Vice President JD Vance teases 2028 bid, says it won’t be ‘given’ to him
Vice President JD Vance stopped short of confirming a 2028 White House run during an appearance on My View with Lara Trump Saturday night, but he acknowledged the possibility—noting if he does his job well, “the politics will figure itself out.” Vance, whose resilience amid an upbringing marked with family turmoil and economic hardship won over the nation, said he “doesn’t like thinking about” a potential presidential bid and insisted his attention remains on his current role. “If we do a good job in 2025 and 2026, then we can talk about the politics in 2027,” Vance said. “I really think the American people are so fed up with folks who are already running for the next job, seven months into the current one.” 2028 LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE FOR DEMOCRATS — AND REPUBLICANS ARE POISED TO CAPITALIZE The second-in-command added if he ends up running, he knows he will have to work for it. “There are a lot of great people,” Vance said. “If I do end up running, it’s not going to be given to me—either on the Republican side or on the national side. I’m just going to keep on working hard. … [This] may be the most important job I ever had, outside of being a father to those three beautiful kids. So I’m going to try to do my best job, and I think if I do that, the politics will figure itself out.” When asked specifically about potential 2028 Democratic candidates, he noted most of them “obviously have very bad records.” JD VANCE SHUTS DOWN MAGA SUCCESSION CHATTER AFTER MUSK REPORT Vance mainly focused on discussing his own ticket, praising President Donald Trump’s relentless work ethic and trusting leadership style and explaining the president “doesn’t have an off switch.” “Sometimes, the president will call you at 12:30 or 2 a.m., and then call you at 6 a.m. about a totally different topic,” Vance said. “It’s like, ‘Mr. president, did you go to sleep last night.’ … What’s made this so much fun is the president, all the time, just saying, ‘JD you go and do this,’ or ‘JD you go and talk to these leaders about this particular issue.’ That ability to delegate and trust his people has been really amazing.”
California woman facing felony charges for registering her dog to vote, casting 2 ballots
A California woman illegally registered her dog to vote and cast two ballots under the canine’s name, according to officials. Laura Lee Yourex, 62, of Costa Mesa, faces five felony charges, including perjury, procuring or offering a false or forged document to be filed, casting a ballot when not entitled to vote and registering a non-existent person to vote, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Yourex submitted mail-in ballots under her dog’s name, Maya Jean Yourex, during the 2021 gubernatorial recall election and the 2022 primary, the District Attorney’s Office said. NONCITIZEN ILLEGALLY VOTED IN SWING STATE’S 2024 ELECTION, AUTHORITIES SAY The recall ballot was counted, but the primary ballot was rejected. The woman reported herself in October of last year to the Orange County Registrar of Voter’s Office, which reported her to the District Attorney’s Office. An investigation into the incident revealed she posted about her dog’s voting activity on social media. In January 2022, Yourex posted a photo of her dog wearing an “I Voted” sticker and posing with the ballot. In October of last year, she posted a photo of the dog’s collar and a mail-in ballot addressed to the animal, saying that Maya still received the ballot despite passing away. “Maya is still getting her ballot,” Yourex wrote. Yourex faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted on all counts. TWO MEN CONVICTED IN PENNSYLVANIA MAYORAL RACE ELECTION FRAUD CASE HIT WITH HARSHER SENTENCES THAN EXPECTED The District Attorney’s Office did not reveal how Yourex cast the fraudulent votes or which party received the dog’s votes. To register to vote in California, an eligible voter must fill out a form with identifiable information, political preference and affirm their citizenship under the penalty of perjury. Proof of residence or identification is not required for citizens to register to vote or cast a ballot in state elections, but proof of residence and registration is needed for first-time voters to cast a ballot in a federal election.
Viral photo shows Bernie Sanders, AOC and Mamdani together in NYC ahead of ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ rally
A viral photo showing Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in Astoria lit up social media on Saturday. Senator Sanders is set to headline a Brooklyn town hall on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour where he is expected to stump for Mamdani, according to reporting from the New York Times. The post went up around 3:36 p.m. and quickly drew more than 350,000 views. The three progressive figures smiled together in Queens, a shot fans cheered and critics mocked. The photo of the three arguably most recognizable faces in the modern far-left camp was simply captioned, “A perfect afternoon in Astoria.” BERNIE SANDERS, ZOHRAN MAMDANI TEAM UP TO ‘FIGHT OLIGARCHY’ IN NYC Sanders, 84, and Mamdani, 33, marched together earlier this week in Manhattan’s Labor Day parade side-by-side while holding up a “Power in Unity” banner. Governor Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, also participated. Mamdani has pitched himself as a democratic socialist focused on affordability. The Assemblyman promises free buses and state-operated grocery stores funded by higher taxes on the wealthy. He capped grassroots donations at $8 million. Sanders, who grew up in Brooklyn, has used his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour to lift the voices of younger progressives like Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez. Both remain popular with the left wing of New York Democrats. AOC, SANDERS WELCOME MAMDANI TO DC FOR HIS CAPITOL HILL DEBUT, URGING RELUCTANT DEMS TO ‘GET TO KNOW HIM’ The photo also triggered blowback. “Three millionaires talking about socialism,” one user posted. Another joked, “The last thing your money sees before it dies.” Others wrote, “3 communists walk into a bar, they demanded the workers pay for everything.” Mamdani is expected to appear on stage with Sanders at his rally, scheduled for 6:00 pm at Brooklyn College’s Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Representatives for Zohran Mamdani did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump roils Chicago Democrats with ‘Apocalypse Now’ meme hinting at National Guard deployment
President Donald Trump on Saturday gave possibly his strongest hint yet that he may deploy federal troops to Chicago by posting a parody meme of himself as a commander at war with Chicago. The post drew a swift rebuke from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other officials who said it amounted to a threat. In the image, Trump, known to provoke his opponents with his savvy use of social media, is styled as Robert Duvall’s character in “Apocalypse Now,” a Vietnam War epic about a decorated U.S. officer who has gone rogue deep in the Cambodian jungle. “I love the smell of deportations in the morning…” Trump wrote above the image, a play on the famous quote from the hit 1979 film. “Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” he wrote, followed by three helicopter emoji. It came a day after he signed an executive order changing the Defense Department’s name to the Department of War. ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’: MAJOR BLUE STATE GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL OPENING FINANCIAL AID TO ILLEGALS The post appeared aimed at provoking Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who have both strongly opposed Trump’s threats to activate the National Guard in the Windy City to clamp down on crime and help enhance immigration enforcement efforts. In the image, Trump is dressed in military fatigues resembling Duvall’s character, Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore, a flamboyant and fearless air cavalry officer who leads a helicopter air assault on a Vietnamese village. Helicopters fly over the Chicago skyline in a fiery background, evoking Vietnam War scenes. The text “Chipocalypse Now” is scrawled on the bottom of the image, a riff on “Apocalypse Now,” with “Chi” referring to Chicago. Trump’s goading appeared to work. Within an hour, Pritzker shot back, with Johnson also weighing in. ILLINOIS GOV CALLS FOR MASS PROTESTS AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN: GOP ‘CANNOT KNOW A MOMENT OF PEACE’ “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city,” Pritzker wrote on X “This is not a joke. This is not normal. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.” Johnson conveyed similar words of warning. “The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution,” Johnson wrote. “We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.” Another outspoken Trump critic, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also decried the post on Saturday during remarks before a parade in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. “This tweet this morning was disgusting to suggest that the troops are coming into Chicago or that the Department of War is going to be engaged is an embarrassment,” Durban said, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of deploying the National Guard in Chicago, replicating operations in Washington, D.C., which has also seen the federal government take control of the local police. National Guard units sent without state approval are generally restricted to defending federal property and personnel. When Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles in June over anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests, they were confined to federal buildings and escort duties for immigration agents. In Washington, D.C., which is under federal jurisdiction, Guard units have conducted armed patrols alongside local police. Chicago recorded 573 homicides in 2024, marking the 13th straight year Chicago has led the nation in total murders, according to Chicago Police Department data compiled by Wirepoints. According to the Council on Criminal Justice’s year-end 2024 update, aggravated assaults declined by 4% compared to 2023 but remained 4% higher than in 2019. The council reported that gun assaults fell 15%, though they were still 5% above 2019 levels, and that carjackings dropped 32% year-over-year, yet were 25% higher than in 2019.
Social media firestorm erupts after massive Georgia immigration raid: ‘Taking bold action’
Social media erupted across the political spectrum following Thursday’s federal immigration raid at a Hyundai mega plant in Georgia that resulted in the arrests of about 475 suspects, most of whom were Korean nationals. The raid, about 20 miles outside of Savannah, was part of a long-term investigation and is one of many notable worksite operations that have occurred amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Hyundai officials said they do not believe any of their direct employees were arrested but said it would “comply with all laws and regulations.” LG Energy Solution, which also plays a role in the plant, also said it will work with authorities. Some took aim at the fact that the factory was touted by former President Joe Biden, as both Democratic and Republican politicians have hailed the project as a win for American manufacturing. The EV manufacturing part of the facility is not believed to have been impacted, but the battery factory under construction was the focus of the multi-agency effort. MASSIVE DHS RAID HITS GEORGIA HYUNDAI FACTORY THAT BIDEN TOUTED AS MAJOR VICTORY FOR ‘NEW AMERICAN JOBS’ “Even when Democrats pretend to be America-First, they are secretly America Last. Every. Single. Time. That is truly unbelievable,” scientist Matt Van Swol posted to X. “We as an American company with legal workers are always cut out of those mega projects, because we are too expensive. Finally this problem gets addressed,” Maik Peters, CEO of Pitco Engineering, posted. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Time to pull the licenses of these construction companies for hiring illegals,” another user wrote. FEDERAL AGENTS ARREST HUNDREDS AT HYUNDAI PLANT CONSTRUCTION SITE IN GEORGIA Others criticized the Trump administration, as the South Korean government also expressed concerns about the operation. “Completely incredible. Lutnick and Trump brag about getting South Korea to invest billions in the U.S., then turn around and arrest South Koreans who were here temporarily in the U.S. to help Hyundai set up a factory in Georgia. The stupidity burns,” writer James Surowiecki posted. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Ga., wrote that the raid was an “act of cruelty and injustice” by the Trump administration. “Reportedly, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have also been wrongfully detained,” she posted. “This administration is actively working to instill fear and chaos within our most marginalized communities. Due process is not optional, it is the law. The administration needs to follow it and abide by the constitutional rights of every worker affected.” FEDERAL AGENTS CONDUCT IMMIGRATION RAID IN LOS ANGELES DESPITE FIERCE OPPOSITION FROM DEMOCRAT MAYOR In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., said Democrats enabled the illegal immigration issues in the U.S. “for far too long.” “That’s no longer the case under President Trump and Operation Take Back America. I applaud the Trump Administration and our brave law enforcement officers for taking bold action to put American workers first and protect our communities from the scourge of illegal immigration,” Carter wrote. “For anyone who thinks they can take jobs from hardworking Americans and give them to illegal immigrants, take note: not under Donald Trump’s watch.”
JD Vance clashes with anti-Trump social media personality over cartel killings: ‘I don’t give a s—‘
JD Vance pushed back against an anti-Trump social media personality Saturday after he criticized a post the vice president made on X. The clash between Vance and Brian Krassenstein began when Vance wrote, “Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.” Vance made the remark following a U.S. military strike against an alleged drug-laden Venezuelan boat in the southern Caribbean. Officials said 11 suspected Tren de Aragua narco-terrorists were killed on Tuesday. When Krassenstein responded that “killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime,” Vance told him, “I don’t give a s— what you call it.” TRUMP CAPS WEEK WITH BOLD MILITARY MOVES FROM PENTAGON NAME CHANGE TO CARTEL CRACKDOWN Krassenstein later claimed that Vance “should be impeached for this tweet.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told “Fox & Friends” Wednesday, “It’s a new day. It’s a different day, and … this is an activity the United States is not going to tolerate in our hemisphere.” Hegseth described the strike as a direct hit against a “narco-terrorist organization” that aims to “poison” the U.S. with illicit drugs. TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’ President Donald Trump shared footage of the fiery explosion, declaring that the strike should serve as notice to anyone attempting to traffic narcotics into the United States. He also emphasized that no U.S. forces were harmed in the operation. The president later confirmed the blast occurred in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility while the alleged terrorists were in international waters transporting illegal narcotics to the U.S. “It won’t stop with just this strike. Anyone else trafficking in those waters, who we know is a designated narco-terrorist, will face the same fate, and it’s important for the American people to protect our homeland and protect our hemisphere,” Hegseth said. Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley and Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
Billionaire backer of NYC Democratic socialist Mamdani funds controversial ‘woke math’ program: report
Philanthropist and billionaire heiress Liz Simons, who donated $250,000 to New Yorkers for Lower Costs, a PAC supporting Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, oversees a foundation that is reportedly behind the push to bring “woke math” to public schools. Critics told the New York Post that the math program was aimed at turning children into socialist revolutionaries. While a typical math problem challenges a child to answer a quantitative question, race-neutral math incorporates social issues into questions and doesn’t focus on numbers alone. The outlet noted that while the approach has been embraced in states like California, others, including Florida, have rejected it. PRO-MAMDANI SUPER PAC TAKES HEFTY CHECK FROM ULTRA-WEALTHY DONOR DESPITE SAYING BILLIONAIRES SHOULDN’T EXIST The Heising-Simons Foundation, which Simons co-founded with her husband, Mark Heising, has given $1.7 million since 2023 to the Racial Justice in Early Mathematics (RJEM) Project at Chicago’s Erikson Institute, according to the Post. RJEM was established in December 2019 and led by Dr. Jennifer McCray of the Erikson Institute and Dr. Danny Bernard Martin of the University of Illinois Chicago. A January 2023 press release by the Erikson Institute says the project “focuses on addressing issues of systemic racial injustices in the math education of young learners.” BERNIE SANDERS, ZOHRAN MAMDANI TEAM UP TO ‘FIGHT OLIGARCHY’ IN NYC The statement goes on to describe RJEM’s main goals as identifying issues of racial injustice in early math that spark “difficult (and often uncomfortable) conversations” about racism and offer educators the opportunity to develop practices “that foster racial justice.” On its website, the Heising-Simons Foundation says its mission is “to advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, enable groundbreaking research in science, enhance the education of our youngest learners and support human rights for all people.” Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist, stunned observers when he secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in June. Despite his far-left stances, Mamdani has gotten the backing of Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. Another establishment Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., meanwhile, has been more cautious of Mamdani. Mamdani has also been supported by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and he hosted an event Saturday in Brooklyn with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Fox News Digital reached out to the Heising-Simons Foundation and the Mamdani campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
What is Eswatini? Meet the African country where Kilmar Abrego Garcia could go next
The looming possibility of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s latest deportation led to global Google searches for the small African nation of Eswatini. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is largely surrounded by South Africa and is partially bordered by Mozambique. It has a population of over 1.2 million, according to the World Bank. At just 6,704 square miles, it’s a similar size to the land area of Hawaii. Abrego Garica was originally going to be deported to Uganda from the U.S., but his attorneys listed Uganda as a “persecution or torture risk,” along with over 20 other countries, many of which are in Latin America. ABREGO GARCIA RENEWS PUSH FOR ASYLUM IN US, REVEALS NEW COUNTRY WILLING TO ACCEPT HIM “That claim of fear is hard to take seriously, especially given that you have claimed (through your attorneys) that you fear persecution or torture in at least 22 different countries,” an ICE notice states. The Department of Homeland Security posted to X on Friday that “Homie is afraid of the entire western hemisphere.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE The name was changed to Eswatini by its king in 2018. It was part of the British empire as a protectorate in 1903 and became its own country in 1968. However, it is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, along with dozens of other former parts of the British Empire, despite having its own patriarch. DEMOCRATS OUTRAGED THAT ALLEGED GANG MEMBER COULD BE SENT TO UGANDA On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement commemorating the country’s Independence Day. “On behalf of the United States of America, I extend best wishes to the people of Eswatini as you celebrate the 57th anniversary of your independence. The longstanding friendship between our nations reflects a shared commitment to security, public health, and economic opportunity,” Rubio stated. “We look forward to continued cooperation and effective partnerships that advance our mutual safety, strength, and prosperity. “Please accept our sincere congratulations as you mark this special day.” FEDERAL JUDGE TEMPORARILY BARS ABREGO GARCIA FROM DEPORTATION TO UGANDA The State Department has the country at a level two travel advisory, suggesting that American travelers “exercise increased caution,” which is the case for many countries around the globe, including in Europe and Africa. As for Abrego Garcia, he was deported to El Salvador in March, which led to intense backlash from Democrats about due process concerns for immigrants. He was then brought back to the United States to face human smuggling charges based on a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop. The State Department maintains he is an MS-13 gang member who has allegedly beaten his wife and engaged in human trafficking. He is in federal custody in Virginia, as U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis halted the possible deportation to Uganda. “None of those things are true, full stop,” Chris Newman, an attorney for Abrego Garcia’s family, told Fox News Digital regarding the charges and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem describing him as a “human trafficker, serial domestic abuser and child predator.”
America’s largest gun lobby speaks out as Trump administration mulls possible trans firearms ban
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has sounded off on reports that the Trump administration is mulling a way of limiting transgender people’s ability to purchase firearms. The gun lobby group, the largest in the U.S. with 5 million members, according to its website, released a statement Friday reinforcing its commitment that all law-abiding Americans have a right to bear arms. It comes as Department of Justice officials have had several internal meetings about placing restrictions on trans people after Annunciation School shooter Robin Westman, who identified as trans, killed two people and injured 18 others late last month. Westman’s guns were purchased legally, according to The Associated Press. FEDERAL APPEALS COURT APPROVES ILLINOIS RESTRICTIONS ON CARRYING GUNS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT “The NRA supports the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans to purchase and use firearms,” the statement says. “NRA does not, and will not, support any policy proposals that implement sweeping gun bans that arbitrarily strip law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights without due process.” The Gun Owners of America (GOA) issued a clear, uncompromising stance on the issue. “GOA opposes any and all gun bans. Full stop,” the GOA wrote on X. In another post, the group quoted Senior Vice President Erich Pratt as saying, “Gun Owners of America does not compromise with our support for the right of all people to keep and bear arms.” The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), another major gun lobby group, has not formally weighed in on the issue, but its president, Dudley Brown, said he opposes the idea. He argued on X that labeling people “mentally defective” to strip them of gun rights would be a due process violation. The DOJ officials’ conversations are in an early stage, and no concrete steps have been taken, multiple sources told Fox News. One source pointed to a “pattern” of shootings carried out by transgender people, including Westman’s attack. Audrey “Aiden” Hale, who identified as transgender, killed six at The Covenant School in Nashville in 2023. Alec McKinney, a transgender teen, was one of two shooters at STEM School in Colorado, where one person was killed and eight others were wounded. Another source said the DOJ’s discussions about banning transgender people from buying or owning guns have involved the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides legal advice to the executive branch. APPEALS COURT BLOCKS NEW MEXICO’S 7-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR GUN PURCHASES, SAYING IT VIOLATES 2ND AMENDMENT The source indicated that the DOJ officials are thinking through a feasible legal framework. Such discussions would likely rope in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which is part of the DOJ and has authority over federal rules related to firearms. When asked about the talks, a DOJ spokesperson downplayed the discussions targeting transgender people. “The DOJ is actively evaluating options to prevent the pattern of violence we have seen from individuals with specific mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders,” the spokesperson said. “No specific criminal justice proposals have been advanced at this time.” One of the sources said DOJ officials “are reviewing ways to ensure that mentally ill individuals suffering from gender dysphoria are unable to obtain firearms while they are unstable and unwell.” People with mental health conditions are typically not banned from buying guns under current laws, which the Supreme Court reaffirmed as recently as 2024 in United States v. Rahimi. But in some instances, such as a court deeming someone mentally incompetent, that information is supposed to crop up during a background check and block a customer from obtaining a gun license. LGBTQ advocates called the idea of a ban misguided and dangerous, arguing that the vast majority of mass shootings in the U.S. are carried out by men and do not involve transgender people. “Transgender people are less than 2% of the overall population, yet four times as likely to be victims of crime,” GLAAD said. “Everyone deserves to be themselves, be safe and be free from violence and discrimination. We all deserve leaders who prioritize keeping all of us safe and free.” Since President Donald Trump returned to office, his administration has removed transgender people from military service, scrubbed some federal websites of mentions of them and is trying to bar changing the sex marker on passports. The administration has also been vehemently opposed to allowing biological males to compete in female sports and curtailed access to gender surgery. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Top Biden officials questioned and criticized how his team issued pardons, used autopen: report
Top Biden administration officials questioned and criticized the way the former president’s team handled pardons and made use of an autopen in the waning days of his White House term, a report said, citing internal emails. A person familiar with the clemency process told Axios that after President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter on Dec. 1, 2024, “there was a mad dash to find groups of people that he could then pardon — and then they largely didn’t run it by the Justice Department to vet them.” The news agency reported Saturday that several senior Justice Department officials raised concerns with the White House counsel’s office regarding the process to pardon individuals. Three days before Biden left office, the president announced he was “commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy and practice.” BIDEN’S AUTO-PEN PARDONS DISTURBED DOJ BRASS, DOCS SHOW, RAISING QUESTIONS WHETHER THEY ARE LEGALLY BINDING “With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history,” Biden said in a statement Jan. 17. However, Axios reported that the following day, senior Justice Department ethics attorney Bradley Weinsheimer argued in a memo that describing those who were pardoned as nonviolent was “untrue, or at least misleading.” “Unfortunately and despite repeated requests and warnings, we were not afforded a reasonable opportunity to vet and provide input on those you were considering,” Weinsheimer wrote, according to Axios. The news agency said Weinsheimer mentioned a man who pleaded guilty to murder-related charges. Weinsheimer described how the Justice Department labeled the man as “problematic,” yet Biden commuted his sentence, Axios reported. “I have no idea if the president was aware of these backgrounds when making clemency decisions,” Weinsheimer reportedly added. Ed Siskel, the former head of the White House counsel’s office, and representatives for Biden did not immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. ‘SHOULD BE PROSECUTED’: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ZERO IN ON BIDEN AUTOPEN PARDONS AFTER BOMBSHELL REPORT Senior Biden White House officials also pushed back internally on requests to use the autopen, according to Axios, which cited emails it obtained. It said Biden White House staff secretary Stef Feldman repeatedly asked for more information and confirmation of Biden’s intentions with the autopen. “When did we get [Biden’s] approval of this?” Feldman reportedly wrote in a Jan. 7 email regarding the use of autopen to sign an executive order. “I’m going to need email from … original chain confirming [Biden] signs off on the specific documents when they are ready,” she was cited by Axios as writing in a Jan. 16 email about using autopen to commute cases linked to crack cocaine sentences. The developments come as President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into Biden’s administration, alleging that top officials used autopen signatures to cover up the former president’s cognitive decline. “I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false,” Biden said in a statement in June. “This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.” Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.