, they’re trying to sit here and figure it out,” Kinzinger said. “This is an important time for Republicans to come forward and say it’s OK. You don’t have to give up your Republican stripes to vote for a Democrat. All you’re standing for is democracy.” Asked by Fox News if the Biden campaign’s efforts to attract Republicans are adequate, Kinzinger said, “I think the campaign has certainly made it very clear, particularly in the last few months, that they want to win those Haley voters, those swing Republican voters.” TOP TRUMP BLACK SURROGATES MAKE THE CASE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT Kinzinger becomes the highest-profile former GOP elected official to formally back Biden, whose campaign earlier in the month named Kinzinger’s former chief of staff, Austin Weatherford, to serve as its national Republican outreach director. The Trump campaign took aim at Kinzinger, who was one of only two Republicans who served on the Democrat-dominated House committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung took to social media, asking, “Who’s Adam Kinzinger? Isn’t he the crybaby?” While the Biden campaign was holding their news conference at the Georgia State House, Trump’s campaign was making a pitch for Black voters at an event just a couple miles away. The Trump campaign organized what it called a Black American Business Leaders Barbershop Roundtable discussion in midtown Atlanta. Leading the discussion were two of Trump’s most prominent Black allies and surrogates: GOP Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas, and Dr. Ben Carson, a 2016 Republican presidential candidate who later served as Housing and Urban Development secretary in the Trump administration. Both Carson and Donalds are widely considered to be on the larger list of potential Trump running mates. Later on Wednesday, 24 hours ahead of the first presidential debate that is being held in Atlanta, Hunt and Donalds were set to hold their second edition of “Congress, Cognac, and Cigars,” a GOP outreach effort for Black male voters that they’re holding in some of the key swing states. Polling this year indicates that while Biden retains a very large margin of support among Black voters, Trump has made gains with the key electorate that for generations has been a major part of the Democratic Party base. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Black Republican calls out Biden’s ‘real record on race’ in six-figure ad buy to air during CNN debate
FIRST ON FOX: A key Republican lawmaker spearheading former President Trump’s outreach to Black voters will debut a six-figure ad buy calling out what he describes as President Biden’s “real record on race” during the CNN Presidential Debate Thursday. First-term Texas Congressman Wesley Hunt’s Hellfire PAC will air the 60-second ad on Fox News and CNN in major cities in key battleground states including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on Thursday night. The ad, which puts a spotlight on several of Biden’s controversial comments on race, is part of Hunt’s strategy to convince Black voters to support Trump in November. “Joe Biden’s history as a politician reveals a pattern of making explicitly racist comments, authoring and endorsing discriminatory policies, and associating with individuals known as segregationists,” Hunt told Fox News Digital in a statement. He announced that Hellfire PAC would begin a national campaign in multiple swing states “to inform voters of Joe Biden’s real history on race.” TRUMP ENLISTS PROMINENT BLACK REPUBLICANS TO APPEAL TO THEIR PEERS: ‘FISHING WHERE THE FISH ARE’ The Hellfire PAC video begins with Biden’s own vice president, Kamala Harris, questioning his onetime opposition to school desegregation. In an infamous moment from the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, then-rival candidate Harris said Biden, as a freshman senator in 1975, had worked with segregationist lawmakers to oppose “bussing.” “You also worked with them to oppose busing,” Harris told Biden during a primary debate, referencing two segregationist senators. “You know there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me.” BLACK GOP LAWMAKERS HOLD ‘CONGRESS, COGNAC AND CIGARS’ EVENT IN KEY SWING STATE The ad goes on to call into question Biden’s record on civil rights, noting his relationships with segregationist Southern Democrats, including former Sens. James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia. Biden ignited a firestorm in 2019 after he spoke fondly of the “civility” of the old Senate and his ability to work with those he disagreed with, name-dropping those opponents of racial integration. In response to attacks from his then-Democratic rivals, Biden said there is “not a racist bone in my body.” The video quotes various cringe-inducing statements from Biden’s lengthy political career, including a campaign event from 2012 when the then-vice president told an audience of Black voters that Republicans are “going to put y’all back in chains.” In another insensitive gaffe quoted from a 2019 campaign event in Iowa, Biden said “poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.” TRUMP CAMPAIGN SETS UP SHOP IN BLUE PHILADELPHIA IN THE FIGHT FOR BATTLEGROUND PENNSYLVANIA Hellfire PAC’s ad also shows Biden describing his old running mate, former President Obama, as “the first sort of mainstream African American who is articulate, and bright and clean — nice looking guy.” Hunt, who is Black, told Fox News Digital that no Republican would get away with the things Biden has said. “If any Republican had even the slightest history that Joe Biden has on race, they would be ostracized, canceled, and excoriated by the media,” he said. “When Democrat President Joe Biden does it, there’s always an excuse, and, when there’s not an excuse, the behavior and the policies are simply memory-holed.” The ad will air in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Milwaukee and Detroit during the CNN Presidential Debate. Americans across the country can tune in to the Fox News Channel from 9:00 p.m. ET to 11:00 p.m. ET to watch the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast. Viewers can also tune into Fox’s live coverage before and after the debate for expert analysis. Hunt traveled to Atlanta for an event with Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., on Wednesday that the duo calls, “Congress, Cognac and Cigars.” Moderated by former ESPN host Sage Steele, the two Black lawmakers will have a discussion in a cigar lounge and field questions about how Black male voters will impact the 2024 election. Hunt told Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind in an interview that he aims to help Republicans capture 25% to 35% of the Black male vote — a long-shot goal, though one that would spell almost certain defeat for Biden’s campaign. Multiple exit polls show Trump having won 19% of Black male voters in 2020, though the vast majority of Black voters still went for Biden. Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind, Paul Steinhauser, Joe Schoffstall and Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
State Board of Education considers approving 5 new charter schools in Texas
Public education advocates opposed the new charters, which would launch in Arlington, Austin, Big Spring, Manor and Terrell.
House hearing exposes Biden FDA ‘politicization,’ fallout of rushed COVID vaccine approval for kids, military
A House Judiciary subcommittee hearing Wednesday addressing the “politicization” of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the pandemic exposed how the Biden administration allegedly pressured medical professionals to expedite the COVID-19 vaccine for children before enough testing was completed to confirm or deny its safety. At the onset of the subcommittee hearing, “Follow the Science?: Oversight of the Biden COVID-19 Administrative State Response,” Chairman Thomas Massie, R-Ky., read from past testimony of Dr. Marion Gruber, the former director of the FDA’s vaccine office, regarding conversations she had with Dr. Peter Marks, the agency’s top vaccine regulator, about the efficacy of the COVID vaccine in children. Massie said Gruber expressed a need for more trial testing in the pediatric population, specifically among males ages 12 to 17, but Marks allegedly pushed to further compress the schedule to license the vaccines so they could be mandated. “Right when they were getting the warnings that myocarditis and pericarditis are real and serious side effects to the vaccine, the top scientists at FDA had already agreed to compress the schedule as much as possible, right when they got the message that there were serious side effects,” Massie said. “And Peter Marks, instead of telling them, ‘We’re going to give you more time to study this,’ he told them to compress the schedule even more. “And when they said that compressing the schedule was not possible, he fired them. He took them off the job, he assigned them to other duties. The top vaccine officials who had been there for 30 years, taken off the job because they wanted more time to study the effects of the vaccines. And they were told they needed to do this quickly because they needed to be mandated. COVID VACCINE COMPANIES TOLD TO FOCUS ON KP.2 VARIANT FOR FALL SHOTS, PER FDA ANNOUNCEMENT “The Biden administration was mandating the vaccine on the military and young people going to school despite a lack of testing and data, despite growing reports of vaccine injuries. This kind of decision made by the administrative state is concerning. The FDA should not have approved a vaccine for children, EOA or otherwise, without proper testing. Injury from COVID vaccination is real.” During a separate line of questioning, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, asked the witnesses, “Would you agree that the biggest reason for vaccine hesitancy is because of what the United States government told us about COVID and about the vaccine itself?” “I agree,” Dr. Jordan Vaughn, an internist at a private practice in Birmingham, Alabama, said. “They were told one thing and, fairly, most people, once the opposite happens, usually start to question whoever told them that.” “The cause of vaccine hesitancy, the reason this got so political, in my judgment, is because our government told us time and time again things that were not accurate,” Jordan said. Vaughn testified earlier in the hearing that, since 2022, he has treated more than 2,000 “unique patients” with complications from the COVID-19 vaccination, including more than 30 service members. He provided six specific examples of otherwise healthy members of the military who, upon receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and mandated booster shots, were suddenly hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, chest pain or shortness or breath. Some needed emergency surgery to remove a pancreas, some became too weak to walk or were eventually discharged after being deemed no longer physically fit enough to serve. In one case, one man had a cardiac arrest and died on his bathroom floor. “Especially in those with vaccine injury, their faith in medicine and public health is shattered. Many of those patients were holdouts from getting vaccinated because they either knew their own immune systems’ sensitivities or already had a prior infection of COVID-19,” Vaughn said in his opening statement. “However, it was under the August 2021 military service member, federal employee and OSHA mandate these individuals faced a decision to either vaccinate against their conscience and common sense or lose a career and gainful employment. Disabled from the adverse effects of these mandated injections, the profession they once held dear is an afterthought to just hoping for a diagnosis and possible treatment. Among the most egregious is our service members needlessly harmed through the mandate. “Knowing the emerging data in the spring of 2021 around the hearts of young athletic individuals and myocarditis from the mod mRNA COVID-19 injections,” Vaughn said, “the FDA and the Biden administration sought to speed up approval and mandate it to the military in the name of military preparedness.” CDC WARNS OF ‘DUAL MUTANT’ FLU STRAIN THAT COULD EVADE ANTIVIRAL DRUGS: ‘NEED TO CLOSELY MONITOR’ Later, Jordan told Vaughn, “Tell me about that relationship, and how politics played into the relationship that’s supposed to exist between the doctor and their patient.” “I think the biggest trust was lost when they were mandated to get something against their conscience, and I think that is one of the things that needs to be — especially when you talk about a physician who knows his patient — there are certain patients that don’t need to have their immune system, in a sense, poked,” said Vaughn, also the founder of the Microvascular Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding treatments for vaccine injury and long COVID. “That knowledge is what a physician and their patient have and the relationship that exists. It is not something that is found in a parking lot when you roll down your window.” Among the witnesses was Aaron Siri, a vaccine litigation expert handling lawsuits over COVID-19 vaccine injury. He told Jordan “billions of dollars were on the line for these pharmaceutical companies, and that really affected the way that these vaccines were rolled out. That’s a financial conflict of interest, especially when they didn’t have to pay for any injuries, and they knew it beforehand because the federal government contractually agreed that immunity applied to every single vaccine that was rolled out.” Along with Gruber, his former boss, Dr. Philip Krause, former Deputy Director,
Travis County Attorney drops charges against 79 more UT-Austin protesters
The arrests met the initial requirements for probable cause, but County Attorney Delia Garza said the office could not meet the legal burden to prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Axios omits crucial details about economists who say Trump will destroy the economy
FIRST ON FOX: A letter signed by 16 top economists warning of the economic dangers of electing former President Trump, which is being amplified by the Biden campaign and other Biden surrogates, is littered with signatories who have either donated to Biden or supported him politically in the past. “While each of us has different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we all agree that Joe Biden’s economic agenda is vastly superior to Donald Trump,” the economists wrote in a letter first reported on by Axios this week that has been promoted by various members of the Biden campaign on X, formerly known as Twitter. A Fox News Digital review of the letter’s Nobel Prize-winning signatories shows political donations to President Biden’s 2020 and 2024 campaigns. The signatories also donated tens of thousands of dollars to other Democrat candidates and signed previous letters supporting Biden’s agenda, including attacking “selfish and restless” Trump. Economist Joseph Stiglitz, the Columbia University professor who reportedly spearheaded the letter, previously signed a letter supporting Biden’s Build Back Better agenda and donated $1,250 to the Biden Victory Fund in 2020. EXPERTS PREDICT INFLATION ELECTION TROUBLE FOR BIDEN: ‘TOO LATE’ TO FIX Between 2004 and 2020, Stiglitz donated over $90,000 to Democrat candidates, FEC records show. Georgetown University Professor George A. Akerlof, who is married to Biden’s Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, donated $25,000 to the Biden Victory Fund and maxed out as a donor in 2020, giving the campaign $5,600. Akerlof, who donated nearly $90,000 to Democrats between the 1990s and 2022, also signed a letter supporting Build Back Better, and signed a letter in 2020 calling Trump’s re-election effort “selfish and reckless.” Harvard University economist and historian Claudia Goldin donated $500 to the Biden campaign in 2020 and 2024 and has donated over $8,000 to Democrats in recent years. Goldin also signed a 2020 letter endorsing the Biden campaign. Economist and mathematician Eric Maskin signed a 2020 letter expressing support for the Biden campaign’s agenda and donated $3,000 to Democrats in recent years, including Senate candidates Raphael Warnock, Beto O’Rourke and Jon Ossoff. When reached for comment on his background supporting Biden and Democrats, Maskin said, “Although I am a registered Democrat and have donated money to Democratic candidates on occasion, I have also voted for many Republicans over the years (including Bill Weld and Charlie Baker for governor of Massachusetts)” in a statement to Fox News Digital. He added that he considers himself to “be more a centrist than a strong partisan in either ideological direction” and pointed to an op-ed he recently wrote against political polarization in favor of a Republican senator and “supported the 2020 Biden agenda on its economic merits and signed the recent letter for the same reasons.” BIDEN REPEATS FALSE CLAIM THAT INFLATION WAS AT 9% WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE AFTER BEING CALLED OUT LAST WEEK Paul Milgrom, an economist at Stanford University, also previously signed letters supporting Build Back Better and calling Trump’s 2020 campaign “selfish and reckless.” Daniel McFadden, an economics professor at UC Berkeley, donated at least $4,500 to Democrats in 2020. He also signed onto a letter saying Biden’s Build Back Better plan will “ease” inflation. He was also part of another letter endorsing Biden in 2020. Roger Myerson, an economist at the University of Chicago, donated $2,350 to the Biden campaign in 2020 and $250 in 2024 on top of donating over $40,000 to Democrats between 2004 and 2024. Myerson also previously signed a letter backing Build Back Better and Biden’s economic recovery agenda. The University of Chicago economist took to X after the letter was published, posting, “A dictator from day 1 would be bad for America, and we should testify to that fact as patriotic Americans.” “As economists we can testify that his policies would not help against inflation either,” he added. Economist Edmund S. Phelps wrote an article in 2020 called “The Economic Case for Biden” and also said that everything Trump has stood for in the past has been a “disaster.” INFLATION IS UP 20% SINCE BIDEN TOOK OFFICE Phelps has also donated to Democrats in the past, including a $1,500 donation to a Democratic House candidate and $25 to Pete Buttigieg. Paul Romer, an economist at Boston College, has previously described the Trump years as “miserable” and publicly supported his impeachment. Romer endorsed Biden in a 2020 letter, praised Biden’s pandemic plan, and signed a letter in support of Build Back Better. Stanford University economist Alvin Roth also signed multiple letters opposing Trump and supported the letter that referred to him as “selfish and reckless” on top of donating $1,250 to presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008. Nobel Prize-winning economist William Sharpe donated $500 to the Biden campaign and $500 to the Biden Victory Fund in 2020. Sharpe also signed a letter to business leaders in 2020 arguing that it was time to speak out against Trump and the “threat” he “poses to the Republic.” Robert Shiller, a Yale University economist, donated $1,000 to the Biden Victory Fund in 2020 and over $20,000 to Democrats in total in recent years. In 2019, Shiller said he would support any candidate over Trump. Princeton University economist Christopher Sims donated $500 to the Biden Victory Fund in 2020 and over $9,000 to various Democrats. Two British economists on the list, Sir Oliver Hart and Sir Angus Deaton, signed a letter in support of Build Back Better. Hart endorsed Biden in 2020 and also signed the 2020 letter calling Trump “selfish and reckless.” Several Biden campaign officials pounced on the story Tuesday morning to amplify the Axios report, including the Biden campaign’s rapid response adviser, James Singer, and campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez. White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates and other Biden surrogates also shared the report and quoted from it, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Tim Murtaugh, who served as Trump’s 2020 campaign spokesman, mocked the report on social media Tuesday saying, “How amazing that this happens just in
Fox News Politics: Migrants Mocking Us
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. TRUMP VS. BIDEN: The gloves will be off and the world will be watching. Stay in the know for more updates. What’s happening… -Biden admin urging experts to drop age limits on trans surgeries -Hillary Clinton releasing pre-election book -Denmark imposes first carbon tax on animal farts Social media is proving to be an essential tool for human smugglers illegally transporting migrants across the southern border; and the cash-hungry traffickers aren’t afraid to boast about their illegal operations, often flaunting their cash on apps and bragging about the ease at which they can evade authorities. In August, 22 people were indicted in Arizona for recruiting truck drivers using Snapchat posts of cash glamorizing illegal migrant smuggling. Many of the posts claimed drivers can make hefty sums of money without the risk of being arrested. Read more here… ‘CAN YOU BELIEVE?’: Karine Jean-Pierre claims she had more rights growing up than children today …Read more SHOCKING EMAILS: Biden officials urged experts to drop guidance calling for age limits on trans surgeries …Read more ‘COVER-UP’: GOP sens look to force answers from HHS Secretary Becerra on COVID-19 origins …Read more COURTING CONTROVERSY: House GOP will sue DOJ for Hur-Biden audio tapes, Johnson says …Read more HILLARY’S ‘WARNING’: Hillary Clinton releasing pre-election book …Read more ELECTION WHISPERS: New details emerge about Obama, Biden secret 2024 meetings …Read more ‘TOTALLY BANANAS’: Chris Hayes claims pro-Israel lobbying group caused defeat of leftist NY congressman …Read more ON NOTICE: This House Democrat could be the next ‘Squad’ member targeted …Read more ‘COLLUDED’: Active CIA contractors allegedly at heart of promoting narrative Hunter laptop was Russian disinformation …Read more CROSSING THE TRACKS: NTSB claims railroad interfered in East Palestine probe …Read more RULES FOR THEE: Felony case against LA prosecutor spilled out of co-workers’s boozy clash with cops: docs …Read more FOR MORALE: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits troops on front lines under pressure from Russia’s onslaught …Read more EXCLUSIVE: Israel to boost water plant’s output as UN threatens to cut aid amid safety issues …Read more FART TAX: Denmark imposes world’s first carbon tax on flatulent farm animals …Read more ASSANGE FREED: Julian Assange secures freedom following plea deal with US, sentenced to time served …Read more NEW MESSAGING: Blue state deploys officials to the border with surprising warning for migrants …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Bragg’s office faces bar complaint alleging discrimination in ‘diversity’ hiring practices
A conservative legal advocacy group filed a formal bar complaint this week against New York County Democratic District Attorney Alvin Bragg, alleging racially discriminatory hiring practices. America First Legal Vice President Dan Epstein told Fox News Digital that Bragg’s official website clearly indicates his office is encouraging hiring practices that prefer applicants from certain backgrounds. “We have kind of marshaled evidence that his office, when it comes to hiring attorney talent, is very clear about engaging in kind of diversity requirements — whether you call that ‘racial balancing,’ whether you call that ‘quotas.’ There’s clear evidence that there are further steps to do that,” Epstein said Wednesday in an interview. Not only do such hiring practices risk running afoul of federal law, Epstein said of his group’s complaint, but they also are inconsistent with New York Bar Association standards of professional conduct. NEW DOCS SHOW BRAGG SPENT $1M ON ATTORNEYS TO BLUNT HOUSE PROBE INTO TRUMP CASE AMID CITY BUDGET CUTS In a statement announcing the complaint, America First Legal said a regulation of the state Rules of Professional Conduct prohibits “unlawful discrimination” and alleged Bragg’s office also violated New York Human Rights Law with racially and sexually discriminatory hiring practices. In one example, Bragg’s website says his office “seeks to have a legal staff that reflects the diversity of the community that we serve.” That, Epstein suggested, puts policy above constitutionality. “That is precisely the opposite of what lawyers, particularly law enforcement lawyers, should be doing,” he said. America First Legal’s statement added that “both cannot be true” when it comes to giving attention to diversity while stating the office won’t discriminate based on such characteristics. BRAGG VIOLATED TRUMP’S 6TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS: LEGAL EXPERT Epstein also pointed out it is not unprecedented to see a high-profile attorney be disbarred for valid reasons, as Hunter Biden was in Washington, D.C., after his gun violation conviction. He said the process in New York state falls to district grievance review boards. Bragg falls under the First Judicial District, which covers Bronx County and New York County. Bragg will be subject to one of three outcomes — no action if the complaint fails to meet a violation threshold, a warning letter or a suspension of his law license, Epstein said. “It’s not just forced disclosure of race, ethnicity and gender. It’s statements on their hiring portal that say that the district attorney’s office has diversity, equity, inclusion priorities and that they’re committed to hiring a diverse staff,” Epstein said. “Whenever you give kind-of bonus points or whenever you effectively say, ‘Between two equally qualified candidates, we’re going to pick the candidate simply because of race,’ that’s discrimination.” Filing objections to attorneys and judges for discriminatory practices is not new, Epstein added, pointing to America First Legal’s ultimately unsuccessful filings against three judges in the Southern District of Illinois who reportedly encouraged “newer, female and minority” attorneys to argue in court proceedings. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the complaints in March. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Epstein also rejected criticism that America First Legal is “targeting” Bragg, who has been maligned by many conservatives over his prosecution of former President Trump. Instead, Epstein said, America First Legal is “on the lookout” overall as a watchdog for evidence of discrimination in any government prosecutor’s office. America First Legal was founded in 2021 by Stephen Miller, a former Trump speechwriter who previously served as a top aide to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. The New York Bar declined comment for this story, noting it is a voluntary bar that plays no role in discipline. Bragg’s office did not respond to requests seeking comment. A representative for the attorney grievance committee told Fox News Digital, “Pursuant to confidentiality rules, we are not at liberty to make public comment.”
House votes to defund Mayorkas’ salary in DHS funding bill
The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to block Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ salary. It was an amendment by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., for the House’s appropriations bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2025, that would block funds in the bill from being used to pay Mayorkas. Just one Republican voted against the measure, which passed 193 to 173. “Taxpayers should not be paying an unelected bureaucrat who was impeached by the House. That’s why I sponsored an amendment to this year’s Homeland Security Appropriations Act to prohibit funding to be used for the salary of DHS Secretary Mayorkas,” Biggs wrote on X before the vote. DENVER SCHOOLS OVERWHELMED BY MIGRANT SURGE AS MAYOR SLASHES $5M FROM PUBLIC SERVICES TO ADDRESS CRISIS A second amendment by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to reduce Mayorkas’ salary to zero failed, however, in a 208 to 200 vote. One Republican voted present on that measure. Mayorkas is a frequent target of the House GOP’s ire, with Republican lawmakers blaming him for the enduring crisis at the southern border. House Republicans voted to impeach Mayorkas in February — the first Cabinet secretary impeached since the late 1800s. HERE ARE THE 3 HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO TORPEDOED MAYORKAS’ IMPEACHMENT VOTE The DHS appropriations bill gives the department roughly a $3 billion increase from fiscal year 2024. It also includes $600 million to fund completion of former President Trump’s border wall and provisions to block funding from being used for abortion care and transgender health care for noncitizens detained in ICE custody. Other amendments that have passed so far include one by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, to prohibit funds from being used to implement policies that would keep asylum seekers in Texas while their claims are being processed. HOUSE FAILS TO IMPEACH DHS SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS IN MAJOR BLOW TO GOP A measure led by Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., that passed would block DHS from implementing COVID-19 mask policies. The appropriations bill itself is expected to get a final vote on Friday, though it’s highly unlikely to be taken up by the Democrat-led Senate. The White House has already threatened to veto the measure if it got to President Biden’s desk.