‘Smart decision’: Swalwell’s resignation spurs praise from both parties after bombshell allegations emerge
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he was planning to resign from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations, leading top Senate Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to praise the decision. Meanwhile, Republicans are questioning how much top Democrats knew before the final ball dropped Monday with Swalwell’s resignation, which came just days after he suspended his California gubernatorial campaign. Swalwell said Monday that he was “deeply sorry” to his family, staff and constituents for his “mistakes,” but stood headstrong in calling the sexual misconduct and abuse allegations against him “false.” “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell said in his announcement. “Expelling anyone from Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But, it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.” SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ “It was a good decision,” added Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., when asked about Swalwell’s resignation. “You don’t have to be a rocket science to figure that out. It’s terrible – what has been alleged.” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reportedly told CNN that he thought Swalwell made the right decision. Swalwell’s decision to resign keeps Democrats from having to vote on a contentious resolution to expel Swalwell, which was expected to happen if he had not resigned. “With a criminal investigation in the works, the move will avoid the need to answer questions immediately in an ethics investigation that might present legal dangers,” George Washington University professor and Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley pointed out. “Few defense attorneys would relish a client responding to an open-ended ethics investigation when the outcome seems likely expulsion.” When asked whether she had requested Swalwell resign, Pelosi reportedly responded, “Oh, I think that was his decision. I think it’s a smart decision to make,” according to Politico. Furthermore, when asked whether she had any previous idea about the sexual misconduct allegations, Pelosi responded, “none whatsoever,” Politico also noted. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and colleague of Arizona who faced heat for defending him, said minutes before Swalwell’s resignation that he “had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell.” ‘USEFUL PUPPET’: ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS Warren, who ran against Swalwell during the pairs’ bids for the presidency, said she is “glad that [Swalwell] will be gone,” adding that “people who are in positions of power and authority over others need to be held accountable when they take advantage of that position.” Within an hour after Swalwell’s announcement that he would resign, one of Swalwell’s colleagues in the House of Representatives, Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, followed suit and announced he was resigning as well amid sexual misconduct allegations. “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas,” Gonzales said. Gonzalez last month said he would not run for reelection, so it is uncertain what may change. If Gonzalez and Swalwell left tomorrow, the slim margin in the House between Republicans and Democrats would not change. Republican reactions to Swalwell’s resignation Monday mirrored the praise from Democrats. Republican frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race, Steve Hilton, also slammed “career politicians” for letting Swalwell “get away with it.” “Of course Eric Swalwell had to drop out of the California governor’s race. The question is, why was he ever in it, knowing he had all this going on?” Hilton told Fox News Digital. “First smart thing he’s done,” said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who added that Gonzales “needs to follow his lead” right before he actually did. “Eric, you did the right thing by resigning. However, don’t you dare say there weren’t grounds for your expulsion, because there absolutely were,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said after Swalwell’s announcement he would be resigning. “He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation. Based on what I’m hearing, he may go to jail.” Other Republicans questioned how much Democrats knew before the allegations of sexual misconduct became public against Swalwell. “The mainstream media doesn’t attack a Democrat unless it helps a separate Democrat. It’s axiomatic. The Swalwell episode proves that in technicolor,” John Ashbrook, a co-host of the “Ruthless” podcast told Fox News Digital. “If he wasn’t jeopardizing their party’s ability to hold the California Governor’s mansion, none of them would have said a word.” “Eric Swalwell should’ve been removed from Congress long ago, yet Democrats rallied around him over and over even after it was shown he was compromised by a Chinese spy,” added Republican strategist Mark Bednar, who has worked for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and current Transportation Secretary and former Congressman Sean Duffy. “The real questions for Democrats close to him are what did they know, when did they know it, and will they question then-Speaker Pelosi’s judgment regarding Swalwell’s committee assignments?” Hilton echoed Bednar’s questions about how much top Democrats knew. “Machine politicians and unions that endorsed Swalwell and threw money at him — they knew about his past. It was an open secret on Capitol Hill and Sacramento. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, the teacher unions, SEIU — they are all totally full of it with their fake outrage and condemnation,” Hilton told Fox News Digital. “California is ruled by a corrupt Democrat elite that is collapsing into chaos, sleaze and scandal. That’s why the Swalwell stand-ins that they send to run against me in the general election, whether it’s Katie Porter or Tom Steyer, will be no better.”
Swalwell’s ‘best friend’ in Congress turns on him after bombshell allegations torpedo his political career
One of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s, D-Calif., closest friends in Congress is putting distance between himself and the lawmaker, contending he had no idea about the bombshell accusations of sexual assault that have surfaced against the former gubernatorial candidate. “I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell,” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a statement. “The women who have come forward have shown courage,” he continued. “They deserve to be believed, to be supported, and to see justice served.” HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS MOTION TO OUST SWALWELL FROM CONGRESS AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS Gallego’s turn on Swalwell came just minutes before the lawmaker announced his resignation from Congress. He already pulled his endorsement of Swalwell’s now-defunct bid for governor shortly after the bombshell San Francisco Chronicle report was published, and said the lawmaker was “no longer fit to be a member of Congress” and supported the push to expel him from the lower chamber. It’s the culmination of a swift about-face for Gallego, who has signaled a desire for a 2028 presidential bid and was once described by Swalwell as his “best friend in the world.” The pair have been friends since Gallego’s time in the House and both came under fire for photos that surfaced of the duo riding shirtless on camels in Qatar as part of a private trip in 2021. And just days ago, Gallego defended Swalwell online. PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: ‘INDEFENSIBLE’ “When you are in first place, is when they target you,” Gallego said on X. “Eric is a fighter and he will win the Governors race.” Now, Gallego said he doesn’t know his once close friend. “I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew,” Gallego said. ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS Swalwell resigned from the House Monday night after ending his gubernatorial campaign in California, a move that was spurred by the San Francisco Chronicle’s report that detailed allegations of sexual assault against him. He currently faces allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from a former staffer and three other women. In the House, Swalwell faced pressure from his colleagues to resign. That comes as the House Ethics Committee launched a probe against him and a campaign to expel him, and others, from the chamber was gaining steam. “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” Swalwell said in a statement. “But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
DoorDash driver hails key Trump policy after delivering McDonald’s to White House: ‘I’m going to enjoy it’
Sharron Simmons, the first DoorDash employee to ever deliver a meal to the White House, said she hopes that the benefits she’s reaping from President Donald Trump’s no-tax-on-tips policy will extend past its current 2028 lifespan. “Well, obviously, we would like for it to continue, but I’m going to enjoy it while I’ve got it. And, you know, it’s not for me to decide that,” she told Fox News Digital during a Monday interview shortly after delivering a McDonald’s order to Trump. Overall, Simmons says she believes she’s taking home more than $11,000 in extra income. “I figure that I’m probably going to be saving about $3,000 to $4,000,” Simmons said. SCOOP: TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ TAX CUTS PROMOTED IN NEW REPUBLICAN AD BLITZ Simmons’ story is one of the many ways the White House has attempted to highlight its work through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the president’s signature tax and border security package. Alongside tax breaks for tips, that bill also temporarily eliminated tax obligations for overtime pay, increased the senior deduction to $12,000 and upped the child tax credit by $200 per child. WATCH IT: SPEAKER JOHNSON HEARDS FROM UBER DRIVER ON ‘NO TAX ON TIPS’ BENEFIT: ‘BIG DIFFERENCE’ Critics of the package have argued that the tax breaks are cutting down the country’s revenue and contributing to the national deficit, while its supporters contend it will grow the economy by putting more back in the hands of consumers. SEN TIM SCOTT: REPUBLICANS JUST GETTING STARTED, BUT NEED TIME TO STOP RADICAL LEFTISTS Simmons originally joined DoorDash as a way to generate a little extra revenue on the side, stating that she began her partnership with DoorDash because of its flexibility after the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’ve been doing DoorDash since 2022. And I just got into it because it was something that after COVID and everything, I didn’t have to go into an office. And I kind of felt like by doing this, I would be able to help other people,” Simmons explained. Despite the future uncertainty of the policy’s current timeline, Simmons said she would focus on the present moment. “[In] younger years, I didn’t feel like my voice could be heard. And I feel now like we are heard,” Simmons said.
Gabbard claims ‘coordinated effort’ by intelligence community to advance narrative to impeach Trump
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released newly declassified testimony that she alleges shows a “coordinated effort” by the intelligence community to “manufacture a conspiracy” used as the basis of President Donald Trump first impeachment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Monday released two declassified transcripts from closed-door House Intelligence Committee hearings that Gabbard’s office says show former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson advanced as credible a whistleblower complaint based on secondhand information from an individual who had previously worked with then-Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine. Gabbard’s office argued that, based on this and other testimony, Atkinson’s actions “weaponize[d] the whistleblower process and exceed[ed] his statutory jurisdiction.” Atkinson’s investigation helped trigger the first impeachment of Trump by advancing what he deemed a “credible” whistleblower complaint regarding a July 2019 phone call between the president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Former Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson “did not follow standard IG procedures and relied upon politicized, manufactured narratives” while investigating the whistleblower claim that ultimately led to Trump’s 2019 impeachment, Gabbard’s office said Monday. GABBARD UNAWARE OF FBI PROBE INTO JOE KENT BEFORE RESIGNATION, OFFICIAL SAYS Gabbard, citing previously classified House testimony by Atkinson, said the former inspector general “aggressively advanced” his preliminary probe while relying on secondhand testimony and what she described as politicized witnesses. Gabbard’s office also charged that Atkinson “never conducted a formal or complete investigation.” “In his own words, IC IG Atkinson recognizes that his conclusions were based on a ‘preliminary investigation,’ noting that ‘I haven’t done an investigation to determine whether they actually, in fact, took place … that all of the alleged actions actually took place,’” according to the statement from Gabbard. Under federal law, the inspector general’s preliminary role is to determine whether a whistle-blower complaint “appears credible,” rather than to fully investigate or substantiate the underlying allegations. Atkinson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The testimony reveals that Atkinson was aware that the primary whistleblower, whose identity has still not been officially disclosed, was a “registered Democrat” and had alerted staff on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence before submitting their “Disclosure of Urgent Concern” form, Gabbard’s office said. The whistleblower also admitted having “worked closely with Vice President Biden” and “travelled with Biden to Ukraine and was part of conversations where LUTSENKO corruption was discussed,” according to the DNI release. Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukraine’s prosecutor general from 2016 to 2019, was the official who inherited and closed the Burisma investigation and was subsequently courted by Hunter Biden-linked lobbyists seeking to facilitate connections between the Ukrainian government and Democratic political circles, Fox News Digital previously reported. Gabbard also accused Atkinson of ignoring any bias, highlighting testimony in which he said, “I also want to make it clear that I never considered the whistleblower to be politically biased.” FBI’S CONTROVERSIAL TRUMP-RUSSIA ACTIONS PREDICTED WITH ‘ALARMING SPECIFICITY’ BY FOREIGN ACTORS: SOURCES The office said that on the initial form submitted by the whistleblower, they admitted, “I do not have direct knowledge of private comments or communications” by Trump. Notably, whistleblower laws do not require a whistleblower to provide first-hand information, according to the National Whistleblower Center. Gabbard’s office said one of the “key” witnesses Atkinson relied on to corroborate the whistleblower’s report during his preliminary investigation was also a co-author of the controversial 2017 intelligence community assessment on Russian collusion that Gabbard has previously said was instigated at the direction of former President Barack Obama. JAMES CLAPPER, JOHN BRENNAN HIT BACK AT TRUMP ALLEGATIONS ABOUT RUSSIA PROBE AS ‘PATENTLY FALSE’ Gabbard, herself a former Democrat, accused Atkinson of having “failed to uphold his responsibility to the American people, putting political motivations over the truth.” “Deep state actors within the Intelligence Community concocted a false narrative that was used by Congress to usurp the will of the American people and impeach the duly-elected President of the United States,” said Gabbard. “And this, along with the politicization of the whistleblower process by a former CIA employee who was working hand in glove with Democrats in Congress, are egregious examples of the deep state playbook on how to weaponize the Intelligence Community.” She added that “exposing these tactics and showing how they undermine the fabric of our democratic republic furthers the critical cause of transparency and accountability and will help prevent future abuse of power.” Democratic lawmakers largely dismissed the disclosures from Gabbard, framing the declassification as an attempt by the DNI to win favor from Trump. “This is a nothingburger — just another sad attempt by Tulsi Gabbard to get in Donald Trump’s good graces,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Politico’s NatSec Daily newsletter. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also criticized the declassification on X. “Everyone can read the transcript of Trump’s phone call to extort President Zelenskyy for dirt on Biden. That was an impeachable offense, and no amount of dust kicking and sycophancy can obscure it,” Himes wrote. “Had Joe Biden made that call, Republicans would have burned the place down.” Fox News Digital reached out to House and Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats for additional comment.
Embattled Rep Tony Gonzales announces plans to resign amid sexual misconduct allegations
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, abruptly announced his decision to resign from Congress Monday evening amid calls for him to step aside after admitting to sexual misconduct with a staffer earlier this year. The embattled lawmaker is facing an anticipated expulsion vote that could occur as early as this week. “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office,” Gonzales wrote on social media. “It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.” It is currently unclear when Gonzales will formally resign. A spokesperson for Gonzales did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SWALWELL ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS TORPEDOED GUBERNATORIAL BID Gonzales has come under bipartisan pressure to immediately step aside or face expulsion following his acknowledgment of an affair with his former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by setting herself on fire. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., has vowed to move forward with her expulsion resolution if Gonzales does not quickly resign. “He has until 2PM tomorrow—when we will file his expulsion. He better write that resignation “effective immediately,” Leger Fernandez wrote on social media. He first admitted to an affair with Santos-Aviles during a radio interview in March after repeatedly denying the existence of a sexual relationship. “I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” Gonzales told conservative radio host Joe Pags during the interview. “Since then, I’ve reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever.” Gonzales, who is married and has six children, has not acknowledged a second accusation of sexual misconduct with a former aide reported by The San Antonio-Express News. Lawmakers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with staffers, per House rules. His announcement came just an hour after Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said he planned to resign from the lower chamber amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct and rape. The California Democrat has not specified the particular day he plans to leave office. REP TONY GONZALES ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION AMID HOUSE ETHICS INVESTIGATION INTO AFFAIR Swalwell, too, was facing a potential expulsion vote that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., was pressuring House GOP leadership to bring to the floor by Wednesday. “The actions of these two Members reflect poorly on every single one of us,” Luna wrote in a letter to colleagues on Monday that was reviewed by Fox News Digital. “We as Members of Congress need to stand together in publicly condemning this behavior and restore the trust we have lost with the American people. “We are the company we keep,” she added. It takes a two-thirds majority to expel a lawmaker from Congress. Gonzales, a three-term lawmaker, suspended his reelection campaign in March after House GOP leadership called on him to exit the race. President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., then switched their endorsements to conservative activist Brandon Herrera, who was competing in a run-off against Gonzales for the GOP nomination. Both Gonzales and Swalwell were under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. However, the committee is expected to suspend its investigation into both members when they officially step aside. Johnson had urged lawmakers to allow the ethics panel’s investigation into Gonzales to be completed before the consideration of drastic measures, such as expulsion. The dual resignation announcements could impact House Republicans’ razor-thin majority. If the lawmakers both officially resign tomorrow, then each party will have one fewer lawmaker. However, Congressman-elect Clay Fuller, R-Ga., who won a special election last week to fill former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat, R-Ga., is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday.
Swalwell announces resignation from Congress after sexual misconduct allegations torpedoed gubernatorial bid
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced he would resign his congressional seat on Monday on the heels of multiple bombshell reports last Friday that forced him to drop out of a bid to become the next governor of California. “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in a statement. “I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.” “I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” he continued. “But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. At least four women have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including a former aide who alleged he raped her when she was intoxicated and could not consent, according to reporting from CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle. SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ Swalwell’s abrupt announcement of his resignation plans could thwart a bipartisan attempt to expel him that was slated to occur as early as this week. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a conservative House Republican, planned to introduce a resolution to forcibly remove Swalwell from his seat on Tuesday. She called on House GOP leadership to hold a vote on the measure on Wednesday. Luna urged lawmakers in both parties to put aside “ideological differences” and support her resolution and a separate effort led by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., targeting embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, for expulsion. “It is our responsibility, according to the Constitution and House rules, to hold one another accountable, especially when it brings dishonor upon the institution,” Luna wrote to her House colleagues Tuesday in a letter that was reviewed by Fox News Digital. “We as Members of Congress need to stand together in publicly condemning this behavior and restore the trust we have lost with the American people.” The Florida Republican warned over the weekend that she would draft the expulsion measure if Swalwell did not resign by the time House lawmakers returned to Washington on Tuesday. Luna’s resolution would have likely garnered significant bipartisan support. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., was among several progressive Democrats who issued support for the expulsion effort. Other Democratic lawmakers have called on Swalwell to resign, but have stopped short of backing Luna’s expulsion resolution. ADAM SCHIFF MAKES ENDORSEMENT IN CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE Democratic backlash in the wake of the Chronicle’s harrowing reporting led to a wave of Swalwell’s colleagues and longtime allies rescinding their support for his since-suspended gubernatorial campaign — including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Swalwell exited the 2026 gubernatorial primary to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., on Sunday. The announcement came despite Swalwell appearing to be a top contender in recent polling. Swalwell first became a member of the House of Representatives in 2013. Before his time in Congress, Swalwell served as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office before becoming a city councilmember in Dublin, California, in 2010. As a member of the House, Swalwell helped spearhead impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump in 2019 and, before that, led inquiries on whether Russian interference had meaningfully impacted the 2016 presidential election. It’s unclear if Swalwell’s resignation marks an end to his political career. In its Friday report, the San Francisco Chronicle detailed graphic accounts from a woman accusing Swalwell of pursuing intoxicated women, pressuring employees into intimate situations and asking for explicit images from female contacts. Rumblings of misconduct from Swalwell first emerged earlier this month when Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and a political media personality, began circulating testimony from women who said they had been sexually assaulted by the congressman. ‘USEFUL PUPPET’: ERIC SWALWELL IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TRAVELING TO DOHA ON SEVERAL QATAR-SPONSORED TRIPS “The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women,” Hunt claimed in a post to social media. Despite initially remaining silent on the allegations, Swalwell’s office broke its silence on the matter in comments made to the New York Post earlier this week. “This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell, said. Swalwell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump’s McDonald’s order comes with cash surprise for ‘DoorDash Grandma’ outside White House
President Donald Trump turned a McDonald’s delivery into a Tax Day pitch Monday, bringing a DoorDash driver to the White House to tout the elimination of taxes on gratuities — and then surprising her with a cash tip from his pocket. Trump welcomed Arkansas native Sharon Simmons to the White House on Monday, where the DoorDash delivery driver handed off two bags of the president’s favorite fast food while promoting Trump’s “no tax on tips” policy ahead of Tax Day. As he gaggled with reporters and Simmons, the “DoorDash Grandma” was asked about tips received at the White House. “Are the White House good tippers?” a member of the media asked Simmons. “Wait,” Trump said before reaching into his pocket to whip out what appeared to be a $100 bill and hand it to Simmons. BESSENT BLASTS DEMOCRAT-LED STATES FOR BLOCKING TRUMP TAX RELIEF IN OBBBA “You reminded me,” he continued. After accepting the tip, Simmons responded that the White House has “very” good tippers. VANCE WARNS OF ‘PENALTY’ FOR DEMS WHO OPPOSED THE ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL, BILL’ AHEAD OF 2026 MIDTERMS Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tip earners may make up to $25,000 in tax-deductible income from 2025 through 2028, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank that studies tax policy. “I heard you picked up an extra $11,000 that you wouldn’t get because the tax bill was so big, the refund was the biggest you’ve ever had,” Trump said while speaking with Simmons. Simmons, a grandmother of 10, has completed over 14,000 deliveries since she began in 2022, according to a DoorDash press release. TRUMP BLASTS SPANBERGER AHEAD OF VIRGINIA MEETINGS, SAYS STATE FACES TAX BASE EXODUS LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA “Since No Tax on Tips was enacted, we estimate Dashers have saved hundreds of millions of dollars,” the release read. Max Rettig, DoorDash global head of public policy, said in the release that this moment marks a win for millions of Dashers nationwide, who can now keep more of their earnings when filing their taxes this year. “DoorDash is proud to advocate on behalf of Dashers like Sharon and push for policies like No Tax on Tips because they deliver real impact to so many hardworking people and their families,” said Rettig. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment. Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed to this report.
Appeals court lets Trump resume White House ballroom construction, seeks lower court clarity
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Saturday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to temporarily resume construction of his planned White House ballroom, granting a near-term win to the administration as it pushes forward with the nearly $400 million project. The case stems from a lawsuit filed late last year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sought to block the construction. The group argued that the project violates multiple federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and charged that the plans amounted to executive overreach without required approval from Congress and federal planning bodies. A lower court judge last month put the project on hold, triggering the administration’s appeal. TRUMP ADMIN FIGHTS IN COURT TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE EAST WING DEMOLITION, $300M BALLROOM BUILD ON TRACK U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, in March issued a preliminary injunction blocking construction of the ballroom, finding the Trump administration likely lacked the legal authority to proceed without congressional approval. He said the government had not shown it had clear authorization to replace parts of the East Wing with a privately funded structure. Leon’s order paused most construction work on the ballroom, though he allowed activity tied to White House security concerns, and briefly delayed enforcement of his ruling until mid-April, to give the administration time to appeal the case to a higher court. The Trump administration quickly asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to intervene, arguing that the project is critical to the safety and security of the “president, his family, and White House staff.” The 2-1 ruling from the circuit court did not immediately side with the Trump administration, but gave it temporary relief. A majority of judges on the panel said the court needed more explanation from Leon before deciding whether construction should remain blocked. Specifically, the judges asked Leon to clarify whether stopping the project would harm national security, as the Trump administration claims. US APPEALS COURT HALTS TRUMP CONTEMPT PROBE ORDERED BY BOASBERG, FOR NOW The appeals court also paused Leon’s order through April 17, giving the Trump administration time to ask the Supreme Court for emergency intervention if it chooses. For now, the case will return to the district court for further explanation. Trump first announced plans for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom in July, initially estimating the cost at around $200 million. He has said the project would be funded “100% by me and some friends of mine.” Lawyers for the administration have pushed back on the lawsuit, arguing the president has authority over White House construction decisions and that Congress does not need to approve the project. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE “No taxpayer dollars are being used for the funding of this beautiful, desperately needed, and completely secure… ballroom,” Justice Department lawyers said in court filings. They added that past White House expansions, including the East and West Wings, did not require congressional involvement in their design or construction. The National Trust, meanwhile, maintains the project cannot move forward without complying with federal law and proper review processes. The Justice Department declined to comment on the ongoing litigation or whether it plans to seek Supreme Court intervention.
WATCH: Spanberger knocked for ‘bait and switch’ hypocrisy as popularity plummets amid redistricting fiasco
EXCLUSIVE: One of the Democratic Party’s top rising stars, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, is coming under increasing fire as critics accuse her of pulling a “bait and switch” on voters by abandoning her affordability promises in favor of tax increases on “just about anything that moves.” A new ad released by Unleash Prosperity on Monday slammed Spanberger over her affordability promises as Virginia Democrats propose new taxes on everyday expenses like dry cleaning, gym memberships and pet care. Unleash Prosperity’s ad puts it bluntly, saying, “Virginia can’t afford this.” The governor has not publicly supported or signed the measures. A statement by the governor’s office sent to Fox News Digital on Monday emphasized that Spanberger did not sign the tax bills into law “because the General Assembly never passed them, and the bills never reached her desk.” The statement said that Spanberger has “remained laser-focused on addressing high costs for Virginians.” However, Spanberger has supported a broader set of revenue measures since taking office, including proposals targeting digital services and business activity, as part of an effort to fund priorities such as education and healthcare. TRUMP BLASTS SPANBERGER AHEAD OF VIRGINIA MEETINGS, SAYS STATE FACES TAX BASE EXODUS LIKE NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA Steve Moore, an economist who co-founded Unleash Prosperity, told Fox News Digital that while Spanberger cashed in on Virginians’ worries over prices, she “raced out of the gate with all of these very liberal policies, including tax increases on just about anything that moves in Virginia.” Moore said Democrats across the country should take Spanberger’s decline as a “warning” ahead of 2028. There has been much buzz around Spanberger and her gubernatorial victory last year, which resulted in Republicans being ousted from power in Virginia. The Democratic Party selected her to give its response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union, further evidencing her stardom. Yet, despite the Democrats elevating her and even floating her as a presidential or vice-presidential pick, Moore said Virginians have been “shocked about that,” explaining why her approval ratings have “absolutely plummeted.” “She has seen one of the swiftest declines in her popularity in the first six months in office that I’ve seen in many years of politics,” Moore said. Forty-six percent of Virginians disapprove of her job performance, while 47% approve, according to a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll. Compared with Virginia governors from both parties since 1994, Spanberger has the highest disapproval rating at this point in her term. In contrast, predecessor Gov. Glenn Youngkin had a 54-39 job approval rating at this point in his term, with the highest favorability going to Democrat Mark Warner – now Virginia’s senior senator – at 78-20. Moore called Spanberger’s tumbling ratings “the price for her bait-and-switch tax hike on Virginia residents and small businesses.” DEMS WHO RAN ON AFFORDABILITY NOW FACE BACKLASH AS COSTS CLIMB IN NY, VIRGINIA “She campaigned on affordability, and nearly on day one in office, she and Virginia Democrats in Richmond endorsed a catalog of left-wing tax increase proposals on everything from dry cleaners to dog groomers, which make Virginia look like California,” he said. “Spanberger promised to be a pro-business moderate Democrat,” he went on, quipping, “Maybe she should be known as ‘Scam-Berger.’” Moore said Spanberger’s quick decline in the polls does not bode well for the Democratic Party’s hopes of taking back the White House in 2028. “Spanberger is not alone,” he explained. “We’re seeing that with a lot of Democrats around the country; they run as moderates and as soon as they get in, they move to the extreme left.” “You’re seeing Democrats who are governors and mayors across the country who are advancing very liberal pro-tax policies that are anti-business. And I think it’s a very tough agenda for Democrats to run with in 2028 on the national picture,” he went on. “That should be a warning signal to Democrats across the country.” VIRGINIA DEMS TAKE TAX HIKES INTO OVERTIME, TARGET FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUES Last week Trump took a similar line of criticism against Spanberger ahead of meetings in the state. He warned in a Truth Social post that her policies are triggering a tax base exodus similar to New York and California. “She is adding so many Taxes, a Food and Beverage Tax, Digital Services Tax, Utilities Tax, and more,” Trump wrote. “It has lost its Energy, Vitality, and Strength. People are leaving that would never have even thought of doing so!” In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Spanberger’s office slammed criticisms of the governor raising taxes as “misinformation.” “The volume of misinformation — spread across social media and repeated in press coverage — made a clarification necessary. The facts are straightforward,” the statement said. “Governor Abigail Spanberger did not sign dozens of tax bills into law — because the General Assembly never passed them, and the bills never reached her desk.” The office added that “in the opening months of her administration, Governor Spanberger has remained laser-focused on addressing high costs for Virginians” and is “also working alongside legislators and local communities to attract new capital investment.” Spanberger has also pushed back on the criticism herself. In a post on X, she said Trump and his allies were mischaracterizing her policies. “The president and his allies are talking about taxes that our state legislature never even voted on and I certainly didn’t sign,” she wrote. “Why? Because if they don’t flood the zone with fake news about fake taxes, people might hear about the bills I am signing to lower energy costs, strengthen our schools, make housing more affordable, and bring billions of dollars of business investment to Virginia.” A Spanberger spokesperson added that businesses have announced “more than $500 million in new investment in the commonwealth since Governor Spanberger took office in January,” while accusing Trump of focusing on politics instead of economic stability. “The ballgame changed when the President — whose been busy raising costs for Virginians by starting a reckless war that has skyrocketed inflation and driven
Swalwell faces House ethics probe over alleged sexual misconduct as expulsion threat looms
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., an embattled lawmaker facing a potential expulsion threat, is the target of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, the panel announced Monday. At least four women have accused the California Democrat of sexual misconduct, according to multiple reports. The House panel said it is investigating “allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee working under his supervision.” The panel added that “the mere fact that it is investigating these allegations, and publicly disclosing its review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred.” Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing and pledged to correct what he has referred to as “false” allegations. ERIC SWALWELL EXITS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR RACE APOLOGIZING FOR PAST JUDGMENT WHILE DENYING CLAIMS The San Francisco Chronicle first reported on an allegation Friday that Swalwell sexually assaulted a former staffer on two separate occasions while she was intoxicated and could not consent. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office has opened a criminal investigation into at least one incident that allegedly occurred in New York City. The ethics committee announcement comes after Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign Sunday night amid widespread backlash from influential Democrats who nearly unanimously called on him to exit the race. Every congressional Democrat who endorsed Swalwell has withdrawn their endorsement, and his campaign also lost the backing of several major unions in the Golden State. Prior to the torrent of sexual misconduct allegations, Swalwell had been a leading contender to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., and appeared to be gaining momentum in the race. More than 50 former congressional and campaign staffers for Swalwell called on their former boss to drop out of the governor’s race and resign from the House in a public letter released Sunday. “We stand unequivocally with our colleague, who showed extraordinary courage in coming forward to share her truth. We believe her,” the letter read in part. LAWMAKERS PUT EXPULSION THREATS ATOP HOUSE AGENDA AS RETURN SETS UP HIGH-STAKES WEEK Still, the seven-term lawmaker has given no indication that he will resign from the House prior to the end of his term in January 2027. Swalwell is also under investigation for allegedly violating federal immigration laws by hiring a Brazilian nanny who lacked authorization to work in the United States. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has vowed to introduce a resolution this week expelling Swalwell if he does not voluntarily step aside. Some prominent Democrats, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., have said they will support the expulsion measure. At least three California Democrats — Reps. Ro Khanna, Sim Liccardo and Jared Huffman — have urged Swalwell to resign or said they would support expulsion. “I’ve seen enough. With his nuanced statement aimed at defending likely criminal charges, Swalwell all but admits a per se abuse of power under House ethics rules: sex with a subordinate,” Huffman wrote on social media Sunday. “He must now drop out of the Governor’s race and resign from Congress.” “Rep. Tony Gonzales, who admitted to the same violation, should also resign,” Huffman added. “If they don’t, I will support voting to expel both of them.” Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, has acknowledged an affair with a former staffer and suspended his re-election campaign. The aide later died by setting herself on fire. A spokesperson for Swalwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.