Trump backs Hilton ahead of California GOP vote, testing Bianco’s grip on party endorsement
California Republicans this weekend will vote to endorse their pick for California governor in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The vote, this Sunday in San Diego at the California GOP’s annual convention, comes a week after President Donald Trump took sides between the two major Republican candidates in the race, backing conservative commentator and former Fox News Channel host Steve Hilton over Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Trump, whose endorsements are extremely influential in GOP primaries, argued in his endorsement statement that California had “gone to hell” and that “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!” The president’s support for Hilton is expected to pay immediate dividends at the state GOP convention. HERE’S WHO TRUMP IS BACKING IN THE GOLDEN STATE GUBERNATORIAL SHOWDOWN “I think it definitely can help rally the base behind a candidate and generate some noise and some enthusiasm,” California Republican Party chairwoman Corrin Rankin told Fox News Digital. Bianco is a loyal Trump supporter who has plenty of friends and support among California Republican insiders. But Trump’s endorsement of Hilton, a top adviser to then-British Prime Minister David Cameron a decade and a half ago before moving to the U.S. and becoming an American citizen in 2021, may boost him at the GOP convention, where backing from 60% of delegates is needed to land the party’s endorsement. But Bianco, the sheriff who recently grabbed plenty of national attention for seizing ballots in Riverside County, appeared defiant. “For too long, politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to pick our leaders for us. That’s not leadership, that’s a coronation, and it’s exactly how we ended up with the failed leadership Californians are living with today,” he said in a social media video. “This election belongs to the people, not the political class.” TOUGH ON CRIME REPUBLICAN SHERIFF LAUNCHES BID FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR Trump’s endorsement may have another unintended consequence. Candidates from both major political parties appear on the same ballot in the left-leaning state’s June primary, with the top two finishers advancing to November’s general election. Some Democrats were concerned that with nine candidates in the race, support among Democratic voters would be so badly divided in the primary that no contender would reach the general election. Hilton and Bianco had been the top two candidates in some public opinion polls, giving some in the GOP hope of a final face-off between two Republicans. That scenario may be less likely now, as Hilton’s support is expected to rise and Bianco’s drop in light of the president’s endorsement. Polling in the past week gave a hint of a Hilton surge. “Trump kills any GOP hopes of an R vs R runoff in the California governor’s race,” Rob Pyers of California Target Book, which describes itself as a non-partisan and unbiased political almanac, wrote last week in a social media post. MEDIA PERSONALITY STEVE HILTON ENTERS CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE But Hilton dismissed as a pipe dream talk of shutting out the Democrats from the general election ballot. “That scenario of two Republicans [making the general election ballot], I’ve been saying this for months, was always a fantasy,” Hilton said on Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line.” “The idea that the Democrat machine in California was just going to hand over the state to two Republicans was never serious. It was never, never going to happen.” He further argued, “What was more likely was actually…you were going to have two Democrats in the top two and then we’ll have no chance of change. So this really makes sure that we have a Republican in the top two.” No Republican has won a statewide election in California since then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s 2006 re-election victory. And with the president’s approval rating in California hovering in the 30s, Trump’s endorsement will likely do Hilton no favors if he makes it onto the November ballot.
Watchdog, GOP lawmaker warn NY voter registration systems lacks key safeguards
One blue state is failing to enact adequate voting safeguards and refusing to correct its mistakes ahead of November’s midterm elections, an election integrity watchdog warns. Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE), a nonpartisan organization focused on election security, alleges the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) stonewalled a request to fix the state’s voter registration form to comply with federal voting law. The watchdog sent the NYSBOE a letter in late 2025 outlining several violations they claimed could undermine the state’s election integrity if left unaddressed. After the board failed to correct most of the violations, RITE and Tenney are demanding the board hand over comprehensive records and data to identify additional shortcomings in the state’s voter registration system. TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER OVERHAULING MAIL-IN VOTING IN MAJOR ELECTION INTEGRITY PUSH “Your lack of a response is troubling and disregards the need to ensure public trust that New York is maintaining accurate voter rolls as required by federal law,” they wrote in a letter to the NYSBOE earlier this week that was obtained by Fox News Digital. If the board does not meet their May 2026 deadline, RITE and Tenney say they are prepared to go to federal court to enforce compliance with federal law. The watchdog alleges two errors in New York State’s voter registration forms that violate the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). First, New York State did not instruct individuals that they must provide their driver’s license information if they have one. It also continued registering individuals who did not provide a driver’s license, the last four digits of their Social Security number or a declaration that the applicant has neither, as required by federal law. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT’S TWO DECADES OF UNLAWFUL VOTES EXPOSE THE REAL ‘THREAT’ TO DEMOCRACY: EXPERTS These errors have, in part, led to millions of New York voters providing incomplete information during the registration process, making it more difficult for the state to accurately maintain voter lists, according to RITE. RITE and and Tenney also allege the board did not perform a requested audit to identify how many incomplete voter registration applications have been processed. A 2022 report from the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation found that at least 3.1 million New York registered voters have not provided a driver’s license or Social Security number on their application form. “The law is clear: states may not accept registration forms that lack required identifying information,” RITE President Justin Riemer said in a statement. New York’s own regulations direct officials to do exactly that. This flagrant violation of an important federal safeguard significantly erodes the integrity of New York’s voter registration system.” “We are committed to getting answers about the breadth of the problem and ensuring the state fixes it,” Riemer added. Tenney, who is chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, said she has called for an investigation into the NYSBOE since 2022. “Transparency and accurate voter rolls are essential to maintaining public trust in our elections,” the New York Republican said in a statement. “The people of New York deserve answers, accountability, and full compliance with HAVA to ensure the integrity of every vote.” The New York City Board of Elections system has also come under recent scrutiny for failing to enact adequate safeguards. One of its employees declined to block a reporter who was posing as a noncitizen from attempting to register to vote, according to video footage obtained by Fox News Digital in February. Fox News Digital reached out to the New York State Board of Elections for comment.
Vance arrives in Pakistan for high-stakes Iran talks as ‘fragile’ ceasefire teeters
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan early Saturday, where he is leading high-stakes negotiations with Iran aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire and preventing a broader regional war. Vance is joined by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, as part of a senior delegation engaging Iranian officials in Islamabad. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will be negotiating for Iran. The talks, scheduled for Saturday, come over a month after the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28 — a sweeping military campaign targeting Iran’s military infrastructure following the collapse of nuclear negotiations. IRAN REVEALS 10-POINT PLAN FOR PEACE WITH THE US – HERE’S WHAT’S IN IT That operation pushed the U.S. and Iran to the brink of a ground war before a tenuous diplomatic breakthrough in recent days. Trump announced a two-week ceasefire Tuesday, agreeing to suspend further U.S. strikes on the condition that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. While Iran signaled it would allow passage through the strait as part of the agreement, traffic remains severely disrupted, with shipping companies hesitant to resume normal operations amid ongoing security concerns and uncertainty over enforcement. Vance struck a cautious tone before departing, warning Iran not to test the U.S. negotiating posture. “If they’re gonna try and play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance said, adding that he still expects the talks to be “positive.” The outcome of the talks could determine whether the ceasefire holds or collapses into renewed hostilities, as both sides remain deeply divided after weeks of conflict. Iranian officials have struck a cautious and conditional tone ahead of the talks. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it accepted the two-week ceasefire but warned “this does not signify the termination of the war,” adding that “our hands remain upon the trigger” if the agreement is violated. Vance described the agreement Wednesday as a “fragile truce.” Iran also has tied the success of the ceasefire to developments in Lebanon, insisting that Israeli strikes on Hezbollah must stop as part of any broader agreement. Tehran has warned that continued attacks could jeopardize the talks, highlighting a key dispute with Israel and the U.S., which have argued Lebanon is not covered by the truce. VANCE WARNS IRAN WILL ‘FIND OUT’ TRUMP IS ‘NOT ONE TO MESS AROUND’ IF CEASEFIRE DEAL FALLS APART Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary, positioning itself as a neutral venue between Washington and Iran after helping broker the initial truce. But that role is already facing scrutiny. Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, sparked backlash recently after calling Israel’s actions a “curse on humanity” in a now-deleted X post and, in a separate exchange, saying critics should “burn in hell.” The remarks drew a sharp response from Israeli officials, who questioned Pakistan’s credibility as a neutral broker. Israeli leaders described the comments as “outrageous” and warned such rhetoric was incompatible with serving as a mediator, while Israel’s ambassador to India publicly said, “we don’t trust Pakistan.” Pakistani officials have not directly addressed the controversy surrounding Asif’s remarks but have defended their broader role, emphasizing Islamabad’s efforts to broker the ceasefire and facilitate talks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for “dialogue and diplomacy,” while officials say both Washington and Iran have expressed confidence in Pakistan’s mediation. The talks are also unfolding against a challenging security backdrop. U.S. officials have long treated Pakistan as a high-threat environment for official travel, with strict movement controls and layered security measures typically required for American personnel. Bill Gage, a former Secret Service agent who traveled to Islamabad with President George W. Bush, told Fox News Digital the threat environment in Pakistan historically has ranked among the most severe faced by U.S. protective teams, requiring constant coordination and heightened precautions. “The threat environment in Pakistan was one of the worst the Secret Service had ever operated in,” Gage said of his experience in 2006. “We were briefed that al-Qaeda wanted to kidnap an agent, so we always had to be in pairs.” Pakistan continues to grapple with persistent terrorism threats. The State Department currently classifies the country as a Level 3 travel risk, warning of potential attacks, crime and kidnapping, and noting that extremist groups have carried out strikes in major cities, including Islamabad. Still, U.S. officials view the Islamabad meeting as a rare opening for diplomacy, with discussions expected to include nuclear restrictions, sanctions relief and broader regional security issues. Whether the talks produce a lasting breakthrough or plunge the Middle East back into conflict may hinge on whether both Washington and Iran are willing to move beyond decades of mistrust.
Epstein survivors push back on Melania Trump hearing call as Comer vows ‘we will have hearings’
Some Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors are pushing back on first lady Melania Trump’s call for public congressional testimony, as House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed Friday “we will have hearings,” following a rare public statement Thursday by Trump at the White House where she came out swinging at those who have linked her to Epstein. The first lady also called on Congress to conduct hearings “specifically centered around the survivors.” “Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony,” Trump said. “Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes, and then her testimony should be permanently entered into the Congressional Record.” But a group of 15 Epstein victims released a joint statement Friday against the move. “First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors,” they said. “Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports, and giving testimony,” they added. “Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice.” MELANIA TRUMP DENOUNCES ‘LIES’ CONNECTING HER WITH DISGRACED FINANCIER JEFFREY EPSTEIN IN WHITE HOUSE EVENT Comer said such hearings have always been on his radar. “I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have hearings,” Comer told Fox News’ Sandra Smith. “I’ve always planned on having hearings with the victims. “My attorneys on the Oversight Committee have been communicating on a constant basis for months with the attorneys representing Epstein victims,” he added. “There are some victims who are willing to come in, [but] most victims aren’t, and I completely understand that, but we have always planned on having a hearing with Epstein’s victims once the depositions have been completed.” Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both sat for closed-door depositions with the House Oversight Committee in February for questioning related to Epstein, and a deposition is forthcoming for Microsoft founder Bill Gates in June. EPSTEIN’S LAWYER ‘NOT AWARE’ OF ANY RELATIONSHIP TRUMP HAD WITH LATE CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER, COMER SAYS “The first lady accomplished three things [Thursday] as it relates to the disgraceful Epstein,” the first lady’s senior advisor, Marc Beckman, told “Fox & Friends” Friday. “First, she cleared her record; she set the record straight, she debunked all of the lies surrounding her and Epstein.” MELANIA TRUMP ADVISOR SAYS SHE’S HAD ‘ENOUGH’ AFTER BREAKING SILENCE TO DENY JEFFREY EPSTEIN CONNECTION “Second, she became a champion for these women, for the victims, and finally, third, she’s a real leader in Washington, D.C. She’s calling on Congress to act now.” It is unclear when or how many of the survivors will come forward to testify. “Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs,” the survivors said in the statement.
Sen Tim Sheehy makes emergency landing after in-flight engine failure
Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., was forced to make an emergency landing Friday after experiencing in-flight engine failure while piloting a plane. According to Sheehy’s chief of staff, Mike Berg, the senator was conducting a routine flight training exercise that he completes twice a year. “This afternoon, Sen. Sheehy was engaged in a routine flight training exercise which he completes twice a year,” Berg said in a statement. “The aircraft experienced a mechanical engine failure.” Berg said Sheehy and his co-pilot made an emergency landing in a field. EMERGENCY LANDING ENDS IN TRAGEDY AS PLANE CRASHES ON NEW MEXICO GOLF COURSE “Neither pilot was injured,” he added. PLANE DOOR OPENS IN MIDAIR MOMENTS AFTER TAKEOFF, LEAVING FLIGHT PASSENGERS STUNNED AND SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZING The plane landed in a field in Ennis, Montana, according to KBZK. The outlet reported that Sheehy is an FAA-certified commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. Reached for comment, Sheehy’s office referred Fox News Digital to Berg’s statement. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Pelosi, California Dems slam Swalwell over bombshell sexual assault allegations: ‘Indefensible’
California Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., have come out against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell after multiple bombshell reports were published Friday accusing Swalwell of sexually assaulting a former female staffer and allegedly sexually harassing other female staffers. Amid repeated denials and cease and desist letters sent by Swalwell’s lawyer Thursday, one of the alleged victims shared her story publicly for the first time, accusing Swalwell of taking advantage of her while she was intoxicated. The alleged victim’s story also included claims Swalwell pressured her to send naked pictures of herself and sent sexually explicit photos of his own, pulled out his private parts while driving in a car with her and requested she perform oral sex on him. She said these and other incidents affected how Swalwell treated her professionally. SWALWELL’S FORMER FEMALE STAFFER DROPS BOMBSHELL ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, EXPOSING HIMSELF: REPORT On multiple occasions, the young staffer recalls blacking out from alcohol consumption, before waking up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed with signs she had engaged in intercourse. Swalwell allegedly distanced himself after the incident. Their relationship faded before they reunited when she no longer worked for him, and another incident allegedly took place. After the bombshell report from the San Francisco Chronicle surfaced Friday, Swalwell’s campaign website displayed an error page for endorsements, and a slew of Democrats withdrew their endorsements and called for Swalwell to drop out of the race for governor. “The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard,” Pelosi told media outlets. “As I discussed with Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” “I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account, and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,” added Schiff. “This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately and believe that he should withdraw from the race.” ERIC SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SETS OFF ALARM BELLS AFTER ACCEPTING $25K DONATION FROM CCP-TIED LAWYER: ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ “To the survivor who risked everything to come forward – I believe you. To the Democratic Party – you’d better hold him accountable,” Matt Mahan, a former San Jose mayor and fellow Democrat gubernatorial candidate in California said Friday. “If we don’t, we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same. To Eric Swalwell – drop out.” “The allegations against Congressmember Swalwell are deeply disturbing,” California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said in a statement. “First, the stories of victims and survivors should be heard and believed. Period. “Second, any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions – including a member of Congress and candidate for Governor. Finally, my call for all — repeat, all — candidates for Governor to ‘honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign’ still stands. In fact, that call is more important now than ever before.” “The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell,” the California Teachers Association said on X. “We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process to determine next steps.” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and former campaign chair for Swalwell’s failed presidential campaign, is now backing away from his initial support for Swalwell amid the sexual misconduct allegations he is facing as the California congressman runs for governor. Earlier this week, Gallego faced blowback for attempting to discredit a user on X who said sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell will end up “kick[ing] his a–.” Gallego also defended Swalwell for being “targeted” in a separate post on social media, arguing he is the subject of sexual misconduct allegations because he is “in first place.” However, after the report released by the San Francisco Chronicle, Gallego changed his tune dramatically. SWALWELL THREATENS FBI WITH LEGAL ACTION AS PATEL REPORTEDLY WEIGHS ‘FANG FANG’ FILES RELEASE “I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously. What is described is indefensible,” Gallego posted on social media Friday after the report. “Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed. I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.” Swalwell has fiercely denied the allegations that were first being elevated on social media by Democratically-aligned politicos, including Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer who is a nonprofit director at the group Gen-Z for Change, and Arielle Fodor, a “political content creator,” teacher and mother who refers to herself “Mrs. Frazzled” online. On Friday, the first first-hand account of these allegations surfaced. Neither Swalwell nor his attorney responded to Fox News Digital’s inquiries about the first-hand allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Following the San Francisco Chronicle’s report Friday, CNN published a separate report indicating three other women it had spoken to also alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by the Democratic congressman, including Swalwell sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.
Swalwell’s former female staffer drops bombshell allegations of sexual assault, exposing himself: report
Sexual harassment allegations have been amplified online by Democrat-aligned politicos targeting Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., one of the leading Democratic candidates in California’s gubernatorial race. Amid repeated denials and cease-and-desist letters sent by Swalwell’s lawyer, one of the alleged victims shared her story publicly for the first time, accusing Swalwell of taking advantage of her while she was intoxicated on multiple occasions, according to a bombshell report published by the San Francisco Chronicle Friday. The alleged victim’s story also included claims that Swalwell pressured her to send naked pictures of herself and sent sexually explicit photos of his own, pulled out his private parts while driving in a car with her and requested she perform oral sex on him, among other incidents the victim said affected how Swalwell treated her professionally. DEM SENATOR RIPPED FOR ‘SMEAR’ OF FEMALE ACTIVIST ADVOCATING FOR SWALWELL’S ACCUSERS The unnamed female accuser, who spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle, reportedly worked for Swalwell for about two years and revealed that he started pursuing her, despite being married, shortly after she was hired as a 21-year-old staffer in his district office. On multiple occasions, the young staffer recalls blacking out from alcohol consumption, before waking up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed with signs she had engaged in intercourse. Swalwell allegedly distanced himself after the incident, and their relationship faded, before they reunited when she no longer worked for him when another incident allegedly took place. “Eric Swalwell should immediately drop out,” Democratic strategist Bhavik Lathia said after the San Francisco Chronicle’s report dropped. “It is damning.” Matt Mahan, a former San Jose Mayor and fellow Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in California, also called on Swalwell to “drop out.” “To the survivor who risked everything to come forward – I believe you,” Mahan said. “To the Democratic Party – you’d better hold him accountable. “If we don’t, we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same.” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend of Swalwell who faced backlash earlier this week for trying to discredit allegations against the California Democrat, posted on Friday that he “regret[s] having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.” “What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed,” Gallego said. “I am withdrawing my endorsement of Congressman Swalwell, effective immediately.” Swalwell’s team did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment, but he recently said during a press gaggle that the allegations are “false,” including allegations that Swalwell previously pressured female staffers to sign non-disclosure agreements so they cannot speak out or that he was involved in an alleged hush money settlement. “It’s false. And also some of the allegations I’ve seen, which is that we’ve had NDAs in the office – never. There’s never been an allegation, and there’s never been a settlement,” Swalwell insisted this week. “This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell, also said Tuesday. Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer who is a nonprofit director at the group Gen-Z for Change, is among the voices acting as a proxy for alleged Swalwell accusers and has been helping amplify their stories. On Friday, she blasted Swalwell for “tak[ing] a page out of the Trump playbook by attempting to silence women” with cease-and-desist letters he allegedly sent out late Thursday night ahead of the San Francisco Chronicle’s report sharing a first-hand account from one of Swalwell’s alleged accusers. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the allegations from the report. The alleged victim, who began working for Swalwell during his short-lived presidential campaign in 2019, said a married Swalwell, who was 38, began pursuing her, including through messages on Snapchat, which allows users to send photos that subsequently disappear after someone has looked at them. She claimed the relationship rapidly progressed as Swalwell began asking for pictures of her face, then her naked body and eventually her genitalia. When messaging, the victim alleged Swalwell would sometimes send shirtless selfies or other images of his own genitalia. SWALWELL THREATENS FBI WITH LEGAL ACTION AS PATEL REPORTEDLY WEIGHS ‘FANG FANG’ FILES RELEASE Swalwell then allegedly tried to kiss the victim in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night. On another occasion, he allegedly pulled out his penis while in the vehicle and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She admitted to doing so in a parking lot but soon stopped out of fear someone might see them. In September 2019, the alleged victim, who was then working in Swalwell’s Castro Valley district office, reportedly said Swalwell invited her out for dinner and drinks when she drank too much and blacked out. She claimed to have not even remembered leaving the restaurant but woke up in Swalwell’s hotel room the next day with vaginal soreness indicative of sexual intercourse. She also reportedly had a brief memory of Swalwell sucking her toes. After the alleged September 2019 incident in Swalwell’s hotel room, the victim said the pair’s relationship faded as Swalwell distanced himself from her and began treating her more formally during public interactions. She eventually stopped working for Swalwell but stayed in politics and noted Swalwell would occasionally remain in touch with her, including reaching out when she was looking for a job. However, she claimed that, five years later, while attending an April 2024 charity event Swalwell was being honored at, the pair reunited. She was not working for Swalwell at this later date, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The woman indicated that she and Swalwell went out for drinks after the event, during which she once again became inebriated and could only remember
Trump’s birthright citizenship crusade draws backing from cohort of prominent legal scholars
A group of at least seven law professors have mounted a campaign to challenge the longstanding interpretation of birthright citizenship, arguing in favor of President Donald Trump’s effort to narrow the constitutional provision, even as Supreme Court justices signal skepticism. The legal scholars’ arguments aim to persuade the Supreme Court and opponents of Trump’s efforts that there are serious originalist and historical arguments for narrowing birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment that deserve consideration rather than dismissal as a fringe political theory. Ilan Wurman, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, told Fox News Digital the recent wave of support is intended to reinforce the point that birthright citizenship is not a settled matter despite the institutional consensus on it. “That several prominent law professors have come out over the past year, including a few in the past month, in varying degrees of support for the Trump Administration’s birthright citizenship executive order, shows that their position is serious,” Wurman said. “The Supreme Court cannot simply rely on the conventional wisdom. It will have to show its work.” TRUMP ELEVATES IMMIGRATION FIGHT AT SUPREME COURT, TURNING UP HEAT ON DEMOCRATS AHEAD OF MIDTERMS Wurman, who specializes in constitutional law, was one of dozens who also weighed in on the case by submitting amicus briefs to the high court ahead of April 1 oral arguments on birthright citizenship, which grants automatic citizenship to most babies born on U.S. soil under the 14th Amendment. He argued, in part, that the amendment never intended to grant illegal immigrants’ babies citizenship, saying that in the 19th century, parents who were residents of a country owed allegiance to the country in exchange for protections from its government. “This exchange of allegiance and protection was often described as a ‘mutual compact,’” Wurman wrote. “Lawful aliens generally fell within the scope of the rule, while foreign soldiers and ambassadors did not. … Illegally present aliens would likely have fallen outside the scope of the rule.” The other law professors include Randy Barnett of Georgetown University, Kurt Lash of University of Richmond, Richard Epstein of New York University, Tom Lee of Fordham University, Adrian Vermeule of Harvard University and, most recently, Philip Hamburger of Columbia University, each of whom has argued in varying degrees that Trump’s birthright citizenship order is constitutionally defensible. SCOTUS SLATED TO WEIGH FUTURE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP PROTECTIONS FOR MILLIONS — HERE’S WHAT AT STAKE Trump’s order, signed soon after he took office, would prevent children born to mothers who are illegal immigrants or legal temporary visitors from gaining automatic citizenship. While all the justices, aside from Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, appear poised to toss out Trump’s order, the case has nevertheless invited polarizing debate. If approved by the high court, it could strip citizenship from those ineligible for it under Trump’s new interpretation and broadly shift immigration policy. The Trump administration has contended that temporary visitors and illegal immigrants are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States and that that phrasing in the amendment was intended to apply to freed slaves in the Civil War-era. The administration has argued that birth tourism companies have illegally exploited the generous citizenship policy and that it also incentivizes illegal immigration. Chief Justice John Roberts challenged Solicitor General John Sauer during oral arguments on the small exceptions built into the 14th Amendment, such as children born to foreign diplomats, saying they were not comparable to a wide category of illegal immigrants. JUSTICE JACKSON SPARKS ONLINE UPROAR AFTER LINKING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP TO STEALING A WALLET IN JAPAN “The examples you give to support that strike me as very quirky,” Roberts said. “You know, children of ambassadors, children of enemies during a hostile invasion, children on warships, and then you expand it to a whole class of illegal aliens. … I’m not quite sure how you can get to that big group from such tiny and sort of idiosyncratic examples.” The American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who argued against the executive order told the Supreme Court the policy was enshrined in the 14th Amendment to “put it out of reach of any government official” and that its exceptions were intentionally narrow. “It excludes only those cloaked with a fiction of extraterritoriality because they are subject to another sovereign’s jurisdiction even when they’re in the United States, a closed set of exceptions to an otherwise universal rule,” ACLU lawyer Cecillia Wang said. Wurman noted that the professors siding with Trump’s executive order have been met with “swift and vicious” reactions. David Bier, immigration expert at the libertarian CATO Institute, said the bloc of dissenters was unserious. “Oh SEVEN!? That’s remarkable given that to qualify as a judge or appointee you need to align yourself with the president,” Bier wrote on X. “The case is a joke. It’s sad that these people are debasing themselves in a losing effort for an ignoble cause.”
Golden eagles, lions and a winged Lady Liberty top Trump’s proposed 250-foot DC Triumphal Arch designs
The fate of the President Donald Trump-touted 250-foot Triumphal Arch will be decided next week at a White House Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) meeting after the official proposed designs of the monument were filed by the Trump administration and released for the first time Friday. “I am pleased to announce that TODAY my Administration officially filed the presentation and plans to the highly respected Commission of Fine Arts for what will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World,” Trump said in Truth Social post. “This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!” TRUMP ADMIN OFFICIALS REVEAL DETAILS OF FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX IN DC Speculation has swirled about the final look of the proposed arch since late last year, with many iterations making the rounds on social media before the official mock-ups were shared earlier today. The mock-up, designed by architecture firm Harrison Design, is a 12-page addendum shared on the Commission of Fine Arts official meeting page. According to those mock-ups, the arch rises to 250 feet, evoking the nation’s 250th anniversary and more than double the height of the nearby 99-foot Lincoln Memorial. The central opening of the arch in the provided designs is roughly 110 feet high, providing a picture frame effect for both the Lincoln Memorial across the Potomac River and Arlington National Cemetery. The arch’s location would be roughly equidistant from both landmarks, sitting at the roundabout between Memorial Bridge and Memorial Avenue near the Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop. The scale would be unlike any monument in Washington, D.C., with the arch theoretically dwarfing nearby memorials and towering above the roadway. TRUMP ADMIN URGES RESTORING BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION IN EMERGENCY MOTION: ‘TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE’ Friday’s released designs revealed a golden, winged Lady Liberty-style figure atop the arch flanked by two bald eagles crowning the monument and adding even more height to the structure. This is in contrast to previous possible designs Trump posted to social media in January, which had no ornamentation atop the arch. The most iconic detail released in Friday’s design, emblazoned across the top of the large central archway, are golden letters that say “ONE NATION UNDER GOD” centered on its white stone facade. Harrison Design confirmed to Fox News Digital that the principal architect behind the arch is Nicolas Charbonneau, the award-winning director of Harrison Design’s Sacred Architecture Studio. He is known primarily for his work on churches. “The world is ordered so that there’s a harmony to everything,” Charbonneau told The Arlington Catholic Herald. “And we’ve been designed to know that there should be an ordering to what we do. A lot of modern architecture flies in the face of that.” RARE AND ORIGINAL AMERICAN FOUNDING DOCUMENTS TO FLY ON FREEDOM PLANE ACROSS NATION According to the mock-ups reviewed by Fox News Digital, there appear to be internal staircases within the arch’s pedestals leading to what is implied to be a viewing deck for visitors to the monument. Four golden lions sit at each corner of the monument, renderings show. The White House reiterated its goals for the monument in a statement it had previously shared with Fox News Digital earlier this year when asked for comment. “The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle reiterated in a statement to Fox News Digital. AMERICA 250 ORGANIZERS UNVEIL SWEEPING PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY’S HISTORIC BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today. President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.” Trump has previously touted the arch, saying he’d “like it to be the biggest one of all,” adding, “We’re the biggest, most powerful nation.” The Commission of Fine Arts, founded in 1910, consists of members who are personally selected by the sitting president and describes itself as “an independent federal agency charged with giving expert advice to the President, the Congress and the federal and District of Columbia governments on matters of design and aesthetics.” The White House Commission of Fine Arts is scheduled to meet Thursday morning in D.C. The entire packet of renderings of the arch can be viewed here. Harrison Design did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the arch’s design.
Wes Moore preemptively unloads on Baltimore Sun ahead of expose, as spox beefs with ‘right wing’ ownership
Before The Baltimore Sun published a word of its reported investigation into Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s record, the Democrat state leader and his team were already blasting the paper’s new ownership as “right-wing” and cozy with President Donald Trump. The Baltimore Sun, which was purchased by Sinclair executive chairman David D. Smith in 2024, is reportedly examining Moore’s military record, scholastic sports tenure and other parts of his background, Semafor reported earlier this week, citing the Sun has brought on investigative reporters from sister outlets under the Sinclair umbrella. “It’s actually a very sad day because the Baltimore Sun used to be our paper of record. It’s now become the paper of the right wing,” Moore told former Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki in a recent interview, after Psaki noted the Sun was purchased in 2024 by Smith. Moore, who has downplayed talks of a 2028 presidential bid, has previously faced scrutiny for listing a Bronze Star on a Bush-era White House fellowship application before he received the award, as well as questions about the depth of his Baltimore roots during his 2022 race against then-Gov. Larry Hogan. Moore ultimately received the Bronze Star in 2024. WES MOORE WARNS DHS FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF NEW ICE COMPOUND NOW UNDER STATE INVESTIGATION “[Y]ou’ve had a MAGA billionaire who is now currying favor for [President Donald Trump] and utilizing what used to be a prized paper for our region and now turning it to something that is not much more than right-wing drivel,” Moore said. The governor added that Army members he served with don’t question his integrity in the same way and that Smith is the “canary in the coalmine” for wealthy conservatives trying to use their resources to please Trump, including using the media. The interview elicited a lengthy rebuttal from the managing editor of the Smith-linked outlet investigating Moore: Spotlight on Maryland. The outlet is a collaboration between the Sinclair-owned FOX affiliate in Baltimore, ABC affiliate in Washington and the Sun. “Democrats sure are putting in a lot of work to discredit a series before it’s even started running. That alone should raise a question: why?,” Spotlight on Maryland managing editor Candy Woodall tweeted, captioning Moore’s interview. Woodall claimed Moore’s office threatened to disseminate files to “every media reporter” to try to discredit her investigation. “We saw the same playbook in 2022 when a FOX-45 reporter asked why Moore allowed claims that he had received a Bronze Star that he didn’t have at the time. His team accused the reporter and media outlet of bias and a smear campaign,” she wrote. “Two years later, after the New York Times wrote about the Bronze Star Moore hadn’t received, the narrative changed, and the governor said it was ‘an honest mistake’. In an August 2024 statement on his military record, Moore acknowledged he knew before leaving Afghanistan that he had not received the award.” In that statement, Moore said his deputy brigade commander encouraged him to apply for a White House fellowship and simultaneously recommended him for a Bronze Star and told him to include that on his application. He added that in his officer evaluation, his superiors ranked him in the top 1% of Operation Enduring Freedom officers and called him “the best lieutenant I’ve encountered…” before later noting he “sincerely wish[ed he] had gone back to correct the note on my application.” Woodall pushed back again in her tweet, saying that her journalists’ loyalties aren’t to officials but to Marylanders and that her team sent “hundreds” of questions to Moore and his staff to scant responses. She claimed a Moore official admitted Spotlight doesn’t deserve to be treated like a news outlet and “nothing that comes out of Sinclair should be taken seriously.” “If you want to know more, keep reading The Baltimore Sun, a 200-year-old newspaper that has survived many governors,” she quipped. When asked for a response, Moore press secretary Ammar Moussa told Fox News Digital that “in light of revelations that Sinclair owner and Trump-donor David Smith is personally involved in Spotlight on Maryland’s reporting, what is the extent of Sinclair owner and Donald Trump ally David Smith’s influence in the FOX-45 and Baltimore Sun newsrooms?” He also said Spotlight reporter Gary Collins is “not a journalist,” directing Fox News Digital to an X response to Collins, criticizing him as a former Maryland Republican Party official “working at the direction of your Trump-supporting boss.” ANTI-ICE LEGISLATION HEADS TO DESK OF RISING STAR DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR, TESTING HIS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITIONS “I will continue to report facts, just like my colleagues do,” Collins said. Collins had also published a March 26 report on a roundtable Moore participated in near a Washington County warehouse rumored to be destined as an ICE facility. Collins’ piece noted Moore’s complaint about the feds’ “lack of transparency” and contrasted it with what he said was a similar dynamic in Annapolis. “[Moore’s] administration has yet to release full documentation tied to his military record, academic history, and prior credentials — records Spotlight On Maryland has requested for months,” Collins wrote, going on to scribe that Sun co-owner and Moore friend Armstrong Williams penned a column calling on the governor to “tell the truth and release the facts.” Moussa also took aim at Woodall, asking her if Smith was behind her lengthy tweet. “Did your Trump-supporting boss write this? Or does he only monitor your emails?” Moussa said. Smith previously ruffled feathers on the left when Sinclair pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its lineup following the controversial comic’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s murder. Sinclair is reportedly the largest owner of affiliates of ABC – the network that employs Kimmel. Fox News Digital reached out to Sinclair and Smith for additional comment on Friday.