‘Fearmongering’: Chinese migrant surge hearing dismissed by House Dems despite national security concerns
Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee are dismissing an upcoming hearing on the sharp rise in Chinese illegal immigration as “invasion rhetoric” and “fearmongering” — sparking a sharp response from their Republican counterparts. The Republican majority is holding a hearing on Thursday about the spike in Chinese migration, called “Security Risk: The unprecedented surge in Chinese illegal immigration.” The hearing is being held by the subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Accountability. It comes as officials at the southern border have encountered more than 1,200 Chinese illegal immigrants in the first eight days of May, averaging more than 150 a day. MASSIVE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS FROM THIS FOREIGN ADVERSARY ARE ILLEGALLY ENTERING US Overall, across the border, numbers of Chinese nationals have increased dramatically since FY 2021. There were 1,970 encounters in FY 2022, over 24,000 in FY 2023 and so far this fiscal year, there have been over 24,200 encounters. Republicans and some border officials have raised concerns about the potential for espionage, as well as the smuggling of drugs like fentanyl. However, on the Democrats’ website, the hearing listing instead says “Another Republican border ‘hearing’ with invasion rhetoric and fearmongering.” A committee spokesperson told Fox Digital that the minority expects Republicans to use the hearing “to “employ hyperbolic and xenophobic rhetoric to scaremonger about a ‘foreign invasion’ at the border.” “But the facts show that changes to Chinese migration reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in China, and broader shifts in global migration patterns,” they said. “Responding to those shifts requires congressional action, including bipartisan legislation and additional funding for border security – which Republicans consistently oppose or block.” Republicans on the committee described the dismissiveness as “disappointing.” “It’s sad that House Democrats’ response to this hearing sounds more like Chinese state media than anything else,” Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Dan Bishop told Fox News Digital. BORDER PATROL SECTOR STOPS HUNDREDS OF CHINESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN JUST TWO DAYS AS NUMBERS SOAR “This fiscal year, apprehensions of Chinese nationals by Border Patrol agents at our Southwest border already exceed those from fiscal years 2007 – 2020 combined,” he said. “It should be extremely alarming to everyone, regardless of party, when record numbers of individuals from an adversarial nation flood into our country without vetting or oversight. House Democrats are clearly uninterested in combating this national security threat, which is disappointing — but not surprising.” Meanwhile, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., who serves on both the House Homeland Security Committee and the new Select Committee on China, stressed the importance of combating the threat from China and securing the border. “The Communist Party of China has proven that it will stop at nothing to undermine the United States, including weaponizing migration, in its cynical quest to be the world’s dominant military & economic power by the year 2049,” he said. “The Biden Administration continues its pathetic campaign to appease Communist China, while the regime in Beijing plays an active role with Mexican drug cartels to smuggle lethal fentanyl across our border — killing over 100,000 Americans last year alone,” he said. “We must secure our border and address the unprecedented surge in those entering our country illegally, especially from Communist China.” The back-and-forth is the latest Chinese-based controversy for committee members. In 2020, it was reported that a suspected Chinese spy had interacted with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who is on the committee. She had allegedly targeted a number of Bay Area Democrats — including Swalwell — and interacted with him, including helping place an intern in his office, before he was alerted by the FBI of Fang’s behavior in 2015 – at which point he cut contact with her. A subsequent House Ethics Committee investigation reviewed the allegations but found no wrongdoing last year. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub.
GOP AG in Trump courtroom predicts a ‘really bad day’ for Michael Cohen cross-examination
GOP Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sat in the Manhattan courtroom Monday for the unprecedented criminal trial of former President Trump and predicted a “really bad day” for the prosecution’s star witness on Tuesday. Marshall, a 30-year veteran prosecutor, was in court supporting Trump, telling Fox News Digital the trial is what the former president “rightly believes is a sham of a prosecution.” Michael Cohen, Trump’s ex-lawyer and self-proclaimed “fixer,” testified for hours Monday and took the stand again for cross-examination on Tuesday. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Marshall said he predicted a “really bad day” for Cohen, considered the prosecution team’s star witness, facing questioning from Trump’s defense team. NY V. TRUMP TRIAL RESUMES WITH ‘STAR WITNESS’ MICHAEL COHEN EXPECTED TO TAKE THE STAND “Michael Cohen is going to have a really bad day,” Marshall said. “He’s got a lot of explaining to do, and the only thing the jury is going to be able to conclude is that while Michael Cohen made a career on monetizing his relationship with Donald Trump, his testimony in this case was designed to monetize his ability to get Donald Trump a conviction, and that is not going to play very well” Marshall said “the best resolution” to this case, in his view, is for the court to enter a judgment of acquittal. “And by the time the defense team has this testimony, he’s going to be completely discredited,” Marshall said, adding that he believes the defense will move for an acquittal. “What seemingly gets lost in the discussion is what this case is about, and that is, false business entries into the records on Trump that inherently, according to the prosecution, lead to some other criminal offense, some conspiracy to commit some other crime. And I haven’t seen it,” Marshall said. “And the discussion about the NDA negotiations with Stormy Daniels’ lawyers, the references to what took place, had no bearing on what the prosecution ultimately has to prove – which is that Donald Trump was aware of false entries, did so with a fraudulent intent and that that was designed to be able to commit another offense – which is yet has not been disclosed,” Marshall added. NY V TRUMP: COHEN TESTIFIES TO PAYING STORMY DANIELS FROM HIS OWN POCKET “And sitting through what I think is almost all of the direct examination of Michael Cohen… There still is no link and there still is no nexus to the man who was charged with this offense,” he said. Cohen is said to be the star witness for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team as they try to prove the former president falsified business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. SPEAKER JOHNSON TO ATTEND TRUMP TRIAL IN MANHATTAN IN SHOW OF SUPPORT Bragg charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence. Trump, for years, has denied the encounter with Daniels ever happened. Trump later made several payments of $35,000 to Cohen, who was serving as his personal attorney at the time. The payments totaled $420,000. The payments from Trump to Cohen are the basis for Bragg’s indictment of Trump. Bragg is trying to prove that the payments were reimbursements to Cohen for the hush money payment to Daniels. But Trump defense attorneys maintain that the $35,000 payments were “not a payback,” but were, instead, legal payments. Marshall said Bragg’s case against Trump is an “affront” to what state prosecutors are meant to do. “I’ve worked in the criminal justice system as a voice for victims in law enforcement. I care desperately about what that system represents and what it is that prosecutors are supposed to do, and this case is an affront to that,” Marshall told Fox News Digital. Bragg’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump trial veepstakes? Trump allies show up in force ahead of Michael Cohen’s second day of testimony
Former President Trump’s unprecedented trial in Manhattan is featuring support from GOP lawmakers and politicians who have been floated as potential running mates for Trump’s 2024 run. Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Trump was flanked by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Rep. Cory Mills and former 2024 GOP contender Vivek Ramaswamy, all of whom are defenders of the 45th president and could be in the running as potential vice presidential picks. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also notably appeared in support of Trump’s battle against 34 counts of falsifying business records, Fox News Digital reported. “Vivek is here right now, so he can speak for himself – he said, ‘This is a sham trial. It’s politically motivated. It’s an assault on the leading candidate for U.S. president.’… He’s going to talk to you. The speaker of the House is here. We have Byron Donalds, Cory is here. We have a lot of great people here to talk to you,” Trump said outside of the courtroom Tuesday. MICHAEL COHEN TESTIMONY TO CONTINUE AFTER EX-LAWYER REVEALS SECRET RECORDINGS OF TRUMP IN NY TRIAL The lineup comes after the former president was joined Monday by Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who has also been floated as a potential running mate, New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, and his son Eric Trump. Eric Trump is also in court with his father again Tuesday. A Trump campaign official told Fox News Digital that the supporters all volunteered to join Trump in court to support their friend, and were not invited by the campaign. Trump is back in court Tuesday for his 17th day of the trial, where the court is expected to again hear from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. MASSIVE TRUMP BEACH RALLY IN DEEP-BLUE NJ DRAWS STARK CONTRAST TO BIDEN’S BEACH WEEKEND: ‘BIDEN COULD NEVER’ Monday was an action-packed day in court, hearing testimony for the first time from Cohen. The case focuses on Cohen paying former pornographic actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair with the then-real estate tycoon in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels. TRUMP BLASTS ‘HIGHLY CONFLICTED’ JUDGE AFTER MICHAEL COHEN’S FIRST DAY OF TESTIMONY WRAPS Prosecutors allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and fraudulently logged the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit or conceal a second crime. Cohen took the stand Monday morning, and detailed to the court that he spent his own funds to pay Daniels $130,000 in order to execute a non-disclosure agreement and obtain rights to her claims of an affair. In October 2016, according to Cohen’s testimony, he told Trump that Daniels must be paid in order to quiet her claims ahead of Election Day the following month. He testified that he spoke with Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg about how to fund the payment, with Weisselberg saying he was not in a position to initially foot the bill. Cohen said he did not discuss the matter with his wife, and decided to gather funds through a home equity line of credit instead of drawing the money from his personal account. MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES HE SECRETLY RECORDED TRUMP IN LEAD-UP TO 2016 ELECTION Cohen’s testimony also included how he secretly recorded Trump in 2016 regarding another payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal. McDougal also claimed she had an affair with Trump in 2006, which the 45th president has repeatedly denied. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker purchased exclusive rights to her story to bury the claims ahead of the 2016 election, according to trial testimony. Cohen said he secretly recorded Trump in September 2016 as proof Trump planned to reimburse Pecker for purchasing the potentially damaging story, according to the testimony. Cohen added that in addition to easing Pecker’s mind that he would be repaid, he also made the recording in order to keep Pecker “loyal” to Trump. TRUMP, DEFENDERS SHOW UP IN FORCE AHEAD OF COHEN TESTIMONY The large showing of Trump allies this week comes as Trump has played coy with the press as to who he will select as his veep, only telling the media the selection will be made ahead of the Republican National Convention in July. “This weekend, we had 15 people…. They’re all out there campaigning,” Trump told Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin last week after a closed-door fundraiser in Florida. “It might actually be more effective this way because, you know, every one of them thinks they could be chosen, which I guess possibly is so.” MICHAEL COHEN’S CREDIBILITY ISSUES, BRAZEN TIKTOK USAGE RAISE MEDIA EYEBROWS AHEAD OF TESTIMONY MICHAEL COHEN EXPECTED TO TAKE THE STAND AS NY V. TRUMP TRIAL RESUMES On Monday, Vance, Malliotakis and Tuberville held a brief press conference outside the courthouse, where they railed against the gag order imposed on Trump amid the trial, which prevents him from speaking publicly about witnesses and family members of court officials. Trump was found in violation of the order on 10 separate occasions, resulting in a combined $10,000 fine, with presiding Judge Juan Merchan warning Trump could face jail if he continues to violate the order. “The thing that the president is prevented from saying, which is a disgrace, is that every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative,” Vance said.
New Mexico’s first step toward reuse of fracking water met with public concern
Environmental officials in New Mexico took initial steps Monday toward regulating the treatment and reuse of oil industry fracking water as the state grapples with scarce water supplies and fossil fuel producers confront shrinking opportunities for wastewater disposal. A state water quality commission opened a weeklong series of hearings as the nation’s No. 2 state for petroleum production begins to build out a series of rules that initially prohibit the release after treatment of so-called produced water from oil and gas production while still opening the way for pilot projects. “The rule is prohibitive when it comes to any type of release of any type of produced water, whether treated or untreated,” said Andrew Knight, assistant general counsel to the state Environment Department, in opening statements. “At this point, we couldn’t even tell you what testing would be needed to determine that a certain treatment technology or combination of technologies would be protective.” BIDEN ADMIN ENACTS FIRST-EVER PFAS ‘FOREVER CHEMICAL’ LIMITS ON DRINKING WATER He said the agency’s initial rule would be “as protective as possible while still allowing the science to advance through pilot and then demonstration projects.” The proposal is generating public protests that give voice to fears of undisclosed contaminants used in the oil- and gas-drilling process. At the same time, oil producers and at least one water service provider say the regulations don’t provide specific water quality standards that might help effective treatment projects move forward. The Environment Department “apparently wants a regulation to be able to deny a permit based on the source of the water, not its quality,” said Liz Newlin Taylor, an attorney for Select Water Solutions, a Houston-based water-management company for energy producers with operations in Carlsbad. “New Mexico certainly needs additional sources of water, and treated produced water could be part of this solution. These proposed regulations, however, failed.” Several environmental groups are urging the Environment Department to strike definitions that refer to the reuse of treated water in agriculture, recreational fields, rangeland and potable water. “The public, understandably, is concerned that the rule allows land application of produced water, and that produced water will infiltrate and pollute groundwater,” said Tannis Fox, an attorney representing environmental groups Amigos Bravos and The Sierra Club. “This is not what the rule says, but it is what members of the public are concerned about.” New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has pitched plans for the state to underwrite a strategic new source of water by buying and selling treated water that originates from the used, salty byproducts of oil and natural gas drilling. Related legislation stalled at the Legislature in February without a House or Senate floor vote, but the governor has said she’ll persist. Several dozen protesters gathered last week outside the state Capitol to condemn the oil wastewater rule. They included the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging the state has failed to meet constitutional provisions for protecting against oil and gas pollution. Another protester, Reyes DeVore, of Jemez Pueblo and the Native American environmental rights group Pueblo Action Alliance, said, “We collectively stand in opposition to the reuse of toxic oil and gas wastewater outside of the oil field.” “The strategic water supply that the Gov. Grisham announced, it’s not a real solution,” she said. Expert testimony submitted by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association paints a dire portrait of competition in New Mexico for water resources among cities, farms, industry and wildlife — even as oil-industry water demands grow for fracking. “Over the next 50 years, New Mexico will have approximately 25% less water available in rivers and aquifers,” said John D’Antonio, who previously served as New Mexico’s top water regulator — the state engineer. “It impacts everything from municipal planning to population growth to economic activity.” Other expert testimony from the association notes that oil companies have more and more produced water to dispose of as they increase drilling activity — with decreasing capacity for disposal because of concerns including earthquakes linked to high-pressure injection wells. The industry generates four or five barrels of wastewater for every barrel of oil produced, said Robert Balch of the Petroleum Research Recovery Center at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
Racial slur, alleged threat to ‘execute’ man: Watch most outrageous moments from this Dem Senate candidate
The Democrat frontrunner in one of this year’s top Senate races is no stranger to controversy. Rep. David Trone – who is running to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin in Maryland and faces a tough primary challenge on Tuesday – has frequently been caught making some truly wild statements, both as a candidate and member of Congress, as well as while working in the private sector. From using a racial slur, to allegedly threatening to “execute” someone, here are five of Trone’s wackiest moments: BIDEN FACING UPHILL BATTLE IN KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES AS DOWN-BALLOT DEMS LEAD: POLL Trone dropped a disparaging term for Black people while speaking during a House Budget Committee hearing about tax policy on March 21 with Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Budget and Management, who was testifying before the committee. “So this Republican jigaboo that – it’s the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business,” he said. “They’ve never been there. They don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.” Trone attempted to play cleanup following his use of the word, telling Fox News Digital he misspoke while trying to use a different word. “Today while attempting to use the word ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive. That word has a long, dark, terrible history. It should never be used any time, anywhere, in any conversation,” Trone said. TRUMP VEEPSTAKES: THE PROS AND CONS OF SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM “I recognize that as a White man, I have privilege. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use – especially in the heat of the moment. Regardless of what I meant to say, I shouldn’t have used that language,” he added. A number of Black lawmakers subsequently chose not to endorse him, including Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, and Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who all announced their support for Trone’s Democratic primary opponent, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Trone went off last week on a reporter who pressed him concerning a controversial remark he made on social media about police. The tense exhange between Trone and Fox 5 reporter Tom Fitzgerald happened during a campaign stop in Rockville, Maryland, when Trone expressed his anger about the outlet’s reporting from the previous day on his claim that an “increased police presence” doesn’t make people feel safe. “You should be ashamed of the journalism that you did yesterday,” Trone said as he approached the reporter who had just asked him about his widely panned X post focused on crime and policing. In the post, Trone claimed the American justice system is “systemically racist,” and that an “increased police presence” doesn’t “make everyone feel safer.” WATCH: DEM GOVERNOR SWARMED BY ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS WHILE CELEBRATING DAUGHTER’S COLLEGE GRADUATION “I should be ashamed? I’m not ashamed, congressman,” Fitzgerald responded before Trone accused him of cherry-picking lines out of the post. “You took one line out of 20, and you should be ashamed of that type of journalism… You’re shilling for Larry Hogan, so keep shilling for Larry Hogan,” Trone railed against Fitzgerald, accusing him of advocating for his rival, former Republican Maryland Gov. Hogan, who is also running for Senate. “If you want to do that, feel free to shill. That’s all I’ve got to say. Go back and read the whole section of tweets. It was very supportive of our police,” Trone said. Fitzgerald responded that he did read the entire tweet thread, but Trone, before walking away, simply shot back, “You didn’t. You didn’t, and you’re just making it up. You’re just making it up, so thank you.” Trone allegedly threatened to “execute” a delivery worker at a Total Wine in Tempe, Arizona, according to a 2021 police report first reported by The Spectator last year. The congressman, who made millions as a co-founder of the retailer, allegedly threatened to “f—ing end” deliveryman Cody Huard while he was making a delivery at the location, the outlet reported. Huard called the police after a heated confrontation with Trone, who was allegedly upset that merchandise was stacked on the floor. BIDEN GETS BOOST FROM MAJOR HEALTH CARE GROUP WARNING TRUMP POSES ‘THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH’ “I will f—ing end you,” “I will execute you,” “you’re not on my payroll, I will end you right now,” Trone said, according to the report. Eyewitnesses confirmed Trone “yelled at” and “threatened” the man, but it’s unclear if he was charged in the incident. Trone told a local reporter on Monday that he relates to Black voters because of his family’s struggles with alcoholism and because he grew up without indoor plumbing. “We need someone who actually speaks for us, someone who has our values – I went to public school, she went to private school – someone that lived the life they did. I didn’t even have indoor plumbing. We had an outhouse,” Trone said, taking a jab at Alsobrooks, who is Black. “I grew up in a family that was destroyed by alcoholism. Destroyed. So, we grew up in a tough circumstance, and things weren’t easy. But, at the end of the day, we became successful,” he added. BILLIONAIRE FAMILY BANKROLLING BOTH ANTI-ISRAEL GROUPS AND THESE BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRATS The reporter asked Trone if that was the story he believed would help him resonate with Black voters, to which he said, “Clearly.” Trone blasted members of his campaign staff in 2017 over a scheduling issue, local Maryland outlet A Miner Detail reported in June the following year. Campaign staffers leaked the email, which showed Trone accusing them of being “insubordinate,” and him upset that his wife, June, was asked to attend an event by then-campaign policy director Grace Rivera-Oven that he determined was a waste of her time. “Grace explained to her Thursday that she should attend and that she is needed and therefore she got up at 6:00 a.m.
Red-state financial officers urge Biden to back Israel, ‘alarmed’ of wavering support in ‘hour of need’
FIRST ON FOX: More than 20 U.S. state-level financial officers are urging the Biden administration to continue its support for Israel amid the Israel Defense Forces’ recent invasion of Rafah. “As state financial officers, we appreciate your early pledges of ironclad support for Israel following the October 7th attacks. Yet, we are concerned that commitment has wavered in recent months,” 23 members of the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) wrote in a letter to Biden on Tuesday. SFOF is a “small government, pro-growth” conservative group comprised of state auditors, treasurers and comptrollers, according to its website. “Violent, antisemitic protests have erupted across the country. Recent comments equivocating on this abhorrent behavior have only served to further embolden protesters,” the letter continued. “We are alarmed that in Israel’s hour of need, it appears the precision weapons that Israel needs to defend its very right to exist are being withheld.” US OFFERS ISRAEL INTEL ON HAMAS LEADERS FOR PLEDGE TO HOLD BACK ON RAFAH The state financial officers from Alabama, Louisiana, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia and Kansas also filed a resolution that establishes its unwavering support for Israel and sent it to the White House. The officers’ resolution vowed their states “will not invest in entities that convey antisemitic sentiments or that contribute to non-profit organizations that are openly antisemitic” and “will use our authority, as appropriate and applicable, to address the anti-West cancer that has infected the educational institutions within our states.” Last week, President Biden threatened to withhold weapons from Israel if the Jewish State goes forward with its invasion of Rafah, Hamas’ last stronghold in Gaza. Biden clarified that the U.S. will continue sending defensive weapons to Israel, like supplies for Israel’s Iron Dome. BIDEN UNDER INVESTIGATION AFTER THREAT TO ISRAEL’S OFFENSIVE AID: ‘PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES’ The state treasurers are urging Biden to “eliminate any equivocation in your words and actions when it comes to support for Israel, as it fights against the horrors of the terrorist group Hamas.” John Fleming, Louisiana’s state treasurer, told Fox News Digital in an interview he was one of the first officers to sign onto the letter. “Israel should not stop, and we shouldn’t stop helping Israel until they eliminate Hamas,” Fleming said. “But at the same time, trying to protect the Palestinians, the Gazans as much as possible.” Fleming compared the fight against Hamas to America’s war against ISIS extremism, saying “Hamas is a terrorist organization” similar to ISIS. “They didn’t ask for this war,” Fleming said. “They were attacked, and in the most vile and evil way, where people were taken hostage, where women were raped and mutilated.” “We believe in the right for people to protest and the First Amendment, but we are opposed to anybody of either side, attacking or harming someone in their quest to get their message out. But ultimately, we are on the side of Israel,” Fleming said. BIDEN ADMIN SHOULD CHECK HAMAS’ MINISTRY OF HEALTH DEATH STATS, EXPERT WARNS Israel has taken military action in Rafah, but according to Biden, they have yet to cross his red line in entering population centers. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in an interview released Wednesday. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah – they haven’t gone in Rafah yet – if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem,” Biden said. Biden added, “I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet: They’re not going to get our support, if in fact they go on these population centers.” Biden has been criticized by Republicans after it was revealed last week that his administration was stalling its shipments of weapons to Israel even after Congress passed its foreign aid package. Anti-Israel protests have erupted across the country on college campuses over the last few weeks. Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
Trump co-defendants officially file notices of appeal to kick Fani Willis off GA case
Co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case against former President Trump have filed notices of appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals in their bid to have Fulton County District Attorney Fani WIllis disqualified. Last week, the appeals court said that it would hear the case raised by Trump and several co-defendants that Willis should be disqualified from the case because she had an “improper” affair with special counsel Nathan Wade, whom she hired. Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Cathy Latham and Michael Roman all filed their notices of appeal Monday in the case, joining former Georgia GOP head David Shafer in kicking off the briefing processes before the court, WSB-TV reported. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Wade had to be removed in order to keep Willis from disqualification in the sweeping racketeering case against Trump. MEET FANI WILLIS’ GOP CHALLENGER FOR THE TOP PROSECUTOR JOB IN DEEP-BLUE GEORGIA Trump and several co-defendants alleged Willis and Wade were romantically involved prior to his hiring and that she financially benefited from the relationship. Both Willis and Wade denied those allegations. Judge McAfee allowed the defense to appeal his ruling, and the appeals court announced last week that they will hear the defense’s case to still have Willis disqualified. “President Trump looks forward to presenting interlocutory arguments to the Georgia Court of Appeals as to why the case should be dismissed and Fulton County DA Willis should be disqualified for her misconduct in this unjustified, unwarranted political persecution,” Trump lawyer Steve Sadow said in a statement. A court date has not yet been set. GEORGIA SENATORS FIND LITTLE OVERSIGHT OVER HOW FANI WILLIS SPENDS TAXPAYER DOLLARS: ‘LIKE THE WILD WEST’ McAfee’s ruling in March said that the defendants “failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest in this case through her personal relationship and recurring travels with her lead prosecutor.” “However, the established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team — an appearance that must be removed through the State’s selection of one of two options,” he wrote, adding that Willis and her whole office can choose to step aside, or Wade can withdraw from the case. Wade subsequently resigned from his post as special prosecutor. The co-defendants had alleged that Willis benefited financially by hiring Wade because they were in a pre-existing relationship when he was hired in 2021 and would vacation together. Both Wade and Willis denied they were in a romantic relationship prior to his hiring and that the couple would split the costs of their shared travels. Willis said she reimbursed Wade for her share of the trips in cash. In his March order, McAfee said while Willis’ “reimbursement practice” was “unusual and the lack of any documentary corroboration understandably concerning,” he ultimately decided that the defendants did not present “sufficient evidence” that expenses weren’t “roughly divided evenly.” NATHAN WADE SPEAKS OUT ON ‘WORKPLACE ROMANCE’ WITH FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS: ‘AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE’ He also said that “the evidence demonstrated that the financial gain flowing from her relationship with Wade was not a motivating factor on the part of the District Attorney to indict and prosecute this case.” In February, Judge McAfee held a two-day evidentiary hearing, when the defense, led by attorney Ashley Merchant, set out to expose a money trail that would mean Willis has a conflict of interest in the case against Trump and should be disqualified. “[T]he Court finds that the record made at the evidentiary hearing established that the District Attorney’s prosecution is encumbered by an appearance of impropriety,” McAfee wrote in his order. “As the case moves forward, reasonable members of the public could easily be left to wonder whether the financial exchanges have continued resulting in some form of benefit to the District Attorney, or even whether the romantic relationship has resumed.” “Put differently, an outsider could reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist,” he said. When the defense in March submitted a joint motion for a Certificate of Immediate Review, McAfee said that his Order on the Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss and Disqualify the Fulton County District Attorney issued March 15 “is of such importance to the case that immediate review should be had” and allowed the defendants to ask the Georgia appeals court for an opportunity to appeal, which the court granted on Wednesday.
AAP breaks silence on Swati Maliwal assault case, says ‘this is a…’
Arvind Kejriwal has taken cognizance of the incident and has directed strict action in the incident, AAP MP Sanjay Singh.
US v Menendez: Dem senator’s corruption trial kicks off with surprising delay
Jury selection continues for Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez’s federal corruption trial on Tuesday morning. As of Monday afternoon, zero jurors were seated for the trial, which is taking place in a Manhattan courtroom and expected to continue through the end of June. By Monday afternoon, the judge excused 38 of 152 jurors for various reasons pertaining to why they could not be present for the case. That leaves 114 jurors who will return this morning for continued selection. Jurors will be expected to discern whether evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, shows they were part of a bribery scheme, including meddling in criminal investigations and taking actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar. All three have pleaded not guilty. Co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the other defendants. A trial for the senator’s wife, who is also charged, is delayed until at least July for health reasons. This is the second time in a decade that Menendez has been accused in a federal corruption case. BOB MENENDEZ’S CORRUPTION CASE CO-DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO 7 COUNTS, COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS Menendez was charged by federal prosecutors with obstruction of justice in another superseding indictment unsealed in March relating to a multiyear alleged bribery scheme involving the Egypt and Qatar governments. The 18-page indictment is wrapped into Menendez’s existing charges already against him and his co-defendants – including his wife, Nadine – for allegedly acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a senator. The indictment comes after Uribe accepted a plea deal and agreed to cooperate last week. The charges on Tuesday also alleged Menendez committed conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion and wire fraud. DEMOCRAT SEN BOB MENENDEZ FACING INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY CHARGES Prosecutors also state in the new indictment that Menendez instructed his lawyers to inform the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in 2022 about his awareness of businessman Wael Hana issuing a payment exceeding $23,000 for Nadine’s home mortgage and the money that Uribe contributed for her new luxury vehicle. Menendez also allegedly advised his attorneys to disclose to the prosecutor’s office that he later discovered the funds were actually loans, when “In truth and in fact, and as Menendez well knew,” the mortgage and car payments were made prior to 2022 “and they were not loans, but bribe payments,” prosecutors wrote in Tuesday’s indictment. TRUMP, HOUSE DEMS DEFEND TEXAS CONGRESSMAN ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING MEXICAN BRIBES, BUT FOR VERY DIFFERENT REASONS Menendez is also accused of accepting bribes and gifts in exchange for helping to benefit Qatar as part of a corruption scheme from 2021 through 2023. Menendez, along with his wife and the three New Jersey businessmen, were first charged in the federal bribery scheme on Sept. 23. Hana, Daibes, the senator and Nadine Menendez have pleaded not guilty. Fox News Digital’s Daniel Wallace and Jennifer Johnson contributed to this report.
North Carolina Republican congressional runoff shows Trump’s sway in GOP state politics
A Republican primary runoff for a North Carolina congressional district on Tuesday could demonstrate yet again the strong influence former President Donald Trump has on GOP politics across the country. Voters will choose between attorneys Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott in the runoff for the reconfigured 13th Congressional District. Daughtry finished first, and Knott second, in the March 5 primary. GOP candidates for the statewide offices of lieutenant governor and state auditor are also on runoff ballots. Trump endorsed Knott in April. Weeks later, Daughtry suspended her campaign, when early voting was already underway. The runoff continued on Tuesday with both names on the ballot. Knott must win the most votes to ensure victory; he’s reminded his supporters that they need to get out and vote. NORTH CAROLINA GOP ELECTS TRUMP-ENDORSED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS ITS NEXT CHAIRMAN If Daughtry were to win, but turned down the nomination, local Republicans would choose a replacement to take on Democrat Frank Pierce in November. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, won North Carolina, the country’s ninth-largest state, in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, and the state is expected to be a presidential battleground this fall. Turnout for Tuesday’s runoffs is expected to be very low, however. Democrats have no primaries. The former president has a history of intervening in North Carolina politics. This year marks the second time he has endorsed a Daughtry opponent; in a 2022 primary for the 13th District, he backed her challenger and then-political newcomer Bo Hines, who won the primary. Trump also endorsed then-U.S. Rep. Ted Budd in the 2022 GOP primary for U.S. Senate. Budd easily defeated former Gov. Pat McCrory, then went on to win the general election. In the recent March primary, Trump also backed first-time candidate Addison McDowell, who ended up winning the 6th Congressional District race. A total of 14 candidates had initially competed this year for the 13th District seat, which represents all or parts of eight counties in or close to the capital of Raleigh. The district was retooled to the right by the Republican-controlled legislature, prompting current Democratic U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel not to run for reelection. The seat is one of three the GOP expects to add to the U.S. House from North Carolina in the fall election, thanks to redistricting. Daughtry was the top fundraiser and the top vote-getter in the March 5 primary, but she failed to garner at least 30% of the vote, the amount required to avoid a runoff. The second-place finisher must officially request a runoff for it to take place, and Knott did so. Despite those advantages, Daughtry essentially ended her campaign earlier this month in response to Trump’s April 5 endorsement of Knott, a former assistant U.S. attorney from Raleigh. Daughtry said the endorsement made clear to her “that a pathway to victory is no longer feasible.” “I believe in the democratic process and respect the endorsement of our President,” she said in a written statement. In a social media endorsement, Trump called Knott a “Strong Patriot” who would support law enforcement, secure the U.S.-Mexico border and protect gun rights. As for Daughtry, the daughter of a longtime Republican legislative leader, Trump called her a “RINO” — Republican in Name Only — and someone who “is no friend to MAGA,” a reference to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. He said Daughtry had contributed to the campaigns of some Democratic candidates in the past. In other races Tuesday, the runoff for lieutenant governor features Hal Weatherman, a former chief of staff to then-Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, and Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill. Forest finished first in the primary’s initial 11-candidate field. The winner will take on Democratic state Sen. Rachel Hunt, daughter of former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. The GOP auditor’s runoff features candidates Jack Clark and Dave Boliek. The winner will take on Democratic State Auditor Jessica Holmes. Libertarian Party candidates also are running for auditor and lieutenant governor. GOP runoff voting is open to registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters who either voted in the March Republican primaries or didn’t vote at all.