Report gives new details on Trump assassination attempt suspect’s ‘descent into madness’
The 20-year-old gunman who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer experienced a “descent into madness” leading up to the incident, during which he was “having conversations with someone that wasn’t there,” a new report says. The New York Times, citing thousands of pages of school assignments, internet activity logs and interviews with dozens of people who knew Thomas Matthew Crooks and the investigation surrounding him, among other documents, reported this week that “he went through a gradual and largely hidden transformation from a meek engineering student critical of political polarization to a focused killer who tried to build bombs.” “There was a mysteriousness to Thomas Crooks’s descent into madness,” Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., who served on a Congressional task force that investigated the July 13, 2024 shooting, told the newspaper. He was “having conversations with someone that wasn’t there,” Higgins added, after learning information about Crooks’ mental health during a trip to Pennsylvania to investigate the assassination attempt. TEXTS REVEAL OFFICERS WERE AWARE OF THOMAS CROOKS 90 MINUTES BEFORE SHOOTING Prior to the shooting targeting Trump, the only time Crooks got into trouble was receiving lunch detention in middle school for chewing gum, according to the New York Times. The newspaper reported that Crooks scored 1530 out of a possible 1600 on the SAT and graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County, where he spent several semesters on the dean’s list while earning an engineering degree. He was preparing to transfer to Robert Morris University located outside of Pittsburgh, telling classmates he wanted to have a career in aerospace or robotics, the newspaper added. However, Crooks’ father noticed his son’s mental health taking a turn in the year before the shooting and especially after the May 2024 graduation, telling investigators he had seen Thomas talking to himself and dancing around in his bedroom late at night, the newspaper said. The alleged behavior coincided with a history of mental health and addiction struggles in Crooks’ family, the New York Times reported, citing portions of a report from the Pennsylvania State Police. A classmate said to the newspaper that during high school, Crooks enjoyed talking about the economy and cryptocurrencies. At community college, he reportedly designed a chess board for the visually impaired, such as his mother, the New York Times added. “He seemed like a really intelligent kid – I thought he would be able to do whatever he wanted,” Trish Thompson, who taught Crooks’ engineering at the Community College of Allegheny County, told the newspaper. About a year before graduation, in April 2023, Crooks reportedly wrote an essay in favor of ranked-choice voting in American politics, arguing against “divisive and incendiary campaigns which are pulling the country apart.” “As we move closer to the 2024 elections we should consider carefully the means by which we elect our officials,” Crooks was quoted by the New York Times as saying. “We need an election system that promotes kindness and cooperation instead of division and anger.” ATTEMPTED TRUMP ASSASSIN SEEN WALKING AROUND PENNSYLVANIA RALLY HOURS BEFORE OPENING FIRE Around that same time, the FBI said, Crooks made more than 25 different firearm-related purchases from online vendors using an alias. One purchase that Crooks made with an encrypted email address was gallons of nitromethane, a fuel additive that can be used to build explosives, according to the New York Times. He reportedly listed his home address for the delivery. In the summer of 2023, Crooks joined a local gun club, the New York Times reported. The newspaper added that Crooks visited news and gun websites, as well as the Trump administration’s archives, before narrowing his online searches in the days leading up to the attack to queries such as ‘How far was Oswald from Kennedy?’” Searches also included “major depressive disorder” and “depression crisis,” the Times said. He also reportedly continued to show up for his job as a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in the weeks leading up to the Trump assassination attempt. On the night of the shooting, ATF agents visited Crooks’ home in Bethel Park but had to evacuate after one spotted an ammunition can “with a white wire coming out” and a gallon jug labeled “nitromethane” in his closet, according to the New York Times. Outside the property, agents then interviewed Crooks’ parents, with them saying he liked building things and visiting the gun range, and his father also reportedly claiming that he did not “know anything” about his son.
‘Delusional’ Hillary Clinton savagely mocked for LA riots response: ‘Only leftists disable comments’
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was brutally mocked by critics over a “delusional” X post describing the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles as “peaceful demonstrations” while pinning blame on President Donald Trump for sowing “chaos” in southern California. “Comments off lol. She can’t handle the ratio. This is what Hillary Clinton calls ‘peaceful demonstrations,’” popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted, referring to how comments on Clinton’s post were restricted to only permit ones from accounts Clinton follows on the social media platform and accompanied by footage of the destruction in LA. The message was in response to Clinton posting her first and only comment as of Tuesday morning regarding the Los Angeles riots, describing them as “peaceful demonstrations” before Trump mobilized the National Guard over the weekend. “California Governor Newsom didn’t request the National Guard be deployed to his state following peaceful demonstrations. Trump sent them anyway,” Clinton posted on X. “It’s the first time in 60 years a president has made that choice. Trump’s goal isn’t to keep Californians safe. His goal is to cause chaos, because chaos is good for Trump.” WATCH: DEM, MEDIA OUTLETS INSIST LA ANTI-ICE RIOTS ARE ‘PEACEFUL’ DESPITE VIOLENCE, INJURED COPS The comment sparked widespread backlash among critics, who repeatedly urged the former first lady to “shut up” and accused her of turning off comments to the post amid the backlash. “Ever notice that only leftists disable comments?” California Republican Liberty Caucus chair John Dennis posted in response to Clinton. Social media users were able to respond to Clinton through quote engagements, but not through direct replies as of Tuesday morning. “These are not peaceful Hillary,” Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted to X. “A public figure and a fraud like herself shouldn’t be able to lock her replies, @elonmusk,” one person responded on X, tagging X owner Elon Musk. MUSK DOES IMMEDIATE 180 ON TRUMP AS SOON AS LA RIOTS RAGE “Hey @ElonMusk, can you make it so that government officials and former government officials cannot turn off their replies,” another user posted. “Accusing the National Guard of causing chaos is a serious allegation that requires serious proof. I see none,” one social media commenter posted. “Hillary Clinton is delusional if nothing else,” another posted in response to footage of a fire raging as rioters waved a Mexican flag. Riots broke out in the left-wing city Friday evening after federal law enforcement officials converged on Los Angeles to carry out immigration raids as part of Trump’s vow to deport illegal aliens who flooded the nation under the Biden administration. Local leaders such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, however, quickly denounced the raids in public statements while offering words of support for illegal immigrants in the state. Protests over the raids soon devolved into violence as rioters targeted federal law enforcement officials, including launching rocks at officials, with videos showing people looting local stores, setting cars on fire and taking over a freeway. NEWSOM’S POLITICAL FUTURE ‘PRACTICALLY NONEXISTENT’ AS LA DEVOLVES INTO RIOTS, SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICS PREDICT Trump announced Saturday that he was deploying 2,000 National Guard members to help quell the violence, bypassing the governor, who typically activates the National Guard. California subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for efforts to allegedly “federalize the California National Guard.” As the riots continued raging on Monday, the Trump administration deployed hundreds of U.S. Marines to respond to anti-immigration chaos. “Approximately 700 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will seamlessly integrate with the Title 10 forces under Task Force 51 who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area,” U.S. Northern Command said in a Monday statement. Trump defended in a Truth Social post early Tuesday morning that if he “didn’t ‘SEND IN THE TROOPS’ to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now.” “Much like 25,000 houses burned to the ground in L.A. do to an incompetent Governor and Mayor – Incidentally, the much more difficult, time consuming, and stringent FEDERAL PERMITTING PROCESS is virtually complete on these houses, while the easy and simple City and State Permits are disastrously bungled up and WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE! They are a total mess, and will be for a long time. People want to rebuild their houses. Call your incompetent Governor and Mayor, the Federal permitting is DONE!!!” Trump continued, referring to the thousands of homes that burned in southern California wildfires that gripped the Los Angeles area in January. Fox News Digital reached out to Clinton’s office for comment on the social media post, but did not immediately receive a reply.
Republican state AGs seek ‘game plan’ from FBI, DOJ amid ‘growing wave of antisemitic domestic terrorism’
FIRST ON FOX – Republican attorneys general from at least 27 states want to coordinate a “game plan” with the FBI and the Department of Justice to “root out antisemitic domestic terrorism.” Fox News Digital first obtained a copy of their letter to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday requesting “assistance in the fight against antisemitic domestic terrorism in the United States.” “We hope to meet with you personally to discuss ways that the states can support the excellent work of the FBI and partner with the Department of Justice to ensure those who are committing these egregious acts are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” the letter, spearheaded by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, says. “Like you, we were horrified by the Hamas terrorist attacks against the people of Israel on October 7, 2023, and we are concerned with the increase in antisemitism that has unfolded since that fateful day,” the state attorneys general wrote. “Domestic terrorists have become more emboldened to commit horrific crimes against Jews and supporters of Israel since October 7, and our collective response will impact the trajectory of that development.” TRUMP SAYS BOULDER TERROR ATTACK ‘WILL NOT BE TOLERATED,’ DEPORTATIONS MUST CONTINUE The letter references how two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were shot and killed outside the Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on May 21. The victims – 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim – were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee when they were attacked. The couple was reportedly set to be engaged. The alleged gunman, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, shouted, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” when he was taken into custody, according to authorities. Wilson – along with the attorneys general for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming and West Virginia – say the attack is a “sobering reminder of the persistence and growth of antisemitism in the United States.” Their letter also references how Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an illegal immigrant from Egypt, is accused of setting victims on fire in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, “while they peacefully rallied on behalf of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.” The suspect was reportedly heard yelling, “Free Palestine,” and other anti-Israel slogans. The victims range from ages 52 to 88. The letter cites how one of the burning victims is reportedly a Holocaust survivor. “We applaud the FBI for wasting no time in investigating both of these recent incidences of antisemitic domestic terrorism,” the letter says. “Senseless violence and the incitement of such violence is also becoming rampant on college campuses. Those who revel in the October 7 attacks show public hostility to the point where many Jewish students do not feel safe living everyday lives. Standing up to antisemitism on college campuses is something the states care about as well.” PATEL SOUNDS ALARM AS CHINESE NATIONALS CHARGED WITH SMUGGLING ‘AGROTERRORISM AGENT’ INTO US: ‘DIRECT THREAT’ The letter commends the work of the FBI and the DOJ’s creation of “Joint Task Force October 7” to investigate antisemitism as “recent evidence of the Trump Administration’s resolve to be a force for good in the fight against hate-inspired criminal activity.” President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 29 establishing the mandate for his administration “to combat antisemitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.” He has also sought to empower state and local law enforcement by instructing “appropriate heads of executive departments” to “take all appropriate action to maximize the use of federal resources” to increase the “collection, distribution and uniformity of crime data across jurisdictions,” the letter says. “After all, ‘preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the State, local and even individual levels, supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient federal government.’” “As our states’ chief legal officers, we see firsthand how effective use of investigative tools aid in the prosecution and prevention of criminal activity,” the letter says. “And we want to work with the FBI and the Department of Justice to be part of the solution to the growing wave of antisemitic domestic terrorism. That’s why we write to encourage further cooperation between federal law enforcement and the states, and for a chance to discuss what such a partnership could look like.” The letter says the “tips and leads amassed by the FBI could be shared with state and local law enforcement to stop domestic terrorism in its tracks.” The attorneys general went on to say that the “FBI is world-renowned for its investigative expertise, and the states appreciate the FBI’s current efforts to disseminate threat intelligence to state and local law enforcement.” “At the same time, increased partnership between state, local and federal law enforcement to share intelligence on antisemitic threats could help stem the tide of domestic terrorism,” the letter says. “We would welcome the chance to meet with you in the coming weeks to discuss a potential partnership between the FBI, the Department of Justice and the states. Together we can create a game plan to root out antisemitic domestic terrorism.”
Iran becoming ‘much more aggressive’ in nuclear talks, Trump tells Fox News
President Donald Trump told Fox News that Iran has become “much more aggressive” in nuclear talks. “Iran is acting much differently in negotiations than it did just days ago,” Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier. “Much more aggressive. It’s surprising to me. It’s disappointing, but we are set to meet again tomorrow – we’ll see.” Senior administration officials also told Fox News that Iran appears to be dragging negotiations on without concrete progress while pushing forward with its nuclear efforts. Meanwhile, outgoing Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael E. Kurilla, told the House Armed Services Committee earlier this year that he had prepared “several plans and options” for Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “in the event there is no agreement with Iran.” This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
State Department reveals plan to deliver ‘life-saving’ meals to 1.4M starving children
FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. State Department and Secretary Marco Rubio punched back at claims that contracts providing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) have been halted and affirmed the agency will continue its commitment to “delivering critical humanitarian aid.” “As USAID transitions under the State Department, our commitment to delivering critical humanitarian aid remains steadfast and aligned with America’s foreign policy priorities,” a senior State Department official told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement. “We are proud to continue working with our local partners to deliver life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic food. Most recently, an additional $50 million in RUTFs was approved. This is enough to nourish over one million of the world’s most vulnerable children.” RISCH URGES ‘TOP TO BOTTOM’ USAID SPENDING REVIEW AFTER WASTE, FRAUD EXPOSED RUFTs’ contracts and operations were previously overseen by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). However, oversight now lies with the State Department after USAID merged into the agency in February, largely influenced by then-Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk. RUTFs are pre-packaged, nutrient-rich, ready-to-eat meals that help prevent malnutrition, mainly in children. Some countries even refer to RUTFs as a form of medicine. The State Department’s comments come after Secretary Rubio faced questions from lawmakers on Capitol Hill in a May hearing, when Democratic Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island confronted Rubio in a heated exchange, saying the agency was intentionally “freezing” RUTF aid to countries in need. “You need to figure out why they’re not moving, because it isn’t an impediment for us,” Rubio fired back. RUBIO SPEARHEADS MASSIVE STATE DEPT REORGANIZATION SET TO ELIMINATE, MERGE MORE THAN 300 OFFICES Amo responded, “No, you need to figure [that] out, sir,” and said that the secretary “refused to make” a commitment to ensuring effective RUTF distribution. “We’re going to continue to do food aid,” Rubio answered. “We’re going to do more food aid than any other country on the planet, times 10.” A source at the State Department revealed to Fox News Digital that key partnerships with non-profit RUTF producers, MANA and Edesia, have been active since March 2. Additionally, 1.4 million boxes of RUTFs were approved on May 26. ‘USAID’ PAPERWORK FOUND IN CAR OF BOULDER TERROR ATTACK SUSPECT TARGETING PRO-ISRAEL GROUP Fox also obtained an internal document and action memorandum for Jeremy Lewin, a former DOGE employee now overseeing the transition of merging USAID with the State Department, from USAID’s Dianna Darney de Salcedo. The document called for urgent approval to move food commodities and RUFTs that were stored in warehouses to be shipped for use. The sensitive but unclassified document also revealed a request to approve a new Title II award, valued at $35 million, which sources say was several times less than initially estimated, to cover the costs of warehouses, shipping overseas, transporting inland, programming and distribution. Fox News Digital spoke to MANA CEO Mark Moore, who outlined a detailed timeline of RUTF federal contract negotiations and the challenges the non-profit faced as USAID merged into the State Department at the beginning of 2025. SUPREME COURT RULES DOGE CAN ACCESS SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION At one point, before the State Department and the Trump administration proposed contracts in May, Moore told Fox News, “We’re all looking at June and July running out of these old contracts and saying we’re just going to have to close the doors.” He noted that “if this new order didn’t come out, we’d really be screwed going into the summer.” “It is trending the right way, and we’re thrilled,” Moore added. Fox News Digital reached out to Rep. Gabe Amo and Edesia but did not receive a response.
Republicans challenge ‘irrelevant’ budget office as it critiques Trump’s ‘beautiful bill’
Both Republicans and Democrats have used analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office as a political cudgel when it suits them, but with unfavorable reviews of President Donald Trump‘s “one big, beautiful bill” coming out, some in the GOP are questioning the relevancy of the agency. The CBO’s latest analysis of the gargantuan tax cut and spending package found that the House Republican-authored super bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade and boot millions off of health insurance. ‘HE’S NOT A BIG FACTOR’: TRUMP’S SENATE ALLIES DISMISS ELON MUSK’S CALLS TO ‘KILL THE BILL’ Senate Republicans will now get their chance to tweak and change the legislation, and have vowed to do so, despite warnings from Trump to reshape the bill as little as possible. Congressional Republicans have largely scoffed at the agency’s findings, arguing that the CBO doesn’t include expected economic growth or other factors into its scoring of the bill. “I don’t care what the CBO says,” Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital. “They’re irrelevant to me. They were biased before. They’ve been biased in other things, but all the numbers speak for themselves.” ‘GONE TOO FAR’: GOP LAWMAKERS RALLY AROUND TRUMP AFTER MUSK RAISES EPSTEIN ALLEGATIONS The agency’s latest score found that the House’s reconciliation offering would cut $1.2 trillion over a decade, add $2.4 trillion to the deficit and decrease revenues by $3.6 trillion. It also found that if the GOP’s proposals to slash Medicaid stay as is, nearly 11 million people would be booted from their health care. That number cranks up to about 16 million Americans removed from the benefit rolls when factoring in Affordable Care Act provisions that are set to expire. However, the White House declared the CBO scores inaccurate, and argued that the package achieved, through a combination of spending cuts, reversing regulations ushered in by the Biden administration and tariffs – which are not part of the bill – roughly $6.6 trillion in savings over the next decade. Many raised issues with the agency’s accuracy, arguing that they got the score wrong for Trump’s 2017 tax package. “I mean, I heard the numbers are always wrong,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. “What’s the purpose?” GOP SENATORS EXPRESS ‘CONCERNS,’ ‘SKEPTICISM’ OVER TRUMP’S SPENDING BILL AFTER MUSK RANT Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, agreed, and contended that it was “time to discuss the CBO being more damn accurate.” Still, some Republicans believe the CBO serves a purpose. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she didn’t believe the agency should be done away with, adding “we need to have a source for scores.” “We kind of go back and forth in terms of condemning CBO because we hate their score, or praising CBO because we like the outcome,” she said. “And I think that’s what we’re seeing a lot of right now, is looking at that CBO score and saying, ‘That’s not real.’” Other lawmakers questioned what the alternative would be. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Fox News Digital, “We need something,” but acknowledged that he felt the agency was biased, and that both parties used scores “to our manipulation.” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., believes that the agency’s score was wildly incorrect. Still, he is one of the main antagonists of the current bill because it does not go far enough to achieve deep spending cuts. The lawmaker told Fox News Digital that he believed the 50-year-old agency would soon be a relic of the past. “I think just AI is gonna replace them,” he said. “I’m using AI all the time to do the sensitivity analysis. I don’t need CBO to do these sensitivity analyses anymore, I can do it myself.”
GOP lawmaker demands accountability for LAPD’s delayed response time helping assaulted ICE officers
FIRST ON FOX: California GOP Congressman Darrell Issa is calling for an investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Police Department did not promptly respond to protect ICE officers being assaulted as violence broke out in the city on Friday night. Issa, who represents California’s 48th Congressional District and is a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a press release Tuesday he is calling for a “full and complete Congressional investigation” into the response time of the LAPD assisting the ICE officers who, according to a press release from DHS, waited for two hours for assistance. “Last night, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property,” DHS said in a press release on Saturday, referring to the previous night when violence broke out in Los Angeles in response to the ICE raids. “It took the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 2 hours to respond.” RIOTERS SMASH WINDOWS AT LAPD HEADQUARTERS AS ANTI-ICE AGITATORS CLASH WITH AUTHORITIES LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, who quickly put out a press release Friday reassuring the public that the department does not participate in immigration activities, pushed back against DHS’ claim in a Sunday press conference. “When we heard that, I think anybody who’s a police officer couldn’t believe it, and certainly anyone with LAPD couldn’t imagine how that could happen,” McDonnell said to reporters. “Well, it didn’t happen.” McDonnell claimed that the actual response time was 40 minutes due to traffic. In a statement to Fox News Digital on Monday, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stood by the department’s original claim. ‘STATE OF REBELLION’: EXPERT WEIGHS IN ON NEWSOM CHALLENGE TO TRUMP DEPLOYING NATIONAL GUARD “The fact remains that it took the Los Angeles Police Department two hours to respond,” McLaughlin said. “During that time, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property. DHS is grateful that now the LAPD is stepping up to help restore law and order.” Fox News Digital reached out to the LAPD for comment. Issa said in a statement regarding his call for investigation that, “We need to know if the political leadership of the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, or anyone else instructed the LAPD to stand down and not respond to the emergency requests of our ICE agents who were under attack by rioters determined to block them, burn them, or even kill them as they bravely carried out their sworn duties.” Democratic leadership in California has faced widespread criticism from conservatives for blaming President Donald Trump for the unrest and referring to the protests, many of them violent, as “peaceful.” While some protesters have remained peaceful, violence had taken place by the end of the day Friday and continued into the weekend, resulting in law enforcement officers being injured and attacked with projectiles and fireworks. On Monday, LAPD announced that 50 arrests had been made with charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin reported on X, adding that five LAPD officers and five LAPD horses sustained minor injuries.
Judge restricts DOGE access to federal databases, finding ‘breach of law and trust’
A federal judge has restricted the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to federal databases, citing a “breach of law and trust.” Led by the American Federation of Government Employees, a group of current and former federal government employees and their unions in February sued the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and DOGE for alleged “breach of privacy.” U.S. District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York granted the plaintiffs’ April 25 motion for a preliminary injunction Monday, but said the scope of the injunction would be addressed in a separate order. “Following President Trump’s inauguration, OPM granted broad access to many of those systems to a group of individuals associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (‘DOGE’), even though no credible need for this access had been demonstrated. In doing so, OPM violated the law and bypassed its established cybersecurity practices,” Cote wrote in a 99-page opinion on Monday. SUPREME COURT RULES DOGE CAN ACCESS SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION “In brief, the OPM records at issue concern the plaintiffs’ most sensitive private affairs,” the opinion says. “They include social security numbers, health care information, banking information, and information about family members. For some people, disclosure of information in OPM systems could subject them to danger.” An appointee of President Bill Clinton, Cotes said plaintiffs “have shown they are entitled to” a preliminary injunction, which “would stop disclosure of OPM records to individuals associated with DOGE and require the destruction of any copies of personal information that have been obtained through such disclosure.” “The plaintiffs have shown that the defendants disclosed OPM records to individuals who had no legal right of access to those records,” Cotes wrote. “In doing so, the defendants violated the Privacy Act and departed from cybersecurity standards that they are obligated to follow. This was a breach of law and of trust. Tens of millions of Americans depend on the Government to safeguard records that reveal their most private and sensitive affairs.” The judge further criticized the Trump administration’s handling of OPM records. “The Government could have acknowledged that in its rush to accomplish a new President’s agenda mistakes were made and established, important protocols were overlooked. It has not,” Cote wrote. “The Government has defended this lawsuit by repeatedly invoking a mantra that it adhered to all established procedures and safeguards. It did not. Without a full-throated recognition that the law and established cybersecurity procedures must be followed, the risk of irreparable harm will continue to exist.” In a May hearing, Justice Department lawyers reportedly argued that any preliminary injunction granted should include exceptions for high-level OPM officials and cited how a separate judge had walked back initial restrictions placed on DOGE access to Treasury Department records in February so long as DOGE staffers have the appropriate training and vetting, according to the Federal News Network. Justice Department lawyers filed a separate motion in the case on Friday, citing the Supreme Court’s latest decision related to DOGE access to Social Security Administration (SSA) records. DOGE’s future remains uncertain amid a rocky public fallout between its former leader, tech billionaire Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump, though both men previously said they want the waste-cutting entity’s work to continue. The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration two victories on Friday in cases involving DOGE, including giving it access to Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans. The three liberal justices dissented in both cases. FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES CALIFORNIA’S LAWSUIT OVER TRUMP TARIFFS, CITING JURISDICTION ISSUE The justices also separately reined in orders seeking transparency at DOGE. In one case, the high court halted an order from a judge in Maryland that had restricted the team’s access to the SSA under federal privacy laws. The Trump administration says DOGE needs access to carry out its mission of targeting waste in the federal government. Musk had been focused on Social Security as an alleged hotbed of fraud. The entrepreneur has described it as a “Ponzi scheme” and insisted that reducing waste in the program is an important way to cut government spending. But U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander in Maryland found that DOGE’s efforts at Social Security amounted to a “fishing expedition” based on “little more than suspicion” of fraud, and allowing unfettered access puts Americans’ private information at risk. Her ruling did allow access to anonymous data for staffers who have undergone training and background checks, or wider access for those who have detailed a specific need. The Trump administration has said DOGE cannot work effectively with those restrictions. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer also argued that the ruling is an example of federal judges overstepping their authority and trying to micromanage executive branch agencies. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tom Cotton pushes new crackdown on pro-immigration rioters in Los Angeles, citing ICE assaults
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Tom Cotton is renewing his hard-line stance on civil unrest, this time targeting riots tied to immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles. The Arkansas Republican, who drew widespread criticism for urging military intervention during the 2020 racial justice riots, is now introducing two new bills designed to impose strict penalties on violent protesters – particularly those who target federal agents or are in the country illegally. “Rioters who assault ICE officers and engage in acts of violence should face stiff consequences,” Cotton said in a statement. “My bill makes clear that Americans will not tolerate lawless rioting and is a guardrail from pro-crime prosecutors that fail to enforce the law.” One of Cotton’s proposed measures, the No Visas for Violent Criminals Act, would automatically revoke visas and trigger deportation for any foreign national convicted of a crime during a protest. That includes offenses like blocking traffic or defacing public property. POSSE COMITATUS ACT AT CENTER OF TRUMP-NEWSOM NATIONAL GUARD DISPUTE IN LA Another, the Mitigating Extreme Lawlessness and Threats Act, would increase the maximum punishment for participation in a riot from five years to 10 years and establish a mandatory minimum of one year in prison for participating in any riot-related act of violence and or assaulting a member of federal law enforcement. Appearing on Fox News Monday, Cotton argued it was not the deployment of federal resources or deportation efforts that were “provocative,” but rather the behavior of protesters. “It’s not provocative to enforce federal law. It’s not provocative to do what President Trump campaigned on,” he said. “What’s provocative is to have all of these illegal aliens setting cars on fire while waving foreign flags – and now being joined by professional agitators from Antifa and pro-Hamas sympathizers.” Critics have claimed President Donald Trump broke federal law by sending in some 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles without approval from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, Cotton claimed the law was on the president’s side. MUSK DOES IMMEDIATE 180 ON TRUMP AS SOON AS LA RIOTS RAGE “The law is entirely clear,” he said. “The National Guard, traditionally operating under governors’ authorities, can be federalized and can be used by the president to restore basic order and to enforce federal law.” In 2020, Cotton penned a now-infamous op-ed in The New York Times titled “Send in the Troops,” advocating for an “overwhelming show of force” to quell the unrest following George Floyd’s death. The Times initially stood by the piece, citing free speech and diverse viewpoints, but later reversed course, claiming the essay “fell short of our standards and should not have been published.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP This past weekend, Trump also hinted at the potential use of the Insurrection Act, saying he might deploy active-duty Marines to suppress ongoing demonstrations. “The Insurrection Act was also a backstop for the National Guard to provide the president for use of active duty troops. President Trump has said we’re not there yet, but he does stand by ready to do so if necessary. That’s what I said,” Cotton said.
Congress steps in amid ‘out-of-control’ Los Angeles riots as Democrats resist federal help
FIRST ON FOX: Republicans in California’s congressional delegation are moving to formally condemn the riots in Los Angeles, as tensions continue there between federal immigration authorities and protesters. The resolution being introduced Tuesday affirms support for peaceful protests and for state, local and federal law enforcement. It also “calls on local and state elected leadership to work with the federal government to end the violent riots and restore peace,” even as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom continue to oppose the presence of National Guard troops in the city. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS SLAM NEWSOM, BASS FOR LETTING LA BURN WITH RIOTS AMID TRUMP IMMIGRATION BLITZ Protests against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids erupted over the weekend after authorities began arresting dozens of people as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants in the U.S. Several demonstrations soon turned violent and have since captivated national attention, with images of masked rioters waving Mexican flags and cars burning in the street. Democratic officials, including Newsom and Bass, had accused President Donald Trump of escalating tensions in Los Angeles by sending in thousands of National Guard troops. He also ordered the deployment of 700 Marines. CALIFORNIA LT. GOVERNOR SAYS LOS ANGELES RIOTS ARE ‘GENERATED BY DONALD TRUMP’ Republicans, in turn, have defended Trump as doing what is necessary and have criticized progressive leaders for opposing rather than working with the president. The resolution, first obtained by Fox News Digital, notes, “These protests quickly escalated into violent riots across Los Angeles, where acts of arson and vandalism were committed, blocking streets and highways, lighting streets on fire, throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, and assaulting Federal and local peace officers.” It also points out that rioters burned American flags, in “an act that disrespects the nation that protects their freedom.” Newsom is also called out specifically in the text, having “asserted that ‘local law enforcement didn’t need any help,’ despite the Los Angeles Police Department declaring that the violence had worsened and spiraled out of control.” The resolution is being led by Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., and is signed by every Republican in California’s congressional delegation. Fox News Digital reached out to the California governor’s office but did not immediately hear back.