‘Republicans, beware’: Dem super PAC bankrolled by dark money group meddles in key GOP primary
A Democrat super PAC, which has received more than $500K in cash from a left-wing dark money nonprofit, has jumped into a Republican congressional primary in Colorado in the latest example of Democrats meddling in a Republican primary. Rocky Mountain Values PAC, which is bankrolled by the left-wing dark money nonprofit Sixteen Thirty Fund, has spent at least $300,000 boosting former Republican state Rep. Ron Hanks, by attacking him as being too conservative and tying him to former President Trump. Hanks is in a six-way primary race in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, a seat abandoned by GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, according to FEC filings. The funding comes as Democrats are presumably calculating that Hanks is less likely to defeat Democrat Adam Frisch as opposed to the Republican Jeff Hurd, who polling suggests is the front-runner. Sixteen Thirty Fund gave $500K to Rocky Mountain Values PAC in April and over $4,500 earlier this month. Frisch lost to Boebert by just 546 votes in 2022 in a district Trump is popular in. FORMER NAVY SEAL SAYS DEMS MEDDLING IN HIS SENATE RACE ‘TO DISTRACT MONTANA VOTERS’ FROM ‘TWO-FACED’ OPPONENT “A shock to no one, Adam and the Democrats are attacking Jeff because they know he is the only Republican who can beat Frisch and keep the seat red,” the Hurd campaign statement told The Colorado Sun earlier this month. “Voters in western and southern Colorado won’t be duped.” The GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund has responded by dropping roughly $400,000 in ads attacking Hanks’ record on issues like gun control and accusing him of not being aligned with Trump’s policies. Frisch has also spent money in the primary attacking Hurd, The Colorado Sun reported. ABC PANEL CRITICIZES DEMOCRATS MEDDLING IN GOP PRIMARIES: ‘EMBARRASSINGLY HYPOCRITICAL’ “Why are Democrat mega donors spending so much to prop up Ron Hanks’ campaign?” CLF Communications Director Courtney Parella told Fox News Digital. “Republicans, beware.” Left-wing groups getting involved in Republican primaries has become a common occurrence over the past several years as Democrats operate under the strategy that elevating a candidate they feel is weaker by touting him or her as “too conservative” in the primary will provide the Democrat with an easier opponent in November. In 2022, Democrats spent more than $40 million to boost six pro-Trump candidates in Republican primaries, and all six of those Republicans lost their general election races to Democrats. However, many political experts view the strategy as risky, and DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene told the Washington Post in January 2024 that her group no longer supports the strategy of propping up “far-right” candidates in swing districts. Fox News Digital reached out to the Hurd campaign, Hanks campaign and Sixteen Thirty Fund but did not receive a response. “RMV PAC is committed to defeating extreme Colorado Republicans,” Amber Miller, a spokesperson for Rocky Mountain Values PAC, told The Colorado Sun.
GOP plots multimillion dollar ad spend in swing states with Senate majority in sight
The Senate Republicans’ campaign arm is launching ad buys expected to exceed $100 million ahead of the 2024 elections, in which the party stands a significant chance of taking back the majority in the upper chamber. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) on Thursday started reserving multimillion dollar ad spots for the fall in key states Ohio, Nevada, Michigan and Arizona as it eyes potential Republican pickup opportunities. The reservations are for both television and digital ad campaigns. DEMOCRATS EYE TAKE DOWN OF FEDERAL PROVISION COULD AFFECT ABORTION BY MAIL The races in Ohio and Nevada are considered “Toss Ups” by non-partisan political handicapper the Cook Political Report. In Michigan and Arizona, the Senate seats being vacated by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., are rated only “Lean Democratic.” MIKE PENCE’S GROUP URGES GOP TO OPPOSE MEASURE INCLUDING WOMEN IN FUTURE DRAFT NRSC Executive Director Jason Thielman said in a statement, “This investment is a reflection of the fact that Senate Democrats are on defense all over the country.” “Joe Biden’s extreme unpopularity has given us a chance to build a lasting Senate Majority. We have the right candidates and the right message, now we need to execute,” he added. TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE WINS VIRGINIA’S REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY TO TAKE ON TIM KAINE News of the new fall reservations comes as the campaign arm has already started working with GOP candidates in Montana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Nevada and Arizona on coordinated ad buys. According to the NRSC, similar coordinated campaigns will also be launched with Bernie Moreno in Ohio, Mike Rogers in Michigan, and Eric Hovde in Wisconsin in the next few months. The $100 million top line ad spend will include a variety of modes of advertising including TV, radio and digital, and will also incorporate additional coordinated ad campaigns with candidates. VA DEM TIM KAINE WARNS AGAINST TAKING ELECTION FOR GRANTED AS TRUMP EYES BLUE STATE The NRSC is hoping to take advantage of a less than favorable Senate reelection map for Democrats and guarantee a Republican Senate majority in the next Congress. The current breakdown between the Democratic caucus and Republican conference is 51 to 49. The campaign arm is also eyeing a potential upset in Maryland, where popular former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is testing whether he can win the blue state again.
Trump pulls within single digits in deep blue state Biden won by 23 points in 2020
It’s been 40 years since a Republican carried New York state in a presidential election. President Ronald Reagan was the last GOP standard-bearer to do it – as he won the state by eight points in his 1984 landslide White House re-election. But a new poll suggests that former President Trump is down by only single digits to President Biden in New York – a state Biden carried by 23 points four years ago in his White House election victory over Trump. WHAT THE LAST FOX NEWS NATIONAL POLL SHOWS IN THE 2024 BIDEN-TRUMP REMATCH The Democratic incumbent in the White House leads his Republican predecessor 47%-39% among registered voters in New York State questioned in a Siena College poll that was released on Thursday. TRUMP HOLDS LARGE LEAD OVER BIDEN IN STATE OBAMA WON TWICE The survey indicates that Biden’s lead has inched down from 10 points in April and 9 points in May. “While Biden maintains the support of three-quarters of Democrats, Trump has support from 85% of Republicans and leads Biden 45-28% with independents,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. “A gender gap has reopened as men support Trump 46-42% and women favor Biden 51-33%. White voters are evenly divided. And while Biden has a commanding lead with non-White voters, Trump garners support from 29% of Black and 26% of Latino voters,” Greenberg added. Biden’s approval rating as president stands at 45%-53% in the survey. And his favorability rating – at 42% favorable and 53% unfavorable – is the lowest ever among New Yorkers in Siena College polling. Trump’s favorability rating is even lower among voters in his native state. The former president stands at 37% favorable and 59% unfavorable. The Siena College poll was conducted June 12-17, with 805 registered voters in New York state questioned. The overall sampling error is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
House Republican demands action against US nonprofit whose journalist held Israeli hostages at Gaza home
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in a recent interview with Fox News Digitalc, demanded that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Biden administration take action to ensure that a U.S. nonprofit behind The Palestine Chronicle no longer receives generous tax benefits after it was discovered that one of its Gaza-based writers harbored several Israeli hostages in his home after the Oct. 7 attack. Abdallah Aljamal, described as a “contributor” on The Palestine Chronicle website and who also worked as a spokesman for the Hamas-run labor ministry in Gaza, held Israeli hostages Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, captive at his family’s home in Nuseirat, Gaza, according to the Israeli Defense Forces. Aljamal had regular bylines for the Chronicle during the eight months since the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel up until June 6, the website shows. The IDF released its findings about Aljamal, who was also described as a “Gaza-based reporter and photojournalist” on Al-Jazeera’s website, earlier this month after conducting a raid to rescue the three Israeli men he held captive, and a fourth hostage, 26-year-old Noa Argamani, from locked rooms guarded by Hamas militants in buildings in Nuseirat. The operation to rescue the hostages hidden in a civilian area also reportedly left dozens of Palestinians dead, though the Hamas-controlled health ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. An Israeli commando was also killed. ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS HAMAS SQUAD COMMANDER, SNIPER WHO PARTICIPATED IN OCT. 7 MASSACRE: IDF Lawler, who sits on the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, is among a chorus of lawmakers demanding that the People’s Media Project, the U.S. nonprofit overseeing The Palestine Chronicle, have its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status revoked as a result of the findings on Aljamal. The congressman told Fox News Digital that he and his colleagues have been concerned from the beginning about nonprofits potentially aiding and abetting terrorist activities, noting how photojournalists were “on the scene almost immediately” after the Oct. 7 attack unfolded and pro-Hamas “propaganda” has swirled online from those affiliated with Hamas in Gaza “to try and sow dissension and turn the world against Israel, as they seek to defend themselves and, you know, get the hostages released.” “Obviously, it’s disturbing, but to find out that a journalist, quote unquote, was engaged in the holding of hostages, is deeply troubling. And that’s why, myself and my colleagues have called for the 501(c)(3) status, to be revoked, and to make sure that we certainly, as the United States, government and U.S. taxpayers are not giving benefits, in any way to, entities or organizations affiliated with terrorism,” Lawler said. The congressman called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Justice Department to investigate further. “When propaganda, put out by Hamas or by affiliates of Hamas, to try and say, ‘Oh, no, we had nothing to do with it,’ well, whose house did they find these hostages in? I mean, this isn’t rocket science,” Lawler said on Thursday. “This can be pretty easily cleared up. And I think that’s really what it comes down to. From my vantage point, you know, the administration needs to take action here and direct its agencies, the IRS and the Department of Justice, to investigate.” “At minimum, obviously the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status should be revoked. But more to the point, the Department of Justice, and the IRS, and other relevant agencies should be conducting an investigation and determine, you know, the knowledge of the leadership of this entity and what they were aware of and when, and what actions they’ve taken,” Lawler said. “Because obviously, they would have to be completely ignorant of what is going on with within their own organization, or complicit. And either way, it is disturbing and troubling and needs to be rectified one way or the other.” In a June 10 letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., wrote to refer the People’s Media Project for revocation of its tax-exempt status. The committee has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into tax-exempt groups for potential connections to terrorist activities since Oct. 7. “This important development suggests that The Palestine Chronicle, which later put out a statement describing Aljamal as ‘one of its contributors’ in Gaza, is at the very least complicit in supporting Hamas, and at worst a full-fledged financier of terrorism in the Middle East,” the letter says. “This revelation, coupled with the fact that The Palestine Chronicle has previously published articles calling Hamas ‘resistance fighters’ and falsely accusing Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing,’ calls into question what People Media Project knew about its operations in the Gaza Strip, whether it ever did any due diligence on hiring Aljamal, whether it has other employees actively holding hostages in Gaza, and whether it employs other members of Hamas.” Lawler emphasized that the House had already passed legislation spearheaded by Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., in April that would strip tax-exempt status from any group providing “material support of resources” to Hamas or other designated terrorist groups, but so far, Schumer has failed to take up the bill in the Senate. ISRAEL DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM AL JAZEERA WHY ‘HAMAS TERRORIST’ ALLEGEDLY WORKED AS A REPORTER “We passed it through the House. It is sitting on Chuck Schumer’s desk, another piece of legislation, critical to supporting our allies that Chuck Schumer is just sitting on because of politics,” Lawler told Fox News Digital. “This is a bill that should easily pass. Overwhelmingly, there were only 11 votes against it, the Squad. Everybody else in Congress supported it. So there’s no reason why, you know, this bill shouldn’t pass with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate.” “Sadly, I think Sen. Schumer is playing politics, and he is deeply concerned about the splintering within the Democratic Party base. And, you know, the fact that you have a pro-Hamas apologist wing of the Democratic Party, in states like Michigan and Minnesota, and they’re concerned about how that will impact
‘Unethical’: California sheriff rips Dems for plotting ‘immoral’ move to sink anti-crime proposal
A ballot measure aimed at reforming a controversial proposition blamed by many for increased crime in California is facing what one local sheriff calls an “ingenious” and “immoral” plan to “sabotage” the effort for ideological reasons. California’s secretary of state announced this month that petitioners had garnered more than enough signatures to place a measure to reform Proposition 47 on the November ballot. Prop 47, a voter-approved initiative passed in 2014, loosened the penalties for drug and theft crimes in California and has been blamed for California’s rampant theft problems. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco discussed the reasons why the ballot measure, of which he is a primary backer, is needed to fix crime issues in the state during an interview with Fox News Digital this week. He also warned that Democrats in the California legislature are mulling a plan to kill the reform. “Prop 47 is the main contributor to many of the public safety woes that we have in California, from homelessness to drug addiction to theft, and the overall majority, almost 80% of Californians, wants proposition 47 repealed or major reforms, and everyone is aware of that except for our governor and a handful of politicians in California who have got behind Prop 47,” Bianco said. NEWSOM URGED TO HALT PROGRESSIVES’ ‘SCHEMING’ TO DERAIL POPULAR ANTI-CRIME INITIATIVE Shortly after the measure to reform Prop 47 was approved, legislators in the Democrat-controlled Capitol in Sacramento began debating legislation that they say would address crime in the state. Critics say the move is essentially a “poison pill” that Democrats will use to discourage people from voting to fix Prop 47 in November by arguing that doing so would undo the legislation that combats crime. “The Democratic leadership, particularly our governor, had to come up with a plan of how to sabotage this,” Bianco said. “It’s going to be important for Californians to know that they’re being fooled again, or at least the government, our California state government, is trying to fool them again the same way they did originally with Prop 47 by calling it the Safe Schools and Safe Streets Initiative, which it did completely the opposite.” “They have come up with a plan all of a sudden in an election year to have their own set of public safety bills that they say is going to fix the issues that we have with theft and with drug use and all those things. I need everyone to be fully aware. It is completely disingenuous. It is not true. They are misrepresenting factual law, and they are trying to fool the voters once again.” NEWSOM SEEKS TO RESTRICT STUDENTS’ CELLPHONE USE IN SCHOOLS: ‘HARMING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR YOUTH’ Bianco said the Democrat proposal, which has divided support within the party, is deceivingly backed by some law enforcement groups who inherently support any legislation that combats crime but is essentially just “window dressing.” “What they are doing is they’re making it an emergency, so they’re going to get immediate authorization to implement these rules, and then they will use our fraudulent attorney general to create a narrative for the voter guide that says if you support this proposition in the November ballot, it will repeal this, you know, a dozen bills that were an emergency for all public safety, all these crime bills; and so basically, people are going to read the ballot statement and say, ‘Wow, if I vote for this, this is going to completely repeal a whole bunch of laws that are good that law enforcement supported,’” Bianco said. “And then they’re going to vote ‘no’ on the Prop 47 fix. It is unethical. It is immoral, and this is exactly what Californians are sick of,” he continued. “From our governor, from our attorney general and from our legislature, we have activists, we have pro-criminal activists that are running our state government, and they are continuously lying to the general public, and we are all tired of it. We’re sick of it.” GOV GAVIN NEWSOM UNDER FIRE FOR ‘BOLD-FACED LIE’ ABOUT NATIONAL GUARD AT SOUTHERN BORDER The November ballot measure, known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, has support from both Republicans and Democrats, including liberal San Francisco Mayor London Breed. It is unclear whether California’s Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, a staunch defender of Prop 47, will back the “poison pill” legislation. CBS News California reported this week that Newsom’s office will not negotiate the legislation in Sacramento unless supporters of the Prop 47 fix agree to push it back to 2026. Newsom’s current term ends in 2026, and he will be term-limited from seeking re-election. A spokesperson for Newsom told Fox News Digital the governor does not comment on pending legislation but pointed to past comments from Newsom saying he is “not an ideologue on this.” “I’m the only guy who has reformed Prop 47,” Newsom said this year. “I think it’s important to level-set with people. Not to say everything about Prop 47 is perfect, we want to fix some of the ambiguities, but we can do it without reforming or going back to the voters themselves.” Over the next few months, Bianco told Fox News Digital he will be making the case to voters that Democrats in the state don’t actually care about public safety but are more interested in pushing through their ideological agenda. “We have our work cut out for us in the next several months up until voting day, because we know that we are going to be combating a lot of misinformation and a lot of money spent on propaganda to confuse voters into voting the wrong way on this proposition,” Bianco said. “We know 100% that this has all been by design. This entire pro-criminal, create chaos in the state, create business closures, create businesses to leave, close stores, that [it] is a political far-left agenda that makes government in control of everything,” Bianco said. “They can’t have independent law enforcement. They can’t have independent businesses. They can’t have independent
Trump motions to have judge in New York civil fraud case recused
Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have filed a new motion in his New York civil fraud case alleging that the judge engaged in “prohibited communications” and should recuse himself. In a motion filed with the New York State Supreme Court, Trump’s lawyers accuse Judge Arthur Engoron of engaging in actions “fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities attendant to donning the black robe and sitting in judgment.” That action refers to a conversation Engoron allegedly had with New York City real estate attorney Adam Leitman Bailey “regarding the merits of this case, the permissible scope of the New York State Attorney General’s and this Court’s own authority under Executive Law…and the consequences of this Court’s decision on business in the State.” “The New York Code of Judicial Conduct exists to ensure that litigants are afforded a fair and impartial trial. Justice Engoron’s communications with Attorney Adam Leitman Bailey regarding the merits of this case, however, directly violate that code and demonstrate that Judge Engoron cannot serve as a fair arbiter. It is clear that Judge Engoron should recuse himself immediately,” Alina Habba, spokesperson for Trump said in a statement. TRUMP POSTS $175M BOND IN NY CIVIL FRAUD CASE, AVERTS ASSET SEIZURE According to the filing, Bailey told ABC in an interview that he had tried to advise Engoron weeks before the judge’s decision. “Although Mr. Bailey claims that President Trump was not mentioned by name in the conversation, when asked whether ‘it was obvious that [his] input was related to this case,’ Mr. Bailey stated ‘well[,] obviously we weren’t talking about the Mets,’” the filing says. Engoron in February found Trump liable for more than $350 million in damages in the civil fraud case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. James’ case also targeted Trump’s family and the Trump Organization. Engoron ruled that Trump and defendants were liable for “persistent and repeated fraud,” “falsifying business records,” “issuing false financial statements,” “conspiracy to falsify false financial statements,” “insurance fraud,” and “conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.” The judge criticized Trump’s behavior during the trial, saying that he “rarely responded to the questions asked, and he frequently interjected long, irrelevant speeches on issues far beyond the scope of the trial.” TRUMP UNLOADS ON JUDGE, NYAG FOR TARGETING HIM ‘FOR POLITICAL REASONS’ DURING UNPRECEDENTED TESTIMONY According to the ABC report cited in the filing, a spokesperson for the court said: “[N]o ex parte conversation concerning this matter occurred between Justice Engoron and Mr. Bailey or any other person. The decision Justice Engoron issued February 16 was his alone, was deeply considered, and was wholly uninfluenced by this individual.” The filing notes that since those allegations have come to light, “it is reported that the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has launched an investigation into this Court’s conduct” and that “at least a dozen news outlets have reported on both the alleged ex parte communication and the pending investigation.” “The law is clear that any communication outside of the presence of the parties or their lawyers must be strictly scrutinized,” lawyers for Trump argue in the filing. “The Court is obligated to avoid attempted ex parte communications, and if an ex parte communication does occur, the Court should, at minimum, promptly notify all parties of the communication.” “The appropriate remedy for the ex parte communication is notification to the parties and recusal,” it states. “Here, it is beyond dispute that neither Defendants nor the Attorney General were present during the purported communication with Mr. Bailey. Nor did this Court ever notify either party that the purported communication took place, which would have at least permitted an opportunity for comment on the substance of the conversation, as conveyed by this Court,” the filing states. “Worse yet, Mr. Bailey’s account indicates that this Court not only permitted but welcomed such prohibited communication. According to Mr. Bailey, this Court was an active participant in a conversation concerning the merits of the case, wherein this Court asked Mr. Bailey a ‘lot of questions.’” BILL MAHER GRILLS ESPER FOR NOT BACKING BIDEN AFTER CALLING TRUMP A ‘THREAT TO DEMOCRACY;: A ’BINARY’ CHOICE Bailey did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Notably, Bailey years ago successfully sued then-real estate mogul Trump over a condo dispute. “For the foregoing reasons, Defendants respectfully request that this Court recuse itself, or, in the alternative, set the matter down for an evidentiary hearing, and grant any such other and further relief it may think proper,” the filing concludes. Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
FBI raids home connected to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao day after recall effort qualifies for ballot
The FBI on Thursday raided a home connected to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao just a day after a recall campaign to oust her from office received enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. “The FBI is conducting court authorized law enforcement activity on Maiden Lane,” a bureau spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “We are unable to provide additional information.” Property records indicate Thao is associated with the address 80 Maiden Lane in Oakland, California, though it does not appear she owns the property. A November 2022 article by The Guardian stated Thao was the “first renter” to hold the position of Oakland Mayor. DEM MAYOR FACES BACKLASH FOR CITY’S ‘HAPHAZARD’ MIGRANT POLICY: ‘CRUELTY’ The embattled mayor will face a recall on November’s ballot after community organizers garnered nearly twice the required number of signatures needed to qualify. Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao (OUST) submitted its petition two weeks ago, and on Wednesday, officials in Alameda County confirmed they had met the threshold of 25,000 voter signatures. 4 CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATIC OPERATIVES CHARGED IN ABSENTEE BALLOT MISUSE INVESTIGATION “This is a national embarrassment,” said Seneca Scott, one of the lead organizers who pushed for the recall. “I think that she’s going to have to resign and then [there will be] an interim replacement. We may have four mayors in the span of six months.” Oakland’s City Council will vote next month on when to place the recall on the ballot. Scott told Fox News Digital that OUST will still have to campaign if Thao does not resign. “However, with the news today that the FBI raided her home, I think it’s going to be an easy campaign,” Scott said. “This is going to go very very deep. I think we’re going to see a lot of things exposed in the City of Oakland.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment. Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Biden admin won’t say whether it plans to contact family of Maryland mom allegedly killed by illegal immigrant
The Biden administration will not say whether it has plans to reach out to the family of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five who was allegedly raped and murdered by an illegal immigrant last year. Randolph Rice, an attorney for the Morin family, told Fox News Digital on Thursday that Patty Morin, Rachel’s mother, had yet to be contacted by an official from the Biden administration. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House seeking information on whether they planned to make contact with the Morin family after Patty Morin told Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham on Wednesday that no one from the administration had contacted her or her family about the death of her daughter. No response was given to Fox by the White House or DHS about Morin’s comments or whether they are planning to contact the family. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ‘INFURIATED’ BY MURDER OF RACHEL MORIN, REFUSES TO CRITICIZE BIDEN FOR MIGRANT CRIMES In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said, “The Department cannot publicly comment on an ongoing criminal investigation. That said, anyone who commits a horrific and senseless crime, like the one this individual is accused of, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent under the law. Our hearts go out to Rachel Morin’s family.” The White House offered condolences to the loved ones of Rachel Morin in a statement this week but would not say what steps it would take to secure the border when asked by a Fox News Digital reporter. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Rachel Morin,” a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “We cannot comment on active law enforcement cases. But fundamentally, we believe that people should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty.” Rice told Fox that former President Trump reached out to Patty Morin on Thursday morning and that the two had a 20-minute conversation about her daughter. Patty Morin said in a press release offered by her attorney that she was “deeply touched by President Trump’s kindness and concern.” “He was genuine and truly wanted to know how our family was coping,” she added. “He asked about Rachel and showed honest compassion for her untimely death. His words brought comfort to me during this very difficult time.” Morin, 37, was reported missing in August by her boyfriend, who said she never returned after going out for a run on the Ma & Pa Trail, a pedestrian trail, in Bel Air, a quiet and typically safe town about 28 miles northeast of Baltimore, on Aug. 5, 2023. BROTHER OF WOMAN ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SPEAKS OUT: SHE WAS A ‘JOY TO BE AROUND’ Her body was found on a trail the following day. Victor Martinez Hernandez, the illegal migrant suspected of murdering Morin, was arrested on June 14 after a lengthy 10-month investigation into Morin’s murder. He was charged with rape and first-degree murder. Hernandez, who has reportedly been in the U.S. since February 2023, was apprehended while “casually sitting” at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Police said he arrived in the U.S. only a month after he allegedly murdered a young woman in El Salvador. His DNA was also linked to a March home invasion in Los Angeles, where a mother and her 9-year-old daughter were assaulted, according to authorities. “We all suspected that Rachel was not his first victim,” Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said during the arrest announcement last weekend. “It is my understanding that this suspect, this monster, fled to the United States illegally after committing the brutal murder of a young woman in El Salvador a month earlier in January of 2023.” Hernandez was expected to be extradited to Maryland on Thursday to face charges. He was scheduled to leave Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday morning and arrive at Martin State Airport between 12:30 and 1 p.m., the Harford County Police Department confirmed. Following his arrival in Maryland, the 23-year-old will be taken to the Harford County Detention Center, police said. Fox News’ Michael Lee, Bailee Hill and Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
Progressive mayor challenges rival to name ‘three drag queens’ in city: ‘redeem yourself’
The San Francisco mayoral debate took an odd turn on Monday after Democrat Mayor London Breed asked one of her challengers, Mark Farrell, to name “any drag queens” and three LGBTQ advisers to his campaign. “I’d like to ask Mark a question,” Breed began saying. “You were at the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and couldn’t name any LGBT advisers to your campaign. You were at the debate last week and couldn’t name any drag queens on your own.” “I was wondering if you could — this is an opportunity to redeem yourself. And if you could name three LGBTQ advisers for your campaign and three drag queens in San Francisco,” Breed continued. SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS AMID BUDGET, ENROLLMENT WOES: ‘WE MUST HAVE FEWER SCHOOLS’ In response, Ferrell – also a Democrat – said two on his staff are in the “queer community” but that he wouldn’t identify them. “We’re not going to revise the drag queen question from last week,” Farrell punched back. “But what I will say is I’m incredibly proud of support that I have from the LGBTQ+ community here in San Francisco.” Farrell emphasized his track record of supporting San Francisco’s LGBT community. During his tenure on the Board of Supervisors, he authored legislation to prevent same-sex couples employed by the city from facing federal taxation on their healthcare benefits, a measure enacted before same-sex marriage was legalized. CALIFORNIA POLICE UNIONS SLAM STUDY NAMING STATE BEST FOR OFFICERS: ‘NOT WHAT WE’RE HEARING’ “I will stand by my record of that, and I look forward to the continued support from our queer community throughout the city of San Francisco,” he said. Daniel Lurie, another Democratic mayoral candidate on stage, lobbed a “softball” question at Breed, asking her to name three nonprofits she shuttered due to poor performance. “I can probably provide you a list of examples. I just don’t want to do it right here today,” Breed replied. Breed, who faces a dozen challengers to her re-election, was first elected in 2018 and helms the “worst run” city in the U.S., according to a WalletHub report published Tuesday. It ranked second-to-last in 2022. SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS AMID BUDGET, ENROLLMENT WOES: ‘WE MUST HAVE FEWER SCHOOLS’ In a statement to Fox News Digital, however, Parisa Safarzadeh, a spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s Office, derided the list. “WalletHub does this every year and every year, it’s misleading and inaccurate, because this study compares San Francisco’s budget (City AND County) with other cities (City only budgets),” Safarzadeh said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A February poll by the San Francisco Chronicle showed that 80% of likely Asian voters were not satisfied with Breed’s performance, while each of her two challengers received 17% support. Breed garnered only 10% approval. Fox News Digital’s Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
Insiders reveal how Biden, Trump are prepping for the 1st 2024 presidential debate
President Biden and former President Trump appear to be taking quite different approaches in prepping for the first presidential debate of 2024. The debate, which came about after a war of words between the two over a potential on-stage clash last month, is scheduled to be held next Thursday in Atlanta, much earlier than in any previous election cycle. Trump has so far avoided any mock debates with his team and is focusing heavily on meeting with close allies and hitting the campaign trail. Meanwhile, Biden has opted to hunker down in the days leading up to what is expected to be a historic clash by prepping with his advisors at Camp David. KEY DEM SENATE CANDIDATE WHO ACCUSED OPPONENT OF ELECTION DENIALISM HAS HISTORY OF QUESTIONING RESULTS Trump has been gathering with Republican allies for private meetings in recent weeks as he looks ahead to the debate, including a handful of those in contention to be his vice presidential running mate, senators and other policy experts, sources tell Fox News Digital. His campaign has characterized the meetings as “policy discussions.” One of the vice presidential nominee contenders, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, huddled with Trump and members of his staff earlier this month at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Sources familiar with the meeting confirmed the encounter and that the session centered around debate messaging on the economy and how to target Biden over inflation. Trump also took part in another policy discussion last week during his one-day trip to the nation’s capital, where he met behind closed doors with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, another potential running mate, as well as first-term Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri. Trump co-campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, veterans in the political world, also sat in on the session, which included discussions on how to deal with likely debate questions on the Jan. 6, 2021 protests at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of the former president aiming to disrupt congressional certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory. BIDEN MAKES MAJOR GAINS WITH CRUCIAL VOTING GROUP AHEAD OF 1ST DEBATE WITH TRUMP: POLL Trump has also held policy discussions with senior advisers Kellyanne Conway and Stephen Miller, and with former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell. To date though, none of the sessions have included any mock debates, which is a switch from 2020 when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie role-played Biden to prepare Trump for the general election debates. “President Trump takes on numerous tough interviews every single week and delivers lengthy rally speeches while standing, demonstrating elite stamina. He does not need to be programmed by staff or shot up with chemicals like Joe Biden does,” senior advisor Jason Miller told Fox News Digital concerning why Trump has yet to do any traditional mock debates. Trump has demanded that both candidates be drug tested before the debate. Trump will hold a rally in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, while Biden will undergo in depth preparations at Camp David over the weekend and into next week. Biden’s former chief of staff, Ron Klain, is leading the president’s debate prep, alongside other senior campaign aides and longtime advisors, a campaign official told Fox News Digital. INSIDERS PREDICT RUST BELT REPUBLICAN, POSSIBLE TRUMP VP PICK, COULD FLIP BIDEN VOTES IN KEY SWING STATES The official said his sessions will center on ways to hold Trump “accountable for his extreme record and the dangerous things he’s been saying on the campaign trail,” including “ripping away reproductive rights, promoting political violence, undermining our democratic institutions, and doing the bidding of his billionaire donors to fund tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy and corporations by hurting seniors and the middle class.” Given the president’s “day job,” the official said he would have less time to prepare than he did four years ago, so preparations will largely be confined to immediately prior to the debate. “The President has gotten increasingly punchier in recent remarks about Trump and plans to carry that theme through to the debate, while still projecting himself as the wise and steady leader in contrast to Trump’s chaos and division,” the official said. A spokesperson for CNN confirmed to Fox News Digital that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. did not qualify for the debate despite a late effort to be included alongside his top contenders. Trump and Biden are only expected to meet on the debate stage one other time ahead of the November general election, when ABC News hosts its debate in September. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.