Trump 1.0 alums share chilling Google message from before second-term return: ‘LAWFARE at its finest’
Officials from the first Trump administration are alleging they received notices from Google shortly before they returned to office that they were being probed by the FBI under the Biden administration and the web giant was unable to tell them because of a court order. Dan Scavino, who is now White House Deputy Chief of Staff and assistant to the president, described the matter as “Biden lawfare” kicking in after he “patriotically and proudly” served during Trump’s first term. “Google received and responded to a legal process issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation compelling the release of information related to your Google account. A court order previously prohibited Google from notifying you of the legal process…” Scavino shared on X from an email he said he received from Google five weeks before Trump returned to the White House. “I’ve never shared this — but this is a small taste of the INSANITY that many of us went through — right here in the United States of America. LAWFARE at its finest. A Complete and Total Disgrace!!!!!” he added. TOP GOP SENATOR DEMANDS PROBE INTO WHETHER JACK SMITH ‘UNLAWFULLY’ TRIED TO INFLUENCE 2024 ELECTION Less than a half-hour after Scavino’s post, FBI Director Kash Patel responded to him saying “I got one of those too…” Jeff Clark, the current acting administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, then chimed in Saturday morning, saying that he, too, received a similar message. “Indeed, a whole Jack Smith team was assigned to go through my emails after there was a privilege review,” Clark wrote on X in reference to the former special counsel. “But that group of lawyers ignored my religious pastor privilege, marital privilege, and other privileges and basically shipped all they could to Jack Smith. But it still cost me tens of thousands to try to protect my communications,” he added. FORMER CIA DIRECTOR JOHN BRENNAN ‘CLUELESS’ ABOUT WHY FBI WOULD INVESTIGATE HIM Smith was tapped by former Attorney General Merrick Garland to probe allegations that Trump sought to overturn the 2020 election results, and later investigated the handling of classified documents that were uncovered during a raid at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound. “My medical records and other private communications had nothing to do with the 2020 election. They were no one’s business. But it didn’t matter to these thugs with law degrees and the willingness to abuse government power,” Clark said Saturday. “They were trying to bait me to go to court to get them to destroy their secret copies of the emails, so they could try to break even my lawyer-client privilege with President Trump. But my team and I didn’t fall for it,” Clark also said. “Moreover, the whole thing was a blatant attempt to intimidate me. It didn’t work and I didn’t fold under the pressure.” The FBI did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Fox News’ Alex Miller contributed to this report.
‘Was the president up for the job?’ Steve Ricchetti defends Biden’s fitness as GOP seeks answers
Steve Ricchetti was the gatekeeper for former President Biden. But House Republican investigators hoped Ricchetti was the key to unlocking answers about Mr. Biden’s cognitive state when he was commander in chief. The House Oversight Committee summoned Ricchetti for a closed-door deposition recently. Ricchetti worked for President Clinton, was Biden’s top aide when he was Vice President and served as a key advisor in the Biden White House. He frequently visited Capitol Hill as President Biden and Congressional Republicans negotiated a debt ceiling pact in the spring of 2023. “What’s your message to the committee today?” yours truly asked Ricchetti when he materialized on the third floor of the Rayburn House Office Building for a voluntary, transcribed interrogation. “I’m not going to say anything on the way in. I’m just going to go in and give an interview,” replied Ricchetti. “Was the President up for the job?” I inquired. “Of course he was,” answered Ricchetti. “Of course he was.” SENATE REPUBLICANS PLAN HEARING ON BIDEN’S ALLEGED COGNITIVE DECLINE COVER-UP In a statement, Ricchetti conceded that former President Biden “occasionally stumbled.” But he argued the former president was fit for the job. Ricchetti added that no one “usurped President Biden’s Constitutional duties.” In their inquest, Republicans have specific questions about the former President’s use of the autopen and about legal documents bearing Mr. Biden’s signature. “Who was signing any of these documents and who was running the White House?” asked Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., on Fox. “That’s the biggest, weirdest scandal probably in American history since Woodrow Wilson’s wife was running the White House.” That refers to First Lady Edith Wilson. Historians generally believe that she took over day-to-day executive functions after President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke. “Anything that had the force of (law) that was signed by autopen should be null and void,” argued Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, on Fox Business. Unlike Ricchetti, three other Biden figures have ducked questions when summoned for closed-door interviews. The Oversight Committee issued subpoenas for former Biden administration aide Annie Tomasini, former Jill Biden aide Anthony Bernal and the President’s former physician, White House doctor Kevin O’Connor. All three invoked the Fifth Amendment during their sessions before the House Oversight Committee, declining to answer questions. BIDEN’S AUTOPEN USE QUESTIONED AMID RELEASED AUDIO FROM SPECIAL COUNSEL HUR INTERVIEW “I think the real witness is the doctor. And unfortunately, he took the Fifth,” said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. Marshall himself is an OB-GYN. “A doctor certainly has an obligation ethically to protect (a patient) for privacy. But the needs of the country – the national security issue, legal issues – trump that relationship as well,” said Marshall. Democrats contend Republicans are flailing in their probe of the former President. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., believes the GOP should focus on the economy and affordability issues. “Message to House Republicans,” declared Welch. “You won the election. I mean, I’m not quite sure why they want to waste time on this.” “He’s not the president,” said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., of former President Biden. “I think we really should just move (on).” Fetterman himself faced questions about his health after suffering a stroke during his 2022 campaign and hospitalization for depression after taking office as a senator in 2023. But Republicans contend the Biden investigation is critical. Former President Biden’s medical state isn’t clear, although the public saw his performance in the debate last June. Republicans insist their probe is about figuring out what to do if a future President struggles cognitively. SENATE HEARING ON WHO WAS ‘REALLY RUNNING’ BIDEN WHITE HOUSE KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY “What we’re doing today is setting sort of a template for the future,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “How can we make it better? Because it’s a Democratic President today. It may be a Republican President tomorrow.” It’s not just a challenge for the presidency. But for lawmakers, too. In recent years, Capitol Hill has witnessed uncomfortable, steady declines of late Sens. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Kay Granger, R-Tex. “Hopefully all of us make the right decision when it’s appropriate,” said Welch. “And we have people around us to do the right thing.” Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., is one of the most conservative, politically pragmatic Democrats in the House. She represents a district President Trump carried three times. And even though Sens. Patty Muray, D-Wash., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., routinely win statewide, they fail to carry Gluesenkamp Perez’s district. Gluesenkamp Perez bested GOP nominee Joe Kent – for a second time – by four points in 2024. The 36-year-old Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a plan requiring cognitive standards for persons to serve in the House. The House Appropriations Committee rejected her amendment late last month. However, there are Constitutional and legal problems with imposing a cognitive exam on prospective lawmakers. Article, I, Section 5 of the Constitution says the House and Senate “may determine the Rules of its Proceedings.” So, it’s possible the House or Senate could impose a “rule” dictating a test. The same part of the Constitution says each body may judge “the qualifications of its own Members.” INSIDE THE BIDEN COVER-UP PROBE: 8 AIDES QUESTIONED, MORE ON THE WAY But imposing an additional provision for eligibility to serve could be extra-constitutional. For instance, Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution says House Members must be at least 25-years-old, have been a citizen for seven years and reside in the state from which they were elected. A senator must be 30, a citizen for nine years and live in the state they represent. However, heaping another mandate on top of that is a problem. This is why the Supreme Court found term limits to be unconstitutional. An additional “rule” – such as how long one can serve – introduces an extra qualification not outlined in the Constitution. That’s why the Supreme Court ruled against term limits proposals. It’s likely the High Court would follow suit with additional stipulations to serve in Congress. Moreover,
TIMELINE: Evolution of Mamdani’s defunding police rhetoric to this week’s ‘damage control’
New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani made headlines this week when he attempted to walk back his long track record dating back to 2020 of criticizing the New York Police Department and calling for it to be defunded. On Wednesday, Mamdani told reporters after the death of an NYPD officer in midtown Manhattan that he is “not running to defund the police” and is “a candidate who is not fixed in time, one that learns and one that leads, and part of that means admitting, as I have grown, and part of that means focusing on the people who deserve to be focused about.” Mamdani added that his past calls to defund the police had been made out of “frustration” over the death of George Floyd. Fox News Digital reviewed his comments on positions on police dating back to the days after Floyd’s death. MAMDANI BLASTED BY GOP OPPONENT FOR ‘SANCTIMONIOUS HYPOCRISY’ ON POLICE STANCE: ‘ABSOLUTE INSANITY’ June 5, 2020 “Two cops knocked a harmless old man to the ground and let him bleed out on the pavement,” Mamdani posted on X. “All that’s happened to them is a suspension without pay – and their colleagues think even that’s too much. There’s no reforming this system. Defund the police.” June 28, 2020 “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety,” Mamdani posted on X. “What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. But your compromise uses budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts – defund the police.” July 3, 2020: “We need a socialist city council to defund the police,” Mamdani posted on X. November 6, 2020 “Queer liberation means defund the police,” Mamdani posted on X. November 7, 2020 “Nature is healing,” Mandani posted on X in response to a user mocking and laughing at seeing a police officer “crying inside his car.” December 7, 2020 “City Council tried to make the NYPD reduce its overtime budget by half,” Mamdani posted on X. “They simply refused. There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence.” MAMDANI REVEALS IN RESURFACED VIDEO HOW ONE OF HIS ‘GREATEST VICTORIES’ BENEFITTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS June 5, 2021 In an interview with SAAG interactive, Mamdani again pushed the idea of defunding the police while suggesting the department for investing in “apartheid” by working with Israel’s IDF. December 19, 2024 “As Mayor, I will disband the SRG, which has cost taxpayers millions in lawsuit settlements + brutalized countless New Yorkers exercising their first amendment rights,” Mamdani posted on X, pledging to disband the New York Police Department’s Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit that was first on the scene responding to the deadly midtown Manhattan shooting that left an NYPD officer and several others dead last month. Mamdani’s long history of anti-police rhetoric has resulted in heavy skepticism from many that his Wednesday press conference truly represents an abandonment of a desire to defund or hamstring police. “Zohran ‘Nature Is Healing’ Mamdani’s Wednesday presser struck me as a cynical and transparent attempt at damage control in response to an incident that served as a violent and somber reminder to New Yorkers of the enormous daily risks taken on their behalf by the men and women of the NYPD,” Rafael Mangual, senior fellow and head of research for policing and public safety at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, told Fox News Digital this week. “But even under the tragic circumstances in which the press conference was held, Mamdani balked at multiple opportunities to explicitly retract or apologize for his long and sordid history of anti-police statements.”
Dingell family in office for 90+ years: Locals praise pavement-pounding, critics say it indicts incumbency
Rep. Debbie Dingell has held office for a decade, but her family has represented in the same general region of Michigan for almost a century, since Rep. John Dingell Sr. took office in 1933. In an interview with Fox News Digital, however, Dingell, a Democrat, stressed she is not concerned with the idea she is continuing a record-breaking family legacy but instead the “quality” of work she does in-the-moment for the people in her district. “I love my husband very much. And I’m proud of my last name. But I have to get up every day and earn the respect of the people that I represent. And I have to deliver for my constituents every day,” Dingell said. “Most important to me is being a voice in a room and at the table for the people that I represent.” JOHN DINGELL, LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS, DIES AT 92 Dingell’s own lineage, like her husband’s (Rep. John Dingell Jr.) and father-in-law’s, is also one that epitomizes the area she represents. She is the great-granddaughter of one of the Fisher Brothers – whose Fisher Bodyworks company became an early component of what is now General Motors. “Home is home to me,” she said. “My district is a very complicated district. [It’s] Mini-America. Downriver (southwest of Detroit) is home – they have a manufacturing legacy, but they have a lot of environmental issues, and I’m really proud of some of the things I did from the moment I stepped into this job.” Dingell spoke of regularly being on the phone with agencies from FEMA to healthcare, saying she always wants to “talk to people directly” and not politicize pressing issues. “I don’t have entourages because I don’t believe in them. I love my staff… but I want people to talk to me directly … I go to farmer’s markets every weekend because that’s where [constituents are].” Dingell supporters point to her willingness to work across the aisle, as the congresswoman said: “We’ve got to respect … [and] listen to each other.” In the century since Dingell Sr. took office, politics has gotten nastier, or as Dingell put it, “what we’ve lost in the legislative process is trust – people don’t get to know each other anymore.” LIBERALS BLAME BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL LOSS ON DYING DEMS: IMAGINE IF THEY ‘RETIRED INSTEAD OF DIED IN OFFICE’ National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O’Meara called Dingell and Dingell Jr. the “hardest-working people” he’s worked with. “I think in the conservation world, they’re just kind of legendary figures,” he said, noting that Dingell Sr. was a leader in the space as well, drafting the “Dingell-Johnson Act” in 1950 that helped restore sportfishing and continues to be utilized today. The Dingells were instrumental in the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act and other key laws, he said, adding Dingell has led major cleanup efforts around Michigan while also leading nationally on conservation, including via caucus chairmanships. O’Meara said that Dingell and her family have been “versatile lawmakers” in a Washington full of “one-trick ponies.” David Hecker, a former state president of American Federation of Teachers, said Dingell has supported domestic manufacturing, workers’ rights and education issues. “The congresswoman is everywhere, informing, but moreso listening: to needs and concerns of her constituents and supporting community organizations,” Hecker said. 85-YEAR-OLD LONGTIME HOUSE DEMOCRAT FACING PRIMARY CHALLENGER WHO’S MAKING AGE A KEY ISSUE Trenton, Mich., Mayor Steve Rzeppa told Fox News Digital that Dingell and Dingell Jr., could not be “bigger fighters” in Congress. Rzeppa’s earliest political work was in Dingell Jr.’s district office. “It’s tough to even put into words what you learn working for someone like that,” he said. “It was really more a way of living and serving others than it was a set of certain skills.” Rzeppa said the political family have been “champions” of the local auto industry, universal healthcare and conservation – recalling them also greeting workers at plants’ shift-change. Bentley Johnson of the League of Conservation Voters called the Dingells’ district a “fascinating case study” as the home of UAW and heavy-industry workers who were longtime Democrats who have been trending more toward President Donald Trump or independent affiliation. “In a lot of ways, it’s a microcosm of the country in terms of political polarization. But what is interesting is that we see water and outdoor recreation as classic examples of issues that are top priorities for people across the entire political spectrum,” Johnson said. Johnson said the Dingells recognize that and that as “problem-solvers,” there is “no situation too complex or politically sticky that they won’t throw themselves into to try and find a solution.” Local colleges also praised the Dingells’ tenure, with spokespeople for both the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University crediting their support for the institutions. “Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has been an incredible supporter of Michigan Medicine, and we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber represent our students, faculty, staff and patients,” said Mary Masson, a spokesperson for UMich-Health. “As a lifelong resident of Ann Arbor and former local elected official, I’ve had the honor of working over many years with Debbie Dingell and, before her, John Dingell,” added Eastern Michigan administrator Leigh Greden. REP. DEBBIE DINGELL: DEMOCRATS NEED TO EXAMINE WHY MILLIONS OF VOTERS SUPPORTED TRUMP “The district has changed a lot over the years… What hasn’t changed between John and Debbie is their omnipresence in the community.” The lack of change, however, has been something critics of term limits and “dynastic” political families have in turn called out. Writer Andrew Sullivan previously dove into the “Dingell Dynasty” and cited several critiques of having a family in office that long. He cited journalist Philip Klein’s take that it is an indictment of incumbency. “[Dingell Jr.] was re-elected over and over again due to the way congressional districts are drawn up and because incumbents have such a huge money and influence advantage that it creates a barrier to entry for any potential challengers,” he said according
Trump closes week with plans to reposition subs amid heightened Russia tension, new tariffs
President Donald Trump wrapped up his second term’s 28th week in office announcing he would reposition two nuclear submarines amid increased tension with Russia, after just adding new tariffs to a host of countries. On Monday, Trump unveiled a new deadline for Russia to end its conflict with Ukraine, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the announcement is an additional “step towards war.” In response, Trump made a rare announcement Friday that he would reposition two submarines to best respond to the escalated tension between the two countries. TRUMP MOVES NUCLEAR SUBMARINES WEEKS AFTER PRAISING SUB’S POWER IN IRAN STRIKES “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump said in a Friday post on Truth Social. Trump did not disclose any additional details regarding the submarines, and defense officials rarely comment on submarine placement given the highly classified nature of their operations. Here’s what also happened this week: Trump also signed several executive orders Thursday related to tariffs, including raising the tariffs on Canada from 25% to 35%. The president raised the tariff rate due to Canada’s contribution to the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the U.S., according to the Trump administration. However, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney challenged that assessment. “Canada accounts for only 1% of U.S. fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes,” Carney said in a Friday statement. TRUMP THREATENS 35% TARIFF ON CANADA GOODS OVER DANGEROUS CROSS-BORDER FENTANYL DISPUTE Trump also modified reciprocal tariffs on a series of countries Thursday, bumping up the tariff rate on Brazil to 50%. Meanwhile, Trump reached a trade deal on Thursday with South Korea, driving down tariffs against South Korea from 25% as pitched in the spring to 15%. Additionally, Trump agreed Thursday to continue trade talks with Mexico for another 90 days. Trump also signed the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act into law Wednesday, which would make permanent a partial claims program that seeks to keep veterans from losing their homes to foreclosure. The new partial claims program under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (VA) Home Loan Program permits veterans who are behind on mortgage payments to tack on those payments to the tail end of their loans, while also offering them an interest-free loan in the interim. TRUMP SIGNS NEW LAW HELPING VETERANS AVOID FORECLOSURE WITH PARTIAL CLAIMS PAYMENT PROGRAM “This legislation provides desperately needed relief to veterans and their families who have fallen behind in their mortgages,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “It’s a really sort of an amazing situation, and it helps keep our promise to end veterans homelessness. And, we’re going to do that for America. We’re going to do that for our great veterans.” Estimates suggest the partial claim program could assist up to 3.7 million veterans, according to Trump. “It’s common sense legislation,” Trump said. “My administration is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that our veterans are treated with respect and treated as well as anybody in this country.”
Inside the Biden cover-up probe: 8 aides questioned, more on the way
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is investigating whether former President Joe Biden’s closest aides worked to conceal evidence of mental decline in the octogenarian Democrat during his White House term, and whether an autopen was used for executive decisions without his knowledge. Biden himself asserted to the New York Times that he “made every decision” regarding autopen pardons specifically, and his allies have dismissed the GOP-led probe as a partisan show. Several ex-senior White House officials are due in the coming weeks, including former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and ex-White House chief of staff Jeff Zeints. But Comer’s staff have also met with a number of people so far – some who have said very little, while others have given no information at all. COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ Below are the eight people who have sat down with House investigators so far: Former White House staff secretary Neera Tanden appeared for a voluntary interview on June 24. A source familiar with Tanden’s interview said she described having “minimal interaction” with Biden during her sit-down with investigators. Tanden also said she would submit requests for autopen signatures to members of Biden’s team, but was not aware of what actions or approvals occurred between the time she sent the memo and the time she received it back with the president’s approval, the source said. Tanden’s lawyer told Fox News at the time that she “consistently followed a protocol” that was used by both Republican and Democratic administrations in the past. “That same protocol existed in the Clinton and Obama administrations, which Ms. Tanden learned in discussions with previous staff secretaries from those administrations. She further understood and believed that the same process was followed in the Trump 1 and Bush administrations,” the lawyer said. Tanden had been tapped to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) early in Biden’s term, but she withdrew after bipartisan pushback in the Senate. Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor was the second ex-Biden administration official to appear when he came in on July 9, and the first to appear under subpoena. Before serving as White House doctor, however, O’Connor was known to be a close associate of the Biden family for years. Investigators were hoping to learn whether O’Connor knowingly obscured signs of advanced aging or loss of mental acuity in Biden. He notably met with a Parkinson’s Disease expert at the White House at one point, according to the New York Times – though the revelations were downplayed by the White House at the time. O’Connor’s lawyers had attempted to delay his scheduled deposition date over concerns that the scope of the committee’s investigation would violate doctor-patient confidentiality. He ultimately did appear when Comer rejected his delay request, but O’Connor was in and out of the committee room in less than an hour after pleading the Fifth Amendment to all questions, save for his name. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP Ashley Williams is a longtime Biden advisor who still works for the former president, according to her LinkedIn. She appeared for a voluntary transcribed interview on July 11. The close Biden ally’s time with him goes back to assisting then-second lady Jill Biden during the Obama administration, according to a 2019 profile of Biden staffers. She served as his trip director for the 2020 campaign before being hired to the White House as deputy director of Oval Office Operations and a special assistant to the president. Williams repeatedly told committee staff during her sit-down that she did not “recall” various things “an untold number of times,” but that she believed Biden was fit to be president today, a source told Fox News Digital. “Examples include she could not recall if she spoke with President Biden in the last week, if teleprompters were used for Cabinet meetings, if there were discussions about President Biden using a wheelchair, if there were discussions about a cognitive test, if she discussed a mental or physical decline of President Biden, if she ever had to wake President Biden up and how she got involved with his 2020 campaign,” the source said. Anthony Bernal, who was nicknamed Jill Biden’s “work husband” for their close relationship, was the second person subpoenaed to appear. Like O’Connor, Bernal’s July 16 deposition lasted less than an hour after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment to investigators. Bernal served as former Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the First Lady. He also still appears to work for the Bidens, according to LinkedIn, which says he works for Jill Biden specifically. “During his deposition today, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when asked if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his health,” Comer said in a statement after Bernal’s deposition. RON KLAIN DODGES REPORTERS AFTER MARATHON GRILLING IN BIDEN COVER-UP PROBE Former Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations Annie Tomasini had been scheduled to appear for a transcribed interview, before her counsel requested a subpoena from Comer shortly before her July 18 appearance. Tomasini followed O’Connor and Bernal’s lead in pleading the Fifth Amendment, which people coming in voluntarily cannot do. “During her deposition today, Ms. Tomasini pleaded the Fifth when asked if Joe Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time,” Comer said in a statement after her deposition. “She also pleaded the Fifth when asked if she ever advised President Biden on the handling of classified documents found in his garage, if President Biden or anyone in the White House instructed her to conceal or destroy classified material found at President Biden’s home or office, and if she ever conspired with anyone in the White House to hide information regarding the Biden family’s
New York lawmaker sounds alarm on potential ‘devastating’ effects of Mamdani victory: ‘Chaos’
EXCLUSIVE: Republican New York State Sen. Bill Weber told Fox News Digital about what he believes will happen to New York City in a variety of areas if socialist Zohran Mamdani becomes mayor in November. “It could be in chaos,” Weber, who represents New York’s 38th State Senate district along the Hudson River outside New York City, told Fox News Digital about the prospect of a Mamdani victory. “I mean, we even see some of those big issues happening now in the city. Anyone that’s gone into the city recently sees a lot of just unsafe situations.” Weber, the son and brother of NYPD officers, spoke to Fox News Digital days after the city witnessed the deadliest mass shooting in half a century in Midtown Manhattan, sparking a bitter war of words between all four mayoral candidates about public safety in the city. UNEARTHED VIDEO EXPOSES MAMDANI’S ‘UNABASHED’ COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ANTI-ISRAEL SANCTIONS AS LAWMAKER Mamdani has been heavily criticized for previous calls to defund the police, which he attempted to walk back in a Wednesday press conference, which is a critique that has been amplified in the wake of the shooting on Monday. Weber told Fox News Digital that the police department in New York City needs more resources, not less. “We’ve got to continue to fund the police department and when you hear rhetoric starting in 2020, and even continuing today with some political figures, including, you know, Mamdani, who could be the next mayor of New York City, in the past talking about defunding the police and really taking a different approach to law enforcement. It’s a real concern, not only now, but what could happen in the future.” Weber continued, “So I’m hopeful that clearer minds will prevail, and we will continue to support the police department, which is the best in the world, and we need to make sure that we continually support them financially and all the tools that they need to do their jobs effectively.” ‘CULTURE OF SHAME’: NYC COUNCIL MEMBER SOUNDS ALARM OVER MAMDANI VOTERS FALLING FOR ‘PIPE DREAM’ Weber told Fox News Digital he represents a district with either the first or second most Jewish residents per capita in the state and that many Jewish voters have expressed concern to him about Mamdani’s long history of anti-Israel stances. “A lot my Jewish residents are very concerned,” Weber, who recently penned an op-ed on the subject of Mamdani and Israel, explained. “They have family that live in the boroughs of New York City. A lot of them commute into the city as well. So they’re very worried about the rhetoric that Mamdani has really spewed over a long time. And you know. Even up until recently, he still refuses to condemn the globalized intifada, which is very concerning because we saw what happened on October 7th.” Political experts have suggested that the three candidates other than Mamdani need to coalesce around one candidate in order to defeat Mamdani, which Weber said he supports but says it’s unclear whether that will happen or who that candidate will be to form a one-on-one matchup. “The opposition, whoever that candidate is going to be, they need to really rally behind and unify behind one candidate, whoever it is, and I even offered to be a liaison to try and facilitate one of, or at least getting them all together into a room to have one candidate to run against Mamdani because I’m fearful that the rest of them will split the vote and then Mamdani will sneak in,” Weber said. In terms of what New York City’s economy will look like in four years if Mamdani becomes mayor, Weber pointed out that New York City drives most of the revenue back to the state in Albany and suggested a bleak outlook if Mamdani, who has been labeled a communist by some, were to win. “I think he’s very serious about what he’s indicating that he wants to do, which would really be a devastating impact on New York City,” Weber said. “If we chase out building owners, if we chase out the wealthy people to go to Florida or other states that are more tax friendly, it will have a devastating impact not only on New York City, but on New York state as a whole.” “So, you know, we should take him at his word. He wants to have government-run supermarkets. I mean, these are all code words of what we’ve heard from socialist nations around the world, socialist nations that have failed, and we don’t want to see a failure in New York City. So we need to take him, listen to him, take him at his word and really fight back to make sure that none of those programs get implemented in that. Really, that starts with defeating him at the polls in November.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment.
What are ICE’s visiting policies, and why are Democrats suing over them?
After Democratic lawmakers filed a lawsuit over being denied access to a Maryland ICE facility, DHS is clarifying its simple procedures for members of Congress to request a visit to its facilities. According to ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations website, members of Congress need only submit a request via email at least seven days in advance of their desired visit. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson explained to Fox News Digital that the seven-day requirement is to “prevent interference with the President’s Article II authority to oversee executive department functions.” “A week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the President’s constitutional authority,” the spokesperson said, adding, “To protect the President’s Article II authority, any request to shorten that time must be approved by the Secretary.” BORDER APPREHENSIONS HIT RECORD LOW IN DRAMATIC TURNAROUND FROM BIDEN ERA The spokesperson also noted that “ICE law enforcement has seen a surge in assaults of 830%, as well as disruptions and obstructions to enforcement, including by politicians themselves.” A dozen Democrats are suing the Trump administration for “unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight” after Democratic members of the Maryland congressional delegation were denied entry to a Baltimore ICE facility on Monday. Maryland Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, along with Reps. Glenn Ivey, Johnny Olszewski, Sarah Elfreth and Kweisi Mfume, showed up in Baltimore at the Fallon Federal Building on Monday but were denied entry into an ICE detainment facility in the building. After being denied access to the facility, the group held a press conference outside the building in which Mfume said, “We had to stand outside, bang on the door and ultimately sit in front of the door.” The Democrats filed their lawsuit against the administration on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., said in a statement announcing the suit that “blocking Members of Congress from oversight visits to ICE facilities that house or otherwise detain immigrants clearly violates Federal law — and the Trump administration knows it.” FEDERAL JUDGE HALTS TRUMP TPS POLICY, ACCUSES DHS OF MAKING MIGRANTS ‘ATONE FOR THEIR RACE’ In response, DHS Assistant Secretary for Communications Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News that “these Members of Congress could have just scheduled a tour; instead, they’re running to court to drive clicks and fundraising emails.” After the incident, Ivey’s office shared a letter with Fox News Digital dated July 21 in which the delegation informed Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons of their intent to visit the Baltimore facility. The letter did not appear to be making any request. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Ranking Member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., were also included in the letter. A person familiar with the Democrats who attempted to visit the Maryland facility told Fox News Digital that “the letter sent to Secretary Noem was a notice given, not a ‘request,’ because under the law, Members of Congress, doing their oversight responsibilities, don’t have to ask for permission, but as a courtesy, they notified DHS a full seven days before the visit.” The person added that “under the law the co-equal branch of government has the right to conduct ‘surprise’ inspections to ensure American taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately.” DHS SCOOPS UP TRANS ILLEGAL ALIEN CHARGED WITH HEINOUS CRIME ON CHILD IN SANCTUARY CITY: ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ Commenting on the lawsuit, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella remarked to Fox News Digital that Democrats “have gone from ignoring the border to targeting the men and women who enforce it.” “This is the Democrat Party’s platform, and they’re not even trying to hide it,” said Marinella.
Appeals court denies Trump admin’s request to lift limits on Los Angeles immigration raids
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday rejected the Trump administration’s request for an emergency stay of a federal injunction restricting federal immigration agents from targeting migrants in Southern California based on characteristics such as ethnicity or language. The three-judge panel issued a unanimous ruling that maintains the restraints on federal agents during immigration raids in the Los Angeles area. The limitations include prohibiting targeting people based on their ethnicity, accent, language or location, including being at a Home Depot or a car wash. The ruling requires federal agents to have more specific probable cause to make an arrest instead of generalized suspicion about a person’s citizenship status. TRUMP ADMIN ENDS DEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO LOS ANGELES Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass celebrated the court’s decision as “a victory for the rule of law and for the City of Los Angeles.” “The Temporary Restraining Order that has been protecting our communities from immigration agents using racial profiling and other illegal tactics when conducting their cruel and aggressive enforcement raids and sweeps will remain in place for now,” Bass said in a statement. “We must still fight for justice,” she continued. “Los Angeles will stand together against this Administration’s efforts to break up families who contribute every single day to the life, the culture and the economy of our great city. No matter what, I will continue to stand by you and fight for your rights, your dignity and your place in this city we all call home.” This comes after recent raids in the Los Angeles area targeted illegal immigrants working at local businesses, sparking weeks of unrest over immigration arrests and the administration’s mass deportation efforts. About 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines were deployed to Los Angeles to gain control over the protests despite opposition from state and local leaders. At this point, most of the National Guard troops and all the Marines have since been withdrawn. The administration was sued last month over alleged “unlawful stop-and-arrest practices” and “illegal conditions of confinement.” A federal judge then issued two temporary restraining orders, including one to stop generalized raids based on the idea that many Spanish-speaking Hispanics are known to be in a certain location. Lawyers for the administration filed an emergency appeal asking the court to temporarily pause the injunction as it would cause “irreparable harm” and put immigration officials in a “straitjacket.” The appeal was denied in court on Friday. PENTAGON ORDERS 700 MARINES TO WITHDRAW FROM LOS ANGELES AS STABILITY RETURNS FOLLOWING ICE PROTESTS During arguments, one of the judges repeatedly asked the lawyer for the government about a reported 3,000 daily quota for immigration-related arrests — a quota policy the lawyer claims does not exist — in reference to comments made by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in May. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are looking to set a goal of a minimum of 3,000 arrests for ICE every day, and President Trump is going to keep pushing to get that number up higher each and every single day,” Miller said at the time. Fox News’ Lee Ross contributed to this report.
DOJ targets noncitizens on voter rolls as part of Trump election integrity push
Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed Department of Justice (DOJ) officials to probe election practices throughout the country as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on federal election laws. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is largely leading the effort, which has involved seeking information from states about their election practices and voter registration lists, sometimes known as “voter rolls,” and placing an emphasis on identifying any noncitizens on them. “Election integrity starts with clean voter rolls. That’s the foundation for secure elections,” a DOJ source told Fox News. “There’s been a culture of noncompliance from several states that don’t keep their roles updated. This DOJ is cracking down.” TRUMP APPOINTEE VOWS TO FOCUS DOJ’S LARGEST DIVISION ON DEI, DENATURALIZATION Some states, like Wisconsin and Utah, shared recent election-related correspondence they had with the DOJ on state websites. New Hampshire’s Republican secretary of state rejected a request to provide the DOJ with a statewide database of voters, saying laws do not allow the state to do that. The department sent more unusual demand letters to numerous local election offices in California, asking for extensive personal data about any noncitizens who ended up on voter registration lists. At least one of the recipients, Orange County, resisted the request, prompting the DOJ to sue. Attorneys for the county responded that county election officials were authorized under federal law to withhold sensitive information about voters. The flurry of activity stems from an executive order Trump signed in March tasking the attorney general with coordinating with states on election integrity, which has been a top priority for him since his 2020 election loss. Trump ordered the DOJ to review how states manage their voter registration lists, enter into information-sharing agreements with the states, aid states with prosecuting election-related crimes, and punish uncooperative states where possible. DOJ LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO BLUE STATE CITY OVER ALLEGED RACE-BASED HIRING Several Democrat-led states sued over the order, and a federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily blocked parts of it, saying “the Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.” The DOJ is appealing the ruling. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., blasted the DOJ’s efforts, suggesting they were designed to hinder racial minorities’ ability to vote. “These efforts, made under the guise of combating fraud, will disproportionately endanger voters of color, low-income communities, and active-duty military personnel,” Durbin said. Trump has frequently voiced his grievances about voter fraud, saying it is widespread and that illegal immigrants are voting, but there is scant evidence to support those claims. While states have identified noncitizens on voter rolls and removed them as part of routine voter list maintenance, rarely have they been found to have cast ballots. “Existing safeguards are broadly effective,” a Center for Election Innovation and Research analysis recently found. Last October, a Chinese national allegedly voted in the 2024 election in Michigan. The suspect, a University of Michigan student living legally in the country, used his student identification information and other data to complete a same-day voter registration form. He was charged with voter fraud and perjury.