Pentagon urges Congress to codify ‘Department of War’ name change it estimates will cost $52 million
The Pentagon has formally asked for congressional approval to codify its “Department of War” moniker, estimating it will cost taxpayers around $52 million. The estimate from the Pentagon is significantly lower than what the Congressional Budget Office projected in January, when it estimated the rebranding could cost as much as $125 million if it were adopted “broadly and rapidly” throughout the department. The Pentagon claimed the change, which includes renaming the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of War, would have no “significant impact” on President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 defense budget request because most implementation costs will be absorbed during the current 2026 fiscal year. The “actual costs are being collected during implementation and will be available” once the current fiscal year’s execution of the name change is completed, according to the department. HAWLEY, WARREN TEAM UP TO BACK UP TRUMP, CRACK DOWN ON DEFENSE CONTRACTOR PAYOUTS In its legislative proposal, the Pentagon said roughly $52 million is expected to be used, including $44.6 million for the Defense Agencies and the department’s field activities, $3.5 million for the military departments, $3 million for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s office and Washington Headquarters Services, $400,000 for the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands and National Guard Bureau. “The revision to the designation of the Department serves as a fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars,” the proposal reads. “It serves as a strategic objective in which to measure and prioritize all activities.” The request to rebrand the department would make around 7,600 changes to federal law. The Pentagon has already changed its website and social media accounts to reflect the rebranding, and Hegseth’s nameplate on his office door already reads, “Secretary of War.” NEW ARMY SECRETARY PRAISES TRUMP, HEGSETH FOR CREATING ‘A LANE FOR CHANGE’ AS HE ZEROES IN ON CUTTING WASTE This comes after Trump signed an executive order in the fall to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, a move that sparked criticism but that some anti-war advocates argued was more fitting for an administration they say is eager to wage war. “The name change really does help highlight how rogue, unconstitutional, and unlawful the president’s actions are,” former Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican turned Libertarian, wrote on X in September. But some of Trump’s Republican allies in Congress have signaled support for the name change, with Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introducing legislation in their respective chambers seeking to codify the rebranding. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Democrats have criticized the Pentagon’s request to codify the moniker, as lawmakers begin hashing out the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill. “The American people can’t afford groceries, gas, or rent — and the Pentagon has ALREADY wasted $50 million on renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Now they want more money,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on X. The Department of War was established in 1789 by President George Washington. It was later replaced by the National Military Establishment in 1947, which was redesignated as the Department of Defense in 1949.
DHS taunts media for reporting about ‘Green Bay man’ illegal immigrant charged in vicious machete attack
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security called out the legacy media for characterizing the perpetrator of a recent Wisconsin machete attack as a “Green Bay man” when he is actually an illegal alien from Nicaragua. Fox News Digital has learned that David Joel Herrera-Garcia, 24, who is charged with two counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and armed burglary, is an illegal immigrant who was marked as a “non-enforcement priority” by the Biden administration, according to DHS. Herrera-Garcia’s charges stem from an alleged break-in and machete attack at the home of his ex-girlfriend. Citing local reports, DHS said the Green Bay police responding to an emergency call discovered bloodied female and male victims in the early morning of April 20. The agency said that police on the scene found blood “all over the concrete” leading up to the house. The woman, Herrera-Garcia’s 23-year-old ex-girlfriend, identified him as the attacker, and he was arrested later that morning. DHS has lodged an immigration detainer for Herrera-Garcia for the Brown County Jail to turn him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible deportation. The agency commented that “despite the legacy media calling Herrera-Garcia a ‘Green Bay man,’ he is in fact an illegal alien from Nicaragua.” SANCTUARY POLICIES LET ALLEGED CHILD PREDATOR ROAM FREE UNTIL DHS MADE PORTLAND, OREGON, AIRPORT ARREST’ “Yet again, legacy media has gone to bat for a vicious criminal illegal alien allowed by the Biden administration to roam our streets and prey upon innocent people,” remarked Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. The agency said that Herrera-Garcia allegedly used a key to enter his ex-girlfriend’s home before proceeding to beat her and repeatedly stab her and a man with a machete. Officers responding to the emergency call applied tourniquets to the victims, who were transported to a hospital. The female victim suffered a head injury and lacerations on her hand and neck. The male victim, whose age was not given, sustained wounds on his shoulder, forearm and shin. According to DHS, Herrera-Garcia entered the country illegally in Texas as a minor with his father in 2019. He was given a final order of removal in 2022 after he failed to appear at his immigration hearings. However, the agency said that in the final days of the Biden administration, ICE used its prosecutorial discretion to label Herrera-Garcia as a “non-enforcement priority.” The agency said that ICE under former President Joe Biden chose not to take him into custody following an arrest by local law enforcement on charges of driving without a license. ILLEGAL MIGRANT ACCUSED OF NY DUMPSTER RAPE CAPTURED ON TEXAS BUS AS HE FLED TOWARD SOUTHERN BORDER: DA “The Biden administration marked this criminal illegal alien as a non-enforcement priority,” said Bis. “This is not a ‘Green Bay man.’ This is a criminal illegal alien from Nicaragua who barbarically attacked two people with a machete,” she added. “Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE lodged an arrest detainer with our local authorities to ensure this monster is never released back into our communities.” This comes amid heightened scrutiny on jurisdictions across the country with sanctuary policies limiting cooperation with ICE. BLUE STATE RESIDENTS ‘FLEEING IN DROVES’ AFTER ‘INSANE’ PROGRESSIVE TAKEOVER, SAYS TOP STATE ATTORNEY Bis has previously slammed sanctuary politicians, saying that “at every step on the way to make America safe again,” they “have tried to slow ICE down and chosen to release criminals from their jails into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and to spokespeople for Biden for comment.
Dem and GOP lawmakers trade blame over rhetoric after WHCD shooting: ‘It is disgusting’
As Democrats and Republicans clash over escalating political rhetoric in the wake of Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., is urging leaders on both sides to “bring the temperature down.” The call for cooler rhetoric comes after Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif., allegedly stormed the lobby of the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and opened fire. “It’s an opportunity, in my opinion, for everyone to bring the temperature down,” Moskowitz told Fox News Digital. “If we do the finger pointing, then the temperature’s never going to come down…We’re like high schoolers.” Allen, who was armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives, was apprehended by the Secret Service as hundreds of journalists and Cabinet officials were escorted out of the hotel. DEMOCRATS SILENT ON PAST RHETORIC TOWARD TRUMP CABINET MEMBER AFTER FOILED ASSASSINATION PLOT “The rhetoric on both sides, for a while now, has been elevated, and listen, the president has had a part of that,” Moskowitz said. “He’s had responsibility in the rhetoric, and he should own that. His tweets exist. There’s a reality of that.” Allen, who appeared in federal court Monday, is facing charges of attempting to assassinate the President of the United States, transporting a firearm across state lines and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Authorities said the suspect sent a written manifesto to members of his family outlining his intent to target Trump and other Cabinet officials before the alleged shooting. DEM SENATE HOPEFULS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR ‘CHOKE THEM OUT’ RHETORIC AFTER TRUMP ATTACK SCARE “The manifesto doesn’t sound much different than all of the talking heads on every liberal news station,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said. This would mark another assassination attempt targeting President Trump after two in 2024, when he was shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., and later targeted at his Florida golf course. “You got psycho-frickin’ leftists trying to assassinate President Trump once again… the violence is always on their side,” Boebert said. “It is disgusting, and it needs to end, period.” She said that President Trump’s plan for a ballroom addition to the White House is a necessary security measure. “I want the ballroom built,” she said. “This is a national security issue at this time, and it needs to be built.” She added these incidents are part of a larger pattern. In September, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” “Look what they did to Charlie Kirk, a man that wanted to sit down and have a conversation,” Boebert said. “They hated him so much, their rhetoric caused him to be assassinated. One of their liberal freaks assassinated him. This only happens with liberals,” Boebert said. In a news conference on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters a “left-wing cult of hatred” was to blame for the violence. PATTERN OF LEFTIST VIOLENCE GROWS AS TRUMP NEARS 10 MONTHS IN OFFICE Leavitt slammed ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for his recent comment that the first lady had the “glow of an expectant widow.” “Who in their right mind says a wife would be glowing over the potential murder of her beloved husband?” she said. “And having experienced what I did with the first lady on Saturday night, I can tell you she was anything but that.” Multiple Democrats have also rejected far-left streamer Hasan Piker amid scrutiny of his political rhetoric. Piker pushed back, calling those condemning him “propagandists for the state of Israel.” “I do reject people on my side, or trying to be on my side, like Hasan Piker, who’s advocating for senators to be killed and saying things like, ‘we deserve 9/11.’ He’s not a Democrat. He doesn’t belong in the Democratic Party,” Moskowitz said. However, he said Americans “don’t believe” either side is blameless. “The American people don’t believe that and it’s why our poll numbers for both sides are in the tubes,” Moskowitz said. Fox News Digital attempted to ask Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., about the shooting and rising political violence, but she ignored the questions. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
Dem plot to limit Trump war powers on Cuba fails as GOP falls in line with military action abroad
Republicans stifled Senate Democrats’ attempt to prevent President Donald Trump from bringing military action close to home before any action has actually been taken by the administration. Democrats failed to advance a forward-looking war powers resolution that would handcuff Trump’s ability to use military force against Cuba, which lies roughly 90 miles from the coast of Florida. The move was spurred by his recent comments that once the U.S. was finished in Iran, it would make moves on the island nation. REPUBLICANS SCRAMBLE TO FUND SECRET SERVICE AFTER TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AMID RECORD-BREAKING SHUTDOWN “All my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba — when will the United States do it? I do believe I’ll be the honor, having the honor of taking Cuba,” Trump said in March. The resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., would require the removal of forces from within or around Cuba and considers the “use of the United States Coast Guard and other components of the Armed Forces to conduct a blockade or quarantine of Cuba” a hostile act that would require Congress’ approval. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., moved to block the bill from getting a full vote on the floor. His gamble was successful, though Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined nearly every Senate Democrat to force the vote. Only Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., broke ranks to support tanking the resolution. Still, Trump has not taken action on Cuba while the U.S. is engaged in the war in Iran. SENATE GOP BLOCKS FIFTH DEM BID TO END TRUMP’S IRAN WAR AS DIVISIONS GROW Kaine’s war powers resolution marked a momentary departure from Democrats’ quest to rein in Trump’s authority in the Middle East. Republicans have so far batted down five attempts to cease hostilities in the region. When asked by Fox News Digital if he was surprised that most Republicans had stayed in line, save for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Kaine said, “You gotta ask Republicans about their position.” “There are many saying that the 60-day time frame is relevant to them,” Kaine said. “We’ll see that because we’ll have an Iran war vote close to the 60-day [deadline] by the end of this week.” ‘ILLEGALS FIRST’: SENATE REPUBLICANS BLAST SCHUMER’S GAMBIT TO FORCE VOTE ON PROTECTING HAITIAN MIGRANTS Support for that conflict, while still holding out among most Senate Republicans, is growing strained by the day as the 60-day deadline for Congress to weigh in under the War Powers Resolution Act is set to hit this week. At least three Senate Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah — said they wouldn’t extend Trump’s war in the region after 60 days. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is working on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for lawmakers to weigh in on the conflict. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that Republicans should “do Trump a favor” by joining Democrats to block future engagements with Cuba without congressional approval. “The last thing working Americans need right now is another war, let alone one that’s 90 miles south of the United States,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Republicans must get out in front of a looming catastrophe in Cuba before it gets even worse, as they should have done with Trump’s war in Iran.”
FBI brings alleged China-linked hacker to US in rare extradition as Patel defends Italy trip
FBI Director Kash Patel says a trip to Italy that raised questions earlier in 2026 helped set the stage for the arrest of a Chinese national accused of hacking U.S. COVID-19 research. Xu Zewei is now in U.S. custody after what Patel described as a coordinated operation with Italian authorities, marking a rare case in which an alleged state-linked hacker has been extradited to face charges in the United States. Xu was extradited from Italy in recent days and faces federal charges tied to a 2020–2021 cyber campaign that prosecutors say targeted sensitive research, including work related to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. Patel told Fox News Digital in an interview the bureau was able to “directly tie” Xu to China’s Ministry of State Security and its Shanghai bureau, though additional details remain classified pending declassification. FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL SAYS BUREAU RAMPING UP AI TO COUNTER DOMESTIC, GLOBAL THREATS Patel said the arrest was the result of a carefully coordinated effort with Italian authorities led by Prefect Vittorio Pisani of the Italian National Police, carried out within a narrow window before additional legal challenges could delay the suspect’s extradition. Officials from both countries worked to ensure Xu would be in Italy, and “we created an opportunity with our partners in Italy to have him apprehended there,” Patel said. Patel told Fox News Digital the trip, which the FBI said included meetings with Italian law enforcement and Olympic security coordination, also helped lay the groundwork for the arrest. He faced criticism at the time after being seen attending Olympic events, with questions raised about whether the travel was primarily official. Patel described the suspect as “one of the top two cyber criminals in the world for China,” alleging he played a key role in hacking efforts aimed at American universities, immunologists and virologists during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were able to bring him to Houston for prosecution, which is most of what I was doing when people said I was on vacation in Italy,” Patel said. Xu allegedly reported to Chinese intelligence officials after compromising a U.S.-based research university in early 2020, according to the indictment, and allegedly was directed to access email accounts belonging to virologists and immunologists studying COVID-19. Patel said Chinese officials sought to intervene in recent days to prevent Xu’s extradition from Italy. Timing was critical, according to Patel, who pointed to past cases where suspected Chinese operatives were able to avoid extradition. In one instance in 2025, he said, a Chinese national detained in Serbia was ultimately returned to China despite U.S. efforts to secure custody. Authorities allege Xu and his co-conspirators targeted U.S.-based universities, immunologists and virologists working on COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic, gaining access to email accounts and sensitive research. But the Justice Department has not publicly detailed the specific data allegedly exfiltrated, including whether it included proprietary vaccine formulas, clinical trial data or internal communications between researchers. Patel said the operation was “specifically engineered at a time when our adversaries were looking to hurt us during COVID,” adding that the suspect targeted research tied to treatments and vaccines. Prosecutors also allege Xu was involved in exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, a widely used email system, as part of the broader “HAFNIUM” hacking campaign that compromised thousands of computers worldwide, including more than 12,000 organizations in the United States. The indictment also describes how Chinese intelligence services allegedly rely on private contractors to carry out cyber operations, allowing the government to obscure its direct involvement. Among the alleged victims was a law firm with offices in Washington, D.C., where prosecutors say attackers searched email accounts for information related to U.S. policymakers and government agencies. Xu’s alleged co-conspirator, who was also charged in the case, remains at large. Patel declined to discuss specifics about the broader network but said China’s Ministry of State Security continues to actively target the United States through cyber operations. “The MSS is always a target of this FBI’s. They’re always operating whether it’s to steal our classified information, our nation’s research and scientific information, or anything they can use to embarrass us or leverage against us,” Patel said. “They’re going to keep doing it.” CHINESE SCHOLARS CHARGED WITH SMUGGLING BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS INTO US UNDER RESEARCH COVER Patel said the FBI has made countering Chinese espionage a top priority, pointing to a sharp increase in arrests tied to Beijing-linked activity. “We’ve arrested more Chinese spies than any FBI before me,” he said. Patel signaled that efforts to identify and prosecute individuals tied to similar operations are ongoing. “It’s a priority threat and it’s going to continue to be that way,” he said. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Dem lawmaker hosts Hamas-linked org, draws swift backlash online
A California Democrat is facing backlash after hosting a Hamas-associated group at his office on Capitol Hill last week. Rep. Derek Tran welcomed a group of leaders from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as part of the “National Muslim Advocacy Day,” an annual lobbying event organized by Muslim advocacy groups. CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, was recently designated as a terrorist organization by the state of Texas and Florida following accusations that the group supported funding for Hamas. The group has since filed defamatory lawsuits against Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis. Among those in attendance Wednesday was Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR’s Los Angeles chapter, who has previously drawn criticism over comments about Israel, including a past statement in which he said “Israel should be attacked.” RADICAL ACTIVIST GROUPS CIRCLE WAGONS AROUND SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER AMID FEDERAL CHARGES “Proud to welcome folks from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for an important conversation about fighting Islamophobia and defending civil rights for every member of our community,” Tran said in a post on X Wednesday. “In a short time, Rep. Derek Tran has earned the respect of many in his district,” Ayloush said in a separate post. Social media users quickly flooded Tran’s post, condemning his support for CAIR. “Literally hosting terrorists,” one user said. The event comes after CAIR said it helped amplify Tran’s bid for the seat representing parts of Orange County and Los Angeles County in his narrow 2024 victory over Republican Michelle Steel. ‘KEEP OUR NATION SAFE’: SENATORS VOW TO BAN PRO-HAMAS MIGRANTS FROM ENTERING US WITH BIPARTISAN PUSH CAIR has long been accused of taking anti-Israel positions. After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel, CAIR’s Los Angeles leader Ayloush said it was a myth that Israel has the right to defend itself. “An occupier never has the right to defend itself,” Ayloush said at a 2023 event at the Islamic Society of Orange County. “The only ones who have the right to defend themselves are the occupied, in this case, the Palestinian people.” “Israel should be attacked,” he added. “If you continue to occupy people’s land every means according to international law to defend and resist the occupation is within your hand.” Other leaders at CAIR have echoed similar messages. CAIR’s executive director, Nihad Awad, reportedly applauded the Oct. 7 attack, according to nonprofit Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI). “I was happy to see the people of Gaza break the siege on October 7,” he said. “They were victorious. The people of Gaza have the right to self-defense. Israel does not.” In 2007, CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial, where five members of the HLF were convicted of conspiracy to funnel $12.4 million to Hamas in the early 2000s.
Legal experts warn Comey ‘86 47’ indictment faces First Amendment hurdles
Legal questions are emerging over whether charges against former FBI Director James Comey would withstand a First Amendment challenge as he is indicted for a social media post allegedly tied to threats against President Donald Trump. Comey faced charges Tuesday under 18 U.S.C. § 871, which criminalizes threats against the president, and 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), which covers interstate communications containing threats to harm others. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News Digital just before the indictment was released that, if the case is based solely on the widely circulated image posted by Comey, it could face steep constitutional hurdles. “If Comey is charged for the shell picture, it would face a monumental challenge under the First Amendment,” Turley said. “In my view, the image itself is clearly protected speech. Absent some other unknown facts or elements, it would be unlikely to survive a threshold constitutional challenge.” JAMES COMEY INDICTED AGAIN IN NEW JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE Both statutes require prosecutors to prove not only that a statement constituted a “true threat,” but that it was made knowingly and with intent, standards that legal analysts say could prove difficult to meet based on publicly available information. The indictment was filed Tuesday in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey allegedly posted the image of seashells forming the numbers “86 47” during a beach walk. Others pushed back on the idea that the case raises significant First Amendment concerns, arguing that threats against a sitting president fall squarely outside protected speech. “The third assassination attempt against President Trump on Saturday made this crystal clear: The Justice Department must prosecute those who threaten to assassinate the president,” said Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project. “No one has a First Amendment right to do this. No one is above the law, especially not a former director of the FBI who should know better. A jury of James Comey’s peers will decide his fate.” That argument comes amid heightened concerns about threats against Trump after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A suspect has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president. Prosecutors allege that the post would be interpreted by a “reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances” as a serious expression of intent to harm the president, signaling they intend to rely heavily on context surrounding the message rather than explicit language alone. The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, W. Ellis Boyle, will oversee the case. Boyle was appointed in 2025 and sworn in by his father, a longtime federal judge in the district, after being selected for the role by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi. The indictment marks the second time Comey has been charged during the second Trump administration. In 2025, he was indicted on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to his testimony in the FBI’s Russia probe. That case was later dismissed after a federal judge ruled the prosecutor in the case had been unlawfully appointed. Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, has long been a polarizing figure in U.S. politics, drawing criticism from both parties over his handling of the Clinton email investigation and the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential links between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. He was fired by Trump in 2017 amid escalating tensions tied in part to the Russia investigation. SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AS RESURFACED AG JAMES POSTS COME BACK TO HAUNT HER: ‘NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW’ The expected charges stem from a social media post in which Comey shared an image of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” which some critics interpreted as a coded threat against Trump. The post drew swift backlash and prompted an investigation. Comey later said he did not intend the image to be interpreted as a call for violence. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.” His explanation could complicate prosecutors’ efforts to establish intent, a key element required under both statutes. Comey’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Woman pleads guilty to paying for sexual torture videos involving monkeys for online group: ‘Sick person’
A woman from Illinois is pleading guilty after paying thousands of dollars to have others make so-called “animal crush videos,” which included depictions of adult and baby monkeys being mutilated and tortured for users in a deranged online chat group. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent out a press release Monday indicating Amanda Leigh Fourez, a U.S. citizen from Illinois, pleaded guilty earlier this month to distributing and conspiracy to create and distribute these sorts of videos. The videos Fourez paid for included footage that showed the monkeys being burned alive, having their genitals mutilated and other atrocities, according to the press release. “Fourez paid thousands of dollars to commission bespoke sexual torture videos of monkeys and later she distributed the obscene crush videos over the Internet. Fourez archived and controlled the distribution of animal crush videos,” the Department of Justice added in its press release. ICE BUSTS SEVERAL CONVICTED CRIMINALS, INCLUDING CHILD RAPIST WHO THREATENED TO KILL 11-YEAR-OLD VICTIM Fourez was a member of several online chat groups and private payment groups dedicated to making, distributing and discussing “animal crush videos” and others of the same violent nature, according to ICE. Another member of these groups, Joseph Garrett Buckland, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, also pleaded guilty a few weeks ago to one count of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos. Buckland was charged Feb. 26 with violating a federal animal crushing statute, according to the Department of Justice. A bill was passed in Congress in 2010 banning videos depicting acts of animal cruelty to satisfy a sexual fetish, and the law was updated in 2019 to ban the act itself. EX-FAUCI TOP ADVISOR INDICTED OVER ALLEGED COVID COVER-UP, HIDDEN EMAILS ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ New Orleans Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations and the FBI investigated the case against Fourez. ICE enforces over 400 federal laws and statutes, including cybercrimes. Fourez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for the distribution charge and a fine of up to $500,000. A judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors, according to the Department of Justice. Fox News Digital inquired with ICE for an update on Fourez’s sentencing but did not get a response. “Fourez admitted to her role in making these horrific videos and posting them online,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “What kind of sick person would pay someone to make a video of sexualized animal torture? ICE will continue investigating these sadistic online groups and do everything in our power to stop them.”
Patel turns tables on Walz in response to viral tweet on Minnesota fraud raids: ‘Come again?’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced immediate backlash Tuesday after claiming credit for federal fraud raids in Minneapolis, prompting a sharp rebuke from FBI Director Kash Patel. The clash underscores growing political tensions over a sweeping probe into fraud that critics say unfolded under Walz’s watch, as federal authorities now take the lead. “Come again?” Patel posted on X in response to Walz, who claimed that Tuesday’s raids happened because Minnesota state agencies “caught irregular behavior and reported it.” “This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.” Walz’s tweet, viewed over a million times in just a few hours, was widely panned by conservatives who pointed out that the massive fraud scandal unfolded under his watch and that the public pressure was ultimately what forced him to drop his re-election bid for governor. TOP 5 WILDEST MOMENTS AS GOP LAWMAKERS CLASHED WITH WALZ, ELLISON IN HEATED FRAUD HEARING: ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ “Arsonist masquerading as a firefighter,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. “The main problem Tim Walz has now is that no one – Republican or Democrat – takes him seriously,” Republican operative and Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh posted on X. “He’s proven that he’s that much of a boob.” “The same guy who spent a whole hearing dodging questions about $9 BILLION in fraud in Minnesota and talking about ICE instead is now praising fraud control,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee posted on X. “Tomorrow, we will pass legislation in the Committee to make sure it never happens again. Sit this one out, Tim.” MN LAWMAKER TAKES ACTION TO GET ANSWERS ON OMAR’S ALLEGED FRAUD TIES AFTER SHE SKIPS KEY HEARING: ‘GHOSTED US’ “.@GovTimWalz is a stolen valor POS,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., posted on X, referencing past criticisms of Walz’s military record that surfaced during the 2024 presidential campaign. “This is par for the course.” “Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., posted on X. Others on social media pointed to an X post from the city of Minneapolis assuring citizens that it is not involved in the raids. Federal authorities raided more than 20 locations, including childcare facilities, in Minneapolis on Tuesday as part of a sweeping fraud investigation into largely Somali-owned businesses, sources confirmed to Fox News. “Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said. Authorities executed 22 federal search warrants in Minnesota on Tuesday morning as part of the operation, which is not immigration-related, sources said. Fox News Digital’s Bill Melugin and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
WATCH: Cornyn tears into Dems for holding DHS ‘hostage’ and failing the No. 1 ‘non-negotiable’ for America
Longtime Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn accused Democrats of jeopardizing American lives amid heightened threats by supporting sanctuary policies and allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain unfunded. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cornyn decried the Democrats, saying, “This is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left.” The comments come amid heightened national concern over public safety threats following what appeared to be another attempted assassination targeting President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday. There is also widespread concern over violent crimes involving illegal immigrants in communities across the country. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is experiencing the longest funding lapse in its history, further straining its ability to respond to threats. RO KHANNA SAYS DHS MUST BE FUNDED AFTER PRESSED ON WHCD SHOOTING FALLOUT “We know there are dangerous people here,” he said. “People with criminal records and others who are a threat to public safety. And if there’s one job that is No. 1, non-negotiable, when it comes to our citizens, it’s public safety.” Cornyn, one of the most senior members of the Senate who chairs the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee, introduced the Sanctuary City Elimination Act last week to ensure local police comply with ICE detainers by barring sanctuary cities from accessing federal funding. Speaking with Fox News Digital, Cornyn also accused Democrats of holding DHS “hostage” to “avoid funding immigration enforcement.” He added that “this is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left, specifically now in the context of illegal immigration.” Cornyn ripped into Democrats, pointing to deaths such as that of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, a U.S. citizen living in Houston who was killed by two illegal immigrants during the Biden administration in 2024. “Folks in Texas remember names like Jocelyn Nungaray and others who have been victims of the unlimited open borders immigration that the Biden administration allowed during his four years in office,” he said. “Now that we have safe, secure borders under President Trump, [Democrats] are saying they don’t want to support the Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE].” Cornyn is locked in a bitter primary runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The attorney general is challenging Cornyn for the Senate seat he has held since 2002. While Paxton has received endorsements from the likes of Turning Point USA, Cornyn has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council. President Donald Trump has not issued an endorsement in the race, which will be decided by voters in late May. WHCD SHOOTING SHOWS DEMS ARE ‘PLAYING’ WITH AMERICANS’ SAFETY BY WITHHOLDING DHS FUNDING, GOP LAWMAKER SAYS Cornyn’s Sanctuary City Elimination Act is cosponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Ted Budd, R-N.C., Tim Scott, R-S.C., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. If passed, the measure would bar sanctuary cities and states from receiving certain federal funds and grants, including arts, education, environmental and community development block grants, according to Cornyn’s office. The bill would also seek to shield state and local law enforcement officers who comply with ICE detainers from prosecution by treating them as federal officers. Additionally, the bill allows state governments “harmed by criminal aliens released by sanctuary jurisdictions” to sue those jurisdictions and the federal government to enforce the prohibition on funding to that sanctuary jurisdiction. The same week Cornyn introduced the bill, the Houston City Council backed off a sanctuary-type policy amid threats of legal action from state officials. Cornyn believes his bill can accomplish a similar result across the country. He noted that even if Democrats stymie progress on his bill, “We can certainly try to pass this using the same reconciliation process that we’ll use to fund ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.” “This is a battleground that we should not shy away from,” he said. SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS WHCD ATTENDEES CITE INCONSISTENT SCREENING BEFORE SHOOTING Alluding to the upcoming midterm elections, Cornyn expressed confidence the issue will continue to resonate with voters in November. “They don’t care about public safety. … We do care about public safety,” he said, adding that “is a pretty good contrast and one that we may need to just take to the voters.” Addressing the weekend shooting, Cornyn told Fox News Digital, “Democrats cannot feign concern for President Trump’s life while also refusing to fund the very Department that houses Secret Service and other agencies sworn to protect him. “I hope that, finally, the events of this past weekend will serve as a wake-up call for Democrats to fund DHS.” Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for former President Joe Biden and to Paxton for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for comment.