Red state governor pummeled online after defying Trump’s deportation orders
A Republican governor in a state that voted to elect President Donald Trump is facing intense backlash online after an interview arguing against the president’s order to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) migrants from the United States. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s state is home to an estimated 30,000 Haitian TPS holders. He told CBS earlier this week that the Haitians shouldn’t be sent back to their country of origin. “Haiti is hell today. So you’d be sending people … back to hell,” he said. “Very few of these Haitians will voluntarily go back to Haiti. If they have to leave, they’ll go someplace else. They want to work. They want to support their family. They don’t want to go back to Haiti.” BLUE STATE LEADERS ERUPT AFTER SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ENDING TPS PROTECTIONS FOR HAITIANS, SYRIANS Online detractors quickly seized on DeWine’s comments, mostly from users claiming that those responsible for Haiti’s conditions are the ones that the governor wants to allow to stay in the United States. “What makes Haiti hellish? Is it…the Haitians?” asked Sean Davis, co-founder of The Federalist, in response to CBS’ story about the interview posted on X. “Hey governor, what is it that makes Haiti so bad anyway?” The Blaze’s Logan Hall asked. “I think the real question here is, if Haiti is hell, why are we importing Haitians?” questioned internet personality Larry Sanger. TRUMP’S ‘THIRD WORLD’ TRAVEL BAN COULD BECOME PERMANENT IF FIREBRAND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER GETS HER WAY Others referenced the liberal media’s freakout when, in 2018, Trump referred to Haiti and some other nations as “s—hole” countries. Meanwhile, TV personalities and talking heads, comedian Conan O’Brien chief among them, defended Haiti for its natural beauty. “Still reeling from [Trump’s] very negative Yelp review of Haiti, which means I’ll love it,” O’Brien said at the time, announcing a trip to the country. “I have no idea what the president has against the people of Haiti, but if the president doesn’t like them, they must be lovely people.” DEM-LED PUSH TO EXTEND PROTECTIONS FOR HAITIANS FACES OUTRAGE AFTER BRUTAL HAMMER KILLING One X user specifically blamed Haitians for DeWine’s characterization that the country is “hell.” “Or is it a paradise like so many celebrities have said?” the user asked. “I was reliably informed by democrats [sic] and hollywood [sic] celebrities that Haiti is utopia,” said another user. “What a tragedy it would be for Haitians to live in Haiti,” said another X user. DeWine argued in the CBS interview that sending Haitians back to Haiti would be a “mistake” that would endanger the lives of the TPS holders. He also specifically mentioned Springfield, his hometown, which has a large population of Haitian TPS holders. “These are people who have helped Springfield really come back,” DeWine said. “The Haitians who are living there and employed there, they came there to work, and they came there because there were jobs that were not being filled by other people.” TPS was officially terminated Monday after Trump’s order survived a Supreme Court review. “Temporary Protected Status is exactly that — temporary. For too long, TPS has been allowed to function as a de facto amnesty program despite Congress never intending it to be permanent,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier this week. TPS was created as part of the Immigration Act of 1990, and was designed for people facing serious emergencies like armed conflict or severe natural disasters. Critics claim it has been abused to give status to those in the U.S. for non-emergent reasons. DeWine’s office declined to comment on “statements made in online comment sections,” when reached by Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not hear back at time of publication. Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
WATCH: Fauci attorney ejected from Senate hearing after chaotic exchange: ‘You are not recognized!’
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s hearing with Anthony Fauci on Capitol Hill got off to a rocky start Wednesday morning when Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., ordered one of Fauci’s lawyers removed after he repeatedly refused to stop disrupting the proceedings. Fauci refused to respond to questions from Paul, repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment. The hearing then took a turn when attorney David Schertler, whom Paul identified as one of Fauci’s “half a dozen” lawyers, attempted to speak without being recognized. “You are not recognized, you’re not recognized. If you are unruly, you will be removed from the proceeding,” Paul warned. FAUCI PRIVATELY TOOK CREDIT FOR COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS DESPITE PUBLIC DENIAL, NEWLY EXPOSED DIARY ENTRIES REVEAL Despite this, Schertler, who was seated beside Fauci, continued to speak. This prompted Paul to admonish him, saying, “You will respect these proceedings. You were told not to sit at the table. You insist on sitting at the table. And we told you would not be recognized. You are not invited here for testimony, sir. You are being disruptive. Would you behave this way in a courtroom? No, because the judge would put you in jail. I can’t do that today. But I can have you escorted from the premises. So, I would say, sir, sit quietly and don’t say another word.” “Another word and you’re gone,” Paul added. SLACK MESSAGES RELEASED BY RAND PAUL APPEAR TO SHOW AUTHORS OF KEY COVID-19 ORIGIN PAPER HELD PRIVATE DOUBTS Ranking Member Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., cut in, saying, “I’d like to hear what the the attorney has to say.” However, Paul responded, “This testimony is from Anthony Fauci. This is not a game with his lawyers.” “His lawyers can give him advice. He’s got a half dozen here. They’re all allowed to talk to him, alright? But the attorneys are not recognized. In fact, the attorney was told not to sit at the table, and he’s not obeying that recommendation. There’s a row behind you, sir. That’s where you were told to sit, and you’re not. And now you’re disrupting the proceedings,” said Paul. “This is the way Anthony Fauci wants to be remembered for a lawyer not listening to the rules. That’s the way you want to be remembered, and that’s what you’re going to do.” Despite these warnings, the man continued speaking, prompting Paul to ask security to “please remove him from the room.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER As Paul said this, several people in the gallery broke into applause. FAUCI’S NEWLY RELEASED COVID DIARIES REVEAL BIZARRE FIXATION ON FAME AS PANDEMIC DEATHS MOUNTED As the man was removed, Paul stated, “Let the record state that Dr. Fauci will still have the advice of the other half a dozen attorneys that he brought along today.” Though former President Joe Biden issued an unconditional preemptive pardon to Fauci, Senate Republicans have emphasized that the pardon will not protect Fauci if he lies to Congress on Wednesday.
Democrat compares ICE to ‘domestic terrorists’ as 111 House Dems demand Texas detention center close
A House Democratic lawmaker compared actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to domestic terrorism after a visit to a Texas detention facility on Tuesday. Rep. Luz Rivas, D-Calif., said that seeing ICE’s actions was personal for her as the daughter of Mexican immigrants and argued that “for the people of the United States, we don’t want to see our government, or ICE officials, acting like domestic terrorists,” she said in Spanish during a press conference. She said her Los Angeles district saw more ICE raids than anywhere else in her county. Rivas was among a group of lawmakers led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, on a visit to an ICE facility in Dilley, Texas, which over 100 House Democrats have demanded to be shut down. TRUMP ON VERGE OF SECURING $70B ICE FUNDING VICTORY AFTER HOUSE CLEARS HURDLE The lawmakers accused the Trump administration of holding families, including a child as young as 2 months old, in inhumane conditions. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a member of the left-wing “Squad,” also attacked President Donald Trump as a “dictator.” SOMETHING TO HIDE? ICE UNDER FIRE FOR SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS AT FOR-PROFIT DETENTION CENTER “It’s so important that we not acquiesce to this, this fascist administration, this dictator in the Oval Office,” Pressley said. “History has shown us time again, appeasement does not work. The only way to beat a dictator is with defiance. The only way to beat fascism is to refuse to accept this segregated, divided, dark, dystopian view that they have for our country, is to reject it as an inevitability.” She called on Americans to “resist, reject, condemn at every turn.” But it’s that kind of rhetoric that Republicans have argued is responsible for sending tensions across the U.S. skyrocketing. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in response to Rivas’ comments, “Attacks and demonization of ICE law enforcement are wrong. Because of smears like this our ICE officers are now facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. ICE law enforcement is arresting criminals and saving countless American lives.” “Rep. Luz Rivas should be thanking our law enforcement for removing these dangerous criminals from her state—NOT vilifying law enforcement,” the spokesperson said. SPANBERGER’S ICE ROLLBACK TO BLAME FOR TODDLER KILLING, VIRGINIA ‘HOTBED’ OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIME: DHS GOP allies of the president have accused Democrats of encouraging violence and resistance against ICE agents, drawing a line between encouragement to resist federal immigration officers and the slate of violent incidents involving those officers this year alone. But Democrats are accusing ICE of acting as a rogue agency outside the bounds of the law. “We have to abolish ICE. And then I’m going to take it one step further and say any of those agents that have contributed to and caused the injury, the harm, and even fatalities, they must also be held accountable,” Pressley said. “And we should abolish qualified immunity for these federal law enforcement officers.” In a letter sent earlier this month, 111 House Democrats accused the administration of harming children and families with the conditions at the Dilley detention center. “Parents describe horrendous conditions at Dilley, leading to severe depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation amongst their children. Children have reported that their food is often contaminated with worms and mold and that they feel sick after drinking tap water,” the letter said. “Families also report not being able to sleep at night because the lights are kept on in their rooms throughout the night. … Medical care provided by CoreCivic staff is delayed, denied, and in many cases outright dismissed, even when children are suffering life-threatening medical emergencies.” DHS did previously accuse Democrats of lying about conditions at Dilley, which it said in a press release was specialized to hold families and care for children specifically. “The Dilley facility is retrofitted for families. Children have access to teachers, classrooms, and curriculum booklets for math, reading, and spelling. They have access to age-appropriate books, toys, and outdoor activities. All of this is generously funded by the U.S. taxpayer,” DHS said. “Infant care packages include formula, baby food, bottles, diapers, wipes, and hygiene items. The facility also provides sippy cups and cribs. Adults with children are housed in facilities that provide for their safety, security, and medical needs.”
Trump says US will ‘beat the f—— s— out of them’ after Iran launches surprise missile strike
President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning issued a profanity-laced threat against Iran after the Islamic regime launched a surprise missile strike on U.S. forces in Jordan overnight. “We’re going to beat the f—ing s— out of them,” Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. “We’ll be hitting them hard,” the president said of Iran. “They’re going to get a beating.” ARMY IDS 2 VICTIMS KILLED IN JORDAN AIR BASE ATTACK; TRUMP: IRAN WILL PAY ‘MANY TIMES OVER’ Trump said the American forces in Jordan had just minutes to respond and shoot down the incoming Iranian ballistic missiles. The president added that he reviewed video showing U.S. personnel calling out coordinates in real time during the interceptions. U.S. Central Command said all Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired ballistic missiles at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command in Jordan, the paramilitary force said in a statement carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Jordan’s military said five Iranian missiles had been intercepted and destroyed. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. RUBIO ACCUSES IRAN OF FLYING IRGC PERSONNEL INTO YEMEN AS HOUTHI THREAT ESCALATES The U.S. military later announced that American and Saudi fighter aircraft had struck multiple Iran-backed Shiite logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq in response to alleged drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Defense Ministry warned that it “does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression.” Trump told Fox News that the overnight U.S.-Saudi strikes against Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq were coordinated with the Iraqi government. He called the militias a “cancer on the world” and said additional warnings against Iranian proxies were under consideration. Despite the flare-up, Trump said that talks with Iran will continue. “We’re going to let them keep talking,” he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump’s evolving China rhetoric raises eyebrows over TikTok strategy amid scorching election meddling warning
President Donald Trump is striking a noticeably softer tone toward China just days after delivering a public address to the nation accusing Beijing of “sinister election meddling.” The fresh set of accusations levied on July 16 raised new questions about the Trump administration’s posture towards China, especially as it moves to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. while warning against the hostility of the world power against America. “President Trump just told the nation that China tried to influence the 2020 election and weaken his presidency. During that same year, the intelligence community identified TikTok as a primary vector of CCP influence in the United States,” Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Michael Sobolik, who specializes in U.S.–China relations, told Fox News Digital. “Beijing still controls the algorithm, which means that the very dangers Trump raised persist today,” Sobolik added. TRUMP’S ELECTION INTEGRITY SPEECH: 7 TAKEAWAYS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW Trump has long taken a hard line on China, using tariffs, trade pressure and national security warnings to frame Beijing as one of America’s chief adversaries. In his recent address to the nation, the president accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of running a “sinister” campaign to interfere in U.S. elections and influence Americans and undermine his presidency. Yet just five days later, on July 21, Trump suggested “China is maybe a little bit different today.” It struck a softer tone that falls more in line with the president’s backing of a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S., despite seeking during his first term and at the start of his second to force the app out over national security concerns. “The CCP hasn’t changed. Xi Jinping hasn’t changed. But President Trump has,” Sobolik detailed. “He’s much more conciliatory toward China in his second term than he was in his first. He risks telegraphing significant weakness to Xi by letting China off the hook.” Trump downplayed Beijing’s past election interference, suggesting both countries engage in similar tactics and indicating he was more focused on future negotiations than revisiting China’s actions. TRUMP’S UPBEAT CHINA MESSAGE COLLIDES WITH DEEPENING BEIJING RIVALRY “It took place a long time ago. I think China is maybe a little bit different today than it was then,” Trump conceded. “But look there, they do things and we do things to them. I’ll be honest — do we do things to them too? It’s not a one-way street, but we’ll be talking to them,” said Trump when speaking about Chinese election meddling days after his “free and fair elections” televised remarks. Sobolik argued the softened rhetoric could embolden Beijing to continue attempts to influence U.S. politics in the future. In his first term, Trump sought to ban TikTok, saying it posed a national security risk. Then, during his second term, Trump joined the app, and in recent weeks, so have his top Cabinet members. “President Trump has saved TikTok for its millions of American users — yet another promise made, promise kept,” White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital. “With the new TikTok under the control of U.S. investors, Americans can continue to enjoy TikTok with their data fully protected.” TikTok’s ownership deal was reconstructed at the beginning of this year to have majority U.S. ownership while still giving Chinese technology company ByteDance a 19.9% stake – 0.01% below the threshold required under U.S. law. CHILL COMING FROM TRUMP’S SUMMIT WITH XI IS PROOF OF A NEW COLD WAR WITH CHINA While the app is based in the U.S., Sobolik said that TikTok’s algorithm remains under ByteDance’s control via a licensing regime. “The fact that it’s training on U.S. data stored on servers in America doesn’t change the fundamental reality that a Chinese Communist Party-controlled company still controls the algorithm itself,” said Sobolik. “The administration hasn’t directly addressed the possibility that Beijing could calibrate the app’s algorithm in concerning ways.” Trump visited China in May for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping on several of the biggest pressure points in the U.S.-China relationship — from trade and Taiwan to AI and human rights. Those meetings appeared to end without firm public breakthroughs. In his final meeting with Xi at the summit, Trump touted what he called “fantastic trade deals.” Sobolik said Trump “wants what he’s always wanted with China,” which is a trade deal. “He needs to think broader and bigger. Economic competition is one part of the larger new cold war that’s playing out between Washington and Beijing,” he said. Sobolik said Trump is placing too much emphasis on trade while overlooking other important areas of competition with China. “Xi will have the advantage,” he added. Trump said Xi will be visiting the U.S. on Sept. 24, with artificial intelligence expected to be a key topic during their talks.
Fauci pleads Fifth with ‘zero legal justification’ as critics erupt and demand contempt charges
Former National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci repeatedly refused to answer substantive questions from Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul, leaving the Kentucky Republican frustrated and critics enraged. Fauci and Paul previously engaged in heated exchanges during an earlier hearing, when the lawmaker warned the immunologist against lying to Congress about his role in the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and his support for gain-of-function research. “I served at the NIH for over 54 years, 38 of those as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Over that period, I proved that I believe in and respect the value of legitimate congressional oversight,” Fauci began his opening statement. “In fact, I testified before and or briefed Senate and House congressional oversight, Senate and House committees well over 200 times over those 38 years during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Fauci, who was appointed to his NIAID role by President Ronald Reagan. RAND PAUL BLASTS FAUCI AS ‘UNCONCERNED WITH LIBERTY’, ‘NOT BEING HONEST WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’ Fauci said that because Paul has an “obsession” with demanding his prosecution and allegedly “slander[ed]” him, he felt he was going to be put in a trap to “vindicate [Paul’s] public pledges” that he “end up behind bars.” When Paul began a series of in-depth questions, Fauci began repeatedly pleading his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Paul argued that Fauci did not have that ability during a congressional investigation conducted under a lawful subpoena, noting that it is a crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 to knowingly make false statements to Congress. When Fauci finished, Paul reiterated that point before Fauci’s lawyer began speaking out of turn and was eventually ejected by the chairman. WATCH: RAND PAUL SAYS TEHRE’S ONE THING AMERICANS HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM FAUCI Reaction was swift as Fauci’s refusal to answer questions drew sharp rebuke from conservatives and other critics: “Anthony Fauci is a monster and pleading the 5th is grotesque and every mainstream platform outlet that put him on a pedestal should be ashamed,” said Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Fla. “The Fifth Amendment is not legitimate,” added conservative author and attorney Ann Coulter. “The Fifth is for past crimes — for which Fauci has already been fully pardoned. I don’t think the Biden admin thought this through,” she said on X. Conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck commented on Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, being ejected by Paul after refusing to return to his seat and leave the witness dais. Schertler kept interrupting Paul’s commands until the chairman had enough and asked Capitol Police to remove him. “Is anyone surprised that Fauci hired someone who broke the rules and shows contempt for American taxpayers? I’m not,” Starbuck said on X. READ THE DIARIES: DOCUMENTS UNVEIL FAUCI’S THOUGHTS ON LAB LEAK DEBATE, MASK DOUBTS, TESTING FAILURES “Perfect attorney for the evil elf.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., later claimed Schertler had been wrongly “gagged.” Investigative journalist Gerald Posner shared a clip of Fauci invoking the Fifth, criticizing the immunologist for doing so. “This is not the transparency Americans seeking answers about COVID’s origins and the policies that upended the world wanted to hear,” Posner tweeted. “The Fifth Amendment exists to protect the innocent from government overreach. It should never become a shield against the truth.” “I called the shot this morning. Fauci will plead the fifth,” White House adviser Peter Navarro said in a separate message. Meanwhile, calls mounted to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress. Federalist founder Sean Davis said Congress should do just that, noting former President Joe Biden gave him a “blanket pardon” for all activities occurring prior to January 2025. “There is zero legal justification for him pleading the Fifth Amendment on questions related to his conduct during the period covered by the pardon,” Davis said. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich questioned why Fauci would do so, suggesting congressional testimony is intended to inform the public. “Interesting. It’s about COVID, public health, & the public’s right to know,” Blagojevich said. Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that Fauci’s actions permanently harmed children affected by his pandemic policy recommendations: “Parents were forced to live with the consequences of Dr. Fauci’s decisions every single day. Our kids lost years of learning, friendships, milestones, and opportunities they’ll never get back,” Justice said. “Now, when it’s time for accountability, he refuses to answer questions under oath. That’s infuriating. The American people deserve answers now.”
WATCH: Battleground Democrat called Iowa a ‘backwater’ over transgender athletes ban
A Democrat hoping to flip one of the country’s most competitive House seats called her state a “backwater” over Republican efforts to bar transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports, according to unearthed footage obtained by Fox News Digital. House candidate Christina Bohannan made the comments during a 2021 legislative forum while opposing a GOP proposal barring biological males from competing on female sports teams. Bohannan’s comments could provide fresh ammunition for Republicans as the repeat candidate seeks a third bid against Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, in a swing district that President Donald Trump carried by more than eight points in 2024. “They’re introducing these bills and making these comments to try to make a point,” Bohannan, who previously served in the Iowa state legislature, said, referring to her GOP colleagues. “And I think even that is really damaging to people and sends a very bad message about our state that’s going to make the state look like a backwater.” FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME Iowa, under Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, enacted a transgender athletes ban in 2022. Bohannan voted against the measure. The comments are the latest instance of Bohannan torching Iowa for rejecting left-wing policies. Bohannan also said in 2021 the Hawkeye State would be seen as “backwards” if lawmakers approved a bill prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training at public schools and universities. Reynolds signed the legislation later that year. “I think that it’s going to send a very bad message about Iowa and that it is going to seem like…this backwards state that doesn’t understand there are things like systemic racism,” the Democrat hopeful said on the “Under the Dome” podcast in 2021. Bohannan notably served as chairwoman of the University of Iowa College of Law’s DEI committee, where she urged students to support the Black Lives Matter movement, Fox News Digital previously reported. In that role, she sent students a letter encouraging them to financially contribute to several activist funds, some of which supported defunding police. Bohannan lost to Miller-Meeks by fewer than 800 votes in 2024, making it the closest House race in the nation. She also launched a failed run for the seat in 2022. BATTLEGROUND DEMOCRAT FLIP-FLOPS ON CONVERSION THERAPY AFTER LEFT-WING BACKLASH The nonpartisan Cook Political Report says the rematch contest is a “toss-up.” The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which is aggressively working to re-elect Miller-Meeks to a third House term, sharply criticized Bohannan’s remarks in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Liberal Christina Bohannan didn’t just vote against protecting girls’ sports, she mocked Iowans for standing up for women and girls,” NRCC spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said. “Bohannan has made it clear she’s for they/them, not Iowa families,” Tuttle continued, invoking Trump’s signature attack line against former Vice President Kamala Harris. Fox News Digital reached out to Bohannan for comment. Bohannan’s remarks come as transgender issues continue to split Democrats, while public polling has shown broad support for limiting girls’ and women’s sports to biological females. A New York Times/Ipsos poll released in 2025 found that nearly eight in 10 Americans opposed biological males participating in women’s sports. Roughly 70% of Democrats or Democrat-leaning respondents held the same position, according to the survey. Miller-Meeks cheered the Supreme Court in June upholding state-level bans on biological males participating on female sports teams. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a win for girls’ sports,” the Iowa lawmaker said in a statement following the ruling. “I have and will continue to fight to ensure every female athlete has a fair chance.” Bohannan, by contrast, did not appear to publicly comment on the ruling. Fox News Digital’s Elaine Mallon contributed to this report.
WATCH: Rand Paul says there’s one thing Americans have never heard from Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci ran point as the COVID-19 explainer-in-chief under two different administrations, steering policy and messaging on the virus that rattled the country and world for years. But there is one thing in all of his media appearances, profiles, interviews and congressional hearings that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., contended Fauci never said that he was sorry. “I mean, I’d like to hear him say he’s sorry,” Paul said. “Can he say he is sorry for funding — the research was dangerous research in China? Almost everybody agrees with that.” EXCLUSIVE: BIDEN PARDON WON’T SHIELD FAUCI IF HE LIES TO CONGRESS, COMER SAYS “Now he says, ‘Oh, well, it didn’t meet this definition or this definition, it was dangerous research,” he continued. “It was a judgment error. It was a profound judgment error.” Paul and Fauci are set to square off Wednesday morning in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the panel that Paul leads, in a clash that has been years in the making. In the lead up to Wednesday’s hearing, Paul unveiled over 1,000 pages of Fauci’s diary, providing his own color commentary online about Fauci’s motivations leading up to and during the pandemic. WATCH: RAND PAUL SAYS FAUCI LOBBIED FOR $1M PRIZE WHILE LEADING COVID RESPONSE The lawmaker has had his sights set on Fauci since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused him of funding research in China that led to the eventual outbreak of the virus. And though Fauci has been out of the public spotlight since 2022, when he stepped down from his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the two will finally get the chance to square up and settle the feud. “I think he actually could do better in the hearing if he’d come forward and apologize for funding this research,” Paul said. “No one’s ever heard an apology from him. All they hear is sort of the idea that he never did anything wrong and that there’s nothing wrong with that.” HARVARD TOPS NATION IN FOREIGN CASH HAUL AS COTTON DEMANDS PROBE INTO CHINA FUNDING Paul has said that the former chief medical advisor to the president deserves to be in prison for his alleged role in funding gain-of-function research, and warned that his pardon from former President Joe Biden wouldn’t hold up. Notably, Fauci’s former top advisor at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. David Morens, was indicted by the Justice Department earlier this year on charges of allegedly conspiring to evade public records laws, hide communications regarding the origins of COVID-19, and destroy federal records. Gain-of-function research, or work that enhances a virus’s transmissibility or lethality, and Fauci’s alleged role in funding that type of research through his position at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China has been Paul’s focal point for years in his crusade against the former COVID-19 czar. And he argued that the issue of researching the spread of a virus, or its killing potential, predates the pandemic. Paul charged that in 2010, research conducted by Ron Fouchier, a Dutch virologist, produced a version of H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, that was transmissible “through the air between mammals.” “And half the scientific community said, ‘Oh my God, this could be the end of the world. We’re doing this s—,’” Paul said. “And Fauci was on the other side, and he said at the time in a Washington Post op-ed that even if a pandemic should occur from a scientist being bitten or somehow infected, the knowledge is worth the risk,” he continued. “That needs to be debated by the country. Is the knowledge of creating viruses that could kill the world worth the risks? And I don’t think it is.”
‘They fed him his own ears’: Top Republican shares horrifying stories of gang rule in Haiti
Walls full of bullet holes and police in “full armor” were among the sights that greeted a group of U.S. House lawmakers who recently traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a city that has been ravaged by gang rule since the July 2021 assassination of its former president. “The gangs will essentially block the streets with rubble, with debris, they’ll dig giant ditches in the road, and so these military and police units can’t traverse,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. “Some of these areas are like Afghanistan, and it is probably the poorest place I’ve ever been through in my life.” Mast led a group of bipartisan members of Congress on a trip to Venezuela and Haiti recently, which he said was the first congressional delegation in either country in a decade. In Haiti, they were hosted by the country’s prime minister, whose palace “a year ago, would have been a war zone,” Mast said. “They have been actively working to take back land across the breadth of Port-au-Prince.” REPUBLICAN REP MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR DECLARES, ‘AFTER CUBA, NICARAGUA IS NEXT’ But while he saw signs of slow improvement thanks to an international coalition of forces as well as a U.S. paramilitary group run by Erik Prince, Mast said the realities of gang violence were ever-present. A video he was shown, for example, depicted Haitian gang torture of a heavy machinery operator helping police clear gang-made blockages in the city streets. FIRST TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBER EXTRADITED TO US ON HISTORIC TERRORISM CHARGES APPEARS BEFORE HOUSTON JUDGE “They took this guy who was this equipment operator, and for working with the police, they kidnapped his family. And then they told him they’ll trade his family for him. He turned himself over,” Mast said. “They brutally killed him. I mean it’s all on video. They cut off his ears, fed him his own ears… Then they hacked at him for probably at least five minutes with machetes. His limbs looked like a Christmas tree afterwards, with just bone and skin and other things coming off of him, until ultimately they killed him. That is who these gangs are.” And it’s not just adult allies of the local police forces suffering from gang violence, according to the Florida Republican. Another chilling incident Mast said he became aware of while in Haiti was the kidnapping of a 6-year-old U.S. citizen by a local gang who he said may have committed sexual crimes against her. MIKE WALTZ, TIM TEBOW LAUNCH EFFORT TO COMBAT ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION: ‘IT’S HAPPENING IN THEIR BACKYARD’ “There was a 6-year-old American citizen girl. I don’t want to say that she was raped, but there were health issues that led to believe that she was also raped, as a 6-year-old girl, by these gangs,” Mast said. “It appears as though we were able to secure the release yesterday.” He said there was ultimately an “agreement” on the ransom money the girl’s family would pay after she had been held hostage for at least 46 days. “It appears as though we were able to get an exchange finally made yesterday. But again, it’s just another example of who these gangs are and the forces that are being brought to bear, to bring them to heel,” Mast said. A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans, and that it was aware of reports of an American child kidnapped for ransom in Haiti but would not provide further details out of respect for the family’s privacy. Beyond the current level of assistance, however, Mast said he doubted there was more the U.S. could do to help the country as a whole. “This started with political people starting gangs there for their own benefit. And most of the politicians there are beyond guilty of pillaging their own country instead of doing something good for their country. That’s how Haiti is in the state that it’s in,” he said. It comes as thousands of Haitians in the U.S. are facing a potential return to their home country after the Trump administration ended their temporary protected status (TPS) that was first granted after an earthquake in 2010. Mast argued, however, that the return of those Haitians who did not get permanent residency in those 16 years could potentially help bolster security there. “One of the big things would be to take the able-bodied males and put them into the police and military, which are actively recruiting, which were so decimated by the TPS taking place in the first place,” he said. “All of these people took the chance to say ‘Okay, I’m leaving,’ and it left their forces that are supposed to protect the country essentially with no forces, which is one of the other parts of how the gangs came to be.”
‘Tip of the iceberg’: NJ illegal voting scandal explodes with more key systems at risk
The top Republican on New Jersey’s Judiciary Committee says she repeatedly warned state officials that automatic voter registration lacked adequate safeguards but was routinely dismissed, as thousands more noncitizens have now been found on sensitive systems. Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Totowa, told Fox News Digital that Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s motor voter controversy reinforced Republican demands for a bipartisan investigation with subpoena power, warning the administration’s review was too narrowly focused and likely failed to capture the full scope of the problem. “We didn’t just reach out to the Motor Vehicle Commissioner. We reached out to secretary of state [at the time, Lt. Gov. Taheshia Way]. We were not satisfied with the answers that we got from the motor vehicle commissioner, which I can tell you were basically, ‘we have signs up, they’re put on notice… that if you’re not a citizen, you can’t register to vote’.” “So people were on the honor system. We did not think that was acceptable or satisfactory or enough of a safeguard,” she said, adding that the common refrain was of an “honor system.” RNC LEGAL VICTORY CLEARS NORTH CAROLINA VOTER ROLL PURGE OF NONCITIZENS THROUGH JURY RESPONSES Corrado and others, including Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, are now demanding a bipartisan special investigation with subpoena power. Asked if they had heard from Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Linden, Corrado said his team indicated they wanted to wait for Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s own internal probe to finish. “I have concerns about that because this independent investigation is very limited in scope. It is limited to what they’re calling the motor vehicle ‘glitch’,” she said, warning scrutiny should go far beyond the initial area of discovery. Shortly after Corrado spoke to Fox News Digital, reports surfaced that roughly 75,000 noncitizens had been summoned for jury duty through state databases, according to multiple reports, broadening the controversy beyond the Motor Vehicle Commission and prompting additional Republican calls for a wider investigation. Corrado pointed to her repeated requests over the years for clarity on the security of the voting systems and how she was rebuffed as proof the probe needs to be substantial. Asked about the demand for a full-scale investigation, Scutari credited what the governor is already doing and said he would hold fire until her probe finishes. “A healthy democracy depends on the security of our voter registration systems and the stewardship of the individuals entrusted with ensuring our elections are free, fair, and accessible. It also depends on public trust, and Governor Sherrill deserves credit for being transparent about these failures… [and] launch[ing] an independent investigation…,” Scutari said in part, confirming Corrado’s comment that he would wait for it to finish. ‘SHAME ON YOU’: SHERRILL KNEW VOTER-ROLL BOMBSHELL WAS COMING WHEN SHE CALLED TRUMP A LIAR, DOJ OFFICIAL SAYS Former Gov. Phil Murphy’s spokesman Mahen Gunaratna also told Fox News last week that his boss had “no knowledge” of the issues at the MVC. “I find that hard to believe, but it’s incredibly troubling that the governor did not know what his cabinet members were doing or what was going on right underneath him,” Corrado responded. “All [this] put our election integrity at risk, all questions that have to be answered. And the only way to answer those questions is through a bipartisan, legislative committee.” State Joint Budget Committee ranking member Declan O’Scanlon agreed the scandal validated GOP concerns. “The fact is that the people in charge for so long said this absolutely was impossible; Republicans were ‘conspiracy theorists’,” said O’Scanlon, R-Little Silver. “There are some folks on the extreme on both sides, but those of us in the middle who have said there are real issues here, and they were ignored, and we were accused of being conspiracy theorists, only to find out that we were absolutely right; again.” O’Scanlon said he believed the motor-voter revelations were the “tip of the iceberg,” and was hours later proven true, as reports surfaced about the 75,000 noncitizens summoned for jury duty. “This has the potential to be a real scandal,” he warned, agreeing that subpoena-powered hearings are a must. “We need to get on this quickly because we have elections coming up that are critical, that could be slim margins. And also you want the people of New Jersey to believe in the integrity of their voter rolls and their elections,” he said. “We shouldn’t dig this hole any deeper.” Fox News Digital reached out to NJCourts and to Sherrill’s office for comment. Peter McAleer, a spokesman for the state court system, told Fox News Digital the jury system pulls from the MVC as well as taxation and elections department lists, with the taxation department legally being permitted to have noncitizens on its own rolls. “Prospective jurors are asked about their citizenship and other qualifications when they complete the mandatory juror qualification questionnaire. Prospective jurors must certify that they understand that if they submit a knowingly false answer, they can be subject to punishment for contempt of court,” he said. “Approximately 75,000 individuals per year are disqualified from juror service based solely on lack of United States citizenship.” Corrado and Bucco also dropped a bill to eliminate motor-voter and implement voter-ID and regular audits of election data systems. “New Jerseyans need more than just excuses and finger pointing, they deserve action, and there are commonsense steps we can take right now,” said Bucco, R-Morristown. “Get the MVC out of the voter registration business.” State Sen. Joe Pennacchio, R-Boonton, who recently requested additional scrutiny from Attorney General Todd Blanche himself, told Fox News Digital on Saturday the 75,000 figure is a red-flag that Trenton can’t police itself. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “The disclosure that 75,000 noncitizens were summoned as potential members of juries screams for a thorough federal investigation,” Pennacchio said in a Monday statement. “The governor has blamed [French software firm] IDEMIA, the Murphy administration and, of course, President Donald Trump for their ever-increasing numbers,” he said, calling Sherrill’s investigatory effort a “whitewash.” “As