‘Shadow government’: Trump claims intel community bragged about hiding Chinese meddling
President Donald Trump accused members of the U.S. intelligence community Thursday night of operating a “shadow government” to allegedly conceal evidence of China’s efforts to influence U.S. elections, seizing on newly declassified emails that he says reveal a bitter internal dispute about how Beijing’s activities should be characterized. Trump did not claim China changed votes or altered election results. Instead, he argued Beijing engaged in an influence campaign aimed at shaping U.S. public perceptions. Trump claimed intelligence officials kept significant reporting out of his presidential briefings and highlighted an email in which a National Security Agency analyst allegedly wrote, “We have deliberately massaged our one pending (presidential daily brief) to avoid any direct links to the election.” TRUMP RELEASES DECLASSIFIED ELECTION INTELLIGENCE, SAYS IT REVEALS ‘SHOCKING VULNERABILITIES’ “Those responsible for sounding the alarm instead kept the information secret and hidden,” Trump claimed. “They did not disclose (it) to me as president or to anyone else.” Trump used the disclosures to press Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, casting the newly released intelligence as evidence that lawmakers must tighten federal election rules before the midterms. “Most importantly, addressing this crisis of election security demands that Congress must pass the SAVE America Act,” Trump said. “These reforms are urgently needed to stop the vulnerabilities that I’ve mentioned.” The SAVE America Act passed the House in February but stalled in the Senate in March, when a 53–47 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance it. Trump urged Americans to call their senators and representatives and demand its passage “without delay.” REPUBLICAN SAYS TRUMP’S TOP ELECTION PRIORITY ‘DEAD’ IN SENATE AS GOP FRACTURES AHEAD OF MIDTERMS The legislation would require documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections, photo identification to vote and ongoing state efforts to identify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls. Absentee voters would be required to submit a copy of an eligible photo ID when requesting a ballot and again when returning it. Trump also called for eliminating mail-in voting except in cases of illness, disability, military deployment or travel. The current text of the SAVE America Act does not include that prohibition — it permits absentee voting subject to identification requirements. Trump urged Americans to call their representatives and demand the bill’s passage “without delay.” The newly released emails show that analysts disagreed over whether any alleged Chinese influence operations and intelligence collection should be explicitly linked to elections. After the NSA analyst described “massaging” the President’s Daily Brief, other intelligence officials questioned the decision, with one writing that “the mind boggles” and another calling the approach “highly irregular.” One official alleged the intelligence community was “deliberately avoiding mentioning a connection to elections for non-substantive reasons,” according to a November 2020 email. That official sought to reconnect the intelligence to the election-security assessment and prevent what another described as an “analytic objectivity mistake.” The documents, however, do not establish Trump’s broader allegation of a politically motivated conspiracy. Instead, they portray competing intelligence assessments over whether China’s actions amounted to an effort to influence the presidential contest or a broader campaign focused on U.S. policies, public opinion and issues important to Beijing. Trump went further Thursday, claiming an FBI official wrote that she was running a “shadow government” to prevent the China intelligence from becoming public. China denied any interference in U.S. elections. “China has all along adhered to the principle of non-interference in other’s internal affairs,” Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Chang told Fox News Digital. “The U.S. election is an internal matter of the U.S. Its outcome is determined by the votes of the American people. China has never and will never interfere in the presidential elections of the U.S.” Trump is still expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September, a senior White House official told Fox News. Trump directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Justice Department, FBI and CIA Thursday to investigate why the intelligence was withheld, fire anyone found to have participated in a cover-up and pursue criminal charges “if appropriate.” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in response to the address: “Americans heard the president once again repeat claims about our elections that have been investigated for years and repeatedly rejected by the Intelligence Community.”
Trump releases declassified election intelligence, says it reveals ‘shocking vulnerabilities’
President Donald Trump addressed the nation Thursday evening on “free and fair” elections, announcing the declassification of critical intelligence that reveals, as he said, “shocking vulnerabilities” related to “hacking, exploitation and foreign interference.” “This vital information is for many years been covered up and hidden from you,” Trump said. “The American people are beautiful, our great American people. But that all changes right now.” Trump did not claim China changed votes or altered election results. Instead, he argued Beijing engaged in an influence campaign aimed at shaping U.S. public perceptions. Documents were posted to the White House website during the president’s speech. TRUMP KEEPS ‘REALLY BIG’ ADDRESS UNDER WRAPS AS WHITE HOUSE SAYS ‘NOBODY KNOWS’ WHAT HE’LL REVEAL The speech came as his administration has aggressively pushed policies, legislation and executive orders to secure U.S. elections. “The documents we will release starting tonight have been gathered by the White House Government Transparency Taskforce, a great group of people, along with the staff of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, supported by our top intelligence agency chiefs, who have all personally reviewed the findings we are presenting this evening and fully confirmed their authenticity,” Trump said Thursday. Leading up to the address, Trump teased that his speech would be “big news.” Trump touted his new Trump Accounts and spoke about how his administration has lowered drug prices, reduced crime and strengthened the border — with the main focus on securing American elections. Trump said the disclosures underscore its push for stricter election security measures and renewed calls for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, while critics have disputed many of Trump’s claims about the 2020 election and widespread voter fraud. Vice President JD Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin were among the White House officials seated in the East Room. The White House released four sections of documents focused on alleged vulnerabilities in electronic voting and ballot-counting systems, China’s acquisition and exploitation of American voter data, Michigan voter-registration investigation and noncitizens on state voter rolls. Election law expert and senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom Hans von Spakovsky told Fox News Digital that Trump’s allegations are shocking, especially given that they are from reports produced by the CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies. “The president should be commended for declassifying and releasing the reports that support his claims so they can be reviewed in depth,” said von Spakovsky. Trump said China obtained information about American voters such as names, addresses, phone numbers, political affiliations and other personal information to form a dedicated unit to exploit the voter data it had acquired. “China has all along adhered to the principle of non-interference in other’s internal affairs. The U.S. election is an internal matter of the U.S. Its outcome is determined by the votes of the American people,” Chinese Embassy spokesperson Mr. Liu Chang said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “China has never and will never interfere in the presidential elections of the U.S,” Chang added. Reports from the CIA and National Security Agency about China’s interference were kept out of Trump’s almost daily presidential briefings, Trump claimed. Trump also said Congress also was not notified. TRUMP THREATENS TO EXPAND STRIKES ON IRAN, SAYS POWER PLANTS ARE NEXT TO GO: ‘HIT THEM HARD’ Trump called on the director of national intelligence, the Department of Justice, the FBI and the CIA to launch an investigation and, if appropriate, fire and press criminal charges against those involved. “To the extent that these intrusions into our election system were covered up, as the president alleges, and hidden from the public, Congress, state election officials, and leadership in the Executive Branch, Pres. Trump is right that everyone involved in that coverup should be investigated and prosecuted for any criminal violations of the law,” said von Spakovsky. Trump again highlighted the issue of noncitizens on voter rolls as he renewed his push for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship and photo identification to register and vote in federal elections. “I’ve also ordered DHS to notify every state about noncitizens on their voter rolls and direct them to remove all ineligible voters from the lists immediately,” said Trump. The Department of Homeland Security told election officials in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania that a preliminary review identified more than 256,000 potential noncitizens on the states’ voter rolls, according to letters obtained by Fox News Digital. Trump has pushed to get the SAVE America Act passed, which includes the long-sought voter ID and citizenship verification — which Republicans say is key to ensuring elections are safe and secure. Trump has tried to attach the stalled election legislation to defense spending, holding housing legislation hostage and playing Senate primary politics. Republicans are running against the clock to pass the stalled elections bill before the party’s midterm window narrows. Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned Trump’s remarks and criticized the SAVE Act. “Not now. Not ever. The SAVE Act is dead on arrival in the United States Senate,” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X reposting Trump’s speech. “Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. And now he’s trying to rig this year’s election with the SAVE America Act to make it harder to vote for millions of women, veterans, rural folks, & voters of color,” wrote Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “Tonight seems to be the ceremonial kickoff of President Trump’s campaign to interfere in the November election. Trump has badly lost independent voters, even MAGA is disheartened; he is failing and unpopular, and he’s dragging his party down with him in the midterms,” said Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
White House addresses growing parasite outbreak after more than 400 Americans sickened
The White House said Thursday it was closely monitoring a growing multistate parasite outbreak that has sickened more than 400 people as federal health officials race to identify the contaminated food behind the illnesses. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to trace the outbreak to its source, insisting the agencies have the resources they need despite questions about recent staffing changes. “We’re committed to providing the CDC and the FDA with the resources that they need,” Leavitt told reporters. “Most importantly, [we’re working to] trace the outbreak back to its original source, which we are currently in the process of doing.” NYC HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN CENTRAL PARK VISITORS AFTER LEGIONNAIRES’ OUTBREAK GROWS ON UPPER EAST SIDE The outbreak has heightened concern because investigators still have not identified the contaminated food, leaving consumers without a specific product to avoid as federal and state officials work to trace the illnesses through patient interviews and food supply records. The White House comments came a day after the CDC warned it is investigating a large cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened more than 400 people in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. The agency said the actual number of illnesses is likely much higher because many infected people never seek testing or medical care. The CDC said the outbreak appears to have accelerated since May, and it is simultaneously investigating several additional clusters of cyclospora infections across the country. Public health officials are interviewing patients about everything they ate in the two weeks before becoming sick as they work to pinpoint the source. MAINE COUNTY SEES ALARMING SPIKE IN HIV CASES, PROMPTING ACTION FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS Although investigators have not linked the outbreak to a specific food, cyclospora infections have historically been associated with fresh produce, including leafy greens, herbs and berries. Officials say identifying the contaminated item remains the investigation’s top priority. Cyclospora is not typically life-threatening, but the CDC warns some people can become seriously ill and require hospitalization. Symptoms generally begin about a week after exposure and can include prolonged watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach cramps and weight loss. Without treatment, the illness can last for weeks or even longer. The CDC is urging consumers to wash fresh produce thoroughly under running water, cook food when possible and to stay hydrated if symptoms develop. It also said to contact a healthcare provider if diarrhea persists. Because routine stool tests do not always screen for cyclospora, officials say patients may need to specifically request testing for the parasite.
More than a quarter-million noncitizens may be registered to vote in 4 key states, DHS alleges
FIRST ON FOX – The Department of Homeland Security told election officials in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania a preliminary review found what could be more than 256,000 noncitizens registered to vote across the four states, according to letters obtained by Fox News Digital. In the four letters dated Friday, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the department compared publicly available voter registration records with federal immigration data and uncovered thousands of potential matches. He asked state election officials to work with DHS to verify the identities before taking any action. According to the letters, DHS estimates there may be as many as 190,832 noncitizens registered to vote in California, 35,152 in New Jersey, 15,903 in Nevada and 14,576 in Pennsylvania. The department said it found 81,336 California registrants, 19,497 New Jersey registrants, 8,576 Nevada registrants and 8,594 Pennsylvania registrants whose names, dates of birth, addresses and Social Security numbers match noncitizens in DHS records. DHS PLANS COSTLY CRACKDOWN ON STATES THAT DON’T COOPERATE ON ELECTION SECURITY Many noncitizens are legally issued Social Security numbers, including lawful permanent residents, people authorized to work in the United States and certain visa holders. DHS said it used Social Security numbers as one of several identifiers in matching voter registration records with federal immigration records. The letters describe the findings as a preliminary review. “The most efficient way to ensure the accuracy of our findings is to work collaboratively on identity verification,” Mullin wrote. DHS said it is prepared to provide immigration records under federal law to help states determine whether those individuals are eligible to remain on the voter rolls. DHS DIRECTS ICE TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO VOTE IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS UNDER NEW DIRECTIVE Mullin said ensuring that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections is essential to protecting election integrity, writing that “allowing just one non-citizen to vote cancels the vote of one U.S. citizen.” He added that states maintain voter registration rolls while the federal government maintains the immigration records needed to verify citizenship. The letters ask the secretaries of state to contact DHS by July 24 so the department can begin sharing records and assisting with the verification process ahead of future federal elections. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, New Jersey Secretary of State Dale Caldwell and Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital requests for comment. The letters come as the Trump administration continues pushing states to work more closely with federal agencies on election security and voter eligibility, arguing that access to federal immigration records can help states maintain accurate voter rolls.
Details of Todd Blanche’s behind-the-scenes meeting with Angel Mom revealed after Capitol Hill testimony
EXCLUSIVE: An Illinois Angel Mom whose daughter died after a tragic encounter with an illegal alien last year revealed to Fox News Digital details of a conversation she had with President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general that convinced her he’s the man for the job. “I immediately felt so pulled towards him,” Jennifer Bos said, speaking about acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “You get a certain energy from people, and he is just the kindest. … He listened to my story very intently, and you could just see his mind ticking like, ‘what are we going to do about this?’” Bos’ daughter, Megan Bos, was just 37 when she was found dead in April 2026, stuffed in a garbage can and soaked in bleach, 51 days after she disappeared. An illegal alien from Mexico, Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, was charged with several felonies in Megan’s death after her body was found on his property. HUNDREDS OF JAILED ILLEGAL ALIENS RELEASED BACK ONTO BLUE STATE STREETS DESPITE ICE DETAINERS, RECORDS SHOW Mendoza-Gonzalez is accused of abuse of a corpse, two counts of concealing the death of a person and obstructing justice. He claims Megan overdosed and insists he had nothing to do with her death. Due to Illinois’ sanctuary policies, Mendoza-Gonzalez walked free after an initial hearing, infuriating Jennifer. He was tracked down and arrested again by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Indiana in July 2026, just days after Jennifer shared her tragic story with Trump when they crossed paths at an anti-fentanyl bill signing. Jennifer and her husband are now raising Megan’s daughter, who was 5 years old when her mother died. EXCLUSIVE: DHS HONORS ANGEL FAMILIES DURING NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS WEEK, CALLS CRIMES ‘COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE’ Though, as Jennifer noted, there is nothing Blanche can do to help her family specifically since her daughter has already died, she is confident the attorney general nominee understands the plight of Angel Families everywhere. “We’re trying to make a difference for people who haven’t been touched by this kind of tragedy, who haven’t been touched by the violence that can be from an illegal immigrant,” Jennifer said. She said she thinks Blanche, appointed acting attorney general after Pam Bondi’s ouster, is “being true to the job he’s supposed to do.” “I trust that he’s doing the right thing for the right reasons,” she continued. Jennifer, who was in Washington with border security group American Border Story Action, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee just 24 hours after Democrats on the committee attempted to shred Blanche’s credibility and paint him as a personal yes-man for Trump. She told Fox News Digital those same Democrats have ignored families whose lives have been forever altered by the death of a relative at the hands of an illegal alien, including hers. She didn’t speak to any Democrats on the panel before her testimony Thursday. TODD BLANCHE EARNS ATTORNEY GENERAL BID ENDORSEMENT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ALLIANCE AHEAD OF CONFIRMATION “You know, before President Trump came into office, Angel Families were inconvenient truths,” she said. “They didn’t want to acknowledge the damage that was being done by having open borders and by having people here illegally, that they couldn’t track, they couldn’t identify.” She described Republicans and independents as “welcoming,” and said they’re always open to meetings and helping Angel Families tell their stories. Jennifer came face to face with her own senator, Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, during Thursday’s hearing. “I was very frustrated listening to my own senator when he addressed me directly, giving his apologies, because all I could think of was, you know, I’ve been out in the public, I’m everywhere, I have been for the last year and a half, yet never once has he said anything to me, reached out to me or anything of the like,” said Jennifer. She said the issue of illegal alien crime is “very nonpartisan,” noting that it can happen to anyone regardless of political ideology and expressing disappointment that both sides of the political aisle can’t come together to solve the problem. Jennifer did say that Durbin approached her to chat after the hearing, and she is hopeful the pair can collaborate on solutions in the future. During the hearing, Jennifer said Blanche is listening to Angel Families and that they’re “being taken seriously.” “I’m asking the committee not to wait until another mother is sitting where I am. Confirm Todd Blanche,” she said. “He is a leader who will uphold the law, honor victims, confront dangerous criminal organizations and fight to give other American families the safety and lasting protection that came too late for mine. “I couldn’t save my daughter. But Todd Blanche, as attorney general, he might save yours because next time, it could be your child. It could be your family. It could be you.”
FBI investigating after ICE headquarters in Phoenix riddled with gunfire
The FBI is investigating after gunfire riddled the windows of an Arizona U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center earlier this week. Video from FOX 10 Phoenix showed the damage after one or more unidentified people fired multiple rounds at the building. The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office said it is investigating the shooting, which occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Enforcement and Removal Operations building on North Central Avenue in Phoenix. According to the bureau, one or more unidentified people fired rounds that hit the exterior of the structure. No injuries were reported. ICE SAYS OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO TRIED TO RAM HIM WITH CAR IN HOUSTON ICE sources told Fox News there were several bullet holes in the building’s windows. FOX 10 Phoenix crews also captured video showing the apparent damage. “The FBI Phoenix field office is investigating a shooting incident that occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Enforcement and Removal Operations building located on North Central Ave. in Phoenix, AZ,” the FBI said in a statement. “According to the FBI, one or more unidentified people discharged rounds that struck the exterior in various parts of the structure. No injuries were reported in connection with this incident.” The shooting comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced ICE will require every arrest team to have an officer wearing a body camera, citing what it says has been a sharp rise in attacks against ICE personnel. DHS said assaults against ICE officers have increased by more than 1,300%, while vehicle attacks have risen by more than 3,300%. ICE AGENTS IN FATAL HOUSTON SHOOTING WERE NOT WEARING BODY CAMERAS, SOURCES SAY “ICE will ensure each arrest team has an individual wearing a body camera,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News. “Ensuring all of our ICE law enforcement officers have body cameras nationwide is a top priority for DHS — especially given the increase in attacks against our law enforcement, including a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them and a 3,300% increase in vehicle attacks. “This is especially needed because the media and sanctuary politicians consistently spread smears about our law enforcement.” The FBI is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov. The motive for the Phoenix shooting has not been announced, and no suspect information has been released. Fox News’ Alexis McAdams and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: Hawley expands USPS probe with blistering letter accusing chief of dodging Congress
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is expanding his investigation into the U.S. Postal Service, accusing Postmaster General David Steiner of ignoring congressional oversight while demanding records on the agency’s use of outside restructuring consultants as USPS projects billions more in financial losses. In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, the Missouri Republican said his office has received no documents in response to a June 30 oversight request and informed Steiner that the investigation will now examine USPS’ hiring of consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal. “To date, my office has received no documents in compliance with my June 30 letter,” Hawley wrote. “Is it your intention simply to ignore statutory oversight? I expect full compliance with my oversight requests immediately.” SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM MLB ON ‘PATTERN OF DISCRIMINATION’ OVER WARNINGS TO GIANTS PLAYERS Hawley said Congress must review USPS’ relationship with Alvarez & Marsal, a restructuring firm Steiner disclosed earlier this year had been hired to help the postal service plan for its financial future. The senator questioned why USPS is paying outside consultants while projecting another multibillion-dollar loss and continuing to award executive bonuses. “It is surprising to me that as you complain about this monetary crisis, you and other USPS executives continue to rake in annual bonus packages and have found plenty of cash to hire these outside consultants like A&M — all while service declines and far too many Americans are not receiving their mail,” Hawley wrote. RED-STATE AUDITOR REPORTS ‘EXPLOSION’ OF FRAUD TIPS AS HE TARGETS STATE EMPLOYEES ‘RACKING UP’ TAXPAYER WASTE Hawley is requesting records detailing who hired Alvarez & Marsal, how much the firm has been paid and whether it was asked to recommend closing rural post offices, limiting rural delivery or reviewing executive compensation. He also inquired about whether USPS plans to release the firm’s recommendations to Congress or the public. The expanded investigation comes weeks after Fox News Digital first reported Hawley launched an oversight probe into USPS over dumped mail in St. Louis, demanding records on delayed deliveries, possible criminal misconduct and executive bonuses. That inquiry followed a contentious Senate hearing in June, where Hawley pressed Steiner over thousands of pieces of dumped mail discovered in St. Louis. Hawley later criticized the postmaster general for saying he was unaware of the incident and publicly called for his resignation if he refused to return his performance bonus. UFO WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS BILLIONS IN SECRET SPENDING HIDDEN FROM CONGRESS In his latest letter, Hawley said the USPS has yet to comply with his original document requests. Hawley noted USPS has lost an estimated $25 billion over the past three fiscal years and is projecting at least an $8.1 billion loss in fiscal year 2026 despite reforms Congress approved in 2022 to improve the agency’s finances. “If the Postal Service plans to address its losses through hiring A&M, then Congress must be apprised of the nature of the engagement and A&M’s recommendations to ensure that USPS service standards — such as universal service and rural delivery — do not continue to decline in any agency restructuring plan,” Hawley wrote. The senator requested USPS respond to his expanded oversight questions by July 24. USPS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Key Trump agency puts top universities in crosshairs over alleged race-based dorm programs
The Trump administration is opening civil rights investigations into the University of Connecticut and the University of Minnesota after receiving complaints alleging the schools are operating dorm programs that may be steering students into campus housing services based on race. The complaints, filed by the Equal Protection Project and obtained by Fox News Digital, accuse UConn of operating three allegedly discriminatory housing programs — ScHOLA²RS House, BSOUL House and La Comunidad Intelectual — promoting Black male, Black female and Hispanic students. A separate complaint against the University of Minnesota Twin Cities names four programs — Huntley House, Charlotte’s Home, CASA SOL and Tsev Hmoob — that allegedly are promoting Black male, Black female, Hispanic and Hmong American students. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the programs potentially violate the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and constitutional equal-protection guarantees by steering students toward or away from dormitory housing programs – which also include student support services – based on race, color or national origin, even when the universities say the programs are “open to all.” UNEARTHED RECORDS REVEAL DEM MAYOR SOUGHT TAX HIKE TO FUND DEI ROLE AHEAD OF KEY HOUSE RACE “Unlawful discrimination cannot be allowed to poison American communities or separate members of our next generation — especially in college and university housing,” Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Every student has the right to learn and live in an educational environment free from illegal and divisive DEI. Unlike the Biden administration, the Trump administration does not play favorites. Every American deserves the law’s protection, and any institution of higher education that engages in unlawful housing discrimination will be held accountable.” Both universities denied engaging in discriminatory housing practices. A University of Minnesota spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the school received official notice of the probe from HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Thursday but argued the school’s programs are compliant with “federal regulations, guidelines and anti-discrimination laws.” HUD confirmed to Fox News Digital it sent notice of the investigation to the university ahead of publication. “The University’s Living Learning Communities are open to all students, regardless of race or ethnicity, which is clearly stated on our website,” the spokesperson said. “The university is diligent in its compliance with federal regulations, guidelines and anti-discrimination laws. HUD LAUNCHES CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION INTO BOSTON’S DEI HOUSING POLICIES OVER ALLEGED RACIAL DISCRIMINATION “We will fully cooperate with any investigation into this matter.” The Equal Protection Project’s complaint cited by HUD appeared to anticipate UMN’s defense, arguing that the school’s “open to all” disclaimer does not resolve the alleged problem because the university still “expressly defines and markets” the residential communities around race or ethnicity. “Such perfunctory non-discrimination language does not cure the racial steering violation,” the complaint says. The complaint points to UMN materials describing Huntley House as a community “designed for Black men,” Charlotte’s House as “designed for Black women,” CASA SOL as “designed for Latinx students” and Tsev Hmoob as “designed for Hmong American students,” all of which provide housing and programmatic benefits, including peer mentoring, academic support, community events and shared residential space for selected students. The complaint also alleges UMN added its “open to all” language to at least three of the programs sometime after March 17, 2026, based on internet archive history, and argues that the late-added disclaimer does not cure the alleged violation. Instead, the complaint says, the added language suggests the university was aware its race-based descriptions and opens them to legal liability. MED SCHOOL DEANS COME UP EMPTY IN TENSE HEARING WHEN ASKED POINT BLANK IF MEN CAN HAVE BABIES: ‘RIDICULOUS’ UConn also denied discriminating in campus housing. “UConn does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other aspect of identity, including in our on-campus housing,” a university spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “UConn is home to nearly 20 different interdisciplinary living and learning communities within on-campus housing, all of which are organized around students who may have similar interests, backgrounds or academic pursuits, including the three that were specifically named,” the spokesperson continued. “However, these communities are open to all students, and no student is denied access to these communities based on their identity.” But the Equal Protection Project complaint cited by HUD in conjunction with its new probe argues that UConn’s housing programs, which also offer student support services, may still amount to unlawful racial steering even if students outside the named groups are not formally barred. UConn’s housing descriptions for ScHOLA²RS House, BSOUL House and La Comunidad Intelectual, the complaint alleged, have been promoted in a manner that could signal to other students that the housing programs are not intended for them. The complaint points specifically to the schools’ promotional materials and social media posts, arguing the housing programs’ titles, descriptions and imagery are likely to steer non-Black or non-Hispanic students away from applying, regardless of whether UConn intended to discriminate. “This information steers individuals (‘ordinary readers’) towards and away from dormitory housing based on these preferences in violation of the FHA,” the complaint against UConn states, adding that the allegation holds “even if UConn in fact has no discriminatory intent.” The complaint highlights how UConn’s learning communities allow students to live together while participating in shared academic courses, mentoring and co-curricular programming, and says the named programs also promote support including academic and social or emotional support, research opportunities, professional development, seminar courses, events and shared community space. “When parents entrust their children to universities, they expect these institutions to cultivate independent thinkers who will engage with life’s permanent questions, pursue truth, beauty, and goodness, and carry forward the great intellectual, moral, and cultural inheritance of Western civilization,” Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor told Fox News Digital. “Too often, however, these young Americans arrive on campus only to be steered toward racially segregated housing arrangements that divide students, create unequal experiences, and betray the core principles of a classical liberal education,” he continued. “We will fully investigate the allegations against the University of Connecticut and
OnlyFans models, witches haunt Dem’s campaign in toss-up House race: report
The official campaign Instagram account for a Democrat running in one of the most competitive House races of 2026 followed multiple accounts belonging to OnlyFans models and individuals claiming to be witches, according to a recent report. JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine Corps veteran challenging Juan Ciscomani in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, at one point followed 12 accounts that regularly posted sexually explicit content, including images of sex toys, the New York Post first reported. The Instagram account was also found to reportedly follow accounts run by self-described witches who promised to instruct their followers on witchcraft. The social media activity injects an unusual culture war controversy into one of the nation’s most competitive House races, where Republicans are defending a seat that could help determine control of Congress in 2026. LUTHERAN MINISTER AND HOUSE CANDIDATE UNDER FIRE AFTER RECOUNTING HER PART IN SATANIST COUPLE’S WEDDING Mendoza’s Instagram unfollowed some of these accounts after being reached by the New York Post for comment, the outlet reported. The Mendoza campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Thursday. One of the accounts followed by Mendoza’s campaign belonged to a transgender socialist activist who often posts pictures in BDSM gear, the New York Post reported. In one such image, the activist wears what appears to be leather and chains over a bare chest. The campaign account also followed at least two OnlyFans users, the New York Post reported. UNEARTHED VIDEO SHOWS DEM CANDIDATE SUPPORTING ‘REALLOCATION’ OF POLICE FUNDING TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS Accounts followed by the campaign account also promised to provide prospective witches with “beginner tips” to engage in practices such as “Eden Energy Medicine” and “Crystal Spirit Readings,” according to the outlet. POWERFUL LGBTQ+ GROUP’S ENDORSEMENTS COULD TANK VULNERABLE DEMS OVER RADICAL YOUTH TRANS AGENDA Mendoza has previously drawn scrutiny amid the campaign, including after a video of her advocating for legal prostitution resurfaced. When running for state office in 2020, Mendoza told an Arizona LGBT group she would fight to “decriminalize sex work” to help “trans folks, especially trans women of color,” because “discrimination is so pervasive in the formal employment sector.” Cook Political Report rates the election in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District as a toss-up, meaning that neither political party has a distinct advantage as Election Day approaches. Mendoza’s race is of just 18 that falls into that category for the 2026 midterm elections.
WATCH: GOP senators tear into former Biden pardon attorney over push to spare ‘mass murderers’ from death row
Several Republican senators challenged the credibility of the testimony of a former Biden Justice Department official during the second day of the Todd Blanche confirmation hearing, pointing to the part she played in the clemency granted to 37 death row inmates. Democrats called Elizabeth Oyer, the former U.S. pardon attorney at the Department of Justice, a nonpolitical position she served from April 2022 until March 2025 when then-Deputy Attorney General Blanche fired her, which she argued was politically motivated. While Democrats cast the former pardon attorney as evidence Blanche had politicized the Justice Department, Republicans argued her recommendations to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates undermined her credibility. Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April 2, did not publicly disclose the reasoning for Oyer’s firing, but she claimed it was because she refused to recommend that actor Mel Gibson, who serves as a special envoy to Hollywood for President Donald Trump, have his gun rights restored. The Justice Department denied this as the cause for her firing. TRUMP’S AG NOMINEE RACKS UP MASSIVE SUPPORT AHEAD OF CONFIRMATION HEARING: ‘REAL RESULTS’ In her opening testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, Oyer mentioned Blanche’s handling of the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell’s reassignment to a lower security prison as among the main reasons Blanche should not become attorney general. “At the end of the day, the priority of this DOJ is protecting powerful men, even when it comes at the expense of vulnerable women,” Oyer testified Thursday. But Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; and Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, hammered Oyer over an internal memo from Nov. 4, 2024, in which she recommended that Attorney General Merrick Garland advise President Joe Biden to consider commuting the 40 remaining federal death sentences. Biden went on to commute the death sentences of 37 of those recommended. “You have no credibility to talk about Todd Blanche. You have none,” Schmitt said. “You’ve come here, you deny basic facts. You recommended the commutation of murderers. You gave no quarter at all or any time to the victims of these brutal murders. So, again, I can’t believe you’ve been called here by the other side. But I’m glad we’ve had an opportunity to expose your hypocrisy.” A report from the Justice Department found that Oyer’s 73-page memorandum only dedicated three paragraphs to address the grievances of the victims’ families. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES IT’S READOPTING THE FIRING SQUAD AS A MEANS OF EXECUTION Earlier in the hearing, Hawley pointed out some of the notorious federal death row inmates whose death sentences Oyer recommended be commuted to life in prison. Among them was Dylan Roof, who was convicted in the June 17, 2015, mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where he killed nine Black parishioners during a Bible study. Biden ultimately declined to pardon him. “You said that actually Roof is not a compelling candidate for clemency, but you recommended it anyway,” Hawley said, referring to Oyer’s memorandum. “Why? Because he suffered from anxiety. You said, ‘Right, he suffered from anxiety’. Did it ever occur to you that maybe the family of his victims might suffer a little bit of anxiety because he marched into their church and murdered them in cold blood, because he was an incredible racist and he wanted to get on TV?” Hawley then turned to Oyer’s recommendation to commute the death sentence of Robert Bowers, who was convicted of 63 federal charges stemming from the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting, which killed 11 Jewish worshipers. Biden also did not commute Bowers’ sentence. “This guy killed people just because they’re Jews,” Hawley said. “A jury recommended that he be sentenced to death, and you substituted your judgment for theirs, and now he’s going to live. Are you proud of that?” “Sir, what I am proud of is the fact that I took my job as pardon attorney extremely seriously,” Oyer said in response. “I think your judgment is astoundingly terrible. I’m amazed that this side of the aisle has called you.” Hawley responded. SENATOR TIM SHEEHY: SOFT-ON-CRIME JUDGES NEED CONSEQUENCES. THE JAIL ACT DELIVERS But Grassley pointed out that Oyer also recommended commuting the death sentence of Jorge Avila-Torrez. Torrez was on federal death row for convictions for the stabbing deaths of two young girls in Illinois, the murder of Navy Petty Officer Amanda Snell at a Virginia military base and the abduction and rape of a University of Maryland graduate student. He pressed Oyer on the pardon recommendations she made. Oyer refused to answer, invoking the president’s executive privilege. “You can’t even tell me if you contacted the victim’s family?” Grassley asked. “You can’t say yes or no to that?” Oyer said that all the death row inmates who received clemency will spend the rest of their lives behind bars. “These are absolutely horrific cases,” Oyer said. “And every one of the individuals you mentioned will remain incarcerated for the rest of their lives, most likely in a maximum security prison facility.” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., condemned his Republican colleagues’ line of questioning with Oyer later in the hearing. “I just want to start off by saying, Miss Oyer, I hold you in the highest esteem and respect, especially what you’re doing now as a private citizen,” Booker said. “You use a platform to educate people about the law. “It is technical, but yet accessible. And the badgering you just endured, it should be completely unacceptable. You were asked to comment on things you didn’t have before you. The treatment here, to me, is just outrageous. And I apologize on behalf of the United States Senate.” Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office and Oyer for comment.