‘Squad’ member said claims of Hamas rapes were ‘propaganda’ days after lawmakers saw videos of 10/7 atrocities
New York Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman called reports of Hamas terrorists raping Israeli women “propaganda” just days after lawmakers viewed a nearly 45-minute video of the bloody Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. A social media post that slipped under the radar shows the ‘Squad’ member making the remarks during a Nov. 17 rally with dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters in New York. “There was propaganda used in the beginning of the siege,” Bowman said in a TikTok post discovered and reported by Politico. “There’s still no evidence of beheaded babies or raped women. But they still keep using that lie [for] propaganda.” SCHUMER’S ANTI-NETANYAHU SPEECH STRENGTHENS BIBI IN ISRAEL’S WAR TO DEFEAT HAMAS Bowman made the contentious remarks just three days after he and other lawmakers were offered a November 14 viewing of the Hamas raid. The 150 House members who attended the screening were left in a state of “shock and disbelief” after seeing the attack, Jewish Insider reported at the time. The House Foreign Affairs Committee hosted the screening. Politico further noted that evidence of Hamas raping innocent women grew substantially in the months after the attacks. He also appeared to backtrack on the “propaganda” remarks in a statement provided to the publication. SCHUMER’S ANTI-NETANYAHU SPEECH STRENGTHENS BIBI IN ISRAEL’S WAR TO DEFEAT HAMAS “As I said at this rally, what Hamas did on October 7th is a war crime and they must release all the hostages,” he told Politico. “The UN confirmed that Hamas committed rape and sexual violence, a reprehensible fact that I condemn entirely. I also voted yes on Resolution 966, which officially condemns the rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas. So let me be clear, and ensure my words are not twisted: I always stand against sexual violence in all forms and stand for peace for all.” JAMAAL BOWMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN DC COURT ARRAIGNMENT ON CHARGES FOR PULLING FIRE ALARM “Extreme House Democrats remain so blinded by their Antisemitism and their love of Hamas they will not only ignore horrific crimes committed against Israeli women, but will actively seek to discredit their trauma,” NRCC National Press Secretary Will Reinert told Fox News Digital in a statement. Bowman’s office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment on whether he attended the November screening showing Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Fox News Politics: Silencing Trump
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening? -TRAGEDY IN BALTIMORE: Biden pledges to rebuild Francis Scott Key Bridge after devastating collapse. Read more live updates on Fox News -RFK selects running mate -NYC begins handing out prepaid debit cards to illegal immigrants New York Judge Juan Merchan has imposed a gag order on former President Trump in the hush-money payments case, set for jury selection on April 15, granting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s request. Merchan issued the order against the 2024 GOP presumptive presidential nominee on Tuesday, pointing to his “prior extrajudicial statements,” saying they establish “a sufficient risk to the administration of justice.” Merchan ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about witnesses concerning their potential participation, or about counsel in the case — other than Bragg — or about court staff, DA staff or family members of staff. Merchan also ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about any prospective juror or chosen juror. Merchan said in his decision that Trump has made statements in the past during other trials — likely referring to the months-long non-jury civil fraud trial stemming from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case. A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign told Fox News Digital that “American voters have a fundamental right to hear the uncensored voice of the leading candidate for the highest office in the land.” “President Trump will keep fighting for our country and our Constitution,” the spokesperson said. ‘TOP SOLDIERS’: Left-wing activist who hired a close ally of notorious antisemite Farrakhan has visited Biden WH 7 times …Read more LOANS IN PERIL: President Biden’s student loan handout under fire from legal experts …Read more ‘MESSAGE OF WEAKNESS’: Former Navy SEAL, Senate candidate slams Biden’s ‘very poorly’ executed Afghanistan withdrawal …Read more CRIMINAL REFERRALS: Comer dampens prospects of Biden impeachment in new fundraising email …Read more BORDER ‘REVELATION’: GOP senator outraged by notices of migrant arrivals …Read more ‘COCKROACHES’: CNN political commentator compares third-party efforts to insects …Read more VEEP STAKES: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. selects running mate: Report …Read more SPLIT TICKET: GOP eyes NJ Senate opportunity amid possible Menendez independent bid …Read more TRANS VISIBILITY DAY: Virginia County declares Trans Visibility Day on Easter …Read more MIGRANT MISSION: NYC begins handing out prepaid debit cards to illegal immigrants …Read more ‘FINISH UP’: Trump tells Israel to wrap Gaza offensive because nation is ‘losing a lot of support’ …Read more ‘POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’: Legal experts say U.S. Constitution is on Trump’s side in New York civil fraud case …Read more FULL REVOLT: MSNBC stars shoot inside the tent, attack NBC for hiring ex-RNC chair Ronna McDaniel …Read more MSNBC BACKLASH: ‘Truth vs. lies’: Psaki lashes out on-air when compared to Ronna McDaniel …Read more BORDER BLACKMAIL?: Mexican president warns crisis continues unless US gives $20 billion a year, amnesty for migrant workers …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Letitia James rallies pro-choice crowd outside Supreme Court: ‘March to the polls’
New York Attorney General Letitia James spearheading the civil fraud case against former president Donald Trump, took a trip to Washington, D.C., Tuesday to address a crowd of protesters outside the Supreme Court and encourage them to “march to the polls and vote.” James spoke to a crowd gathered outside the high court as justices inside were hearing debates challenging the federal regulation of the abortion pill mifepristone. “[Get] your hands off our body. Because it’s our body, our choice. We will fight. We will win. And we will protect abortion rights now and forever,” James shouted from the podium. “Let’s go, women. And let’s march to the polls and vote!” she exclaimed. TRUMP’S $454M JUDGMENT BOND SLASHED BY MORE THAN HALF IN APPEALS COURT RULING It’s unclear exactly what election in which she was encouraging women to vote, and she didn’t explicitly name a candidate. The presumptive nominee in the 2024 presidential race for the Republican Party — whose platform generally reflects limiting abortion access — is Donald Trump, whom James is suing. On Monday, a New York appeals court ruled dealt a significant blow to James’ case by slashing Trump’s $454 million bond by 60% — allowing him to appeal the case further. James sued Trump under a New York State Executive law that gives broad investigative authority and that was designed to protect against consumer fraud. LEGAL EXPERTS SAY TRUMP’S WHOPPING NEW YORK FEE COULD BE ‘EXCESSIVE’ UNDER CONSTITUTION: ‘UNHEARD OF’ She accused him and his company of inflating the values of properties in order to secure better rates on loans from banks. In this unusual case, the state couldn’t prove obvious victims Trump had harmed that incurred major losses. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Engoron in February sided against Trump, and imposed what’s known as a “disgorgement” — a legal remedy that requires someone who profited illegally to give back any profits made while engaging in the illegal activity. But the appeals court slashed his judgment by more than half — ordering Trump to pay $175 million in 10 days, which he said he would do. “I DID NOTHING WRONG, AND NEW YORK SHOULD NEVER BE PUT IN A POSITION LIKE THIS AGAIN. BUSINESSES ARE FLEEING, VIOLENT CRIME IS FLOURISHING, AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS BE RESOLVED IN ITS TOTALITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU!” Trump posted to his Truth Social account in all capital letters. LETITIA JAMES HAD TO ‘EAT EVERY SINGLE TWEET’ AFTER APPEALS COURT SLASHED TRUMP’S BOND, SAYS ALINA HABBA Meanwhile, a spokesperson for James on Monday said Trump “is still facing accountability for his staggering fraud.” “The court has already found that he engaged in years of fraud to falsely inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization,” James’ spokesperson said. “The $464 million judgment — plus interest — against Donald Trump and the other defendants still stands.” Trump has vowed to fight the case “all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.” Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Who is Nicole Shanahan? Meet the wealthy entrepreneur RFK Jr selected as his VP running mate
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced Tuesday that attorney and tech entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan will be his vice presidential running mate heading into the November general election. A native of Oakland, California, the 38-year-old Shanahan is a philanthropist with a long history of donating to Democrat and left-leaning causes, including supporting President Biden in his 2020 election bid before switching to Kennedy when he launched his own run for the Democrat nomination last year. Kennedy announced Shanahan by praising her insight into “how Big Tech uses AI to manipulate the public,” her athletic ability, and willingness to be a “partner” in a number of policy areas, including on securing the border. ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE WEALTHY FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR AS VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE Shanahan initially dropped her support for Kennedy after he decided to run as an independent, but later got behind him again by giving $4 million to the super PAC that boosted his candidacy with a John F. Kennedy-themed campaign ad that ran during the Super Bowl in February. Shanahan also previously donated to Democrat presidential candidates Marianne Williamson and Pete Buttigieg during the 2020 presidential race, and threw more than $150,000 behind progressive Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s 2020 election bid. She is the founder and president of Bia-Echo Foundation, a private firm that describes its mission as focused on “new frontiers in reproductive longevity & equality, criminal justice reform and a healthy & livable planet.” Shanahan was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, a marriage that ended following reports she had an affair with Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk, which both of them deny. She has one daughter from her marriage with Brin. Following her divorce from Brin, Shanahan met partner Jacob Strumwasser, who works for bitcoin software company Lightening Labs. The two participated in a “love ceremony” last year to celebrate the commitment to their relationship. Shanahan’s wealth and ties to major donors would likely benefit Kennedy as he aims to improve his fundraising efforts. “I want a partner with strong ideas of how to reverse those dire threats to democracy and to our freedoms. I managed to find a technologist at the forefront of AI. She has spent the last decade relying on neural networks, artificial intelligence, and cutting edge science, to identify abuses in our government,” Kennedy said of Shanahan. He described her as “a woman who grew up right here in Oakland. The daughter of migrants who overcame every daunting obstacle and went on to achieve the highest levels of the American dream” and as “a fellow lawyer, a brilliant scientist, technologist, a fierce warrior mom.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Texas lawmakers and agency leaders experiment, ponder policies for an AI future
Agencies like the Texas Department of Transportation are using the technology to react to crashes and prepare invoices. More uses and regulations are coming.
Supreme Court appears inclined to preserve broad access to abortion drug
The Supreme Court appeared ready to dismiss a challenge on Tuesday from opponents of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) relaxed requirements for dispensing an abortion drug, used to terminate nearly two-thirds of abortions in the country. That would be a victory for the Biden administration and abortion rights supporters, by keeping current rules in place and allowing access in most of the country to the medication. The justices heard about 90 minutes of arguments about the federal government regulations since 2016 that made access to the drug mifepristone easier, including access by mail. A majority on the court — including several conservatives — suggested individual doctors and advocacy groups that sued may lack “standing” or a legal right to sue to block nationwide access to the medication. Ruling on that legal threshold could mean the court would not address the broader legal arguments over the level of judicial oversight for federal agency actions, including FDA authority to regulate the safety of medicines. “Do we have to also entertain your argument that no one else in the world can have this drug or no one else in America should have this drug in order to protect your clients?” and their conscientious objections on dispensing or treating patients seeking abortions or emergency reproductive care, asked Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. SUPREME COURT DIVES BACK INTO ABORTION DEBATE, WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS ON MIFEPRISTONE REGULATION Justice Neil Gorsuch raised concerns over judges who had issued a legal maneuver to block continued access to mifepristone. The Supreme Court for now has allowed the FDA regulations to stay in place pending a final ruling. “We’ve had, one might call it, a rash of universal injunctions,” said Gorsuch. “And this case seems like a prime example of turning what could be a small lawsuit into a nationwide legislative assembly on an FDA rule or any other federal government action.” But Justice Samuel Alito questioned whether the FDA should have unfettered discretion. “So your argument is that it doesn’t matter if FDA flagrantly violated the law or didn’t do what it should have done, endanger the health of women,” Alito asked the U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, defending the agency. “It’s just too bad, and nobody can sue in court?” Dozens of activists on both sides rallied in front of the court, in what has become a contentious election-year political, social, cultural and health-related debate. The issues presented come nearly two years after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide constitutional right to abortion, giving states individual discretion to regulate the procedure. At the time, the court’s 5-4 conservative majority declared “unelected members of this Court” would not be intervening in the future to “override the democratic process” of legislators and mandate national abortion policy. New data from the Guttmacher Institute research group says nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. in 2023 relied on mifepristone. Abortion rights groups say the drug has been proven safe, and that the court’s decision could negatively impact 40 million women nationwide. Anti-abortion organizations have countered that the FDA for two decades has unlawfully promoted a nationwide regime of on-demand abortion, in defiance of several state health and safety laws. Mifepristone is taken along with misoprostol, and the two-drug combination is known as medication abortion or the “abortion pill.” Lower courts concluded the federal agency did not fully consider the potential health risks to women when revising regulations for mifepristone beginning in 2016. Those revisions — last updated in 2023 — include reducing the recommended dose, allowing use of the drug up to 10 weeks of pregnancy (from seven weeks), approving a generic version and permitting it to be mailed (eliminating in-person doctor visits), among other measures. Major pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS announced this month they were certified to dispense the abortion drugs under the new rules. Thirty-six states allow some form of access to mifepristone — 21 states in full and restricted in 15, according to Fox News research. Fourteen states ban abortion completely — including medication abortion — except for narrow exceptions. WYOMING GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL OUTLAWING GENDER-REASSIGNMENT PROCEDURES ON CHILDREN, VETOES ABORTION RESTRICTIONS About six million women have used the drug since its approval 24 years ago. Danco Laboratories, the drug’s manufacturer, had also appealed to the Supreme Court seeking final review on the merits. Dozens of advocacy groups, members of Congress and coalitions of states on both sides of the issue have filed legal “amicus” briefs in recent weeks. During oral arguments, the Justice Department told the court it should not be “second guessing” the expertise of FDA officials who had painstakingly looked at mifepristone and found it to be safe. Prelogar said doctors that did not use or even prescribe the pill should be prevented from suing based on their individual conscious “injury.” Several on the bench seemed supportive of the government’s position. Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned affidavits in the lawsuit from several doctors opposing the use of mifepristone, and whether their individualized “harm” was enough to sustain a lawsuit. “The difficulty, to me, is that the affidavits do read more like conscience objections,” said Barrett. “The conscience objection is strictly to actually participating in the abortion, to end the life of the embryo or fetus. And I don’t read either [doctor filing affidavits] to say that they ever participated in that.” “I’m worried that there is a significant mismatch in this case between the claimed injury and the remedy that’s being sought,” added Jackson. “And the relief that they’re seeking would dramatically alter the approved conditions of use for mifepristone and affect women all around the nation simply because of this conscience injury.” The court spent relatively little time on the merits of the case and whether the FDA overstepped its authority by loosening restrictions on mifepristone access. “The reality is, even if there is some increase in emergency room visits, the question of when that rises to a sufficient safety risk is up to the FDA, correct?” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, regarding severe medical complications requiring hospitalization. But Alito
Previously deported illegal immigrant charged with murder of 25-year-old Michigan woman
An illegal immigrant who was deported to his home country of Mexico in 2020 has been accused of the murder of a Michigan woman after he re-entered the country illegally. Brandon Ortiz-Vite, who is currently being held at the Kent County, Michigan, jail is being charged with murder and other crimes after the body of 25-year-old Ruby Garcia was discovered on U.S. 131 in downtown Grand Rapids and identified by investigators. In a statement to Fox News Digital, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson confirmed that Ortiz-Vite was in the country illegally at the time of Garcia’s death. NEW YORK CITY BEGINS GIVING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PREPAID DEBIT CARDS AS PART OF $53 MILLION PILOT PROGRAM Ortiz-Vite, 25, “was arrested by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit on Aug. 31, 2020, and served a notice to appear. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) Sept. 24, 2020, and was removed to Mexico Sept. 29, 2020,” a spokesperson for ICE told Fox News Digital. “At an unknown date and location Ortiz-Vite reentered the United States without inspection by an immigration official.” “On Mar. 24, 2024, ERO Detroit encountered Ortiz-Vite pursuant to him being arrested by the Michigan State Police and charged with murder and other crimes,” the spokesperson added. “ERO Detroit lodged a detainer with the Kent County Jail for Ortiz-Vite.” First reported by The Midwesterner, a Michigan news outlet, authorities found Garcia’s deceased body near the roadways of southbound U.S. 131 and Leonard Street with apparent gunshot wounds around 11:38 p.m. on Friday. Though the murder charge has not been formally announced, a public information officer for the Michigan State Police confirmed to Fox News Digital that the charges — expected to be announced at a Tuesday evening press conference — are related to the death of Garcia. GOP SENATOR OUTRAGED BY WEEKLY REPORTS OF MIGRANT ARRIVALS RELEASED BY DHS Garcia’s sister, Mavi Garcia, has since established a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Ruby’s funeral. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser had received 270 donations and raised more than $15,100, surpassing its original goal of $13,000. Speaking to The Midwesterner earlier this week, Mavi Garcia, who previously identified Ortiz-Vite in a post to Facebook as the suspect in her sister’s death, said her sister was “a great person all around.” “She would brighten up the room with her beautiful smile and laugh,” Garcia said of her sister. “She loved to travel, was dedicated to her work and enjoyed being with her family on her free time.” “She was a great daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She will be remembered as being full of life and laughter, those who were around her would know she was silly and made everyone laugh,” Garcia added of Ruby. “Her loss has impacted the lives of many people. Her life was taken too soon. She deserved to live life, travel the world, have kids and follow her dreams.” Asked by the outlet about Ortiz-Vite’s relationship with Ruby, Mavi Garcia said at the time, “I prefer not to give out information on their relationship. … He is currently in custody. That’s all we know as of right now, and he is/was here illegally.”
New York judge imposes gag order on Trump in Bragg hush money case
New York Judge Juan Merchan has imposed a gag order on former President Trump in the hush-money payments case, granting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s request. Merchan issued the order against the 2024 GOP presumptive presidential nominee on Tuesday, pointing to his “prior extrajudicial statements,” saying they establish “a sufficient risk to the administration of justice.” TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL TO BEGIN APRIL 15, JUDGE RULES, DENYING MOTION TO DELAY Merchan ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about witnesses concerning their potential participation, or about counsel in the case — other than Bragg — or about court staff, DA staff or family members of staff. Merchan also ordered that Trump cannot make or direct others to make public statements about any prospective juror or chosen juror. Merchan said in his decision that Trump has made statements in the past during other trials — likely referring to the months-long non-jury civil fraud trial stemming from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ case. “lndeed, his statements were threatening, inflammatory, denigrating, and the targets of his statements ranged from local and federal officials, court and court sta( prosecutors and staff assigned to the cases, and private individuals including grand jurors performing their civic duty,” Merchan writes. “The consequences of those statements included not only fear on the part of the individual targeted, but also the assignment of increased security resources to investigate threats and protect the individuals and family members thereof.” The Trump campaign blasted the gag order as “unconstitutional,” saying it violates the First Amendment rights of Americans who follow Trump and listen to his speech. “Judge Merchan’s unconstitutional Gag Order prevents President Trump—the leading candidate for President of the United States—from engaging in core political speech, which is entitled to the highest level of protection under the First Amendment,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital. “Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, at the direction of Crooked Joe Biden, chose to indict President Trump in the middle of campaign season in a politically motivated attempt to derail his candidacy, and the First Amendment allows President Trump to speak out against this unconstitutional tyranny.” Cheung added: “Worst of all, the gag order violates the civil rights of over 100 million Americans who follow President Trump and have a First Amendment right to receive and listen to his speech.” Cheung told Fox News Digital that “American voters have a fundamental right to hear the uncensored voice of the leading candidate for the highest office in the land.” “President Trump will keep fighting for our country and our Constitution,” Cheung said. The order comes after Bragg, last month, requested an order preventing Trump from making statements attacking others involved in his legal cases, sought a protective order to prohibit the names and addresses of jurors from being disclosed to anyone other than attorneys and requested evidence and testimony regarding campaign finance be limited. Trump had a gag order imposed on him in the James non-jury civil trial as well. MANHATTAN DA BRAGG REQUESTS JUDGE IMPOSE GAG ORDER ON TRUMP DURING HUSH MONEY CASE Merchan announced on Monday that the trial will begin on April 15. Bragg indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. Bragg alleged that Trump “repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election.” TRUMP SLAMS BRAGG AFTER PLEADING NOT GUILTY: ‘I NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN IN AMERICA’ The charges are related to alleged hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. In 2019, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York opted not to charge Trump related to the payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The Federal Election Commission also tossed its investigation into the matter in 2021. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Biden adviser’s home targeted with manure, prompting bomb-squad call
An unidentified individual hurled manure in front of national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s home on Monday, initiating a response from the Secret Service and a bomb squad. A law enforcement official told Politico that the suspect tossed a “small amount” of manure from a car window. The incident led to a quick response from the Secret Service and Washington, D.C., police with a bomb squad in tow. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi would not confirm the substance was manure but said they responded to a “suspicious package” near Sullivan’s home. SULLIVAN RIPS REPORTER’S QUESTION ON BIDEN SWEARING AS ASKING ‘WHEN DID YOU STOP BEATING YOUR SPOUSE?’ “The Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal team responded and declared the scene as safe,” Guglielmi told the New York Post. “The incident is under investigation.” The law enforcement official also confirmed to Politico that an investigation was underway. RUSSIA HAS DEPLETED THEIR ‘WAR CHEST’ BY HALF, OR EVEN MORE: JAKE SULLIVAN Last April, Sullivan dealt with a confused, intoxicated man who wandered into his house in the middle of the night in what the New York Post called a “stunning security breach.” Sullivan told the drunk man to leave, and after he did, he alerted his Secret Service detail about what had transpired. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Secret Service for comment on the manure incident.
Berkeley abandons landmark natural gas ban after court battle
The City of Berkeley, California, agreed to stop enforcing — and work to repeal — a landmark climate rule banning natural gas hookups in new construction, ending a nearly four-year court battle to beat the ban by industry groups. The city said it would immediately stop enforcement of the Natural Gas Infrastructure Ordinance while repealing the policy through the regular legislative process, according to a legal settlement filed in federal court with the California Restaurant Association (CRA). The document estimates it will take several months to repeal the rule due to the city council’s procedures and calendar. “We are encouraged that the City of Berkeley has agreed to take steps to repeal the ordinance, including immediate nonenforcement of the ban, to remain compliant with federal energy law,” CRA President and CEO Jot Condie said in a statement. “Every city and county in California that has passed a similar ordinance should follow their lead. “Climate change must be addressed, but piecemeal policies at the local level like bans on natural gas piping in new buildings or all-electric ordinances, which are preempted by federal energy laws, are not the answer. Cities must comply with the law. Rather, the ban was passed with a disregard for available cooking technologies and ultimately for small businesses in the community that rely on gas-burning equipment for their cuisines.” BIDEN ADMIN AIMS TO PUSH TOWNS, CITIES TO ADOPT GREEN ENERGY BUILDING CODES: ‘VERY SUSPICIOUS’ The settlement comes two months after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied Berkeley’s petition for rehearing en banc in the case. In April 2023, that same panel struck down the city’s gas ban ordinance, ruling that it violated the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, which prevents local regulations from impacting the energy use of natural gas appliances. Berkeley’s city council passed the law in July 2019, and it was set to go into effect in January 2020 — which would have made the city the first in the nation to approve such a measure. Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison, who authored the legislation, said at the time that the policy was part of the city’s effort to take “more drastic action” on climate change and to curb greenhouse gas emissions. BIDEN ADMIN LAUNCHED AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN TARGETING HOME APPLIANCES WITH ECO REGULATIONS IN 2023 But months after the ordinance was approved, the CRA filed a federal lawsuit challenging the city’s ability to pass a law banning new natural gas hookups. After a lower court ruled in favor of Berkeley in July 2021, the CRA appealed and received the favorable Ninth Circuit ruling in April. “While the Ninth Circuit’s ruling renders this particular ordinance unenforceable, Berkeley will continue to be a leader in climate action,” Berkeley City Attorney Farimah Brown told Fox News Digital. The settlement was hailed by the American Gas Association (AGA), which said the result would set a precedent for other cities pursuing similar gas bans. The AGA — in addition to the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute; Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association; National Association of Home Builders; and National Association of Manufacturers — was among the industry groups supporting the CRA lawsuit. “This settlement has implications far beyond the City of Berkeley and is a significant step towards safeguarding energy choice for California consumers and helping our nation continue on a path to achieving our energy and environmental goals,” AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert said in a statement. “Natural gas has been one of the primary drivers for achieving environmental progress, and any ban on this foundation fuel will saddle consumers with significant costs for little environmental gain.” The U.S. Department of Justice; National League of Cities; California; Maryland; New York; Oregon; Washington, D.C.; and New York City all filed briefs supporting Berkeley. The City of Berkeley didn’t respond to a request for comment.