Hunter Biden claims under oath that his family is broke amid fight over $17M legal bill
In a recently released deposition transcript, Hunter Biden claimed that his family is broke and that he’s being crushed by legal fees. The deposition is related to an ongoing lawsuit between Biden and firm Winston Taylor for unpaid legal bills. Winston Taylor, which has a history of representing leading Democrats, claims that the Biden scion owes them $17 million from representing him in criminal prosecutions, congressional investigations and defamation suits against his critics. “My family doesn’t have any money, and it’s not their debt anyway,” he said, according to the transcript. “I don’t own anything of any value other than — and I don’t know the value of it — my paintings which I painted myself. So that’s it. And I don’t even have any other assets at all, stocks, bonds, anything like that, savings accounts.” HUNTER BIDEN RESURFACES IN LA, REACTS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT BIDEN TAPES, UFO FILES Claims that the Biden family may be strapped for cash are reflected in other reporting. The Wall Street Journal reported in September 2025 that former President Joe Biden is having far more trouble cashing in on his time in the White House than his predecessors. Upon leaving office, the former president had accrued roughly $800,000 in personal debt and was burdened with increased property taxes on their $2.7 million Delaware home, according to a source familiar with his finances. Biden also has had trouble booking paid speaking engagements, a common source of funds for former presidents, owing to his unpopularity and fears of angering President Donald Trump. CHARLAMAGNE RIPS JILL BIDEN’S CONFESSIONS ABOUT HER HUSBAND AS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE Former President Joe Biden, however, pulls in more than $400,000 a year in government pensions from his time in Congress and the White House, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Hunter Biden’s claimed lack of assets follows years of partying and substance abuse. The former president’s son reportedly spent large sums of cash on crack cocaine, alcohol, stays at luxury hotels, prostitutes and expensive jewelry for his brother’s widow, whom he was romantically involved with. His spending habits could help explain how he blew through the wealth he accumulated selling paintings and pulling in a seven-figure salary while employed by the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. ‘PRIVILEGED’ HUNTER BIDEN, SPARED BY DAD’S PARDON, BLASTS TRUMP’S CLEMENCY POWER “I don’t have any assets. I don’t own a car. I don’t own a phone,” Biden said in the deposition, which took place in February but was released by Biden’s new lawyers in recent days. Biden argues that Winston Taylor knew he would be unable to pay his legal fees when it agreed to take him on as a client and claims the parties agreed to “work something out.” The law firm, meanwhile, says that it tried to connect Biden with donors in the Democratic ecosystem to help him cover his legal bills. The younger Biden won a comparatively small legal victory in July when a judge awarded him $1.7 million in a defamation suit. Winston Taylor, however, has sought to put a lien on the judgment, and the Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, who was ruled against, is believed to be overseas, making collection complicated. Representatives for Hunter Biden and former President Joe Biden did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital Friday.
Fauci’s Fifth fuels vow to haul him into court ‘every day’ despite Biden pardon
Former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci may be spending more time in the Deep South than he envisioned after officials in Alabama and Florida announced plans to investigate whether he can be held accountable under state law for maladministration of the COVID-19 response. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times during a Senate hearing Wednesday. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., argued that former President Joe Biden’s blanket pardon eliminated Fauci’s federal criminal exposure for covered conduct and undercut his basis for refusing to answer. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., alluded to that detail and told Fox News Digital that same pardon cannot prevent prosecution at the state level under the Constitution — which says presidential pardons cover “offenses (sic) against the United States.” CAN FAUCI HIDE BEHIND THE FIFTH? GAME-CHANGING BIDEN PARDON MAY NOT PROVIDE COMPLETE COVER, EXPERTS SAY “Anthony Fauci is responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans and tens of thousands of Alabamians,” Tuberville told Fox News Digital. “The ‘pardon’ signed by Joe Biden’s autopen doesn’t apply to state-level crimes.” “When I’m governor of Alabama, I will look into ways we can hold Fauci accountable for all of the Alabamians who died under his watch,” the former Auburn football icon said. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI’S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS Tuberville — who is favored to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Kay Ivey in November — indicated he would order Fauci to Montgomery, Alabama, as many times as he could to face state charges, and encouraged Alabamians to bring their own civil claims against the 85-year-old immunologist. Speaking to Newsmax from the Capitol, Tuberville separately fumed that Fauci “should be locked up before he leaves this building today.” FAUCI PRIVATELY TOOK CREDIT FOR COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS DESPITE PUBLIC DENIAL, NEWLY EXPOSED DIARY ENTRIES REVEAL “We lost 20-30,000 (people) in Alabama alone, and I hope every damn one of them sues Fauci.” Tuberville said that if state prosecutors can’t imprison Fauci, he would support voluminous litigation to “put him in court for the rest of his life where he can listen to the death he caused. He told Fox Business that when he regularly heard from Fauci during COVID on the HELP Committee, and now believes he “lied … and knew he was lying” due in part to revelations in the doctor’s diary. “He’s going to court every day of his life for the rest of his life. And he’s going (to) have to look these people in the face, these families, because the pardon does not cover state government.” Fox News Digital reached out to Ivey for comment on whether she would pursue similar action in the final months of her administration. Florida also is investigating Fauci’s COVID-era tenure. Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed to Fox News Digital that “any and all potential violations of Florida law” are on the table. “Our inquiry will focus on what Fauci knew, when he knew it, and how he misled the American people. We will examine the physical and monetary harms to Floridians that may have resulted from his deceptions and determine whether his conduct exposes him to liability under state law,” said Uthmeier press secretary Jae Williams. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins — who is running for governor to succeed boss Gov. Ron DeSantis — fully backed Uthmeier’s probe in an interview Thursday with Fox News Digital. “There has to be accountability … between families getting threatened and our kids not being able to potentially go to school because of the risks coming from Fauci,” he said. Collins noted he is a 100%-disabled retired amputee veteran, and said he couldn’t get care from Veterans Affairs unless he had a COVID-19 shot. “I had to make a choice of getting my prosthetic care and having a leg to walk on versus taking an immunization that I didn’t want or believe in,” he said, blaming Fauci’s prescriptions for “generational loss” of businesses nationwide. Asked about Fauci criticizing DeSantis in his diary, Collins said it was a badge of honor to be the state on the receiving end of “pejoratives.” DeSantis “became America’s governor. Greatest governor in our state’s history, largely because of what he did in COVID. When our president, our federal government, other world leaders were attacking him, he stood there and took it over and over and over.” “We protected America,” he said of Tallahassee’s government. “We pushed back on the Fauci-Ouchie and all the nonsense that came from it … I’m glad (Fauci) was offended.” DeSantis similarly called Fauci the “most destructive bureaucrat in the history of the United States of America,” when asked on Fox News to respond to the diary entries that called him a “jerk” and more. While California’s current leadership complied with and welcomed Fauci’s prescriptions, the state’s Republican gubernatorial nominee said after watching Fauci plead the Fifth, he drafted a plan similar to his Deep South compatriots to bring the bureaucrat to justice. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “What an absolute disgrace — when will there be any accountability for this guy,” Hilton said in a statement. “I tell you, when I’m governor of California we will have a COVID Accountability Commission,” he said on Facebook, Hilton said the panel would examine Fauci and California officials over policies “who caused so much pain and suffering and cruelty in this absolute disaster of public policy.” Fox News Digital reached out to Fauci via counsel for comment. DeSantis’ office directed Fox News Digital to his quoted comments.
Bipartisan pair of senators urge Rubio to release aid to African women, children at risk of Ebola
Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., are urging the State Department to release hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to help women and infants affected by an Ebola outbreak in East Africa. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, the senators urged him to use $608 million in congressionally-approved international family-planning funds and distribute $1.7 million in already purchased family-planning supplies. The supplies — which the senators implied included condoms, hormonal contraception, post-rape care medicine and hemorrhage medicines — are being stored at a facility in Geel, Belgium, according to the letter. The senators said that if the supplies aren’t used, their understanding is that they will be “destroyed.” EBOLA TREATMENT CENTER SET ON FIRE IN CONGO AFTER RESIDENTS CLASH WITH AUTHORITIES OVER VICTIM’S BODY “Ebola during pregnancy is catastrophic, with a nearly 100 percent fetal loss rate and catastrophic material mortality risk due to severe hemorrhaging,” the lawmakers wrote. “By providing women with the option to voluntarily prevent unplanned pregnancies and to protect themselves from transmission of the virus and have access to clinics, the United States can prevent further deaths of women and the cruel and certain death of any fetus exposed to the virus,” they added. The senators also asked the State Department to issue a “humanitarian exception” to support the United Nations Population Fund’s existing health clinics in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). SUDAN’S FORGOTTEN WAR LEAVES MILLIONS HUNGRY AS GLOBAL ATTENTION REMAINS ELSEWHERE As of July 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had reported 3,532 Ebola cases in the DRC and 1,556 deaths, representing a mortality rate of roughly 44%. In neighboring Uganda, there have been 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, according to the CDC. Murkowski and Shaheen told the State Department that the virus’s rapid spread “leaves no time for delay in providing all possible interventions to save lives.” VACATION HOT SPOT FACES NEW CDC TRAVEL WARNING AS OUTBREAK CASES CONTINUE CLIMBING “The cost of [the] United States response is approaching $1 billion,” they wrote. “Investment now in voluntary family planning is fiscally rational in addition to being morally urgent.” Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for comment. The earliest known case in the latest Ebola outbreak involved a health worker in the DRC’s Ituri Province who developed symptoms in late April and later died, though the World Health Organization (WHO) believes transmission may have begun as early as March. The WHO was first alerted to the outbreak on May 5 after four health workers died within four days. Ten days later, investigators confirmed that the illness was caused by Bundibugyo virus, a form of Ebola.
Unearthed posts show Heartland Dem candidate rallying in favor of child gender surgery: ‘Radical as it gets’
FIRST ON FOX: Nebraska Democratic congressional nominee Denise Powell publicly opposed Nebraska’s 2023 law restricting gender transition procedures for minors, calling it “discriminatory and hateful” and urging supporters to contact lawmakers, according to unearthed social media posts that are generating pushback from critics. Before becoming her party’s nominee, Powell made multiple Facebook and TikTok posts opposing LB 574, Nebraska’s “Let Them Grow Act,” which prohibits gender transition procedures for minors and regulates the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments for those under 19. In a March 2023 Facebook post, Powell, listed as an administrator on The Bellwether Initiative Nebraska page, urged Nebraskans to contact their state senators and join her at the Capitol on the final day of the first round of floor debate over the bill while wearing a shirt that read “PROTECT TRANS KIDS.” “Today is the final day of the first round of floor debate on LB 574, a bill that would prohibit and punish healthcare providers from providing gender affirming care to children under the age of 19,” she wrote. WATCH: BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRAT CALLED IOWA A ‘BACKWATER’ OVER TRANSGENDER ATHLETES BAN “Laws like this one are passing all over the country — Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, to name a few. Nebraska has the opportunity to set an example; to show trans kids and families around the country that we won’t stand for this discriminatory and hateful behavior.” Powell also praised lawmakers “fighting this on the front line” and urged supporters to “call or tweet at your senators TODAY.” “Trans people belong in Nebraska and everywhere and we will never ever stop fighting for their right to exist and thrive,” she wrote. SEN HAWLEY WARNS IT WOULD BE ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ IF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FLOW TO TRANS KIDS’ SEX CHANGES Powell also took to TikTok under the username “dbpinomaha” to oppose the legislation. In a video posted Feb. 8, 2023, Powell wrote, “Aaaaand we’re back, this time to oppose LB 574, a bill that would make it illegal for kids to access gender-affirming care,” before the video showed her sipping from a mug beneath the words, “Lord it’s too early for the garbage.” The video then showed a photo of the Nebraska State Capitol exterior with the words, “Democracy happens here. Sometimes,” before cutting to footage of protesters holding signs reading, “Trans Nebraskans Belong.” The video also included photos appearing to show Powell in her car holding one of the protest signs herself. DEMOCRATS STAY QUIET ON NEXT STEPS AFTER SUPREME COURT TRANSGENDER SPORTS RULING “LB 574 hurt kids,” she wrote in the caption. “Call your senator and tell them TRANS NEBRASKANS BELONG.” In a separate TikTok posted on March 31, 2023, Powell shared a video of student walkouts at high schools around Omaha and Lincoln, writing that students had walked out in support of transgender youth and adding, “we are here for it!” The Nebraska Legislature passed LB 574 by a 33-15 vote, and Gov. Jim Pillen later signed it into law. That same year, Nebraska First PAC poll found that 61% of likely Nebraska voters supported prohibiting “gender altering procedures like surgeries, puberty blockers, or hormone therapies” for those under 19, while 78% agreed children should wait until adulthood before undergoing “irreversible, sex-change surgeries.” In April, a bill from Republican state Sen. Kathleen Kauth to expand LB 574 by banning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for those under 19 failed to advance, according to the Nebraska Examiner . “NE-2 is a swing district known for electing moderates, but Denise Powell is about as radical as it gets,” Jon Schweppe, former Trump official at the FTC and senior advisor at American Principles Project, told Fox News Digital. “Not only has she been an advocate for transgender sex changes for kids, but she served on the board of an organization which opposes parental rights in education and promotes an ‘LGBTQ liberation’ curriculum for fifth graders. These are the issues she clearly cares about the most.” Zach Bannon, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) told Fox News Digital that Powell is a “rubber stamp for the radical far-left, supporting their most extreme policies, including sex change surgeries for kids.” “Denise Powell continues to prove that she rejects common sense and is completely out of touch with Nebraska values,” Bannon added. Powell is challenging Republican Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding for Nebraska’s open 2nd Congressional District, a seat Democrats are seeking to flip as Republicans try to hold on to their razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. According to her campaign website, Powell says her priorities are lowering costs, protecting healthcare access and abortion rights, supporting workers, and opposing President Donald Trump’s “abuse of power and attacks on our democracy.” Fox News Digital reached out to Powell’s campaign multiple times for comment.
Democratic Socialists awarded $5.2M in inheritance dispute despite family’s objections
The Democratic Socialists of America just won $5.2 million in an inheritance dispute, according to a new legal filing, handing the organization a major financial boost as it seeks to expand its influence within the Democratic Party. The $5.2 million award is serious money for the Democratic Socialists of America, amounting to nearly an entire year of revenue for the organization, according to its tax filings. For a little over a year, the Democratic Socialists of America had been embroiled in a legal dispute over the will of New York University professor David Greenberg, who died in July 2024. Greenberg stipulated in his will that the contents of his New York University retirement account should be transferred to the New American Movement, a now-defunct left-wing activist group, or “any successor thereof” upon his death. The New American Movement merged with the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee to form the Democratic Socialists of America in 1982, according to contemporary coverage in left-wing media outlets. Greenberg, a sociology professor, spent much of his life involved with left-wing movements, with his NYU obituary describing him as “a prominent figure in America’s radical criminology movement.” BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS Martin Hecht, Greenberg’s nephew, contended that the Democratic Socialists of America failed to file the proper paperwork to be considered the legal successor and that New York University failed to fulfill its fiduciary duty to Greenberg by not making sure his will accurately reflected his wishes before his death. The judge presiding over the case ultimately sided with the Democratic Socialists of America, handing it the multimillion-dollar sum. Hecht initiated his lawsuit in April 2025 and the case was ultimately decided Monday. The $5.2 million constituted the majority of Greenberg’s wealth, with a separate account worth $1.3 million being transferred to his estate without dispute, per a legal filing. FAR-LEFT SURGE: MAMDANI-BACKED CANDIDATES OUST DEM ESTABLISHMENT INCUMBENTS This cash comes at an opportune time for the organization. Candidates affiliated with or backed by the Democratic Socialists of America have enjoyed a string of victories in recent months, beginning with Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor in 2025 and continuing with 2026 primary wins by candidates such as Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who bested establishment-backed opponents in New York’s congressional primaries. Socialist candidates have also won primary races in Philadelphia, the District of Columbia and Colorado. REPUBLICANS SOUND ALARM OVER FAR-LEFT GROUP’S PUSH TO TRANSFORM AMERICA INTO ‘CUBAN DICTATORSHIP’ The victories, several of which came against Democratic incumbents, have expanded the Democratic Socialists of America’s foothold in government and given the group greater influence over the party, particularly in heavily Democratic urban districts. What the Democratic Socialists of America ultimately will use its newfound wealth to do has not been disclosed, but its past spending behavior may provide some clues. The organization, for instance, regularly spends big on advertisements meant to convince people to vote for Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates. In an August 2024 blog post, one New York Democratic Socialists of America member floated paying for advertisements to support the organization’s recruitment efforts. Tax documents filed by the Democratic Socialists of America in November 2025 show that the organization distributes cash to its local chapters and aligned groups while also spending big on community mobilization and messaging campaigns. These efforts appear to have borne some fruit. In early July, the Democratic Socialists of America announced that it had grown to 120,000 members, claiming that it had become the “largest socialist organization in United States history.” The Democratic Socialists of America and Hecht’s attorneys did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital.
Election security at center of California Republicans’ push to win over fed-up voters
Republicans in California are making a voter ID ballot initiative the centerpiece of their 2026 strategy as Americans’ frustration grows over affordability and education issues. “Californians need to feel secure in our elections,” California GOP Chairwoman Corrin Rankin told Fox News Digital in an interview. “The way it is now, there’s so much room for uncertainty and confusion. What Proposition 39 is going to do is it’s going to sort of close the loopholes. It’s a commonsense solution that will strengthen our democracy.” Beyond the ballot measure, Rankin argues the initiative reflects broader voter frustration that Republicans hope to capitalize on in the 2026 midterms. She claims California voters are primarily concerned about affordability, education and confidence in state government. SEN MARK WARNER CALLED OUT IN ABC INTERVIEW FOR INACCURATE VOTER ID CLAIMS “Californians need to feel like we can trust our election systems, and trust is not given. Trust is earned and this will allow Californians to feel more like they can trust our election system,” she added. The Golden State’s primary race on June 2 garnered national attention and widespread criticism after it took weeks to deliver results. California election officials continued to count ballots postmarked by Election Day even if they arrived within seven days — and they are permitted up to 30 days to certify results. In the primaries, the Los Angeles mayoral race became the center of controversy as President Donald Trump was among the chorus of voices challenging the runoff election results, alleging irregularities as the count continued past Election Day. Spencer Pratt ultimately lost the race with far-left City Council Member Nithya Raman advancing to face incumbent Democrat Mayor Karen Bass in the general election in November. The race was called six days after the June 2 elections. “There’s so many other states throughout our country and throughout the world actually that seem to be able to have a winner on election night,” said Rankin. “It’d be wonderful if California could do the same.” CALIFORNIA’S SLUGGISH VOTE COUNTING RIPPED ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM: ‘EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING’ While election reform is the party’s signature ballot effort, Rankin says kitchen-table issues will determine whether Republicans make gains in November. She said affordability is the number one concern among voters with California recently landing in the top five most expensive states, according to The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center’s quarterly Cost of Living Index. “A lot of parents want their adult children to stay in California, to be a part of and contribute to the same California dream that was so great for our grandparents and our parents,” said Rankin. “We want it to be great for us and for our children. Affordability is the top issue.” NEWSOM UNDER FIRE AS CALIFORNIA GAS TAX HIKE SENDS PUMP PRICES EVEN HIGHER California drivers are paying about $5.65 per gallon for regular gasoline—roughly $1.25 more, or about 28% higher, than they were at this time last year, according to AAA and federal energy data. Rankin also said that Californians are concerned about their school systems with zip codes determining the quality of educations students receive, which has long been an argument in the Republican push for school choice. “When [candidates] keep their race focused on their district, focused on the voters in their district and the issues that matter most to those voters, stay focused on issues like affordability, children’s education, the prices of gas and groceries, things like that,” said Rankin. “That’s what voters want to hear. That’s what they care about. They care about what happens locally.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second and final term, fueling speculation about a 2028 presidential bid and creating what Rankin believes is an opportunity for Republicans to win back voters disillusioned with Democratic leadership. Pointing to the state’s troubled high-speed rail project, Rankin argued California has become a cautionary tale of government waste under one-party rule. “We’ve got a bullet train that he’s been funding with billions of dollars for years, yet we have no train. So where’s the money going to?” Rankin asked. Critics have long scrutinized the project, which was approved by voters in 2008 with an estimated $33 billion price tag but is now projected to cost more than $200 billion. Rankin said the spending reflects what she views as a broader ideological shift within the Democratic Party, arguing California has embraced policies that are now spreading nationwide. “I think that the Democrats have gone so far to the left that many Californians just don’t see themselves… many Democrats in California just don’t relate to the current flow of the Democrat party,”Rankin said.”They’re moving way too far into the extremism of socialism. I think a lot of people have red flags and just don’t want to be part of it.” Fox News Digital reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom for comment.
Ramaswamy outlines key contrasts with Dem opponent less than 100 days out from key gubernatorial election
HAMILTON, OHIO – Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy gave Fox News Digital an update on his campaign roughly 100 days from the midterms and said the contrast between him and his opponent was on display at Dr. Anthony Fauci’s controversial Senate hearing this week. “I think if every person in Ohio votes for the candidate who’s going to bring high-paying jobs most quickly to our state, we’re going to win in a decisive victory,” Ramaswamy said at the Butler County Fair on Wednesday after speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of roughly 100 people. “And my pledge is really simple, lower costs, that’s lower electric bills, lower property taxes and lower healthcare expenses, bigger paychecks, more high paying jobs in the state and better schools by bringing standards back to public education. And one of the things I’ve seen is that that’s a message that isn’t just limited to Republicans, it’s resonating with voters across the state.” One of the most talked about issues at the fair, including two attendees who spoke to Fox News Digital, was property taxes and which candidate would best address that growing and often disruptive expense. MORENO UNLOADS ON FAUCI AFTER SENATE HEARING, CALLS HIM DEMOCRATS’ ‘HERO’ OVER PANDEMIC POLICIES “The top issues that people are struggling with is number one, the property tax burden, it’s gotten way too high,” Ramaswamy said when asked what he’s hearing most from voters in terms of what they are most concerned about. “We’ve laid out a practical plan to give the biggest property tax relief package Ohio’s ever seen. Number two is the electric bills, which have gone up way too quickly. It more than doubled in many parts of the state. Producing more energy and ending load forecasting inflation, those are things that a governor actually can do. And that’s something that I’m gonna lead with.” Ramaswamy added that the third issue he hears most from voters is healthcare costs and the overall cost of living. “The number one way I’m going to be able to address that is by raising take-home pay, both by bringing more high-paying jobs to the state, but also by allowing Ohioans to keep more of what they earn by becoming a zero-income tax state, just like Texas and Florida and Tennessee, Ohio can be that state and I’m confident I’ll be able to put the state on a path to get there starting next year.” RAMASWAMY: MEDICAID FRAUD RAISES HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR HARDWORKING OHIOANS Fauci made headlines this week after invoking the Fifth Amendment over 100 times during a Senate hearing on his handling of the coronavirus, a moment Ramaswamy told the crowd as well as Fox News Digital relates to his opponent Dr. Amy Acton’s time as director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020. Ramaswamy pointed to a comment from Acton, which Fox News Digital reported on earlier this month, claiming the COVID mortality rate was at 50% when in reality it was significantly lower. Acton’s campaign responded saying she had been referring to death rates in hospitals and that she “worked to keep Ohioans safe.” “I think people look at that and say, is that somebody who has the kind of character that has the capacity to deal with data and make objective decisions and lead?” Ramaswamy explained. “And while those questions are playing out for Anthony Fauci at the national level, I think they’re really resonating right here in Ohio. You could walk around and you could even see some of the signs at this fair that are protesting the decisions she made because she actually wanted Ohio to shut down county fairs while still allowing BLM protests to rage wild on the streets at the same time in the name of science. That’s not objective decision-making.” Ramaswamy is making the case that Ohioans are “rejecting that mentality” in favor of “common sense.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, Acton campaign spokeswoman Addie Bullock labeled Ramaswamy an “out-of-touch billionaire” who is “pushing tax scams that would raise costs on working families.” “While Dr. Amy Acton is laser-focused on lowering costs for Ohio families, Vivek Ramaswamy has made it clear he doesn’t care about Ohioans; he only cares about himself and enriching his billionaire buddies,” Bullock said. Polling suggests that the race between Ramaswamy and Acton will be a tight race with the Real Clear Politics average of polling showing a dead heat despite President Trump winning Ohio by commanding margins in the past three presidential election cycles, including by 12 points over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
Latest fraud scheme targets taxpayer-funded autism therapy boom
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of American families — helping children with autism develop communication, social and daily living skills. But as Medicaid spending on the autism therapy has exploded into the billions and with fraud on the rise, a partisan divide is emerging over how states should handle public assistance programs for the ballooning treatment option. Republican-led states like Florida have prioritized fraud enforcement and tighter oversight, while debates in states like Georgia have centered on reimbursement rates and preserving access to care. The scrutiny comes as the Trump administration has made it a focus of his second term to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse across federal programs, including Medicaid, a central policy priority. Supporters of stronger oversight argue that every dollar lost to fraud is money that cannot be used to provide care for children and families who depend on Medicaid-funded autism therapy. TRUMP ADMIN PAUSING OVER $1B IN MEDICAID PAYMENTS TO MINNESOTA, CALIFORNIA OVER FRAUD, COMPLIANCE CONCERNS According to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Medicaid provider spending data, Medicaid paid more than $5.15 billion between 2018 and 2024 under one of the primary billing codes used for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Three providers received roughly $685 million in Medicaid reimbursements during that period. ABA therapy is one of the most common treatments for children with autism, using structured, one-on-one sessions to build communication, social and daily living skills. Much of that therapy is delivered by Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), entry-level workers who complete a 40-hour training program and work under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts, whose job it is to design and oversee treatment plans. MEDICAID FRAUD FEARS GROW AMID MASSIVE RED STATE BILLING SPIKE IN SECTOR THAT ALSO PLAGUED MINNESOTA As Medicaid spending on ABA therapy has surged, so has scrutiny over how taxpayer dollars are being spent. In May, federal prosecutors charged two Minnesota autism clinic operators with allegedly billing Medicaid $46.6 million for services prosecutors say were unnecessary or never provided, including claims tied to children with allegedly fraudulent autism diagnoses. Earlier this year, another Minnesota woman pleaded guilty in a separate $14 million Medicaid autism fraud scheme. Investigations by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have also documented allegations that some providers billed for services that were never provided, inflated therapy hours and aggressively expanded as Medicaid spending surged. MINNESOTA FRAUD SUSPECT SKIPS COURT, FORFEITS BOND, THROWING $11M MEDICAID CASE INTO DOUBT The Medicaid data also identifies examples of providers receiving unusually large reimbursements under the ABA billing code, including some claims that equate to hundreds of dollars per minute of therapy based on a standard 15-minute billing unit. The data alone does not explain why those reimbursements were so high, and billing experts say unusually large payments can reflect a variety of factors, including claim adjustments or other administrative processes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that oversees Medicaid in partnership with states, told Fox News Digital it has observed “significant growth” in Medicaid spending on ABA therapy in recent years. “While access to medically necessary services remains a priority, rapid program growth also underscores the importance of ensuring services are clinically appropriate, delivered by qualified providers, and supported by strong program integrity safeguards,” a CMS spokesperson said. As concerns over fraud have grown, states have responded differently. Florida says it recovered more than $72 million in improper Medicaid payments over the past year and prevented hundreds of behavior analysts from participating in Medicaid because of documented fraud concerns. Last month, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a statewide Medicaid Integrity Initiative to strengthen provider screening, enhance fraud detection and increase oversight aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars. While Florida has focused on strengthening fraud enforcement, Georgia lawmakers have focused on reimbursement rates. Lawmakers recently questioned a Medicaid managed care organization’s decision to reduce ABA reimbursement rates by 20%, even as industry representatives testified that use of autism therapy services had increased by more than 300% in recent years. The debate reflects the difficult balance between rooting out fraud and preserving access to a therapy that many families say has been life-changing for children with autism.
Kamala Harris backs major changes to the Supreme Court, Electoral College ahead of possible 2028 campaign
Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday embraced a series of progressive policy proposals she did not campaign on in 2024, including expanding the Supreme Court and abolishing the Electoral College, as she continues weighing a potential 2028 presidential bid. Speaking at the National Urban League Conference in Nashville, Tenn., Harris endorsed several proposals she did not publicly campaign on during her 2024 White House run. “We must allow for a real conversation about revisiting certain things,” Harris said. “I know this is gonna be controversial coming from me, in particular. We need to revisit the Electoral College.” HILLARY CLINTON STILL FUMING OVER ELECTORAL COLLEGE, CALLS IT AN ‘ABOMINATION’ IN NEW NETFLIX SERIES Harris lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. She also voiced support for expanding the Supreme Court. “We need to revisit the point of expanding the court to 13 justices like we have 13 district courts,” Harris said. SEN DEB FISCHER: THE LEFT’S WAR ON THE SENATE AND SUPREME COURT PUTS OUR REPUBLIC AT RISK While Harris has previously supported term limits for Supreme Court justices, expanding the court was not part of her 2024 campaign platform. She also suggested the U.S. should revisit statehood for Puerto Rico, expanding beyond her previous support for statehood for Washington, D.C. Despite the new policy positions, Harris said she has not yet decided whether she will seek the presidency in 2028. KAMALA HARRIS IS THE ‘FAIRLY OBVIOUS’ 2028 PRESIDENTIAL FRONTRUNNER, DEMOCRATIC INSIDERS SAY “I have not made a decision,” she told attendees. “I am fully, sincerely, focused on these midterms.” Harris’ remarks come as multiple Democratic aides and strategists have suggested she is the leading contender for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination. When asked by Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Action Network’s 35th Anniversary Convention in April whether she planned to run for president again, Harris left the door open. “I might. I might. I’m thinking about it… I’ll keep you posted,” she said. Harris’ comments also come after she has recently courted progressive Democrats, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Fox News Digital previously reported that Harris called Mamdani in May and later met privately with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., during a Black women’s empowerment summit in Chicago. The outreach comes as Harris continues meeting with influential figures on the Democratic Party’s progressive wing ahead of a possible 2028 campaign. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser, Hannah Brennan and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Brazen social media fraud schemes wreak havoc as Trump official issues stark warning for ‘fraudfluencers’
EXCLUSIVE: The rise of a new type of fraudster has a top Trump administration investigator sounding the alarm as new — albeit brazen — schemes for ripping off hard-working American taxpayers emerge. The Department of Labor (DOL) Inspector General is warning of a growing cottage industry of online scammers, dubbed “fraudfluencers,” who boast their skill in exploiting government programs and facilitate fraud on behalf of others. Typically, the scammers take a cut of the fraudulently obtained benefits. “This isn’t just a crime — it’s a deliberate and public betrayal of every hardworking American who plays by the rules,” DOL Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito told Fox News Digital. “Fraud is not a trend or content; it’s theft of taxpayer dollars, and it will be prosecuted.” EXCLUSIVE: WOMAN WHO STOLE $1.7M MEANT FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS GETS PRISON TIME AS DHS CRACKS DOWN ON FEMA FRAUD In one case, a California Employment Development Department (EDD) contract employee named Britteny Egland openly used her social media to invite others to participate in her schemes. She offered to help her followers take advantage of taxpayer-funded programs they weren’t qualified for by using insider information and stolen identities to file fraudulent unemployment insurance, grant and rent relief applications. Egland had nearly 10,000 followers on Instagram and over 1,500 followers on X at the time of the posts. Her actions exhibit a growing cottage industry of online schemers who brazenly solicit others to team up and commit fraud. She went on to steal $2.8 million from government coffers. “NEW OR REGULAR CLAIMS ONLY,” a typical post from the fraudfluencer, who used the handle @Britisshh on X, reads. “IF YOU DID PANDEMIC EDD THIS ISN’T FOR YOU! EVEN IF YOU HAVE A REMAINING BALANCE IT WILL NOT WORK.” EXCLUSIVE: FBI ADDS ALLEGED COVID FRAUDSTER ACCUSED OF TAKING $5M FROM KIDS’ MEAL PROGRAM TO MOST WANTED LIST “IF YOU HAVEN’T DID EDD DURING THAT PERIOD LET’S RUN IT UP. 10-30K,” the post continued, before offering for her to “check a claim” for the price of $150. Egland prompted users to “get with the winning team” by defrauding the U.S. government, but warned potential clients against asking her too many questions because she was unable to address the influx of messages. “IT’S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE FLOOR! PLEASE DON’T BE STUPID AND MISS OUT,” another post from the perpetrator said. “NOBODY WENT TO JAIL OR OWE BACK FOR ANYTHING – LITERALLY – THE WHOLE WORLD IS SCAMMING THE GOVERNMENT AND ALL THESE PROGRAMS.” In a third post, the scammer offered her services in defrauding a $20,000 grant program, saying that she would take $5,000 and give the rest to her client. VANCE ANTI-FRAUD TASK FORCE SUSPENDS 447 HOSPICES IN LOS ANGELES OVER MORE THAN $600M IN SUSPECTED FRAUD The law eventually caught up with Egland. In June 2025, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Egland was sentenced 60 months in federal prison, 36 months of supervised release and ordered to repay the full $2.8 million she stole. “What makes this increasingly dangerous is the growing effort by fraudsters on social media to glamorize and normalize stealing from their own communities — turning theft into entertainment and betrayal into a lifestyle,” said D’Esposito. “My office, working in close coordination with Vice President Vance’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, has zero tolerance for those who cheat the system. We will pursue these cases aggressively, seek prison sentences, and ensure real accountability.” Egland’s case isn’t isolated. Investigators are increasingly seeing fraudsters use social media to normalize theft, advertise their methods and build audiences around criminal behavior. An Atlanta man named Jonathan Dupiton, who had a podcast with the motto “F.R.A.U.D is Dope,” was convicted in April and sentenced to seven years in federal prison for using stolen identities to brazenly obtain $3.8 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits from the same California EDD program. In 2022, a Memphis rapper called “Nuke Bizzle,” whose real name is Fontrell Antonio Baines, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison after exploiting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provisions from the CARES Act, meant to help struggling Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baines bragged about his $788,000 in ill-gotten gains in a music video posted to YouTube. “The criminal mindset hasn’t changed — only the platform has,” said D’Esposito, a former NYPD detective. “I’ve seen criminals make mistakes. Today’s ‘Fraudfluencers’ make those mistakes in high definition. They steal from taxpayers, boast about it on social media, and leave a digital footprint our investigators can follow.” D’Esposito and the White House Fraud Task Force was created, in part, to crack down on taxpayer funds being paid out to fraudsters and to end the widespread abuse of government programs.