Federal Judge James Boasberg finds probable cause to hold Trump in contempt over deportation flights
A federal judge said Wednesday that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt for failing to return two planes deporting migrants to El Salvador last month, a major update that comes as tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary have reached a fever pitch. In the 48-page opinion, Judge Boasberg said the court had ultimately determined that the Trump administration’s actions on the March 15 deportation flights, which took place after he issued a bench ruling ordering their immediate return to U.S. soil, demonstrate a “willful disregard” for the court that is sufficient for the government to be found in criminal contempt.” Should they fail to answer his questions by April 23, he said, he will refer the matter for potential prosecution. JUDGE BOASBERG CANCELES PLANNED HEARING TO REVIEW TRUMP DEPORTATIONS That would involve identifying the individuals responsible for what he described as “contumacious conduct,” and by “determining whose ‘specific act or omission’ caused the noncompliance,” Boasberg said. The Justice Department could then request that the contempt be prosecuted by an attorney for the government and, should they decline to prosecute the matter, could “appoint another attorney to prosecute the contempt.” “The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions,” the judge continued. “None of their responses has been satisfactory…” “As this Opinion will detail, the Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt,” Boasberg said Wednesday.
Kentucky senate race for McConnell’s seat heats up
A critical Kentucky seat in the U.S. Senate will soon have a new face after former GOP leader Mitch McConnell announced his retirement in February, and Republican hopefuls appear to be gearing up for what will be a challenging primary. Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s first Black attorney general and 2024 gubernatorial candidate, still remains the only declared Republican candidate so far after he announced his intention to run for the vacant seat just days after McConnell’s retirement address. With first quarter fundraising numbers being released on Tuesday, another possible candidate has been seemingly busy building a war chest behind the scenes. HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN ARM TOUTS ‘UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM’ WITH RECORD FUNDRAISING HAUL Republican Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, who has hinted at a possible run though has not officially stepped into the race, posted a sizable $2.26 million raised since January, with approximately $5.35 million in cash on hand through various Political Action Committees. Amanda Milward, a spokesperson for the Barr campaign, spoke with Fox News Digital after the numbers were posted on Tuesday. “Andy Barr is humbled by the outpouring of support from Kentuckians and donors across the country for his strong America First leadership,” Milward explained. “As Andy considers running for the U.S. Senate, it is clear that Kentucky Republicans want leaders who will not only stand with President Trump, but who also have the drive and resources to win. We cannot afford to lose another statewide race.” Cameron posted $507,656 in campaign contributions and $455,395 cash on hand after expenditures. VP VANCE BLASTS MCCONNELL’S VOTE AGAINST TRUMP PENTAGON NOMINEE: ‘POLITICAL PETTINESS’ “From every corner of Kentucky to supporters across the country, folks are rallying behind our campaign because they’re ready for a true America First fighter—someone who will stand up for our values and advance President Trump’s agenda in the U.S. Senate,” Cameron told Fox News Digital Tuesday. “We’re pressing forward, the path to victory is clear, and we’re not looking back.” Former Senate Leader Mitch McConnell was elected to the coveted seat in 1985, making him the longest-serving senator in Kentucky history. However, McConnell’s endorsement may not carry the weight it did some years ago, given the tumultuous relationship between the Kentucky senator and President Donald Trump. Sources close to the race told Fox News Digital that a McConnell endorsement would actually do more harm than good and that the endorsement from President Trump is the key to the ticket. While President Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate, he has made comments about both Cameron and Barr in the past. Last week at the White House, the president made a nod to Barr’s attendance during a press conference, telling the likely candidate “good luck with everything, I hear good things.” GOP SENATOR REVEALS WHY TRUMP’S ‘COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT’ WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR HIS MIDTERM RACE Notably, a Trump endorsement for Cameron would not be the first, as the 45th and 47th president endorsed Cameron for governor in October 2023. Following Cameron’s loss to Democrat Andy Beshear, Trump blamed ties with McConnell as the reason for the defeat. “Daniel Cameron lost because he couldn’t alleviate the stench of Mitch McConnell,” Trump posted to Truth Social. “I told him early that’s a big burden to overcome. McConnell and Romney are Kryptonite for Republican Candidates. I moved him up 25 Points, but the McConnell relationship was ‘too much to bear.” To shake things up even more, a third possible candidate is eyeing a possible run for the hotly contested seat. Wealthy businessman Nate Morris, CEO of Morris Industries and former CEO of Rubicon Investments, has also been in the mix of possible names in the primary. Morris has already targeted ties to McConnell as a possible weakness for a potential victor, posting on X that “the last thing Kentucky needs is another puppet for Mitch McConnell.” Who the sitting president plans to support remains unclear, though it seems his endorsement in the race may be one of the more substantial in the upcoming midterm election. Fox News Digital reached out to Nate Morris for comment but did not receive a response.
Inside House Republicans’ new task force to battle criminal Mexican cartels
EXCLUSIVE: Successfully ridding the U.S. of the effects of Mexico’s criminal cartels operating along the southwestern border would be a 20-year ordeal, Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said – but argued Congress could begin having an impact in a matter of weeks to months. “Look, there’s places we can boost right now to help the administration – the administration is refocusing a lot of efforts, especially in the [Department of Defense (DOD)], on the cartel situation, but there’s no extra money for that. That is something we could produce in reconciliation,” Crenshaw told Fox News Digital. “I already know what programs need to be boosted, I just need to know the numbers. And that will come from [the Office of Management and Budget] that’ll come from the Department of Homeland Security, it’ll come from the DOD, it’ll come from [Department of Justice]. And so over the next couple of weeks, even while we’re in recess, we’re working on getting those numbers.” TWO VENEZUELAN ILLEGAL ALIENS CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING, TORTURING, ATTEMPTING TO KILL WASHINGTON STATE WOMAN Fox News Digital spoke with Crenshaw days after he was tapped to lead a new task force on combating Mexico’s drug cartels. It’s operating under the House permanent select committee on intelligence, which Crenshaw sits on. He said it differs from his initiative last year, a similar task force, albeit with few resources to execute his goals, according to the congressman. “Last year’s cartel task force didn’t have any staff. We were a series of members conducting hearings, investigations,” Crenshaw said. “I think we’re past that stage at the moment. Now, what I lead is really the House’s effort to actually create some legislation to combat the cartels.” He added that the intelligence panel was “the right place for it” given “a lot of the work we do is classified.” “So the goal here is to actually get some outcomes as opposed to continuing more hearings, continuing more investigation. I’ve got a pretty good outline of what needs to happen. We’ve got President Trump in the White House now, who wants to make it happen,” Crenshaw said. “Another huge difference between now and last year is we have a Mexican administration under President Sheinbaum, who also wants to make it happen and take the fight to the cartels.” That fight would largely be a two-phase approach, Crenshaw explained. The first would be funding, while the second would entail “additional authorities and laws that need to be changed” to combat what the Texas congressman likened to “a terrorist insurgency” within the U.S.’ close neighbor and trading partner. “That means boosting up certain funding lines in existing authorities, especially places like the Department of Defense. You know, NORTHCOM owns this area of operation when it comes to Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. They’re going to need extra resources because we’re going to need to do a lot more training on Mexican special forces,” he said. Crenshaw called for sending military-grade gear to forces at the border, including Blackhawk helicopters, and bolstering reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering efforts. PAM BONDI CALLS OUT ‘DETACHED FROM REALITY’ DEMS FOR DEMANDING ALLEGED MS-13 GANG MEMBER BE RETURNED TO US “Things they really don’t have and that currently cause them to be outgunned by these pretty massive militias that have unlimited funding and are ruthless in the way that they terrorize the Mexican population,” Crenshaw explained. “So there’s a lot to do there.” He’s hoping the funding can largely be allocated through the budget reconciliation process, a means for Republicans to pass a massive conservative policy overhaul while totally sidelining Democrats. They can do so because reconciliation brings the Senate’s passage threshold down from 60 votes to 51, provided the legislation deals with taxation, spending or the national debt. Republicans are looking to increase funding for President Donald Trump’s border initiatives, but it’s not immediately clear what shape that will take. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The contours of that plan will become clear in the next several weeks, with lawmakers returning from a two-week recess at the end of this month. But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said his full faith was in Crenshaw to execute the task force’s goals. “Now it is the responsibility of Congress to ensure this good work can continue by providing the President with the tools he needs to dismantle the drug cartels for good,” Johnson said in a statement. “No one has worked harder on this important issue than Congressman Crenshaw, and I am grateful he is willing to continue leading at this pivotal time.”
Bipartisan senators push tougher penalties for foreign-backed crimes on US soil
In the wake of the arrest of two foreign nationals seeking to murder a U.S. journalist on behalf of the Iranian government, a bipartisan group of senators put forward a bill Tuesday to stiffen penalties on people who commit crimes in the U.S. on behalf of foreign countries. Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Jim Banks, R-Ind., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., introduced the Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors (DETERRENCE) Act. The bill increases penalties on murder-for-hire schemers, those convicted of attempted murder or assassination of federal officials, as well as suspects allegedly involved in attempting to kill former officials because of their actions while in office. Stalking and attempted kidnapping in the name of foreign governments would also lead to more serious charges for any offender. Many sentence enhancements fell at 10 additional years in prison. IRANIAN BORN JOURNALIST TARGETED IN KIDNAP PLOT TELLS FOX THE TEHRAN REGIME ‘CANNOT BREAK ME’ “If you commit crimes in America on behalf of foreign adversaries, you must face serious consequences,” Slotkin said in a statement. “The bipartisan DETERRENCE Act helps strengthen penalties for these crimes and sends a clear message about how seriously we take our national security and how we will hold accountable those who commit crimes against our nation.” In March, two foreigners appeared in New York federal court and pleaded not guilty to an alleged murder-for-hire plot against Masih Alinejad – an Iranian-born U.S. journalist. Rafat Amirov of Iran and Polad Omarov of the Czech Republic and Slovenia were members of the Russian mob and were hired by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to kill the New York City resident, according to prosecutors. “Finally, I will face the men hired by the Islamic Republic to kill me, right here in New York,” Alinejad said at the time. IRANIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST TESTIFIES AGAINST MEN ACCUSED OF MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT “I’m deeply grateful to my new country, the United States of America, for trying to keep me safe from the government of my birth country, Iran.” Ernst said the U.S. cannot allow foreign adversaries like Iran to “fund crimes against Americans on our own soil.” She called the DETERRENCE Act an example of Reagan-esque “peace through strength” that puts foreign criminals “on notice” and is a direct warning to anyone trying to act on Tehran’s motto of “Death to America.” Meanwhile, Hassan said in a statement that Congress should pass the legislation as a clear message to foreign adversaries that they will face serious consequences if their criminal behavior crosses the U.S. border. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Foreign adversaries are working with gangs and criminals in the United States to try to kill people on our soil, which is a national security risk,” she warned. Another reported foreign murder-for-hire plot was revealed last fall when an ex-Indian intelligence officer allegedly plotted to kill a U.S. citizen in New York who was a leader of a pro-Sikh independence movement. Vikash Yadav’s October indictment reportedly laid out a connection to the Indian government, according to NPR.
JD Vance gears up to talk economic priorities during trips to Italy, India
Vice President JD Vance is poised to kick off a trip to Italy and India on Friday – marking his third international trip with the Trump administration. Vance and the second family are poised to meet with and “discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country,” according to a statement from Vance’s office. When in Rome, Vance is scheduled to meet with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He will meet with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi while visiting New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. VANCE’S ‘AMERICA FIRST’ APPROACH GOES GLOBAL, TAKES HARDLINE MESSAGE TO GREENLAND Meanwhile, Meloni is also slated to visit the White House on Thursday in Washington. The vice president and the second family are also planning to conduct engagements at several unspecified cultural sites. The vice president’s office did not provide specifics regarding their trip. It comes as the White House has said that more than 75 countries have reached out seeking to negotiate trade deals with the U.S., after the Trump administration unveiled historic tariffs on April 2. Both the European Union and India have signaled interest in brokering a deal with the U.S. on trade. Meloni has said Italy isn’t on board with the tariffs imposed on the EU, and is prepared to “deploy all tools” to protect Italian businesses. JD VANCE STEPS INTO SPOTLIGHT DEFENDING TRUMP’S FOREIGN POLICY IN OVAL OFFICE DUSTUP WITH ZELENSKYY The original tariff plan slapped 20% duties on goods from the European Union, as well as at least 26% duties on Indian goods. However, Trump announced on April 9 a 90-day pause on those tariffs where duties would be reduced to 10% as countries work to hash out trade deals with the U.S. Vance’s previous international trips include attending the Munich Security Conference in February, where he delivered remarks pushing Europe to “step up in a big way to provide for its own defense.” He also warned that Russia and China don’t pose as great a threat to European nations as the “threat from within,” concerning issues like censorship and illegal immigration. In March, Vance visited Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, the Department of Defense’s northernmost military installation that houses Space Force’s 821st Space Base Group to conduct missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations.
Longtime Trump foe Letitia James reviewing possible insider trading over president’s tariff pause
New York Attorney General Letitia James is in the preliminary stages of looking into whether President Donald Trump’s recent reciprocal tariff pause included insider trading violations, Fox News Digital confirmed. James, who is a longtime political foe of Trump’s, is only in the preliminary stages of investigating whether Trump or people close to him may have had advance knowledge of a tariff decision that caused stock markets to surge. The attorney general’s office confirmed the preliminary review of the matter to Fox News Digital Wednesday morning. Trump’s customized, reciprocal tariffs on nations that historically have installed trade barriers on U.S. goods took effect April 9. Trump, ahead of pausing the reciprocal tariffs, posted to Truth Social, “BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well. The USA will be bigger and better than ever before!” and “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.” He announced a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs later that day in a surprise move that helped push U.S. markets sharply higher. China, however, was not part of the tariff pause and was instead hit with a higher 125% tariff after retaliating with its own additional tariffs against the U.S., and the 10% baseline tariff leveled on nations earlier in April was kept in place. NY AG LETITIA JAMES SKEWERED FOR ‘DISTASTEFUL’ REMARKS AFTER TRUMP VICTORY: ‘UTTER ARROGANCE’ TRUMP VOWS NOBODY GETTING ‘OFF THE HOOK’ FOR ‘UNFAIR’ TRADE BALANCES, SAYS THERE WAS NO TARIFF ‘EXCEPTION’ The DOW went up 7.9%, the S&P 500 rose 9.5% and the Nasdaq jumped 12.2% the same day. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about possible insider trading. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” that the Securities and Exchange Commission should investigate. “It’s entirely appropriate to have an investigation to make sure that Donald Trump, Donald Trump’s family, Donald Trump’s inner circle, didn’t get advance information and trade on that information,” Warren said. Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., wrote a letter Thursday to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, as well as Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, calling for an investigation into potential insider trading. The White House hit back in comments provided to Fox Digital amid allegations of insider trading that Democrats were “playing partisan games.” WH SLAMS DEMS’ ‘PARTISAN GAMES’ AFTER TRUMP-FOE SCHIFF CALLS FOR INSIDER TRADING INVESTIGATION OVER TARIFFS “It is the responsibility of the President of the United States to reassure the markets and Americans about their economic security in the face of nonstop media fearmongering,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in comment to Fox Digital Thursday. “Democrats railed against China’s cheating for decades, and now they’re playing partisan games instead of celebrating President Trump’s decisive action yesterday to finally corner China,” James, a former city council member in New York and public defender, launched her run for New York attorney general during the 2018 cycle, while emphasizing that if she were elected, she would aggressively pursue legal charges against Trump, vowing to expose the “con man” following her win that year. James reported in November 2024 that her office took on nearly 100 legal challenges against Trump during his first administration and added after his second presidential win last year that she would continue challenging him in the courts to “defend the rights of New Yorkers and the rule of law.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “We did not expect this result, but we are prepared to respond to this result. And my office has been preparing for several months because we’ve been here before,” James said following Trump’s election win in November 2024. “We faced this challenge before, and we used the rule of law to fight back. And we are prepared to fight back once again because, as the attorney general of this great state, it is my job to protect and defend the rights of New Yorkers and the rule of law. And I will not shrink from that responsibility.” Under the 1921 Martin Act, the New York attorney general has broad authority to investigate possible securities fraud. The law allows the office to subpoena witnesses, demand documents, and bring civil or criminal cases without proving intent to defraud.
Senate Republican DOGE leader Joni Ernst faces first Democratic challenger in 2026 race
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is facing her first Democratic challenger in the 2026 election as one Marine and Army veteran jumped into the race on Tuesday, vowing to fight “for a Democratic Party that people like me will want to be a part of.” Nathan Sage, currently the executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, announced his candidacy through a campaign video introducing himself as a dad, mechanic, sports radio host and a child of a trailer park in Mason City, Iowa. He said he’s fighting for a country “that’s ruled by the people who sustain it, not the billionaire class.” “I want to kick corporate Republican Joni Ernst’s a— next November,” Sage said. SEN. ERNST PRAISES TRUMP ADMIN FOR EXTRADITION OF MIGRANT TO US: ‘ABSOLUTELY ELATED’ “The economy is rigged, and those in power don’t give a damn. They’re the ones doing it. Only 2% of Congress come from the working class. We built the damn table. It’s time we had a seat at it,” Sage said in his first campaign video shared on X. “I’m fighting for a Democratic Party that people like me will actually want to be a part of. People like my dad, myself, my kids, all the people like us,” Sage said. “The DC elites, the ruling class, they don’t want me. But I think maybe you will.” Sage, whose father was a factory worker and mother was a daycare teacher, also took a swing at tech billionaire and President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency adviser Elon Musk using X, which Musk owns. “We’ll be up against all the money Elon Musk can throw at us. Please consider supporting this transformative campaign,” Sage wrote, sharing a donation link for his campaign on ActBlue, the main fundraising platform for the Democratic Party. Ernst, notably, is leading DOGE efforts in the Senate. Sage’s campaign video – which includes sprinkles of profanity – begins by categorizing Ernst as “scandal-ridden” and “corporate-funded.” It also further highlights his working-class background and military service. “I never thought someone like me could run for Senate,” Sage said. When he was five years old, Sage said, that his father was “arrested for a bounced check — $50.” “He was trying to pay for new school clothes for my sister and I,” Sage said. “We grew up poor. But I still believed in this country. So I enlisted again and again. Eight years. We were attacked by mortars and rockets more times than I can count. And by the grace of God, I made it home. Now I’m the executive director of Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, one of the many places that’s being abandoned, hurt by corporations, billionaires and the politicians they own.” SEN. JONI ERNST ACCUSES USAID OF ‘OBSTRUCTION’ AMID ‘WASTE AND ABUSE’ SPENDING ALLEGATIONS “There’s a war at home, and we’re losing. Unions under attack. Farmers f—ed over,” Sage said. “People working nonstop just to survive. Too busy to enjoy life. People like my dad are spending their life slaving away in factories only to die of cancer caused by those same corporations.” In an interview with The Hill, Sage said he decided to run out of concern for women’s healthcare coverage after November’s election, noting his wife had a miscarriage earlier last year. “That got me to the point where we shouldn’t be as a working class – as people in general – we shouldn’t be living like that,” Sage reportedly said. Ernst, who is running for her third Senate term in 2026, retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after 23 years of military service, but Sage claimed that the Republican senator has “kind of left the working class and left a lot of Iowans behind.” Cook Political Report – the leading nonpartisan handicapper – categorizes Ernst’s seat as “solid Republican” in the 2026 race. She faces several GOP primary challengers but is considered the front-runner. Iowa hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 2008, when Sen. Tom Harken secured another term. The Hawkeye State last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 2012, when former President Barack Obama was re-elected. Trump has won Iowa in every consecutive presidential contest since then. Marion County, where Sage is from, voted for Trump by a sweeping 38 points. “Marion County is a manufacturing county, and most of those people are trying to make ends meet every day of their life. They tried to figure out ways to put food on the table, and I feel like most of them just aren’t represented,” Sage told The Hill. “They don’t have anybody that they feel like is very confident in casting their vote for. And I feel like, for me, I’m one of them, and I’m one of these people that’s just in the middle and that’s going to stand up for the whole of everybody.”
Grassley, Johnson press DOJ IG to respond on whether ‘untasked’ undercover agents were present on Jan. 6
EXCLUSIVE: Sens. Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley are demanding information from the Justice Department’s inspector general on whether any unassigned or “untasked” confidential human sources from DOJ agencies beyond the FBI were in or around the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In 2024, DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz revealed that there were more than two dozen FBI confidential human sources in the crowd outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but only three were assigned by the bureau to be present for the event. One of the three confidential human sources tasked by the FBI to attend the rally entered the Capitol building, while the other two entered the restricted area around the Capitol. If a confidential human source is directed to be at a certain event, they are paid by the FBI for their time. WERE UNDERCOVER SOURCES FROM OTHER DOJ AGENCIES PRESENT ON JAN. 6? GRASSLEY, JOHNSON DEMAND ANSWERS Horowitz, in that report, said none of the sources were authorized or directed by the FBI to “break the law” or “encourage others to commit illegal acts.” In December, and after the release of Horowitz’s report, Grassley, R-Iowa, and Johnson, R-Wis., demanded information on whether confidential human sources from DOJ agencies beyond the FBI were used on Jan. 6, 2021. In an April 7 letter exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, Horowitz notified the senators that he found no evidence the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), or the Bureau of Prisons deployed confidential human sources to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. “We can confirm that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) did not have any undercover employees in Washington, D.C. on January 6 in connection with the events of January 6,” Horowitz wrote in his response. “This includes in or around the Capitol or in the restricted area of the Capitol.” “We can also confirm that the ATF, DEA, USMS, and BOP did not have any tasked CHSs in Washington, D.C. on January 6 in connection with the events of January 6,” Horowitz continued. “This includes in or around the Capitol or in the restricted area of the Capitol.” However, Horowitz could not conclusively say whether any of those agencies had “untasked” confidential human sources – or those who traveled on their own initiative – present on Jan. 6, 2021. “With respect to whether any DOJ law enforcement components other than the FBI had untasked CHSs in Washington, D.C. on January 6 in connection with the events of January 6, unlike the FBI, we have no information at this time as to whether the ATF, DEA, USMS, or BOP conducted a post-January 6 canvass to determine if any of their CHSs traveled on their own initiative (untasked) to D.C. in connection with the January 6 events,” Horowitz wrote. Horowitz notified Grassley and Johnson that after conversations with their Senate staff on the matter, the DOJ inspector general’s office is inquiring with those agencies further on whether they have any information to indicate whether any of their confidential human sources were in Washington D.C. “on their own initiative (untasked) for the events on January 6.” “We will supplement this response when we receive that information,” Horowitz wrote. Grassley and Johnson, in a letter to Horowitz obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, demanded Horowitz provide that information, saying his investigative work appeared to be “narrowly focused” on just the FBI’s use of CHSs, and said his response on “untasked CHSs from DOJ components other than the FBI” was “less definitive.” In addition, Grassley and Johnson are demanding further information on confidential human sources, noting that “the term ‘undercover agent’ can mean many things.” Grassley and Johnson are now reiterating their request for information on whether “any federal law enforcement components, including FBI, ATF, DEA, USMS, or BOP had employees or contractors wearing civilian clothing in the Washington D.C. area; at the Capitol Building; and in restricted areas on J6 in an official or unofficial capacity.” Meanwhile, Grassley and Johnson, in December, also questioned whether Horowitz thoroughly reviewed classified and unclassified communications between handlers and their sources, warning that without that review, there may be a “major blind spot” in his findings. Horowitz, in his April letter to the senators, said he reviewed the “relevant portions of CHS files in the FBI’s electronic record-keeping system for CHS management” and obtained “relevant portions of those files,” including underlying text messages, photographs and videos. Horowitz said he obtained emails documenting the FBI’s Washington Field Office communications with CHS handlers of the tasked CHSs, and emails of CHS handling agents of “untasked” CHSs who contacted the Washington Field Office during the events of Jan. 6, 2021. “We flagged certain additional documents to be produced, including 1023s, documentation of unauthorized illegal activity (which generated a negative response), approvals for the tasked CHSs, and some underlying text messages and photographs referenced in 1023s, including text messages sent and shared between CHSs and their handlers,” Horowitz wrote, adding that he also obtained instant messages from the FBI’s classified and unclassified communication platforms. DOJ IG REVEALS 26 FBI INFORMANTS WERE PRESENT ON JAN. 6 “As with all reviews, we sought the information that was most relevant to our review, one aspect of which was to confirm that no FBI handling agent, FBI Headquarters personnel, or WFO personnel authorized any CHS to engage in illegal activity on January 6, 2021,” Horowitz stressed. “Given this scope, and the fact that the OIG did not receive any information indicating that any individual handling agent had inappropriate communications with a CHS, the OIG requested and reviewed relevant text messages between handling agents and CHSs, but did not request all of the text messages for all of the 26 CHSs and their handlers.” Horowitz explained that for many of the confidential human sources in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, “the handling agents did not
EPA chief takes on Mexican ‘sewage crisis’ flowing into US waters where Navy SEALs train
FIRST ON FOX: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lee Zeldin will visit San Diego next week to meet with Navy SEALs and local leaders as he zeroes in on addressing a Mexican sewage problem flowing into waters off the California coast, Fox News Digital learned. Zeldin will head to San Diego on Tuesday, when he will see firsthand reported sewage flowing from across the border in Tijuana into American waters where Navy SEALs train, an EPA spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The EPA administrator will also tour the southern border by helicopter and meet with the SEALs who train in the water filled with sewage. “Administrator Lee Zeldin will be in San Diego next Tuesday, 4/22, to see this international sewage issue firsthand,” the spokesperson said, confirming the trip. “He will be touring the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, participating in a roundtable with local stakeholders and elected officials, taking a helicopter tour of the U.S. Southern border, and meeting with Navy SEALs who train in the area.” PETA, ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS PRAISE TRUMP ADMIN FOR PHASING OUT ‘CRUEL TESTS ON DOGS’ AND OTHER ANIMALS “Administrator Zeldin is committed to ensuring every American has access to clean air, land and water, and he looks forward to the opportunity to get out to San Diego next week.” LEE ZELDIN: WHY WE’RE SHUTTING DOWN BIDEN’S EPA MUSEUM Zeldin first addressed the sewage problem in March before previewing the trip to take the issue head on. “I was just briefed that Mexico is dumping large amounts of raw sewage into the Tijuana River, and it’s now seeping into the U.S.,” he posted to X March 8. “This is unacceptable. Mexico MUST honor its commitments to control this pollution and sewage!” He previewed in another X post in April that he would travel to the “California-Mexico border in the coming weeks where disgusting Mexican sewage is harming our precious environment in the United States.” Local leaders have been sounding the alarm on the sewage problem, including Imperial Beach’s Mayor Paloma Aguirre, who sent a letter to Zeldin in March describing how the raw sewage has sparked one of “America’s most horrendous environmental and public health disaster” as billions of gallons have polluted the Pacific Ocean since 2023 alone. “The toxic sewage coming across the border from Mexico into South San Diego County is among America’s most horrendous environmental and public health disasters,” Aguirre’s March 3 letter to Zeldin and published online reads. “Since 2023, over 31 billion gallons of raw sewage, polluted stormwater and trash have flowed across the Mexican border, down the Tijuana River, through the cities of San Diego and Imperial Beach and into the Pacific Ocean.” ZELDIN SHUTTERS MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR BIDEN EPA MUSEUM THAT ‘SCARCELY’ SAW VISITORS The letter called on Zeldin to assist with the crisis by authorizing a new review of the Lower Tijuana River Valley’s sewage crisis for Superfund designation. The crisis has affected tourism, homeowners and the Navy SEALs, who train at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, as well as surrounding beaches in the massive Southern California county. STACEY ABRAMS SLAMMED AFTER DEFENDING $2 BILLION IN BIDEN-ERA EPA FUNDS TO BUY GREEN ENERGY APPLIANCES “Our residents, are getting ill due to polluted air,” the letter continued. “Workers, including Navy Seals training in the area, have been sickened on the job by waterborne and aerosolized diseases. Many homeowners have been forced to place air quality monitors on their property so they know whether or not its safe to go outside. And the economic impact is profound, with the sewage crisis hurting area tourism, maritime industry jobs and local property values.” A Department of Defense Inspector General report published Feb. 7 determined that between January 2019 and May 2023, more than 1,000 Navy SEALs and SEAL candidates became sick after training in the water, including with acute gastrointestinal illnesses.
Illegal immigrant arrested for incest with teenager, released by Virginia jail captured by ICE
An illegal immigrant who was arrested in January on charges of incest and sexual battery is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being released from a Virginia county jail. Officers with ICE, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Virginia State Police arrested Marvin Mateo-Alberto last week, a Honduran national who was in the U.S. illegally, according to an ICE release. The Hoduran national first illegally entered the U.S. in October 2005 near Eagle Pass, Texas, according to the release, where he was given a notice to appear in front of an immigration judge. ICE USING SOCIAL SECURITY RECORDS TO AID TRUMP PUSH TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS In April 2006, a Justice Department judge ordered that Mateo-Alberto be removed from the United States. Despite that, Mateo-Alberto was arrested in January by the Fairfax County Police Department and charged with incest with a 13-to-17-year-old child and aggravated sexual battery: parent with a 13-to-17-year-old child, the release notes, resulting in ICE lodging a detainer against him with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. However, the release notes, the county detention center did not honor the ICE detainer and released Mateo-Alberto 15 days after his arrest. Fairfax County has “not designated” itself “as a sanctuary county,” according to the county’s website, adding that it “complies to the fullest extent required by federal, state or local law with any law enforcement agency requesting criminal law enforcement assistance.” However, the website also notes its official policy is that it “does not and will not enforce civil federal immigration laws.” FLORIDA’S LARGEST VENEZUELAN STRONGHOLD POISED TO JOIN FORCES WITH ICE: REPORT “The federal courts have determined that the enforcement of civil immigration laws is solely a federal responsibility under the exclusive authority of ICE,” the county website reads. The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. Mateo-Alberto was eventually arrested by ICE on April 10 and remains in the agency’s custody, according to the ICE release. “Marvin Mateo-Alberto stands accused of some very appalling and disturbing crimes and represents a threat to the children of our Virginia communities,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C., Field Office Director Russell Hott said. “We cannot in good conscience allow Mr. Mateo to continue to potentially threaten other children in our neighborhoods. ICE Washington, D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our streets.”