Biden’s ex-chief of staff arrives for House Oversight grilling as mental acuity probe nears end
Former White House chief of staff Jeff Zients is on Capitol Hill Thursday as the House Oversight Committee’s probe into former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity draws to a close. He said nothing to reporters on his way into his closed-door voluntary interview, though the ex-Biden aide did shake hands with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., on his way into the room. The sit-down is expected to last from about 10 a.m. into the afternoon. Zients is the last former Biden official expected to be interviewed by the committee, which is also looking into whether the then-president was fully aware of clemency orders and other executive actions signed by autopen during the latter half of his term. RON KLAIN DODGES REPORTERS AFTER MARATHON GRILLING IN BIDEN COVER-UP PROBE Comer told reporters ahead of the interview that Zients is “one of the most, if not the most important, witnesses in our investigation.” “Zients was the one who authorized the use of the autopen, especially down the stretch in the last lame duck period of the Biden administration,” Comer said. “We’ve had a lot of witnesses come in that were supposedly in Biden’s inner circle that were shielded from President Biden, especially in the last six months of his administration. So we believe Zients is the guy that was potentially making a lot of decisions down the stretch.” Zients’ recollection will be of particular interest to House investigators, given his senior role in the Biden White House for most of those final two years in office. Before that, he served as counselor to the president and White House COVID-19 response coordinator from Biden’s swearing-in in January 2021 until April 2022. Perhaps most critical to the committee is Zients’ reported key role in the chain of command for Biden’s autopen pardons. LONGTIME BIDEN AIDE SAYS HE STOOD TO EARN UP TO $8M HAD PRESIDENT WON RE-ELECTION It’s not uncommon for presidents to use an autopen to sign documents, and it has been used by leaders on both sides of the aisle. However, Comer is questioning whether Biden was really handing down those decisions, given public concerns about his mental and physical acuity that arose toward the end of his term. The New York Times reported that Zients would have been among the top aides relaying Biden’s clemency decisions to assistants, who then drafted those orders before they were circulated back to Biden’s senior officials and then later given final approval. In that same report, Biden said he made every clemency decision on his own. Axios reported earlier this month that Zients signed off on pardons granted to five of Biden’s family members less than 24 hours before he left office. The former president’s allies have pushed back on the Republican-led House Oversight probe, however, denouncing the investigation as politically motivated. “You managed a White House in disarray after public reporting began to focus on the apparent decline of President Biden’s mental capabilities. You reportedly called an all-staff call in July 2024 ‘in which [you] urged President Biden’s team to unite and move forward from Biden’s terrible debate performance[.],’” Comer wrote in a June letter to Zients. “The scope of your responsibilities — both official and otherwise — and personal interactions within the Oval Office cannot go without investigation. If White House staff carried out a strategy lasting months or even years to hide the chief executive’s condition — or to perform his duties — Congress may need to consider a legislative response.”
‘What would Jesus do?’ Utah students torn on death penalty for Charlie Kirk’s accused killer
OREM, Utah – As Utah Valley University students returned to campus following conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s assassination, those who spoke to Fox News Digital were divided over whether Tyler Robinson should face the death penalty. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced on Tuesday that Utah prosecutors would seek the death penalty against Robinson on multiple charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. “I think it’s totally necessary,” Ryder Warner, a UVU student who was entering the courtyard when Kirk was shot last Wednesday, said of a potential death penalty against Robinson. Warner told Fox News Digital that, as a Christian, he didn’t believe in taking another human’s life, but “with this situation, where somebody was just here to share an opinion and lost their life because of their opinion, I think that whoever took their life should be killed, too.” “I think that’s only fair,” he said. CHARLIE KIRK’S KILLING AT UTAH UNIVERSITY PROMPTS SCRUTINY OF SECURITY MEASURES Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to UVU students last Wednesday, Sept. 10. After a 33-hour manhunt, Robinson was arrested for allegedly assassinating Kirk. Gray outlined the formal charges against Robinson during a press conference on Tuesday, which was followed by the suspect’s first court appearance. UTAH LEADERS URGE UNITY FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION: ‘TURNING POINT FOR AMERICA’ Afton Miller, a junior at UVU who said she was 5 to 10 feet away from Kirk when he was shot, said Robinson facing the death penalty “hurts a little bit.” “I’m pro-life,” Miller said. “I believe that somebody deserves to live, but in moments like this, it’s very hard that their family is also losing their son as well. It’s just as painful to lose somebody.” She said it was “extremely traumatic” to witness the assassination of one of her “greatest heroes” on her college campus. UVU student Jessie Ball, who was also on campus when Kirk was assassinated, said last week’s tragedy inspired her to use her voice and speak up like Kirk did. “It’s a hard thing to watch, and as people who probably didn’t see the signs coming, it has to be heartbreaking,” Ball said. “I know my family and I will be praying for them to feel God’s love and the peace through it, but his actions have consequences, and they have a lasting impact, and if that’s what the state agreed on…” James Whitney, another UVU student, told Fox News Digital that “they found the gun in my parents’ backyard.” According to Robinson’s charging documents, investigators found a “bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel” in a wooded area on the northeast end of campus, but authorities have not confirmed the exact location. Whitney said it was “scary” returning to campus. He said he typically tries to stay out of politics because political violence is “becoming normalized.” “I don’t agree with what happened here,” Whitney said. “I don’t think any human being ever deserves to have that kind of hate taken out on their life, ever, including in front of their kids. With the death penalty, I mean, a lot of people here are religious. What would Jesus do?” Whitney asked. And while Whitney emphasized that he didn’t agree with what Robinson did, “especially on my own school grounds,” the UVU student said he didn’t “condone any sort of death in any sort of way,” as the Utah County attorney seeks the death penalty. Meanwhile, Trae Stevens, who is not a UVU student but said he grew up about an hour’s drive south and was visiting the campus on Tuesday to pay his respects, told Fox News Digital it’s “fair” for Robinson to face the death penalty. “I think it’s sad for anybody to die,” Stevens said. “It’s a crazy situation and just to see how it’s affected almost the entire world and that this one man could have such evil in his heart. It’s sad, but I think it’s fair, yes.” UVU classes resumed on Wednesday, one week after Kirk’s assassination. The campus began reopening on Monday as students and locals visited campus to pay their respects to Kirk by leaving flowers and posters. An American flag is now hanging in the UVU courtyard where Kirk was speaking when he was shot. The campus is planning a “Vigil for Unity” on Friday for students, faculty, staff and members of the community to gather in “remembering, healing and reaffirming shared values.” “This attack was not just on an individual, but on the spirit of free expression, civil discourse, and intellectual inquiry that sits at the very foundation of our university,” UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez said in a statement. “The violence that occurred on our campus has shaken us deeply. We remain steadfast in our commitment to learning, dialogue and the values that unite us, even in times of grief. Together we choose hope for the future, and care for each other during this time.”
Immigration judge orders deportation of Mahmoud Khalil to Syria or Algeria
A federal immigration judge has ordered Mahmoud Khalil deported to either Algeria or Syria after ruling he hid information on his U.S. green card application. Judge Jamee Comans issued the Sept. 12 decision in Louisiana and said that Khalil did not disclose his internship with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and ties with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, an anti-Israel campus coalition. Court filings unsealed Wednesday and published by the American Civil Liberties Union also show Coman cited the activism ties as central to her ruling. NEWLY RELEASED MAHMOUD KHALIL SPOTTED BACK AT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY She denied Khalil’s motion for relief, writing that the omissions were deliberate and constituted grounds for removal. Federal authorities argue that Khalil’s misrepresentations involved politically sensitive affiliations, raising both national security and foreign policy concerns. Khalil, a legal permanent resident, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8 at his Manhattan apartment. He spent more than three months in detention in Louisiana before being released in June, when U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled he was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the public. ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL POSTS $1 BOND AFTER FEDERAL JUDGE RULES TRUMP ADMIN CAN’T DETAIN HIM Farbiarz also temporarily blocked Khalil’s removal while reviewing his claim that the government’s actions amounted to retaliation for protected political speech. Khalil’s legal team confirmed Wednesday that they plan to appeal the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals. They framed the case as a broader civil rights battle. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “It is no surprise that the Trump administration continues to retaliate against me for my exercise of free speech,” Khalil said in a statement. “Their latest attempt, through a kangaroo immigration court, exposes their true colors once again.” Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Trump to designate antifa a ‘major terrorist organization’
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he will designate antifa, a left-wing activist group, a “major terrorist organization.” Trump described the group as “A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER” in a Truth Social announcement. The president added he will be “strongly recommending” that those funding antifa be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices. The announcement comes just days after Trump said he would “100%” consider the designation. FBI’S TRUMP PROBE ‘ARCTIC FROST’ ALSO INVESTIGATED CHARLIE KIRK’S TPUSA, GRASSLEY REVEALS Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office Monday, Trump accused antifa participants of being “professional agitators” in response to the administration’s recent crackdown on illegal immigration. “Antifa is terrible,” the president said. “These aren’t protests, these are crimes that they’re doing. They’re throwing bricks at cars of the ICE and Border Patrol. … They’re professional agitators. … They should be put in jail. What they’re doing to this country is really subversive.” DAVID MARCUS: DEMOCRATS MUST STOP THEIR DEADLY ANTI-FASCISM COSPLAY Antifa, which is short for “anti-fascist,” is a decentralized movement that does not have a designated leader, membership or structure. The movement claims to oppose fascism, white supremacy and far-right extremism. However, those who identify as part of Antifa — often wearing all black clothing and masks — have come under fire for their use of doxxing, violence and intimidation. MEET THE RADICAL DC ACTIVIST MOBILIZING GANG MEMBERS, ‘HARDCORE MEN’ TO TARGET FEDERAL TAKEOVER: ‘REAL ENEMY’ In response to the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, Trump linked alleged killer Tyler Robinson to “radical” far-left activism. According to authorities, bullet casings found near the suspected murder weapon were engraved with “Hey fascist! Catch!” and “Bella ciao bella ciao ciao,” which stems from an anti-fascist song popularized by the Italian resistance during World War II. “We have a radical left group of lunatics out there, just absolute lunatics, and we’re going to get that problem solved,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One on Sept. 11. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump added he wanted people to respond to Kirk’s death in a non-violent manner, something Kirk advocated for throughout his career. Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Kash clashes with the Senate
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… –Gun seller takes stand in Trump assassination attempt trial with key testimony about rifle purchase -DHS blames political rhetoric for surge in assaults on ICE agents after Charlie Kirk murder -House Dem warns both sides on ‘road to ruin’ as political divide deepens over Kirk assassination FBI Director Kash Patel is testifying before House lawmakers on Wednesday in a hearing focused on the bureau’s dramatic reforms in the second Trump administration and the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. Patel is facing questions in five-minute rounds from Republicans and Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee as part of an annual oversight hearing, marking the director’s second appearance in as many days on Capitol Hill after he testified before the Senate one day prior. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, raised what he said was a weaponization of the FBI against conservatives, reviving concerns his committee regularly brought up during FBI Director Christopher Wray’s tenure. Jordan praised Patel for what he said was a course correction…Read more PROFESSOR VEEP: Donald Trump’s first vice president snags new job POLITICAL SHOWDOWN: Patel spars with House Democrats on allegations he’s involved in Epstein ‘cover-up’: ‘Categorically false’ INFANT HEALTH POLICY: Rand Paul clashes with top Democrat over CDC pushing vaccines on infants BROKEN HOUSE: ‘Squad’ member, Nancy Mace clash on social media: ‘You belong in rehab’ GROOMING CRACKDOWN: Pentagon unveils new ‘clean shaven’ standards, only allows medical exemptions for one year GOP COLLISION: Republican who defied Trump over 2020 election results launches battleground state governor bid MAYOR VS FAITH: Whitmer quiet on Muslim mayor telling critic of terrorist sympathizer he’s ‘not welcome’ BIGGER THAN EVER: ‘This is the turning point:’ TPUSA says campus chapter requests surge over 54,000 after Kirk’s assassination SPEECH SHIELD: Liberal professors’ group backs faculty speech after Charlie Kirk assassination, silent on condemning attack ‘SOMBER’ REFLECTION: Utah Valley University mourns Charlie Kirk as campus reopens after assassination: ‘Extremely traumatic’ LEGACY IN MOTION: Arizona highway could honor Charlie Kirk after assassination rocks conservative movement HATE IN SCHOOLS: Celebratory, dismissive reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death putting educators under scrutiny FREE SPEECH FIGHT: Mamdani labeled Kirk a ‘far-right extremist’ who should be canceled from speaking in NYC Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Cruz doubles down against groups funding Charlie Kirk protests; FBI director backs bill during hearing
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, blasted organizations and individuals allegedly funding protests at various Charlie Kirk memorials, in addition to backing “violent” and “extreme” anti-ICE and anti-Israel demonstrations. In July, Cruz introduced legislation that would allow the Department of Justice (DOJ) to impose Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges on individuals and organizations allegedly behind funding violent protests. “I urge the FBI and the Department of Justice follow the money,” Cruz told Fox News Digital. “This violence we’re seeing, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, was horrific. “It was a politically motivated assassination. STUDENT EXPELLED AFTER BEING CAUGHT ON VIDEO ACTING OUT CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION AT TEXAS STATE VIGIL “This follows a string of politically motivated violence, including the Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots of several years ago,” Cruz continued. “Including the antisemitic riots on college campuses that played out over the last couple of years. Including the pro-open-borders riots in American cities.” Since the assassination of the conservative activist Kirk last week, local and campus police have arrested a number of students and demonstrators who have disrupted vigils and memorial events. Cruz’s bill, the Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (STOP FUNDERs) Act, also addresses the violent anti-ICE riots that took place in California and the antisemitic protests that have plagued college campuses since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas. TED CRUZ SAYS HATE SPEECH ‘ABSOLUTELY’ PROTECTED BY FIRST AMENDMENT FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION At a heated Senate Judiciary hearing this week with FBI Director Kash Patel as the lead witness, Patel agreed with Cruz’s legislative targeting alleged funding groups. Cruz questioned Patel during Tuesday’s hearing, asking if the FBI would benefit from “Congress passing into law the STOP FUNDERs Act and if rioting was added to the list of predicate offenses for RICO.” Patel responded during the hearing in agreement with Cruz’s assertion about the bill. President Donald Trump himself and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller have also spoken out about groups funding extreme demonstrations. KASH PATEL FACES HOUSE GRILLING AFTER TENSE SENATE CLASHES OVER KIRK ASSASSINATION “They have organized drop points for weapons, organized drop points for gas masks, organized drop points for all the materials necessary to launch a riot,” Miller told reporters Monday. “I think the key point the president has been making is somebody is paying for all of this. This is not happening for free.” Cruz has been outspoken in condemning the assassination of Kirk, and when asked if the accused assassin should receive the death penalty, Cruz told Fox News Digital, “The death penalty is absolutely merited. “I am glad they’re seeking the death penalty,” Cruz added. “The very worst crimes deserve the ultimate punishment.”
4 House Republicans vote with Dems to block resolution censuring Ilhan Omar for Charlie Kirk comments
The House of Representatives voted along bipartisan lines on Wednesday to table a resolution to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., over comments about Charlie Kirk. Four House Republicans voted with Democrats to table the legislation, effectively blocking it from receiving its own House-wide vote. A vote to table is a procedural mechanism allowing House members to vote against consideration of a bill without having to vote on the bill itself. The measure was blocked in a narrow 214 to 213 vote. The four Republicans who voted to table the measure are Reps. Mike Flood, R-Neb., Tom McClintock, R-Calif., Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., and Cory Mills, R-Fla. ABC REPORTER CALLS CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN’S TEXT MESSAGES WITH TRANSGENDER PARTNER ‘VERY TOUCHING’ McClintock told Fox News Digital that while he condemned Omar’s response to Kirk’s death, he voted against moving forward with the censure based on First Amendment grounds. “Ilhan Omar’s comments regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk are vile and contemptible. They deserve the harshest criticism of every man and woman of good will. But this disgusting and hateful speech is still speech and is protected by our First Amendment,” he said. “Censure is formal punishment by the House and we have already gone too far down this road. Omar’s comments were not made in the House and even if they were, they broke no House rules. A free society depends on tolerating ALL speech — even hateful speech — confident that the best way to sort good from evil is to put the two side by side and trust the people to know the difference.” Hurd responded similarly, “Ilhan Omar’s comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as well as her comments about those who supported Charlie, are ghoulish and evil. I condemn them completely.” “But I voted against today’s censure because it tried to strip another Member of Congress from committees and to silence her for exercising the First Amendment right to free speech. The right response to reprehensible speech like this isn’t silencing: it’s more speech. That’s what Charlie Kirk believed and practiced, and I agree,” he told Fox News Digital. Mills had been facing his own retaliatory censure led by House progressives, but that effort was dropped when Omar’s censure failed. He cited First Amendment grounds on X when explaining his vote as well, however. “The 7 Articles and 27 Amendments of our Constitution are not followed only when it serves your purpose…We may not like or agree with what someone says, but that does not mean we should deny their protected 1A Right,” Mills posted. Flood told Fox News Digital that the proper recourse would be referring Omar to the House Ethics Committee before a censure. “Ilhan Omar’s statements and social media posts are reprehensible and should be referred to the Ethics Committee. The appropriate time to consider a censure motion would be after ethics reviews her conduct,” Flood said. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., moved to force a vote on the resolution Tuesday by introducing it as “privileged,” a mechanism that requires House leaders to deal with a measure within two legislative days. It’s part of the continued fallout from Omar’s remarks made days after Kirk’s assassination, which conservatives have accused of disparaging the conservative activist’s legacy. SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING She specifically faced backlash over an interview with progressive news outlet Zeteo, where she criticized Kirk’s past commentary and Republicans’ reaction to the shooting. She later accused Republicans of taking her words out of context, and she called Kirk’s death “mortifying.” She previously told Zeteo days after Kirk’s assassination that he had “downplayed slavery and what Black people have gone through in this country by saying Juneteenth shouldn’t exist.” “There are a lot of people who are out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate,” the “Squad” member said. “There is nothing more effed up, you know, like, than to completely pretend that, you know, his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.” She later posted on X amid the backlash, “While I disagreed with Charlie Kirk vehemently about his rhetoric, my heart breaks for his wife and children. I don’t wish violence on anyone. My faith teaches me the power of peace, empathy, and compassion. Right-wing accounts trying to spin a false story when I condemned his murder multiple times is fitting for their agenda to villainize the left to hide from the fact that Donald Trump gins up hate on a daily basis.” Kirk was shot and killed during a college campus speaking event in Utah. Mace introduced her resolution on the House floor Tuesday by reading it on the House floor. “Charlie Kirk was a lifelong advocate for freedom of speech, civil political discourse and the political engagement of youth,” Mace read aloud. “One day after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Representative Ilhan Omar gave an interview on Zeteo’s town hall with Mehdi Hassan, in which she smeared Charlie Kirk and implied he was to blame for his own murder.” Mace also accused Omar of reposting a video that said, “Don’t be fooled, these people don’t give a single s— about Charlie Kirk. They’re just using his death to further their Christo-fascist agenda.” Other progressives leaped to Omar’s defense, including Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., who posted on X, “Babe, those are not direct quotes from Ilhan Omar. According to the APA, if you use a direct quotation, it must sustain your claim. The quotes you used are not Ilhan’s words, they are not in context and do not prove your point. Read before you tweet.” It’s one of several measures targeting Omar over her comments. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., who is running for Senate, introduced his own measure to strip Omar of her committee assignments on Monday.
House clears path for vote honoring Charlie Kirk, denouncing ‘political extremism’
The House voted Wednesday to advance a resolution honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, clearing the way for floor debate later this week. Lawmakers voted in favor of advancing the measure and a bill to avert a government shutdown in a joint mechanism known as a “rule vote.” The rule was adopted in a 216-210 vote along party lines. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who is known to be opposing the federal funding bill, was the lone lawmaker from either side to vote “present.” Massie explained to Fox News Digital that he vehemently supports the Kirk resolution but opposed an unrelated provision in the rule that blocks Congress’ ability from weighing in on tariff policy. ABC REPORTER CALLS CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN’S TEXT MESSAGES WITH TRANSGENDER PARTNER ‘VERY TOUCHING’ “I’m a cosponsor of the Kirk resolution, and obviously I will vote for it, but shamefully they turned off Congress’ ability to vote on tariffs with this rule,” Massie said. Rule votes are procedural hurdles that commonly tie together unrelated pieces of legislation that, if adopted, allow House lawmakers to debate each measure individually before respective votes. The current rule’s adoption means House lawmakers could vote on the resolution to honor Kirk on either Thursday or Friday. A vote on the measure to avert a government shutdown, a short-term extension of current federal funding levels called a continuing resolution or CR, is expected Friday morning. It is not surprising that no Democrats supported the rule’s adoption on Wednesday; rule votes traditionally fall along party lines and have rarely seen bipartisan crossover, even if the legislation they include has wide support from both Republicans and Democrats. And while Democrats are largely expected to buck the GOP-led government funding patch, the resolution to honor Kirk’s legacy is expected to get healthy bipartisan support. The Turning Point USA founder was assassinated last week during a college campus speaking event in Utah. The resolution to honor him, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., lauded Kirk as “one of the most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding and strengthen the Republic.” SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING It also said Kirk’s “commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum, and he worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction.” It called his killing “a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society.” Both Democrats and Republicans have released statements condemning political violence in the wake of Kirk’s killing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The latter measure that advanced on Wednesday evening, the CR, will keep government agencies funded at current levels through Nov. 21 if it’s passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Donald Trump. That bill includes a combined $88 million in added security funds for Congress, the judicial branch and the executive branch. Conversations about boosting lawmaker security, in particular, had been ongoing but took on new urgency after Kirk’s death.
Schiff: Patel’s FBI leadership replaced expertise with ‘rabid partisanship’
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., sharply criticized Kash Patel’s tenure as FBI director Wednesday, telling reporters that he viewed Patel’s leadership as deeply partisan and a “terrible tragedy” for the nation’s sprawling law enforcement agency. Speaking at a news conference alongside former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other House Democrats, Schiff took umbrage at Patel’s testimony one day earlier before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Schiff said further crystallized his concerns about politicization within the bureau. The FBI “has been the premier law enforcement agency in the country, and the world, because they’ve been constantly professional and non-partisan,” Schiff said Wednesday, noting the close working relationship he had with FBI agents during the years he spent as a federal prosecutor. FBI AGENTS GROUP TELLS CONGRESS TO TAKE URGENT ACTION TO PROTECT AGAINST POLITICIZATION “It is a terrible tragedy, I think, for the men and women of the bureau to have such poor leadership that is replacing expertise with incompetence, that is replacing non-partisanship with the most rabid partisanship,” Schiff told Fox News Digital. “And this is not unrelated to why we’re here today.” His remarks come as Patel appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday for a second day of testimony before the Senate and House Judiciary committees. FBI AGENTS DETAIL J6 ROLE IN EXHAUSTIVE QUESTIONNAIRE EMPLOYEES ‘WERE INSTRUCTED TO FILL OUT’ Both hearings were marked by sharp lines of questioning from Democrats, who grilled Patel on issues ranging from a flurry of FBI firings, the bureau’s handling of the Epstein files and concerns of politicization, among many other topics. Schiff, in particular, pressed Patel on his tenure at the FBI, saying the bureau’s agents — mostly assigned to its 52 field offices across the country and loath to see their work politicized — wanted to know what, if any, marching orders Patel had received from President Donald Trump. The heated back-and-forth devolved into a shouting match between the two as Schiff pressed Patel repeatedly on the firings of FBI agents and whether those individuals were removed for political reasons. Patel, for his part, described Schiff as a “political buffoon.” Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Schiff said Patel’s appearance did little to assuage his broader fears of weaponization within the bureau. “You can’t have a vibrant democracy without the rule of law,” he told Fox News Digital. “You can’t have the rule of law if you have a weaponized FBI and a weaponized Justice Department, and, sadly, that’s what we have here today,” Schiff said. He also weighed in on Patel’s remarks yesterday on the Epstein files, another issue that sparked intense criticism from lawmakers, after Patel claimed Tuesday that there was “no credible evidence” that Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking women other than for himself. Schiff said it was a “startling claim,” particularly from someone who had previously promoted the belief that Epstein maintained a vast client list of powerful people. “So, it was completely contradictory to everything he said in the past,” he said. He also noted Patel’s “refusal” to answer his questions on why Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to press Ghislaine Maxwell further on the Cabinet members she identified as being “close” to Epstein or having a relationship with him during a two-day interview in July. “Blanche refused to ask who they were and just ignored her comment,” Schiff added. “And this is, again, the kind of incompetence we’re seeing,” he said. “Incompetence is probably the most polite thing I can describe, but it certainly looks like a cover-up.” The Justice Department and FBI have struggled to quell the mounting public pressure on them to release more information related to the Epstein investigation, underscoring the story’s sticking power in a fast-moving news cycle and among Trump supporters, who have been some of the leading voices in demanding the information be released.
Gun seller tells Ryan Routh: ‘I heard of you threatening people’ in tense courtroom exchange
Jurors in the federal trial of Ryan Routh — accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024 — heard pivotal testimony Wednesday from the man prosecutors say sold Routh the semiautomatic rifle tied to the case. Ronnie Jay Oxendine, a North Carolina roofing contractor recently convicted on a firearm charge, told jurors, “I have to come to this court and tell the truth” as part of his plea deal. Shown the weapon, Oxendine said, “That used to be my rifle.” Oxendine testified that in August 2024, intermediary Tina Cooper arranged a sale in the fenced parking lot of his office. FBI PHONE EXTRACTIONS, DNA TESTIMONY HEADLINE DAY 7 OF RYAN ROUTH TRIAL “Ryan gave me $350 for the rifle and gave Tina $100,” he said. He added Routh worked the bolt, asked for ammunition and said he wanted the gun because his son “was being intimidated by his roommates.” Oxendine said Routh told him he “would remove the serial number… so it wouldn’t come back.” He also told prosecutors he had roughly 300 firearms, denied ever removing a serial number himself, and admitted the FBI later charged him with possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. During cross-examination, Routh began by telling Oxendine, “Great to see you again… I know you’re extremely mad at me,” before asking if the year he has already spent in custody could be applied to Oxendine’s sentence. Judge Aileen Cannon struck the comment from the record and warned Routh against further outbursts. RYAN ROUTH TRIAL CONTINUES AFTER AGENT TESTIFIES SUSPECT AIMED RIFLE AT HIM ON TRUMP’S GOLF COURSE Routh asked Oxendine about whether he knew him to be violent. “Have you ever known me to hurt anyone?” Routh asked. Oxendine replied, “I know you were loud.” When asked if he knew Routh to be gentle, Oxendine said, “I don’t know you that well. I heard of you threatening people.” The courtroom also heard from FBI Task Force Officer Patrick Lantry about surveillance at a South Bay, Florida truck stop, where investigators found orange earplugs and empty Vienna sausage cans. Routh’s questioning took a turn when he addressed the empty Vienna sausage cans on the ground around the truck stop. He said there were bugs and ants crawling around and then asked if it was possible food was left out to feed them. Lantry replied that it was possible, and then Routh said it was a nice gesture but that whoever left the food did not clean up, and that he should have. RYAN ROUTH TRIAL: JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT CASE AT&T employee Aaron Thompson testified that Routh bought a prepaid line under the name “John White.” When Routh told him, “I don’t know how trustworthy you are,” Cannon struck it from the record. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case on Thursday. The defense has been told to have its witnesses ready on Friday. Routh has indicated he’ll call a firearms expert and character witnesses, but it’s still unclear if he’ll testify on his own behalf. Fox News’ Samantha Daigle contributed to this report.