Millions of dollars pour into crucial Senate race as Dems try to derail GOP campaign: ‘Relentless assault’
FIRST ON FOX: Dueling candidates in the heated Montana Senate race have reported both raising millions in the first fundraising quarter of the 2024 Big Sky State battle – one that could determine party control of the chamber this fall. Former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, a Republican running to unseat Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in November, touted his campaign’s “incredible momentum” after bringing in over $3 million for his Senate campaign in the first fundraising quarter of 2024. The funds, shared first with Fox News Digital, include $2.6 million that came from fundraising, with an additional $500k loaned to the campaign from Sheehy himself. “We are humbled by the incredible momentum and support we’re seeing across the state. We have been under a relentless assault with millions being spent on attack ads against us. Chuck Schumer, Jon Tester, and their liberal allies are now smearing a combat veteran because they know the hard truth: They are losing this race,” Sheehy told Fox News Digital in a statement. WAPO ‘SMEAR’ OF HIGHLY-DECORATED IRAQ WAR VETERAN, SENATE CANDIDATE OMITS CRITICAL INFO “Montanans are rallying around a political outsider who will deliver common sense solutions like rebuilding a strong economy with low-inflation, creating more high-paying jobs, securing our border and ending reckless spending,” the former Navy SEAL said. “Come November, with the help of my fellow Montanans, we will finally retire Jon Tester and Joe Biden.” DEM HIT WITH $15 MILLION BORDER-RELATED AD BLITZ IN ‘TOSS-UP’ SENATE RACE Tester reported raising $8 million in the first quarter of 2024, setting a new record for first quarter fundraising in a Montana Senate race. The Senator, who is seeking a third term, received donations from individuals in all 56 counties in Montana. “This record-breaking grassroots support shows that Montanans are fired up to send the seven-fingered dirt farmer back to the U.S. Senate,” Shelbi Dantic, Montanans for Tester campaign manager, said in a press release shared with Fox News Digital. “Every day, Montanans learn more about Tim Sheehy: that he’s a multimillionaire transplant from out-of-state, that he wants to transfer our public lands and shutter our rural hospitals, and that he has repeatedly lied to them about his story and who he is. Montanans know they can’t trust Sheehy, and we’re so grateful for the enormous enthusiasm we’re seeing from our neighbors who are excited to vote for Jon Tester in November.” Democrats have put an emphasis on the Montana Senate race as they attempt to hold onto their Senate majority in 2024, with a group launched by Sen. Chuck Schumer’s Senate Majority PAC recently spending millions in ads across the Big Sky State targeting Sheehy. Additionally, an article was recently published by the Washington Post that heavily quoted Democrat-tied experts and casted doubt on whether the Navy SEAL actually received a bullet wound in Afghanistan. Sheehy recently revealed that a bullet in his arm, which in 2015 he said was a result of an accidental self-inflicted gun shot, was actually received while serving in Afghanistan in 2012. The Senate candidate told the Washington Post that he never reported it to his superiors due to fear of an investigation, prompting the outlet to interview several individuals and question the validity of his story. The Washington Post used Air Force attorney Rachel VanLandingham, who called Sheehy a “deeply flawed hero whose fitness for office is highly questionable” in an April 6 post on X, as a reference to question the Republican candidate’s story. The outlet also reported that trauma surgeon Joseph V. Sakran, a vocal anti-Trump activist and former Democrat staffer who donated over $21,000 to Democrats, said “it is not possible to tell what type of weapon it came from nor the age of the wound.” Sheehy described the report as a “smear piece,” but his team said they “aren’t shocked” as he ramps up his Senate campaign. “We aren’t shocked the Washington Post chose to cite known Democrats for their smear piece against decorated combat veteran Tim Sheehy,” a Sheehy for Montana spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub
Biden silent after being pressed about Iranian strike against Israel: ‘What now?’
President Biden left a question about Iran’s recent attacks against Israel unanswered at a press conference on Monday. Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked the question shortly before Biden departed from his presser with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Several reporters began shouting questions at the two world leaders, but Doocy’s query rang loud and clear. “President Biden, you told Iran, ‘Don’t,’ and they did it anyway, so what now?” the journalist asked. HOUSE TEES UP 17 BILLS RELATED TO IRAN/ISRAEL FOR THIS WEEK Doocy’s question was a reference to Biden’s previous warning against the Iranian regime on Friday. He said that an Iranian strike against Israel was imminent, less than a day before the airstrikes commenced. At the time, Biden told reporters that his only message to Iran was, “Don’t.” His response sparked outrage from Republicans. “So much for President Biden telling bad guys ‘Don’t’ actually being an effective deterrent,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote in an X post on Saturday. “Every time he says ’Don’t,’ they do.” “Under President Trump, Iran was broke,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Saturday. “President Biden gifted them billions of dollars and then naively said ‘don’t.’” HOW CAN ISRAEL RESPOND TO IRAN’S BRAZEN ATTACK? “‘Don’t’ is not a foreign policy. Joe Biden’s policies have funded Iran’s attack on Israel,” Blackburn continued. In the days since the attack, the White House has signaled support for Israel. National Security Advisor of the United States Jake Sullivan said he spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, on Saturday. “During the call, I reiterated the United States’ ironclad commitment to the security of Israel,” Sullivan explained. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also said that he expressed support to his Israeli counterpart on Saturday. “I spoke to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Israel’s defense,” Austin wrote. “The United States stands with Israel amid threats from Iran and its regional proxies.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. Fox News Digital’s Michael Lee and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Supreme Court rejects appeal from Black Lives Matter leader held liable for violent attack on police officer
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Black Lives Matter organizer who was held liable by a lower court for a random protester’s attack on a police officer at a protest he organized. In 2016, civil rights activist Deray Mckesson was sued by an unnamed Baton Rouge police officer — “John Doe” — for injuries he sustained during a protest. Doe claimed that an unidentified third party threw a “rock-like” object during the protest and hit him, knocking his teeth out and leaving him with a brain injury. The officer sued Mckesson on the theory that he “should have known” that the protest “would become violent as other similar riots had become violent.” “The pattern was set: out-of-state protesters representing BLM fly into a town, gather, block a highway, engage and entice police, loot, damage property, injure bystanders, injure police. By July 9, 2016, when McKesson organized the Baton Rouge protest/riot—he had no reason to expect a different outcome—police will be injured,” lawyers for the officer wrote in their brief. DEMS VIOLATED FREEDOM OF SPEECH DURING TRANSGENDER BILL’S DEBATE, CONSERVATIVE GROUPS ALLEGE The case has already gone several rounds in lower courts. Most recently, in June of last year, the Fifth Circuit decided that the case could proceed because Doe had successfully alleged that Mckesson had “directed his own tortious activity” of creating unreasonably dangerous conditions. The appeals court also said he had “incited” violence by “organiz[ing] and direct[ing] a protest… such that it was likely that a violent confrontation with the police would result.” PRO-AMERICA COUNTRY ROCK SINGER SPEAKS OUT AFTER FAILED CANCELLATION, ENDORSES UNITY AROUND CONSTITUTION But lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representing Mckesson argued that the claims against him violate his First Amendment rights, and argued that the lower court’s decision is “directly at odds” with Supreme Court precedent and “will chill classic First-Amendment-protected activity nationwide.” On Monday, the Supreme Court decided not to take up his case. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a separate opinion respecting the court’s denial, but noted that it “expresses no view about the merits of Mckesson’s claim.” BIDEN LAWSUIT ‘SUBVERTING STATES RIGHTS’ TO REGULATE ABORTION HEADS TO SUPREME COURT She also suggested that the high court’s recent decision in Counterman v. Colorado — which makes it more difficult to convict a person of making a violent threat — should influence how lower courts treat Mckesson’s case. “Although the Fifth Circuit did not have the benefit of this Court’s recent decision in Counterman when it issued its opinion, the lower courts now do. I expect them to give full and fair consideration to arguments regarding Counterman’s impact in any future proceedings in this case,” Sotomayor said. Monday.
DNA TV Show: Why did election officials check Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter in Tamil Nadu?
Gandhi was on his way to his parliamentary constituency, Kerala’s Wayanad, where he has a slew of campaign activities, including public meetings.
Hush money trial judge tees up ruling on whether Trump violated gag order, should pay thousands
The judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York City announced he will hear arguments later this month on whether the former president violated a gag order amid the case, and should pay $1,000 fines for each violation. Judge Juan Merchan said he will hear arguments on April 24 at 2:15 p.m., regarding whether Trump violated a gag order that prevents him from making public statements about witnesses and their anticipated testimony in the trial. The district attorney’s office argued Monday that Trump has violated the order three times in social media posts and should pay $1,000 for each violation of the gag order. The prosecutors argued Trump should remove the posts and requested he be held in contempt. LIVE UPDATES: TRUMP’S HUSH MONEY PAYMENT GETS UNDERWAY AS JURY SELECTION BEGINS “The defendant is aware of the April 1 order. We know that from various posts he had made,” said prosecutor Christopher Conroy before Merchan’s ruling. “We think it is important for the court to remind Mr. Trump is a criminal defendant,” Conroy added. Trump’s defense attorney, Todd Blanche, said the former president was defending himself. “He is responding to salacious, repeated, vehement attacks by these witnesses,” Blanche said. The defense team has until April 19 to file a written response to the prosecutors’ claims Trump violated the gag order. The hush money case began Monday, and marks the historical first of a former president standing trial on criminal charges. The case focuses on former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paying former pornography actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 ahead of the 2016 election to allegedly silence her claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006. POTENTIAL TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL JURORS BEING ASKED 42 QUESTIONS Prosecutors say that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and falsely recorded the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified the records with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which is a felony. Trump has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records. The 45th president has repeatedly slammed the case as a “witch hunt,” including on social media, during campaign rallies, and said Monday from the courthouse that he was facing down “political persecution.” TRUMP CALLS HUSH MONEY TRIAL ‘ASSAULT ON AMERICA’ AS CASE OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF “Nothing like this has ever happened before,” he said in Lower Manhattan. “This is political persecution. … It’s a case that should have never been brought.” “This is an assault on America and that’s why I’m very proud to be here,” Trump added. “This is really an attack on a political opponent.” NINE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRUMP TRIAL, ANSWERED The trial began with jury selection, where a pool of more than 500 potential jurors will be asked a series of questions to determine if they can fairly assess the case. The potential jurors will be dismissed until a pool of 12 jurors, as well as a handful of alternates, are selected. The jury selection process is anticipated to last at least a week. Trump’s legal team said Monday that the 45th president wants to be present for each interview, which Merchan acknowledged but said would likely be tricky due to Trump’s Secret Service presence.
Biden administration agrees to provide $6.4 billion to Samsung for making computer chips in Texas
The planned manufacturing and research cluster is expected to create at least 17,000 construction jobs and more than 4,500 manufacturing jobs.
Johnson to pitch House GOP on Israel, Ukraine aid plans in closed-door meeting
House Republican leaders are convening an unusual Monday night meeting to discuss the path forward on aid to Israel and Ukraine. Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend prompted an outpouring of support for the Jewish nation from Republicans and Democrats, with House GOP leaders pledging to take up a host of legislative measures to support Israel. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has vowed to act swiftly on some kind of funding for Ukraine as Russia’s invasion continues into a third year and Kyiv finds its stores of ammunition and weapons severely depleted without more U.S. aid. Three senior House GOP aides told Fox News Digital that they expect Ukraine and Israel funding to be topics of discussion at Monday night’s meeting. A fourth House GOP aide also confirmed they will discuss Iran’s attack. HOUSE TEES UP 17 BILLS RELATED TO IRAN/ISRAEL FOR THIS WEEK House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle normally meet with their respective parties the morning after they begin their weekly legislative session, giving them time to arrive back in Washington from around the country. However, the tense state of international affairs prompted Johnson to call House Republicans together for 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel over the weekend, the vast majority of which were intercepted. Leaders in the White House and Senate used the attack to put renewed pressure on Johnson to pass the Senate’s $95 billion supplemental funding bill with aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Johnson has passed two standalone Israel aid bills so far, neither of which was taken up by the Democrat-controlled Senate. HOW CAN ISRAEL RESPOND TO IRAN’S BRAZEN ATTACK? However, Ukraine is a politically fraught issue for Johnson as he navigates a razor-thin two-seat House majority and a growing number of Ukraine aid skeptics in his conference. One of those skeptics is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who has previously suggested ousting Johnson from power if he put that funding package on the House floor. One of the three senior House GOP aides who spoke with Fox News Digital said Johnson received pushback from members over the weekend regarding the idea of combining funding for Ukraine and Israel this week. Nevertheless, Johnson has been circulating ideas on Ukraine aid that have gotten bipartisan support, including a lend-lease option that former President Trump, the de facto leader of the Republican Party, signaled he could support. “We’re looking at it right now, and they’re talking about it, and we’re thinking about making it in the form of a loan instead of just a gift,” Trump said of Ukraine aid during a press conference with Johnson at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. His support would be a powerful insulator for Johnson against Ukraine critics, the vast majority of whom support the ex-president. The other proposal is a bipartisan measure that would liquidate seized Russian assets and then use those funds as aid to Ukraine. It is being called the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act. BIDEN CALLING FOR G7 MEETING IN RESPONSE TO IRAN’S ‘BRAZEN’ ATTACK Timing on a possible vote this week is not immediately clear. Two of the four House GOP aides who spoke with Fox News Digital said they expect at least Israel funding to get a vote this week. One of those two anticipated a vote on some kind of Israel and Ukraine combined package that would be different from the Senate’s $95 billion bill. The House Majority Whip’s office did not list any Israel or Ukraine funding bills on its expected schedule on Monday morning but advised lawmakers that “additional legislative items related to security supplemental appropriations are possible.” Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s office for comment. Speaking on “Sunday Morning Futures” this past weekend, Johnson suggested he wants the House to take up Israel aid this week for a third time. “The details of that package are being put together right now,” he said. “We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, meanwhile, told NBC’s “Meet The Press” that Johnson “made it clear” that he wants a House vote this week on some kind of aid funding for Israel and Ukraine.
Hush money trial judge doubles down on not showing Trump ‘Access Hollywood’ tape to jurors
The judge presiding over former President Trump’s hush money trial doubled down on his decision that footage of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape would not be shown to jurors. “I remain convinced at this moment … that the tape should not come in,” Judge Juan Merchan told the court on Monday. The 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape came to light ahead of the 2016 election and showed Trump boasting to host Billy Bush that he could kiss and grope women due to his star power. Merchan had previously denied the prosecution from showing the tape to jurors, saying in March, “it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or that it be played for the jury.” TRUMP’S HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY AS JURY SELECTION BEGINS Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass pushed back Monday to include evidence surrounding the video, which he said is an “admission of sexual assault” and “living proof that the defendant wasn’t all talk.” “That is more than just comments of a sexual nature,” Steinglass said, adding that when the video surfaced in 2016, it threw Trump’s presidential campaign into a “tailspin.” NINE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRUMP TRIAL, ANSWERED Trump’s attorney said the video is prejudicial and too salacious to present to the jury. “The people will get everything they need to prove the charges in this case from what your honor has already ruled,” Blanche said. Though Merchan said the video cannot be shown to jurors, prosecutors can introduce Trump’s exact words from the video, as well as an email related to the tape. The hush money trial officially kicked off Monday morning in Manhattan, where Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. FIVE KEY QUESTIONS ON HOW START OF TRUMP’S FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL WILL IMPACT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN The trial revolves around payments made by Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, to former pornographic actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The $130,000 payment was to allegedly quiet her claims of an alleged extramarital affair she had with Trump in 2006. Trump, however, has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The charges stem from checks written by the Trump Organization to Cohen over a roughly 12-month period reimbursing him for the payment to Daniels. Prosecutors say the checks were falsely recorded as legal expenses. Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor, and prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified records with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which is a felony. Trump could face more than 10 years in prison if convicted, though legal experts have speculated the former president would more likely be given probation of up to four years if found guilty by the jury. ‘I TELL THE TRUTH’: TRUMP SAYS HE’LL TESTIFY AT HUSH MONEY TRIAL AS JUDGE REJECTS LAST MINUTE PLEA The trial is kicking off with jury selection, where potential jurors will be asked a series of questions to determine if they can fairly weigh in on the case. Jury selection is anticipated to last at least a week, while the trial is expected to continue for at least six weeks. Upon arrival at the courthouse Monday, Trump slammed the case as “political persecution.” “Nothing like this has ever happened before,” he said in Lower Manhattan. “This is political persecution. … It’s a case that should have never been brought.” “This is an assault on America and that’s why I’m very proud to be here,” Trump added. “This is really an attack on a political opponent.”
Republicans pressure Biden DOJ to probe activists calling for ‘Death to America’
FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of five Michigan Republicans is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate pro-Palestinian activists who have chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” during recent rallies. Led by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., the GOP lawmakers penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, characterizing the chants as “anti-American and anti-Semitic,” and arguing they constitute an incitement of violence, aren’t protected speech and pose a threat to public safety. They also said the chants are evidence terrorist sympathies remain prevalent among certain activist groups. “Though purportedly held to express support for the Palestinian cause, these events were instead platforms for inciting terrorism and violence,” Moolenaar and the other Republicans wrote. “Repeatedly, we have witnessed in the past several months the harassment and physical assault directed at innocent Americans during or immediately following these events.” “As defenders of the Constitution of the United States against enemies both foreign and domestic, and as staunch supporters of Israel, we are alarmed by the increasing calls to violence against anyone not espousing their radical agenda,” the letter to Garland continued. WHITMER REMAINS SILENT ON PROTESTERS’ ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ CHANTS WHILE WEIGHING IN ON WAR IN ISRAEL, ELECTION The group – which, in addition to Moolenaar, included Reps. Tim Walberg, Jack Bergman, Lisa McClain, and John James – concluded their letter by imploring the DOJ to take “swift and decisive action” to investigate and prosecute the people spearheading such calls for violence and “Death to America” chants. Their letter comes less than two weeks after video circulated online showed protesters at an Al-Quds Day rally in Dearborn, Mich., chanting, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Al-Quds Day is an annual event commemorating the conclusion of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in support of Palestinians and in opposition of Israel. BIDEN CAMPAIGN: WE DON’T WANT THE VOTES OF ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ PROTESTERS IN MICHIGAN Activist Tarek Bazzi began the Dearborn event by asking the crowd to pray for “the victory of the resistance” and referred to “the resistance fighters [who] engage in battle with this godless, satanic cancer that is called Israel,” according to the Anti-Defamation League. Another activist displayed an image of Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini while other crowd signs had messages like, “The Zionist entity has no right to exist.” The Anti-Defamation League further reported that similar events were held in New York City on Al-Quds Day and, like the Dearborn rally, attracted large crowds and included the use of “violent” rhetoric by speakers and attendees. “We urge you to take decisive action to prosecute those calling for ‘Death to America’ and to uphold the principles of justice and freedom that define our nation by defending it,” the letter to Garland concluded. “Now is the time to take action to ensure the safety and security of all Americans.” The DOJ didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Both the White House and the Biden campaign have condemned Bazzi’s comments. Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Where are they now? Trump’s former opponents lining up new jobs after failed 2024 presidential bids
Former President Trump’s old 2024 rivals have recently picked up new jobs following their failed presidential bids. Nikki Haley, the last Republican presidential candidate to bow out of the race, revealed on Monday that she is joining the Hudson Institute as their Walter P. Stern chair. The leading conservative think tank is known for focusing on international affairs and national security. “When our policymakers fail to call out our enemies or acknowledge the importance of our alliances, the world is less safe. That is why Hudson’s work is so critical,” Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement. “They believe the American people should have the facts and policymakers should have the solutions to support a secure, free, and prosperous future. I look forward to partnering with them to defend the principles that make America the greatest country in the world.” TRUMP’S LAST GOP RIVAL LANDS NEW GIG AFTER FAILED 2024 PRESIDENTIAL BID Haley won primary contests in Vermont and the District of Columbia before suspending her presidential campaign after Super Tuesday. The announcement comes just days after former Vice President Mike Pence accepted a teaching position at Grove City College, a conservative college in Pennsylvania. MIKE PENCE LANDS NEW GIG AFTER FAILED 2024 PRESIDENTIAL BID Pence, Trump’s former vice president who ended his presidential bid more than two months before the Iowa caucuses, “will immediately begin serving as the Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Faith & Public Life,” Grove City College said on Thursday, announcing the establishment of its Center for Faith & Public Life “to explore and support the presence of Christian faith in public institutions.” “It is my great honor to serve as a visiting fellow to Grove City College’s new Center for Faith & Public Life,” Pence said. “Faith and engaging in public life are not mutually exclusive, nor should they ever be. History shows that Christians steadily working toward the common good have changed the world, and Grove City College opening a center shows they are committed to continuing this work.” Unlike some other former GOP contenders, Haley and Pence did not endorse Trump when suspending their campaigns. Vivek Ramaswamy, a multimillionaire former biotech executive, dropped out after coming in fourth place in Iowa. He immediately endorsed Trump and joined the now presumptive GOP nominee on the campaign trail. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in second in the Iowa caucuses but ended his campaign before the New Hampshire primary, announcing in doing so he was endorsing Trump. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., ended his presidential bid in November and helped Trump garner support in South Carolina, where Haley saw little backing from GOP elected officials despite it being her home state. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a longtime Trump foe, ended his presidential bid less than two weeks before the New Hampshire primary. At the time, Trump chided that Christie was “desperately seeking a TV job, but sadly, no one wants him.” He withdrew from consideration for a potential “No Labels” third-party run last month. Trump has yet to announce a 2024 running mate.