Minnesota fraud probe fuels IRS crackdown calls on nonprofit accused of Hamas links
FIRST ON FOX: The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is facing heightened scrutiny as House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith referred the group to the IRS for a probe into whether the nonprofit should lose its tax-exempt status, citing alleged misuse of taxpayer funds, potential violations of federal law and support for unlawful activity. “Tax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right,” Smith, a Republican from Missouri, told Fox News Digital Tuesday. “Organizations that receive special treatment under the tax code must follow the law and operate in the public interest, not bankroll illegal activity, mislead federal agencies, or misuse hard-earned taxpayer dollars.” Smith sent a letter to Treasury Secretary and acting IRS chief Scott Bessent and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano Tuesday referring CAIR-California for IRS review, arguing that the nonprofit may no longer meet the legal standards required to operate as a 501(c)(3) organization. The letter claims that evidence alleges CAIR-California improperly used millions of dollars in federal funds, provided misleading information to the IRS, and materially supported activity that resulted in arrests and violations of the law, particularly during campus protests across California. BESSENT BLAMES WALZ AS TREASURY PROBES WHETHER MINNESOTA FRAUD FUNDS REACHED TERROR GROUP AL-SHABAB The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a leading American Muslim civil rights organization, with chapters across the country and its home base located in Washington, D.C. Republicans have scrutinized CAIR in recent years, including calls for Treasury reviews over alleged Hamas ties — allegations the group denies. CAIR pushed back on the letter to Fox News Digital Tuesday, calling it “embarrassing” and based on “a false claim made by a pro-Israel group without fact-checking.” The New York Post published an article published in March 2025 based on an advocacy group, Intelligent Advocacy Network, investigation into CAIR-California that found alleged financial irregularities. CAIR-California includes offices in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and San Diego. The call for an investigation comes as the IRS and other investigators dig into what officials say is a sprawling COVID-era scheme in Minnesota involving money laundering that has dominated headlines since before the holiday season. Federal prosecutors have estimated the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion. Officials have made dozens of arrests, the majority of which are from the state’s Somali community. “The widespread fraud uncovered in Minnesota has only made our efforts to root out fraud in the nonprofit sector more urgent, and we owe it to the American taxpayer to hold these bad actors accountable,” Smith told Fox Digital. “If these allegations are true, CAIR-California does not meet the standards required to maintain tax-exempt status, and the IRS must act accordingly.” FEDERAL PROSECUTOR CALLS NEWSOM ‘KING OF FRAUD’ AS TRUMP LAUNCHES CALIFORNIA CORRUPTION PROBE The chairman’s letter detailed concerns surrounding CAIR-CA’s handling of more than $7 million in federal refugee legal-aid funding intended to help resettle Afghan refugees. The referral, citing the New York Post article detailing a watchdog group’s previous investigation, indicated CAIR-CA assisted fewer than 10% of the refugees it pledged to help, while allegedly routing millions of dollars through an unregistered affiliate operating under CAIR-CA’s tax identification number — potentially exposing the group to False Claims Act violations, according to the referral. “Not only does this misdirection of funds back to itself potentially violate the law, but the failure of CAIR-CA to properly document the use of grant funding would also place the organization at risk of violating the False Claims Act for misrepresenting grant use,” Smith wrote. CAIR told Fox News Digital that Smith’s letter was “provably inaccurate letter,” and based on “retracted story about CAIR-California that The New York Post had to correct after it repeated a false claim made by a pro-Israel group” is “a sign of how desperate he and other Israel First members of Congress have become to smear and silence Americans who speak up for Palestinian human rights and against the waste of American taxpayer dollars on Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” CAIR shot continued that, “Contrary to the false claims made by Mr. Smith, CAIR-California is a respected civil rights organization with a long record of lawful advocacy and cooperation with government agencies.” “Every dollar CAIR-California receives is used strictly for its intended purpose and subject to rigorous internal and external oversight, auditing, and reporting. Funds designated to support Afghan refugees are used exclusively to serve that population, consistent with grant terms. CAIR-California also receives a diverse set of funds that allows the organization to serve clients beyond the Afghan and Muslim community,” CAIR continued in an emailed comment. If the IRS revokes a group’s 501(c)(3) status, it can trigger a cascading hit on the organization — donations may no longer be tax-deductible, federal taxes and penalties can apply, and the nonprofit’s funding pipeline can dry up as donors and grantmakers pull back. The letter adds that evidence suggests CAIR-California “institutionally endorsed and materially supported” college encampments during the anti-Israel protests that swept the nation from 2021 until the Trump administration, including protests that “resulted in violations of the law and/or arrests.” The letter argued that CAIR national also promoted and endorsed a “Protest Donald Trump” rally at the Minnesota Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Dinner during the 2024 election cycle, which the letter claims may have violated the prohibition on 501(c)(3)s to directly or indirectly participate, or intervene in, any political campaign. TRUMP DEMANDS CALIFORNIA HAND OVER RECIPIENT LISTS AS $10B PAUSED AMID FRAUD CONCERNS Smith argued that while protests are generally permitted, the IRS has previously found groups can lose exempt status if demonstrations cross into civil disobedience or other illegal activity. “The only allegation in Mr. Smith’s letter that is even remotely close to accurate is the claim that CAIR expressed support for college students who hosted sit-ins to peacefully protest their university’s financial entanglements with the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza,” CAIR said. “We were proud to express solidarity with students peacefully protesting the Gaza genocide, who were on the
Trump criminal probe of Fed Chair Powell marks unprecedented escalation — and a warning to his successor
President Donald Trump’s criminal probe targeting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell marks an extraordinary escalation in his battle with the central bank, sending a clear warning to the next Fed chair about the risks of defying the White House. Powell confirmed the Department of Justice investigation on Sunday evening in a video statement, calling the move “unprecedented” and another example of what he described as the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to intimidate the central bank. Powell’s decision to respond so publicly, after days of private consultation with advisers, marked a sharp departure from the central banker’s typically measured approach. TRUMP VS THE FEDERAL RESERVE: HOW THE CLASH REACHED UNCHARTED TERRITORY The probe focuses on whether Powell was truthful during congressional testimony about the project to overhaul the Fed’s two main buildings on the National Mall. No charges have been filed, and Powell has denied any wrongdoing. Powell, widely viewed as one of the most crisis-tested Federal Reserve chairs in modern U.S. history, built his career as a lawyer and investment banker in New York before entering public service in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. He joined the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors in 2012 and was tapped to lead the central bank in 2017. Now, a criminal investigation may represent the biggest test of Powell’s leadership, unfolding as Trump weighs his choice for the next Fed chair with Powell’s term set to expire in May. The next Fed chair would take on one of the most powerful economic jobs in the country, helping decide how expensive it is to borrow money for things like homes, cars and credit cards. Those decisions directly affect the cost of everyday living for Americans. FROM MORTGAGES TO CAR LOANS: HOW AFFORDABILITY RISES AND FALLS WITH THE FED Trump has narrowed his shortlist to four candidates as he approaches a final decision on leadership at the Fed: Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh, Christopher Waller and Rick Rieder. Kevin Hassett is Trump’s top economic advisor and a loyal defender of the administration’s policies. He currently serves as director of the White House’s National Economic Council, and held two senior roles during Trump’s first term and advised the president on economic policy during the 2024 campaign. POWELL REVEALS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO STEP DOWN FROM THE FED AS PRESSURE MOUNTS Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh, a former Morgan Stanley banker, has emerged as a vocal critic of current Fed leadership, sharpening his attacks as he positioned himself as a potential replacement for Powell. He became the youngest person to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in 2006. Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller has repeatedly called for rate cuts, a move that aligns, in part, with Trump’s demands. Of the candidates, he is considered the veteran academic of the group. He has also reiterated the importance of maintaining an independent Federal Reserve. And BlackRock Global Fixed Income Chief Investment Officer Rick Rieder is the last candidate to have an interview with Trump before the president makes his decision. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who did pre-interviews with all the candidates, said Trump is expected to announce his decision by the end of January. Meanwhile, some lawmakers on Capitol Hill said they would block the confirmation of Trump’s Federal Reserve nominee until the legal matter is resolved. The White House referred questions to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. As the investigation unfolds and a decision on the next Fed chair approaches, the episode underscores the growing political pressure surrounding a role long viewed as insulated from the White House.
‘Cringe’ Soros-backed Philly DA torched for dropping ‘FAFO’ in warning to ICE
Police groups, MAGA supporters and the Department of Homeland Security mocked left-wing Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on social media for his warning to the National Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid President Donald Trump’s immigration and fraud crackdowns. “To ICE and the National Guard: if you commit crimes in Philadelphia, we will charge you and hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Krasner posted to X Saturday, accompanied by a black and white photo of himself wearing sunglasses and the caption “FAFO.” “FAFO” is internet slang meaning “f— around and find out.” It increasingly has entered the MAGA political lexicon, been embraced by Trump, and been used in administration-linked messaging and by prominent Republican allies as a blunt warning to political opponents and foreign adversaries. Krasner has served as Philadelphia’s district attorney since 2018, frequently coming under fire from conservatives for reduced reliance on cash bail, shifts in charging for some low-level crimes, and an aggressive posture on police accountability. Republicans have repeatedly pointed to his office’s bail and prosecution policies as drivers of public-safety concerns, staging high-profile hearings and pushing an impeachment effort that ultimately collapsed in court. ICE CHIEF TODD LYONS FIRES BACK AFTER AOC ALLEGES RENEE NICOLE GOOD WAS ‘ASSASSINATED IN THE STREET’ Conservatives, police groups and leaders and administration social media accounts lambasted Krasner over the message. Krasner’s post came amid a heightened federal law enforcement presence in Minnesota, as a sweeping Minneapolis fraud investigation unfolded and a woman was fatally shot during the increased deployment. “This embarrassment of a DA regularly gives the velvet glove treatment to murders, robbers, and rapists…what a joke,” Fraternal Order of Police National Vice President Joe Gamaldi posted to X, slamming Krasner. “Unlike criminals in Philadelphia who get their charges dropped by the DA,” the National Police Association responded. The Department of Homeland Security responded with at least two memes brushing off Krasner’s comment, including a gif of a person dressed up as a founding father with the caption, “Oh no! Anyways.” “True Clownsmanship,” a lawyer on X quipped. “Note that Larry Krasner has never said FAFO to the actual criminals he’s supposed to put behind bars, and thus his city is garbage. But good posturing you pathetic waste of space,” Republican communicator Matt Whitlock wrote. “This is so cringe, even for a Soros DA,” another commented. Left-wing billionaire George Soros was one of Krasner’s donors amid his election effort, Fox Digital previously reported. “It would be news if Krassner prosecuted an actual criminal, let alone ICE,” RealClearInvestigations senior writer Mark Hemingway posted. “LMAO, they try so hard to use social media the way this administration does, and it fails every time,” another posted, referring to Democrats attempting to lean into MAGA’s often searing use of social media. “This idiot has never read the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution,” former New Jersey Senate candidate Mike Crispi posted. “Federal law trumps local law when in direct conflict of one another. This post is pure provocative trash.” Krasner’s social media message joins a chorus of Democrats nationwide criticizing ICE and federal immigration law enforcement officials following the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minnesota earlier in January. Good was shot on a residential street while operating her car. DHS said Good used her car as weapon against the agents before the shooting, calling her actions an “act of domestic terrorism.” Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal also slammed ICE earlier in January as made up, “fake, wannabe law enforcement,” claiming ICE violated both “legal law” and “moral law” following the shooting. Democrats have rallied against the federal law enforcement officer’s actions, with some left-wing lawmakers such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling the incident “murder,” while other Democrats have underscored a push for more accountability of federal officers. Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to be “staged and ready to support local and state law enforcement in protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining public safety following a shooting involving federal immigration enforcement agents in south Minneapolis.” Trump has mobilized, or attempted to mobilize, the National Guard to other cities in 2025 as part of his mission to crack down on crime, including when he federalized the Washington, D.C., police force in August 2025. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Krasner’s office did not immediately respond to Fox Digital’s request for comment on criticisms revolving around his Saturday message.
Trump cancels all meetings with Iran, calls on protesters to ‘take over’ the country
President Donald Trump urged the people of Iran to “take over” the country’s institutions on Tuesday, saying he has canceled all meetings with the Iranian regime until its crackdown on unrest ends. Trump made the announcement on social media, vowing that those responsible for killing anti-regime demonstrators will “pay a big price.” Iran had previously claimed it was in contact with U.S. officials amid the protests. “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.” “I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” he added. LIZ PEEK: TRUMP IS PUTTING AMERICA FIRST BY BACKING IRAN INTO A CORNER Since the unrest broke out, Iranian authorities have killed at least 646 protesters, with thousands more deaths expected to be confirmed. Reuters reported the death toll at 2,000, citing an unnamed Iranian official. The White House confirmed on Monday that Trump was weighing whether to bomb Iran in reaction to the crackdown. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that diplomacy remains Trump’s first option, but that the president “has shown he’s unafraid to use military options if and when he deems necessary.” IRAN’S ‘DISTINCTIVE’ DRONE DEPLOYMENT SEES DEATH TOLL SOAR AMID VIOLENT PROTESTS “He certainly doesn’t want to see people being killed in the streets of Tehran. And unfortunately that’s something we are seeing right now,” she added. Iranian authorities have used deadly force against anti-regime protesters and have cut off public internet access in an effort to stop images and video from spreading across the globe. The protests represent the highest level of unrest Iran has seen since nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of morality police in 2022. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz went so far as to predict an end to Ayatollah Ali Khamenie’s regime. “I assume that we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime,” he told reporters while in India on Tuesday. “When a regime can only maintain power through violence, then it is effectively at its end. The population is now rising up against this regime,” he added.
Bill Clinton defies congressional subpoena, Comer says contempt charges moving ahead
Former President Bill Clinton appears to have defied a congressional subpoena to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday morning. Clinton was compelled to sit for a sworn closed-door deposition in the House’s bipartisan probe into Jeffrey Epstein, but Fox News Digital did not see him before or after the scheduled 10 a.m. grilling. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., had threatened to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against Clinton if he did not appear Tuesday. Comer said Tuesday morning, “We will move next week in the House Oversight Committee … to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress.” TOP GOP CHAIR ISSUES STARK WARNING TO CLINTONS IF THEY DEFY DEPOSITIONS IN EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION “I think everyone knows by now Bill Clinton did not show up. And I think it’s important to note that this subpoena was voted on in a bipartisan manner by this committee,” Comer told reporters after formally ending the deposition. “No one’s accusing Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. We just have questions. And that’s why the Democrats voted, along with Republicans, to subpoena Bill Clinton.” He said “not a single Democrat” showed up to the deposition on Tuesday. DOJ SAYS LAWYERS WORKING ‘AROUND THE CLOCK’ TO PREP EPSTEIN FILES FOR RELEASE AFTER MISSED DEADLINE Other lawmakers seen going into the committee room include Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Michael Cloud, R-Texas, Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Scott Perry, R-Pa. Hillary Clinton had also been subpoenaed to appear on Wednesday but likely will not show up. The Clintons’ attorney sent Comer a letter confirming they’re challenging the legality of the subpoenas issued against them. “[T]he Subpoenas issued to President and Secretary Clinton are invalid and legally unenforceable. Mindful of these defects, we trust you will engage in good faith to de-escalate this dispute,” reads the letter, obtained by Fox News Digital. The Clintons’ attorneys tore into Comer’s leadership of the investigation, accusing him of violating the Constitution’s separation of powers and trying to obfuscate the search for real information. “President and Secretary Clinton have already provided the limited information they possess about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the Committee. They did so proactively and voluntarily, and despite the fact that the Subpoenas are invalid and legally unenforceable, untethered to a valid legislative purpose, unwarranted because they do not seek pertinent information, and an unprecedented infringement on the separation of powers,” the letter said. “Your continued insistence that the former President and Secretary of State can be compelled to appear before the Committee under these circumstances, however, brings us toward a protracted and unnecessary legal confrontation that distracts from the principal work of the Congress with respect to this matter, which, if conducted sincerely, could help ensure the victims of Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell are afforded some measure of justice for the crimes perpetrated against them, however late. But perhaps distraction is the point.” Fox News Digital asked Comer if he would also move to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt next week if she defies the subpoena, to which he said, “We’ll see. We’ll talk about it.” If the contempt resolution advances through committee next week, it will then be on the entire House to vote on whether to refer the former president for criminal charges. A criminal contempt of Congress charge is a misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to one year in jail and a maximum $100,000 fine if convicted. Burchett, however, told reporters he was not confident that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would pursue such a referral. “I’ve been really disappointed in our Justice Department, so I would hope that maybe they’re making some changes over there,” Burchett said. The former first couple were two of 10 people who Comer initially subpoenaed in the House’s Epstein investigation after a unanimous bipartisan vote directed him to do so last year. Fox News Digital was first to report on the subpoenas in August. Clinton was known to be friendly with the late pedophile before his federal charges but was never implicated in any wrongdoing related to him.
Lombardo builds massive $15M war chest in critical Nevada governor showdown
FIRST ON FOX: A Republican governor running for re-election in one of the most closely watched races in the country in a key battleground state is heading into the spring with a historic amount of cash on hand. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, elected in November 2022, announced on Tuesday a record-breaking year-end campaign cash-on-hand of over $9 million after raising an additional $4.28 million in 2025, which his campaign says in a press release is the highest non-election year total on hand of any governor in Nevada history. Two Lombardo-affiliated PACs added another $5.9 million in cash reserves after raising more than $4.7 million last year, bringing the governor’s total political war chest to $15 million. The campaign says that with the record haul, Lombardo is in the “strongest financial position of any governor in Nevada history at this stage of the cycle.” DEMOCRATS ‘DOOMED TO FAIL’ WITHOUT POPULIST ECONOMIC MESSAGE, WARREN WARNS “I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from Nevadans who share our vision for a stronger, more affordable Nevada,” Lombardo told Fox News Digital. “This record-setting fundraising reflects confidence in our work expanding access to attainable housing and affordable healthcare, keeping communities safe, supporting educators and empowering parents, and strengthening our economy. With historic broad bipartisan support behind us, we’re ready to take our message to every corner of the state and make the case for four more years to finish the job.” OREGON ELECTION SYSTEM FACES SCRUTINY AS STATE MOVES TO ADDRESS 800,000 INACTIVE VOTERS: ‘ASTOUNDING’ Lombardo, who served as a police officer for 26 years and was sheriff of Clark County, was the only challenger to defeat an incumbent governor in the 2022 elections as he edged out Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak and made Nevada the only blue-to-red governor flip that year. In September, Lombardo warned of the risks ahead if the Democrats retake the governor’s office. And he said he’s the backstop against what he described as the “woke, California agenda” from Nevada’s bigger neighbor to the west. “I’ll continue to do everything in my power to stop Gavin Newson from imposing his left-wing agenda on Nevada. As long as I’m your governor, I won’t ever accept Californians telling Nevadans what to do or making us pay the price for their bad ideas,” Lombardo said, according to an excerpt shared with Fox News Digital ahead of delivery. Lombardo, speaking at Rancho High School in North Las Vegas, where he graduated and launched his first campaign for governor four years ago, also spotlighted his accomplishments while emphasizing the “unfinished business” to secure Nevada’s future. The Nevada Democratic Party, on the other hand, has tried to tie Lombardo to President Donald Trump, slamming the governor for what they charged was his “embrace of Trump’s reckless policies, all of which have led to worst-in-the-nation unemployment rates, a growing housing crisis, and sky-high costs.” Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and Reno-anchored Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill have both launched campaigns for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Trump vows day of ‘reckoning and retribution’ in Minnesota as more ICE agents flood to Minneapolis
President Donald Trump vowed a day of “reckoning and retribution” in Minnesota as the Department of Homeland Security sent hundreds more federal agents to the state this week. Trump issued the warning on social media Tuesday, accusing Democrats of capitalizing on the unrest to shift focus away from Minnesota’s ongoing fraud scandal. DHS Sec. Kristi Noem announced on Sunday that the administration is sending hundreds more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minneapolis this week. “Do the people of Minnesota really want to live in a community in which there are thousands of already convicted murderers, drug dealers and addicts, rapists, violent released and escaped prisoners, dangerous people from foreign mental institutions and insane asylums, and other deadly criminals too dangerous to even mention?” Trump wrote on X. “All the patriots of ICE want to do is remove them from your neighborhood and send them back to the prisons and mental institutions from where they came, most in foreign Countries who illegally entered the USA though [sic] Sleepy Joe Biden’s HORRIBLE Open Border’s Policy. Every place we go, crime comes down. In Chicago, despite a weak and incompetent Governor and Mayor fighting us all the way, a big improvement was made. Thousands of Criminals were removed!” he continued. KRISTI NOEM FIRES BACK AT DEMS AMID IMPEACHMENT THREAT OVER FATAL MINNEAPOLIS ICE SHOOTING “Minnesota Democrats love the unrest that anarchists and professional agitators are causing because it gets the spotlight off of the 19 Billion Dollars that was stolen by really bad and deranged people. FEAR NOT, GREAT PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA, THE DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!” he added. The protests, which have spread to other cities, including Los Angeles, Portland and New York, come after an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who DHS alleges “weaponized her vehicle” and “attempted to run a law enforcement officer over.” Video of the shooting has become a political flash point, with some saying it supports the government’s position that the agent acted in self-defense and others saying the footage calls into question DHS’ explanation and raises broader concerns about the use of force by ICE officers. TOM EMMER PUSHES BACK ON SUGGESTION THAT MINNESOTA ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL The shooting remains under federal investigation. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote in a New York Times op-ed that the Trump administration pushed a “false narrative” about the shooting and demonized Good. “The chaos that ICE and the Trump administration have brought to Minneapolis made this tragedy sadly predictable,” he wrote. “I’ve watched multiple videos, from multiple perspectives — it seems clear that Ms. Good, a mother of three, was trying to leave the scene, not attack an agent,” he added. Minnesota on Monday sued to block the federal government from pursuing further ICE operations in the state. Fox News’ Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.
Thune warns DOJ’s probe of Fed Chair Powell ‘better be real’ and ‘serious’ amid political backlash
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., warned that the allegations against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell must be legitimate, and not politically influenced, as bipartisan unease over the criminal probe continues to ripple through the Senate. “I haven’t seen the case or whatever the allegations or charges are,” Thune said. “But I would say they better be — they better be real and they better be serious.” Thune’s comments followed a wave of bipartisan anger over the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) criminal probe into Powell, with Senate Republicans threatening to block any of President Donald Trump’s future Fed nominees until the issue was resolved. SENATE ADVANCES $174B PACKAGE AS MINNESOTA ICE SHOOTING FUELS DHS FUNDING FIGHT Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., vowed to “oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed — including the upcoming Fed chair vacancy,” shortly after the news of the probe into Powell broke. He was later backed up by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who said after speaking with the central bank chief that “it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion,” and she threatened a congressional investigation into the DOJ. When asked about Tillis’ position, Thune said that people would “react to this differently,” but reiterated that without knowing the full breadth of the investigation, it was hard to jump to conclusions. “But as I’ve said earlier, I think it’s really important that it can resolve quickly and that there not be any appearance of political interference with the Fed or its activities,” he said. POWELL REVEALS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO STEP DOWN FROM THE FED AS PRESSURE MOUNTS Powell contended that the investigation was not related to testimony he gave before the Senate Banking Committee last year regarding the $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., but rather a consequence of the Federal Reserve “setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.” Thune also acknowledged that Tillis’ hold on Fed nominees would make things difficult moving forward as the investigation plays out, given that Powell’s term atop the central bank expires in May. REPUBLICAN SENATOR VOWS TO BLOCK TRUMP FED NOMINEE OVER POWELL INVESTIGATION He said that it would be good to ensure continuity at the Fed, and “that the central bank maintains its independence.” “I mean, they’ve got a couple of key missions when it comes to the economy, particularly dealing with inflation, which obviously is impacted by interest rate policy,” Thune said. “And so I want to see them operate in an independent way, free of politics.” Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., railed against the investigation and called the allegations fueling it “clearly bogus.” “Anyone with two eyes and half a brain knows exactly what this criminal probe represents: a brazen attempt by Donald Trump to cannibalize the Fed’s independence,” he said.
House GOP leader blasts trans athletes in girls’ sports as ‘biggest form of bullying’
A top House lawmaker and former softball coach is arguing that allowing transgender women who were born male to play on female sports teams is “the biggest form of bullying.” House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., is expected to appear at a rally in support of banning biological males from playing on school sports teams for girls and women on Tuesday. It’s the same day the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the legality of such bans in two states, cases that could have ramifications for school sports across the country. LEGAL DEFENSE TO ‘SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS’ GRANTED RIGHT TO MAKE ARGUMENT TO SCOTUS AMID TRANS ATHLETE DISPUTE The cases, challenging state laws by GOP-led governments in Idaho and West Virginia, will decide whether discrimination based on gender identity violates federal civil rights laws. But McClain, who spent almost a decade coaching girls’ softball, said it was not an issue of left or right. “This isn’t a conservative-progressive [issue]. You can’t put a label on it. The label is female versus male. Those are the labels you should be talking about,” McClain said. “It’s, does this Supreme Court recognize females?” As a business owner before Congress, McClain said she also coached her daughter and other girls, starting when her child was 9 through high school. MICHIGAN PARENT WANTS TRUMP TO ACT AFTER DAUGHTER SHARES LOCKER ROOM WITH TRANS-ATHLETE She said there would have been “intense conversations” if her team had to face another with a transgender player. “I’ll just share with you, it wouldn’t happen,” she said of the hypothetical face-off. “You want to talk about fairness and all that stuff. I’ll compete with any female athlete, any female athlete. Don’t have a guy pretending to be a woman come in, undress in the locker room in front of my daughter or any of the girls that are on my team. Are you kidding me?” LGBTQ advocates have said a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the state governments would be a step back for transgender rights. But people who support the bans, like McClain, have said it’s a fight for women’s rights. “Where all these feminists that fought so hard for women, for women’s rights, for Title IX?” she asked. “This is an attack on women. So you can stand with the transgenders, that’s fine. You can be who you want to be, be transgender, if that’s who you want to be. But when who you are decides to infringe on my rights, that’s when I have a problem.”
Ex-state education official launches bid for Wyoming’s lone US House seat
Jillian Balow, a former Wyoming state superintendent of public instruction, is jumping into the congressional race to succeed Rep. Harriet Hageman in the Cowboy State’s at-large U.S. House district. “Wyoming deserves a representative who understands our way of life and fights for it every day in Washington,” Balow said, according to a press release obtained by Fox News Digital “I am running to defend Wyoming’s energy economy, protect our constitutional freedoms, support parents and students, and make sure the voices of rural communities are never ignored.” The race is an open contest as Hageman announced a U.S. Senate bid last month after GOP Sen. Cynthia Lummis announced that she would not seek re-election. SCOOP: TRUMP ALLY WHO OUSTED CHENEY LAUNCHES SENATE BID TO KEEP GOP SEAT IN REPUBLICAN HANDS “I am proud of the legacy Senator Cynthia Lummis and Congresswoman Harriet Hageman have built by standing up for Wyoming values and refusing to back down in Washington,” Balow noted, according to the press release. “They are trailblazers for our state, and I am running to carry that same strong, independent Wyoming voice forward, to follow in their footsteps, and to fight for our state with the same conviction and resolve.” Balow will face competition in the GOP primary for the U.S. House seat from Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Reid Rasner, who lost a 2024 Republican U.S. Senate primary in the state to incumbent Sen. John Barasso. ‘AMERICA FIRST’: WYOMING SECRETARY OF STATE CHUCK GRAY LAUNCHES HOUSE BID In 2022, Balow resigned from her role as Wyoming state superintendent of public instruction to become the Virginia superintendent of public instruction. She resigned from the Virginia role in 2023. WYOMING SUPREME COURT RULES LAWS RESTRICTING ABORTION VIOLATE STATE CONSTITUTION CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “I believe Wyoming leads best when we stand firm on conservative principles and deliver real results,” Balow noted, according to the press release. “This campaign is about protecting what makes Wyoming strong and ensuring our state has a confident, independent voice in Congress.”