Sen. Bob Menendez will not seek re-election in November after obstruction of justice charge: report
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who’s been hit with a slew of indictments in a bribery scheme involving Egypt and Qatar, will not be seeking re-election this November, according to a report. A source close to the matter told The New York Post that Menendez, “will not be running.” The news comes after new obstruction charges were added earlier this week to a rewritten indictment returned against Menendez and his wife, Nadine. The couple is being investigated over allegations that they accepted bribes of gold bars, cash and a luxury car from three favor-seeking New Jersey businessmen. Menendez, 70, has maintained his innocence, calling the additional charges: “a flagrant abuse of power.” After his fall arrest, Menendez was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but said he would not resign from Congress. DEMOCRAT THWARTS GOP EFFORT TO PASS BILL DETAINING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIME The senator and his wife are scheduled to go on trial in May on an array of corruption allegations. Among other things, Menendez is accused of taking actions that benefited the governments of Egypt and Qatar as a way of helping two New Jersey associates get financial deals linked to those two countries. According to an indictment, Menendez and his wife accepted gold bars and cash from a real estate developer in return for the senator using his clout to get that businessman a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund. Menendez was charged with helping another New Jersey business associate get a lucrative deal with the government of Egypt. An FBI raid on the couple’s home in 2022 resulted in the discovery of over $100,000 in gold bars and more than $480,000 in cash, much of it hidden in closets, clothing and a safe, prosecutors said. Menendez said the cash found in the house was personal savings he had put away for emergencies. Fox News Digital has reached out to Menendez’s office for further comment.
El Paso judge says he’s concerned that Ken Paxton has “ulterior political motives”’ in migrant shelter probe
The judge will make a ruling soon on whether Annunciation House is obligated to release all the documents the attorney general’s office has demanded.
House Republicans sharpen their knives ahead of Biden’s State of the Union, say they expect ‘more gaslighting’
House Republicans are sharpening their attacks against President Biden ahead of his primetime State of the Union address. House GOP leaders arranged a counter-programming offensive for Biden’s big speech on Thursday, lining up rank-and-file lawmakers at a “media row” event where they promoted a message of Republican unity against the Democratic White House. Members wore buttons that said “Stop the Biden border crisis” while speaking to outlets, including Fox News Digital, in a cavernous meeting room dotted with posters that pointed out “over 8.7 million illegal crossings nationwide” occurred since Biden became president. Others accused Biden of not being “mentally fit” to be commander-in-chief. When asked about their expectations for the speech, one phrase escaped lawmakers’ lips more than the rest – “gaslighting.” “I think it’s going to be ‘Gaslighting of the Union.’ He’s going to tell America how rosy everything is, that the economy is great, the border’s secure, as if Americans are idiots. And I find that quite insulting,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. BIDEN’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: BRET BAIER, MARTHA MACCALLUM TO LEAD FOX NEWS CHANNEL’S SPECIAL COVERAGE GOP Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore, R-Utah, said, “I think he’ll try to – I don’t know the best term, I think the kids nowadays are using ‘gaslight’— he’s going to try to make it seem like it’s House Republicans’ fault that the border is not fixed. And we’ve seen the worst outcomes that we’ve ever seen at the border under his three years.” The ongoing border crisis as well as Americans’ poor perceptions of the economy were the two main attack lines lawmakers discussed, arguing that Biden’s public dedication to fixing both has resulted in few, if any, solutions for Americans. If Biden broaches those issues in his State of the Union address, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital that he does not believe people watching at home will share his likely optimism. “The good news is people have heard the spin from this president and his administration for three-plus years. They’re sitting at home watching this saying, ‘Whatever this is going to be, I’m not better off today than I was four years ago.’ And that’s going to play when it comes to November,” Emmer said. ALABAMA SEN KATIE BRITT TO DELIVER REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO BIDEN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: ‘TRULY HONORED’ Rep. John James, R-Mich., told Fox News Digital that he expects to hear “gaslighting, gaslighting, and more gaslighting” from the president tonight. “The only thing I think he can do right now to explain the crisis at the border, and the fact that we’re paying more for everything, is lie to the American people,” James said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of empty rhetoric and fabricated lies because we’re in an election year, and he knows that this is the beginning of a tough reelection for him. And this is his audition right for re-election,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., told Fox News Digital. Biden is addressing a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. House Republican leaders have staged “media row” events before Biden’s last State of the Union address as well as ahead of important legislative votes. JIM BANKS CALLS ON BIDEN TO ‘PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE’ LAKEN RILEY AT SOTU GOP lawmakers touted it as a way to unify behind a single message amid a climate of intense political division. “We have to do a better job as conservatives of spreading our message, and so trying to do events like this right before a big State of the Union or messaging, you know, on events that the White House is doing, amplifies the message that we want to share,” Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., said. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, who is giving the Spanish-language rebuttal to Biden’s address, told Fox News Digital, “What [Americans] see through media row is one message, and that message is, in November, it is important for us to not only take back the White House, but retain control of the House, take back the Senate, so that we can pass meaningful legislation that matters to America.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Fox News Politics: 5 things to watch in Biden’s State of the Union
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Follow live coverage of Biden’s State of the Union address on Fox News. One of the biggest crises of the Biden administration revolves around the southern border and the flood of immigrants entering into the country. President Biden backed a bipartisan bill to address immigration and provide additional border security funding, but many Republicans saw it as insufficient — and Biden has attempted to lay the blame on the GOP. How Biden addresses the border, and whether he mentions Laken Riley – the student found brutally murdered in Georgia, allegedly by an illegal immigrant – will be crucial. But the White House pushed back on rumors that Biden would announce executive action related to the border during his speech. Nearly 30 years ago, Biden’s predecessor Bill Clinton said in the 1995 State of the Union address that Americans are “rightly disturbed by the large numbers of illegal aliens entering our country” – language that seems unthinkable coming from a Democratic president today. Biden addresses Congress Thursday night amid growing concerns about his age and fitness for office. Republicans have long questioned Biden’s mental acuity, and polls indicate many voters do as well. And some congressional Democrats reportedly worry that Biden will make mistakes during his high-profile speech tonight. People can even place prop bets on whether Biden makes any major gaffes. Biden’s State of the Union address also comes days before a congressional hearing with Special Counsel Robert Hur — whose report on the president’s mishandling of classified documents also pointed out Biden’s embarrassing memory lapses. Hur is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes Biden will address the economic malaise taking hold of the country, despite the administration’s insistence that “Bidenomics” is working. “In just three years, President Biden’s policies have rapidly accelerated American decline on every issue from the economy to national security and foreign policy. The American people don’t need empty words on a page for a reset. We need better policies and a real leader,” The formal Republican rebuttal to Biden’s address will be given by freshman Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, will deliver the Spanish-language rebuttal. Grappling with negative approval ratings and trailing former President Trump in the latest polling average of their general election rematch, Biden may have a golden opportunity to try and turn the narrative around with eight months to go until the November showdown. The White House told Fox News Digital that Biden will stress the importance of “uniting the country” and “saving our democracy.” He will draw a contrast between the “MAGA Republican agenda,” which he claims is focused on “rewarding billionaires and corporations with big tax breaks, taking away rights and freedoms and undermining our democracy.” First lady Jill Biden’s guests for the State of the Union address on Thursday night include an Alabama woman who is seeking in vitro fertilization (IVF), Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain. “Each of these individuals were invited by the White House because they personify issues or themes to be addressed by the President in his speech, or they embody the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies at work for the American people. The Second Gentleman, Mr. Douglas Emhoff, will also join the First Lady in the viewing box,” her office said in a statement. On the GOP side, members of Congress have invited ex-Hamas hostages and families of those still held in Gaza, a Cuban opposition leader, women’s sports activist Riley Gaines, families of victims of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, and more. THE REAL TRAGEDY: John Kerry says people would ‘feel better’ about the Ukraine war if Russia would reduce emissions …Read more ‘OFFENSIVE’: Biden official who banned WWII kissing photo has long history of controversial moves …Read more ‘HOW MANY MORE’: Blistering ad right before Biden’s SOTU set to hold his feet to the fire on Laken Riley …Read more FLASHBACK: Bill Clinton’s warning in 1995 State of the Union speech still rings shockingly true today …Read more ‘DEMORALIZING MISOGYNY’: LGBT student group seeks SCOTUS stay to hold drag show …Read more ‘SIGNED THE PLEDGE’: DeSantis criticizes Haley for not endorsing Trump …Read more ‘WARNING SIGN’: Democrats urge Biden to open eyes after voters abandon him …Read more TIGHTROPE: Democrats divided over how Biden should thread needle on Israel-Gaza …Read more BRING THEM HOME: Family members of 6 American hostages in Gaza to attend State of the Union …Read more ‘SANCTUARY STATE’: Maine considers bill that would establish abortion, sex changes a ‘legal right’ …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.
Modi visits Indian-administered Kashmir
NewsFeed India’s PM Narendra Modi visited Indian-administered Kashmir for the first time since India’s government stripped the region of its semi-autonomy in 2019. Published On 7 Mar 20247 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Dozens of pupils abducted by gunmen in Nigeria’s northwest
Gunmen escape with children from a government primary school in Kuriga town in Kaduna state. Gunmen have attacked a school in northwestern Nigeria and kidnapped dozens of pupils as they were about to start the school day, local residents and authorities say. Police in Kaduna state did not immediately comment on the abductions, which happened at the Local Government Education Authority School in the town of Kuriga on Thursday. The number of pupils taken was not immediately clear. The assailants stormed the school shortly after morning assembly about 8am (07:00 GMT), taking the pupils hostage before any help could arrive, Joshua Madami, a youth leader in the area, told The Associated Press news agency. “They were surrounded from all angles and left with almost 200 pupils and students,” Madami said. According to Salasi Musa, chairperson of the Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna, the number of pupils abducted was “far more than 100”. Abductions of students from schools in northern Nigeria are common and have become a source of concern since 2014 when Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno state’s Chibok village. Kaduna state, Nigeria In recent years, the abductions have been concentrated in the northwest and central regions, where dozens of armed groups often target villagers and travellers for large ransoms. The last major reported abduction involving schoolchildren was in June 2021 when gunmen took more than 80 students in a raid on a school in the northwestern state of Kebbi. ‘We don’t know what to do’ Parents of the missing children told the Reuters news agency that the gunmen started shooting sporadically on arrival at the school before abducting the children and escaping. The school educates primary and secondary school students. “We don’t know what to do. We are all waiting to see what God can do. They are my only children I have on Earth,” Fatima Usman, whose two children were among those abducted, told Reuters by phone. Another parent, Hassan Abdullahi, told Reuters that local vigilantes had tried to repel the gunmen but were overpowered. “Seventeen of the students abducted are my children. I feel very sad that the government has neglected us completely in this area,” Abdullahi said. Adblock test (Why?)
People’s Protection Force patrols Gaza market
NewsFeed Groups of masked and armed men, called the ‘People’s Protection Committee’ are patrolling Rafah, on the lookout for black market pricing. The group, set up by armed factions and the Hamas-led Interior Ministry, says they’re taking over the role of municipal police who have disbanded following Israeli strikes on their forces. Published On 7 Mar 20247 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
NY AG Letitia James booed at FDNY ceremony with chants of ‘Trump! Trump! Trump!’
New York Attorney General Letitia James was booed at a firefighters’ ceremony on Thursday, drowned out by a crowd who shouted: “Trump! Trump! Trump!” The booing erupted as James walked up to the podium to honor the swearing-in of the first African-American woman chaplain of the FDNY, the Rev. Pamela Holmes as well as other first responders. “Oh c’mon, we’re in a house of God. Simmer down,” James told the rowdy crowd. “Thank you for getting it out of your system.” James pressed away with her remarks, paying homage to first responders, but some in the crowd continued booing. The crowd began to repeatedly chant, “Trump!” Later in her speech, James said she prayed even for those firefighters in the audience booing her. NEW YORK APPEALS COURT ALLOWS TRUMP, SONS TO CONTINUE RUNNING BUSINESS, DENIES REQUEST TO DELAY PAYMENT Chief of Department John Hodgens later admonished the rowdy behavior of the firefighters. “Today’s ceremony was about one thing: the accomplishments of the members being promoted,” he said. “The members whose behavior distracted from that celebration were an embarrassment and not befitting of the world’s best fire department.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the Attorney General’s office for a response. Late last year, James filed a lawsuit against the former president, alleging that he inflated his assets and committed fraud. The ruling came down last month, mandating that Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee in the 2024 presidential race, is barred from operating his business in New York for three years and must pay a more than $350 million fine.
Biden won’t announce immigration executive action during State of the Union: official
President Biden will not announce any executive orders on immigration or border security ahead of or during his State of the Union address Thursday, a White House official told Fox News. A White House official said that the administration’s “preference” remained that Congress legislates this issue. Regarding a CNN report claiming Biden told Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, during a recent White House event that he would announce action on the border at the State of the Union, the White House official told Fox News on Thursday that the report was false and such interaction “never happened.” The White House official claimed to be double-checking with people who were in the room, but the administration denied the accuracy of the report. BIDEN ADMIN SHREDDED FOR REFERRING TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS ‘NEWCOMERS’: ‘NOT SERIOUS PEOPLE’ The CNN report stated, “The Democrats told Biden that he needed to show more of the fire that was on display in a closed-door meeting with governors when Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte handed him a letter demanding more action on the southern border. Biden flashed a smile, according to two of the governors standing there.” “‘State of the Union,’ Biden said, teasingly.” With the migrant crisis an issue that voters say is a central concern ahead of the November election, Republican lawmakers are inviting guests to Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday evening who place heavy focus on the nation’s broken immigration system. Migrant encounters at the southern border reached a record monthly high of 302,000 in December. During fiscal 2023, the U.S. saw 2.4 million migrant encounters at the border, which was also an all-time high. Nearly 7.3 million migrants have illegally crossed the southwest border under Biden’s watch, a number greater than the population of 36 individual states, a Fox News analysis found last month. BIDEN TO HAVE US MILITARY BUILD A PORT IN GAZA The guests invited to sit in the galleries include Tammy Noble, the mother of a young woman, Kayla Hamilton, who was killed in 2022. The suspect was an MS-13 gang member who had entered the U.S. illegally. Nobles was invited by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Border patrol agent Brandon Budlong, president of the National Border Patrol Council Local 2724, will be the guest of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the chair of the House Republican Caucus. Two New York Police Department officers, Ben Kurian and Zunxu Tian, who were attacked by migrants in a January incident near Times Square that drew national attention, will be the guests of Reps. Anthony D’Esposito and Nicole Malliotakis, both New York Republicans, as well as Johnson. Valeria Delgado, a student at Chapman University in California who has benefited from the U.S. policy created to protect young migrants brought to the U.S. as children, will be the guest of Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif. Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo, Joe Schoffstall and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Migrant at U.S.-Mexico border wears Biden-Harris shirt, claims not to know who they are
A Honduran man at the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, had a noticeable choice of attire during his journey into the United States: a t-shirt from President Biden’s 2020 campaign. In a conversation with Fox News, the man did not appear to know what “Biden Harris 2020” meant, asking who those people were, when questioned about where he had gotten the garment. When the man, who was among a group who appeared to include women and children, was informed that they are the president and vice president, he came up with an explanation. “Ahhhh. Then I have it on so they can let me in,” the man said in response, before laughing. Others around him joined in on the laughter. The two groups were separated by barbed wire, with what appeared to be the Rio Grande behind the migrants. STATE OF THE UNION: BILL CLINTON WARNED ABOUT IMMIGRATION OVERWHELMING ‘EVERY PLACE’ IN AMERICA BACK IN 1995 The U.S. may be on the brink of a potential spring surge of illegal crossings at the southern border after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources told Fox News early Monday that migrant encounters had surpassed 21,000 over the course of three days. The 7,000-plus migrant encounters on Sunday followed similar numbers on Friday and Saturday, the sources said. CONSERVATIVE GROUP TO BLAST BIDEN’S SOTU WITH LAKEN RILEY AD: ‘HOW MANY MORE KILLERS’ WILL BE ‘SET FREE’? Leading the encounters from Friday to Sunday was the Tucson sector in Arizona with more than 5,400, while the San Diego sector in California was the second busiest with more than 3,600, per the sources. The increased numbers in Arizona and California appear to show that illegal crossing traffic is shifting away from Texas, where the Rio Grande Valley sector near Brownsville and the Del Rio sector near Eagle Pass saw among the fewest encounters, averaging 300 to 350 per day since Friday. Last month, the Texas National Guard seized control of Shelby Park in the city of Eagle Pass and blocked Border Patrol from entering the area – part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s effort to stop the surge of illegal immigration into Texas. Fox News’ Bill Melugin, Stephen Sorace, Bradford Betz and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.