Chicago mayor calls Trump’s National Guard deployment plan ‘uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound’
Mayor Brandon Johnson blasted President Donald Trump over what he described as “threats” to deploy the National Guard in Chicago to crack down on crime. Johnson’s comments came hours after the president on Friday said Chicago would be the next city to see federal intervention after the mission to decrease crime in Washington, D.C. concluded. “After we do this, we’ll go to another location, and we’ll make it safe, also,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “We’re going to make our country very safe. … Chicago’s a mess.” Johnson released a statement noting the city had not received any formal communication about additional federal law enforcement or military deployments to Chicago, adding he has “grave concerns” about the impact of any “unlawful deployment.” TRUMP VOWED DC TAKEOVER MULTIPLE TIMES ON 2024 CAMPAIGN TRAIL: ‘HE’S KEEPING HIS PROMISE’ Johnson called the Trump administration’s efforts “uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound,” seemingly snapping back at the president, who called him “grossly incompetent” earlier in the day. He added the city has reduced homicides by 30%, robberies by 35% and shootings by almost 40% in the last year, suggesting federal action would deteriorate trust. “Unlawfully deploying the National Guard to Chicago has the potential to inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement when we know that trust between police and residents is foundational to building safer communities,” Johnson wrote. “An unlawful deployment would be unsustainable and would threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made.” BLUE CITIES IN TRUMP’S CROSSHAIRS AFTER DC POLICE TAKEOVER The city, which struggles with poverty and gang activity, has a crime rate higher than the national average. However, 2023 crime data shows other Illinois cities, including Chicago Heights, Danville, Peoria, Rockford, and Harvey, had substantially higher violent crime rates than Chicago. ‘RADICAL’ DC OFFICIALS TREATED OFFICERS ‘LIKE CRAP,’ POLICE LEADER SAYS – 7 ATTACKS THAT LED TO TRUMP TAKEOVER “The National Guard will not alleviate the housing crisis,” Johnson wrote. “It will not put food in the stomachs of the 1 in 4 children that go to bed hungry every night in Chicago. The National Guard will not fully-fund our public schools or provide mental healthcare or substance abuse treatment to Chicagoans in need. “The National Guard is no substitute for dedicated local law enforcement and community violence interrupters who know and serve our communities every day. There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them.” Trump federalized D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department on Aug. 11 under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to take emergency control of the police force for 30 days. Just over a week later, six red states pledged to send 2,000 guardsmen to the nation’s capital to help with the efforts, alongside agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). An official confirmed to Fox News on Friday Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized soldiers and airmen to be armed in D.C., if their mission requires it. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Maxwell denies Trump misconduct, DOJ docs reveal
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Republicans rally around GOP senator after ousted Dem jumps into high-profile Ohio race -Top Trump agency slashes billions in government waste with move to expose ‘abuse’ of US tax dollars -John Bolton’s home raided by federal agents Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell told the Department of Justice earlier in 2025 that she never saw President Donald Trump act inappropriately, according to DOJ documents released Friday of her interview. “I think they were friendly like people are in social settings. I don’t — I don’t think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the President in any of — I don’t recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance.” she told the DOJ. “I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. The president was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Epstein associate Maxwell at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, in July, where she has been serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking…READ MORE. BOLTON STONED: John Bolton blasted by Trump ally Roger Stone, who faced Biden FBI raid: ‘Karma is a b—-‘ JUDICIAL CLASH: Jackson scathing dissent levels partisan charge at colleagues after high-profile ruling ‘WORKING BACKWARDS’: ‘Leftist’ taxpayer-funded academy sparks backlash after moving against Trump’s rollback of key regulation ‘UNFOCUSED’: Trump–Bolton feud back in focus after FBI raid: ‘Never had a clue … what a dope!’ ‘WONDERFUL JOB’: Longtime Trump ally formally succeeds Whatley as Republican Party chair SECURITY SPOTLIGHT: Bolton tweet shows focus was elsewhere as FBI searched his house TESTING TRUTH: Jillian Michaels accuses CNN of ‘lying,’ ‘smearing’ her after viral slavery debate ON DUTY: Hegseth authorizes 2,000 National Guard troops to carry weapons in DC if necessary TRAITOR FOR CASH: US Navy sailor convicted of selling military secrets to China for a year and a half BLOOD FOR MOSCOW: Kim Jong Un acknowledges deaths of 100 North Korean soldiers he sent to fight for Vladimir Putin ‘CRITICAL RESOURCES’: GOP senator reveals which ‘essential’ measure will help crackdown on child trafficking SWAMP STRIKE: James Comer praises Kash Patel for ‘holding deep state accountable’ as FBI raids John Bolton’s home TRUCKER BRO NABBED: ICE arrests brother of illegal immigrant trucker in deadly Florida Turnpike wreck CULTURE WAR: DeSantis fires back after Dem decries Florida’s move to ditch LGBT rainbow colors from crosswalk in Orlando FREE MAN: Abrego Garcia released from jail, will return to Maryland to await trial IT’S A ‘MESS’: Trump hints at federal crackdown in Chicago amid DC anti-crime push Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Noem torches ‘activist liberal judges’ after Abrego Garcia’s release from jail: ‘New low’
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release from custody is making waves on social media amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement being told they are not allowed to arrest him due to an order from a federal judge in Maryland. “Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X. Today, we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator be allowed free.” “By ordering this monster loose on America’s streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country,” she continued. Abrego Garcia is on his way back to Maryland from Tennessee, and a U.S. Magistrate Judge ordered that if he is taken into ICE custody that he will have “access to his attorneys” in order to “prepare for trial in this case.” ‘LAWLESS AND INSANE’: TRUMP ADMIN READIES FOR FIGHT AFTER JUDGES BLOCK ABREGO GARCIA REMOVAL FOR NOW Abrego Garica was first deported to El Salvador for being a suspected gang member, which caused a nationwide controversy that sparked visits to the Central American country, including by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland. However, he ended up later facing charges in the U.S. for alleged human smuggling after a 2022 Tennessee traffic stop resurfaced. “Abrego is reminded, as stated in the conditions of release appended hereto, that he must comply with any conditions of release, bond, or bail imposed by any other governmental agency, including, without limitation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Department of Homeland Security,” Judge Barbara Holmes wrote on Friday. “Abrego is further reminded that, if he is taken into ICE custody, he is required by the conditions of his release to consent to being transported back to this district for further proceedings in this case.” Those who disagreed with the order expressed their frustrations on social media. “Abrego Garcia is a criminal illegal alien, wife-beater, and an MS-13 gang member facing serious charges of human smuggling,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. “He will face justice for his crimes. It’s an insult to his victims that this left-wing magistrate intervened to put him back on the streets. Garcia will be subject to ankle monitoring to ensure the safety of the American public until further action can be taken.” “THIS IS INSANE! Our justice system needs an OVERHAUL!” conservative podcaster Nick Sortor posted to X. “This is why we can’t have nice things,” Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk replied. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TELL JUDGE THEY WILL DEPORT KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA TO A THIRD COUNTRY AFTER DETENTION “This is UNACCEPTABLE!” a political commentator under the name of “Gunther Eagleman” posted. “These federal judges are trying their best to fill our streets with dangerous illegal criminals. They are a disaster for our nation, and know nothing about justice,” one user posted. While there was frustration on the right, some on the left cheered his release. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Finally!!! Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia has been released from TN custody and is on his way to reunite with his family in Maryland,” one user posted to X. ABREGO GARCIA LAWYERS ASK US JUDGE TO ORDER RETURN TO MARYLAND AMID ONGOING CRIMINAL CASE “Abrego Garcia has landed in the United States to face justice,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in June. “A grand jury in the Middle District of Tennessee returned a sealed indictment charging him with alien smuggling and conspiracy.” His lawyers have maintained that the case is politically motivated. “A group of the most senior officials in the United States sought vengeance: they began a public campaign to punish Mr. Abrego for daring to fight back, culminating in the criminal investigation that led to the charges in this case,” his lawyers said in a filing on Tuesday. “Rather than fix its mistake and return Mr. Abrego to the United States, the government fought back at every level of the federal court system. And at every level, Mr. Abrego won,” they added. “This case results from the government’s concerted effort to punish him for having the audacity to fight back, rather than accept a brutal injustice.”
America’s original sanctuary state rebukes Bondi’s warning, denies ‘obstruction’ of ICE
Attorney General Pam Bondi received a response this week from the governor of the first state to pass “sanctuary” legislation, after she had warned it was engaged in “policies and procedures that hinder federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States.” Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, confirmed receipt of Bondi’s original letter from the prior week, writing back that she “respectfully disagree[s]” with Bondi’s assertion. “The State of Oregon, its public officials, and its law enforcement officers do not engage in conduct that thwarts federal immigration enforcement,” Kotek said, noting the Beaver State passed America’s first sanctuary state law in 1987. State Rep. Rocky Barilla, D-Eugene, introduced the bill which was then signed by Gov. Neil Goldschmidt amid concerns police were wrongly profiling Latinos about their immigration status. BOSTON’S WU FIRES BACK AT BONDI, CITING REVOLUTION, AS OTHER CITIES SLAM FEDS OVER ‘SANCTUARY’ WARNINGS In her response to Bondi, Kotek said in the nearly 40 years since, Oregon officials and law enforcement have not violated federal immigration law while abiding by the state policy. “A 2018 ballot measure to repeal portions of Oregon’s federal immigration enforcement law failed when 63% of Oregon voters opposed repealing the existing law,” she said, adding that the 1987 law was revisited and “strengthened” by Salem lawmakers in 2021. Kotek cited Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s statement after the 2021 actions: “Oregon stands for the safety, dignity, and human rights of all Oregonians,” the state prosecutor said at the time, as Kotek also echoed the contention the state is acting within the law due to legal precedent from contemporary Tenth Amendment called the Anticommandeering Rule. That rule, borne out of cases like New York v. U.S. in 1992 – which focused on requests for states to dispose of nuclear waste — prescribes that the federal government cannot force them to administer federal programs. TRUMP ADMIN SLAMS ACLU FOR COMPARING ICE CENTER TO JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMP: DERANGED AND LAZY Kotek said in her letter to Bondi that she is aware of warnings that the Trump administration may pursue civil actions against public officials on grounds they are obstructing federal immigration efforts or facilitating lawbreaking. “The state does not take on the additional expense or burden to perform federal immigration enforcement as it is the job of the federal government,” Kotek went on, citing the Anticommandeering Rule. “The state of Oregon is in compliance with federal law and will continue to follow state law. Therefore, no ‘immediate initiatives’ are necessary to eliminate laws that impede immigration enforcement,” she concluded, noting that her letter was delivered to the Justice Department via Federal Express. The back and forth comes as an Oregon federal judge is poised to decide on a notable immigration case in the state, and rule on whether a twice-deported Guatemalan asylum-seeking farmworker can be released from federal custody despite prior deportations. Identified only as L.J.P.L., the foreign national had been deported during the Obama administration, and litigants argued whether he could be released so long as he makes regular check-ins at a Eugene immigration office. Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee whom Chief Justice John Roberts also named to the FISA Court, will decide whether ICE can move forward and immediately deport “L.J.P.L.,” according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Federal judge blocks Florida from further expansion of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention facility
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday blocking Florida from further expanding the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center built in the middle of the Florida Everglades. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams’ injunction formalized the temporary halt she had ordered two weeks ago. Witnesses continued to testify over multiple days in a hearing to determine whether construction of the facility should stop until the case is decided. Advocates have argued that the expansion of the facility violated environmental laws. LAWSUITS THREATEN TO UPEND ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ OPERATIONS Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe said that further construction and operations at the facility should be stopped until state and federal officials complied with environmental laws. Their lawsuit argued that the detention center threatens environmentally sensitive wetlands that have protected plants and animals and that it would reverse billions of dollars in environmental restoration. Attorneys for the state and federal governments claimed that the construction and operation of the facility was under the state of Florida despite its use for holding federal detainees, meaning the federal environmental law would not apply. The judge found that the detention center was at least a joint partnership between the state and federal government. Williams said she expected the number of detainees in the facility to dip within 60 days through transfers to other facilities, and that fencing, lighting and generators should be removed. She said the state and federal defendants cannot bring anyone other than current detainees at the facility onto the property. The order does not halt modifications or repairs to existing facilities, which the judge said are “solely for the purpose of increasing safety or mitigating environmental or other risks at the site.” FLORIDA TO OPEN ‘DEPORTATION DEPOT’ AT SHUTTERED PRISON WEEKS AFTER LAUNCHING ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ FACILITY The preliminary injunction includes “those who are in active concert or participation with” the state of Florida or federal defendants or their officers, agents or employees, she wrote. State officials failed to sufficiently explain why the facility needed to be in the middle of the Florida Everglades. “What is apparent, however, is that in their haste to construct the detention camp, the State did not consider alternative locations,” Williams said. Florida officials criticized the ruling on Thursday. “Just this week, a judge in the same district as Judge Williams refused to hear a case because the Southern District of Florida was the improper venue for suits about Alligator Alcatraz,” Jeremy Redfern, a spokesperson for the Florida attorney general’s office, said in a statement to Fox News. “Once again, she oversteps her authority, and we will appeal this unlawful decision.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the “fix was in” and “we knew this judge was not giving us a fair shake.” “We totally expected an adverse ruling,” he told Fox News. “And we also knew we were going to immediately appeal and get that decision stayed. So we will ultimately be successful in this. It’s not going to stop our resolve. We’re going to continue to do what we need to do to help the Trump administration remove illegal aliens from our country. You know, that’s the mandate that they have. So we anticipated this, but I don’t think it’s going to be insurmountable in the end.” President Donald Trump toured the facility last month and suggested it could be used as a model for future facilities across the country to support his efforts to detain and deport migrants. The detention center was quickly built about two months ago at a single-runway training airport in the middle of the Everglades. It now holds nearly 500 detainees but was designed to eventually hold up to 3,000 in temporary tents. The facility’s large white tents feature rows of bunkbeds surrounded by chain-link cages. Detainees complained of worms in the food, toilets not flushing, floors flooded with fecal waste and insects everywhere. The air conditioners also sometimes abruptly shut off in the sweltering heat. Detainees also reportedly go days without showers or receiving their prescription medicine, and they are only permitted to speak to lawyers and loved ones by phone. Fox News’ Danamarie McNicholl-Carter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump administration wins Supreme Court fight to slash NIH medical research grants tied to DEI, LGBTQ studies
The Trump administration scored a major victory in the Supreme Court Thursday as the justices, in a 5-4 order, cleared his administration to slash more than $783 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants tied to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, LGBTQ issues and other hot-button topics. The unsigned majority order said NIH “may proceed with terminating existing grants” while leaving in place a partial block on issuing new directives. The move delivers a political win for Trump’s broader push to roll back DEI programs across the federal government. TRUMP-APPOINTED JUDGE STRIKES DOWN ANTI-DEI MEASURES FROM EDUCATION DEPARTMENT The decision overturns rulings by lower courts that had blocked the cuts. In June, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley of Massachusetts called the administration’s actions “arbitrary and capricious” and said NIH had “failed to provide a reasoned explanation” for cutting grants midstream. The 1st Circuit upheld her injunction in July, setting up Trump’s emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. The Justice Department argued in its July 24 filing that leaving the injunction in place “forces NIH to continue funding projects inconsistent with agency priorities” and warned the order “intrudes on NIH’s core discretion to decide how best to allocate limited research funds.” Opponents framed the cuts as ideological. The American Public Health Association warned that “halting these grants would devastate biomedical research across the country, disrupting clinical trials and delaying urgently needed discoveries” and said “the administration has offered no scientific basis for these cancellations — only ideology.” FEDERAL JUDGE SLAPS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ON MISSISSIPPI DEI BAN A coalition of Democrat-led states led by Massachusetts argued that “patients should not be collateral damage in a political fight.” News outlets stressed the stakes of Thursday’s decision. The Associated Press described the ruling as the court letting Trump cut $783 million in research funding “in an anti-DEI push.” Reuters reported that “the Supreme Court in a 5–4 order cleared the way for the Trump administration to cut diversity-related NIH grants, though it left in place part of the ruling blocking new restrictions.” Research groups warned of the cuts’ fallout. The Association of American Universities said the cuts “risk chilling scientific inquiry by discouraging researchers from pursuing politically sensitive topics.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Scientists cautioned the decision could derail progress on diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, even as the broader legal fight continues in the 1st Circuit and may return to the Supreme Court. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rubio pauses worker visas for truck drivers after deadly Florida crash involving illegal immigrant kills 3
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said, “effective immediately,” he would pause the issuance of worker visas for commercial drivers after an illegal immigrant truck driver allegedly caused a crash that killed three people in Florida. In a post on X, Rubio cited public safety for the move. “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” he wrote. BLUE STATE INVESTIGATES HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER GOT LICENSE BEFORE DEADLY FLORIDA CRASH Concerns about foreign workers driving commercial trucks began after Harjinder Singh, 28, who entered the U.S. illegally, was driving a commercial truck with a trailer on the Florida Turnpike in Fort Pierce when he allegedly attempted a U-turn in an unauthorized area. The turn resulted in the trailer jackknifing and colliding with a minivan, which left all three of the minivan’s passengers dead, authorities said. Further scrutiny of Singh revealed he didn’t pass English and road tests before obtaining a commercial driver’s license. EXPERT REVEALS HOW ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCKER MAY HAVE GOTTEN COMMERCIAL LICENSE BEFORE FATAL FLORIDA CRASH He was granted a full-term commercial driver’s license in Washington in July 2023 despite not being legally eligible. He was also given a limited-term commercial driver’s license in California in 2024. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been in a heated war of words with the Trump administration over Singh. This week, Newsom’s press office said on X that Singh obtained a work permit during President Donald Trump‘s first term. Tricia McLaughlin, the DHS assistant secretary for public affairs, responded, saying Singh was denied in September 2020, under Trump, but was granted one in June 2021, under the Biden administration. Singh has been extradited to Florida from California to face three counts of vehicular homicide.
ICE chief vows to ‘flood’ Boston with agents after Dem mayor pledges to resist
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons vowed to “flood” Boston with agents after Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu doubled down on her pledge to uphold the city’s sanctuary policies and resist the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Speaking on the local radio program “The Howie Carr Show,” Lyons responded to Wu by saying, “Now you’re going to see more ICE agents come to Boston to make sure that we take these public safety threats out that she wants to let go back into the communities.” He pointed to the Trump administration’s “Operation Patriot,” which sent federal agents into the Boston area in March and yielded over a thousand arrests. “We are going to keep doing it in Boston,” Lyons said. “We’re going to continue to do our mission. We’re going to keep making Boston safe as she’s failing to do with these sanctuary city policies.” LARGEST EVER ICE OPERATION RESULTS IN NEARLY 1,500 ILLEGALS ARRESTED IN BLUE STATE Pressed on whether ICE will surge agents to the Boston area, similar to how agents are in Washington, D.C., Lyons responded, “One hundred percent you will see a larger ICE presence.” “We’re definitely going to, as you’ve heard the saying, flood the zone, especially in sanctuary jurisdictions,” he added. “And, obviously, Boston and Massachusetts decided that they wanted to stay sanctuaries, and sanctuary does not mean safer streets. It means more criminal aliens out and about in neighborhoods.” Lyons pointed out that, during Operation Patriot, ICE pursued “targeted enforcement operations” of criminal aliens released by the City of Boston and Massachusetts. Operation Patriot resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,500 illegal immigrants, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers and child sex predators. Sources at ICE told Fox News that 790 of those arrested had criminal convictions or charges, and 277 had final removal or deportation orders. The sources said that all the targeted criminals were roaming the streets of Massachusetts cities freely before being apprehended. BIKE-RIDING YOUTHS TERRORIZE DEM-RUN CITY AS MOBS SWARM ROADS, WHILE MAYOR STAYS SILENT ON CHAOS The operation ran throughout May and involved ICE teams from other states in the Northeast, as well as authorities from the FBI, DEA and ATF. Speaking on Wednesday, Lyons said, “There’s so many of these criminal aliens that keep getting released to go out and commit more crimes that local law enforcement have to deal with, and we can take that, you know, violent criminal illegal alien instantly out of the neighborhood.” This follows U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi setting a deadline of Tuesday for sanctuary jurisdictions to drop their policies that block cooperation with federal authorities. Speaking on Fox Business, Bondi said she sent letters to 32 mayors and seven governors “telling them you better comply or you’re next.” Bondi highlighted a letter she sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom in which she warned that “individuals operating under the color of law, using their official position to obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts and facilitating or inducing illegal immigration may be subject to criminal charges.” SANCTUARY CITIES DEFY BONDI’S DEADLINE TO COOPERATE: ‘NO INTENTION OF CHANGING’ The letter, shared on social media, said cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including on immigration enforcement, “is vital to enforce federal law and protect national security.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Wu publicly rejected Bondi’s demands during a press conference, calling the ultimatum a political stunt. “Stop attacking our cities to hide your administration’s failures. Unlike the Trump administration, Boston follows the law,” Wu said Tuesday. “This is our city. This is our country, and I’m so proud and grateful to show the world who our community is here in Boston and what we’re made of.” In response to Lyons’ comments, Wu’s office shared a statement from the mayor who was answering another reporter’s question. Wu reiterated, “In Boston, we comply and follow all of the laws, city, state and federal. And we will not back down from communities that have made us the safest major city in the country. “This is a beautiful, diverse, incredible city, and I have said it now very directly this administration needs to stop attacking cities to hide their own failures.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Newsom’s ‘Failures’ Under Fire
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… –Boasberg cleared to rule on CECOT migrant deportations after appeals court decision -Trump reveals plan to patrol Washington streets with police and military forces -Ex-Biden spokesman who called mental fitness doubts a ‘conspiracy’ only met with him twice: Comer An illegal immigrant who is facing three counts of vehicular homicide in Florida was extradited from California to the Sunshine State on Thursday. “We’re here today because of tragedy. Three lives lost, three Floridians’ lives ended early,” Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins told reporters. “We’re here in California because when this tragic accident happened and three Floridian lives were lost, he fled back to California, where, in 2018, he illegally crossed the border, came here and ended up getting a commercial driver’s license, a CDL.”…Read more DUTY CALLS: Trump’s tariff revenue has skyrocketed in just a few months, soaring past 2024 levels PAPER TRAIL: Biden’s auto-pen pardons disturbed DOJ brass, docs show, raising questions whether they are legally binding POWER TO THE PARENTS: Trump Department of Education rolls out latest step to expand school choice nationwide ‘TOTAL VICTORY’: NY appeals court throws out $500M penalty against Trump in Letitia James civil case STRATEGIC BETRAYAL: India strengthening ties with China, Russia after steep US tariffs ‘SO DESPERATE’: Jasmine Crockett disparages MAGA voters, Trump as ‘most unpatriotic people’ HEALTHCARE HUSTLE: Trump-aligned legal group probes Biden-era organ transplant program over ethical concerns ICE HEAT: Trump deportation policies spook Pennsylvania city into scrapping immigrant protection vote BALLOTING BATTLE: Swing-state gov slams Trump plan to nix mail-in voting: He ‘can sign whatever the hell he wants’ BACKFIRED: Expert turns tables on key Mamdani claim about his policing platform: ‘So much wrong’ CALL OF DUTY: Pentagon taps civilian employees to assist Trump administration immigration enforcement BATTLE LINES: Newsom, California Democrats move to counter Texas redistricting with partisan map FEDS TAKE CHARGE: Trump admin assigns military attorneys to prosecute DC crimes amid federal crackdown Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Former top Adams adviser, donors charged in bribery case as Cuomo mocks with chips stunt
A day after a local news outlet exposed an Eric Adams aide for handing a reporter a wad of cash stuffed inside a bag of potato chips, a handful of folks from Adams’ inner circle, including one of his former top advisers, have been indicted in their own alleged bribery scandal. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced four new indictments Thursday, alleging a pay-to-play scheme and other charges against multiple Adams’ associates, including one of his former chief advisers and her son, local business owners, and two of Adams’ reported political donors. Meanwhile, in light of the news, Adams’ opponent in the upcoming race for New York City mayor, Andrew Cuomo, took a jab at Adams’ Thursday when he handed out bags of chips to reporters at a press conference. “Sometimes a bag of chips is just a bag of chips,” Cuomo told those in attendance. ADAMS, CUOMO TRADE JABS IN INTERVIEWS AS DEMS-TURNED-INDEPENDENTS COURT ANTI-MAMDANI VOTE “Frankly it is embarrassing for the City of New York,” Cuomo, who himself is no stranger to scandals, added Thursday. The fresh corruption-related allegations follow an incident Wednesday, when, according to local New York City paper The City, one of Adams’ aides, who has since been suspended, allegedly attempted to give money to one of their reporters hidden inside a bag of potato chips. The now-suspended Adams adviser, Winnie Greco, later called the move a “mistake,” according to The City. Meanwhile, the indictments levied Thursday alleged a former chief adviser to Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who resigned in 2024 amid other accusations related to a different pay-to-play scheme, received $75,000 in bribes between March 2022 and November 2024. Among the bribes was a $50,000 cash payment “diverted from a City contract and other benefits” that was directed to her son’s bank account, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Other allegations laid out in the indictments include improper steering of government contracts and policy decisions that were spurred by monetary incentives. ERIC ADAMS HIT WITH ACCUSATION OF OPERATING ‘CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY’ AT NYPD “We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in classic bribery conspiracies that had a deep and wide-ranging impact on City government,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets.” On Thursday, following news of the indictments, an Adams’ spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, contended that the mayor “has not been accused of any wrongdoing.” “While Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration, she has been a friend and colleague of the mayor for over 40 years, and he knows her as a devoted public servant; she has declared her innocence, and his prayers are with her and her family,” Shapiro added. “Mayor Adams also recognizes that Jesse Hamilton has pleaded not guilty, and like anyone accused, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. His commitment to New Yorkers is unwavering—no distraction will ever take his eyes off the ball or his dedication to this great city we all call home.” Despite Shapiro’s claims that Adams’ was not involved, the mayor’s opponents in his upcoming race to keep his position have capitalized on the incident. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “While New Yorkers struggle to afford the most expensive city in America, Eric Adams and his administration are too busy tripping over corruption charges to come to their defense,” the Democratic Party candidate for New York City Mayor, self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani, said Thursday. “Corruption isn’t just about what a politician gains, it’s about what the public loses. And right now, New Yorkers are paying the price as another flurry of indictments continue to erode their trust in our democracy and distract from the affordability crisis that demands action and urgency.” Meanwhile, Cuomo, who has not been the subject of any major bribery scandals himself, did resign from his position as governor amid numerous sexual assault allegations in 2021. He called the latest incidents involving Adams and his confidants “sad,” “embarrassing,” and “depressing.” “We were talking about how people feel frustrated with government, and alienated from government, and that government isn’t working for them. And then, there seems to be this never-ending series of government corruption that just continues,” Cuomo said Thursday. “And it’s sad, it’s embarrassing, it’s depressing. And then you wonder why people don’t believe in government.”