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GOP senator demands answers after Pentagon finds Army gave Taiwan moldy gear, ammo from 1983

GOP senator demands answers after Pentagon finds Army gave Taiwan moldy gear, ammo from 1983

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Joni Ernst sent a letter demanding answers after a government report found the Defense Department (DOD) sent body armor covered in mildew and equipment from the 1980s to Taiwan.  The Pentagon inspector general found the U.S. had sent “wet and moldy body armor” to Taiwan to shore up its defenses ahead of an impending invasion from China, then spent an additional $730,000 trying to remedy the mistake.  “Delivering outdated and damaged military equipment to Taiwan is no way to treat a friend. Unfortunately, undercutting our partners and emboldening adversaries has become a staple of the Biden-Harris foreign policy doctrine,” Ernst, the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate, said in a statement. “Make no mistake, Beijing is laughing at, and taking full advantage of, the leadership failures of this administration. We need to bring back competency and strength in the White House to restore trust in our allies and partners while striking fear in our adversaries.” CHINA HOLDS LIVE-FIRE DRILLS NEAR TAIWAN, IN ANOTHER SHOW OF FORCE More than 340 out of 504 pallets of equipment sustained water damage as they sat at Travis Air Force Base in California. The U.S. Army didn’t facilitate delivery for two months after receiving the equipment.   The base did not have proper storage facilities, according to the report, and the pallets were exposed to blowing rain, fog, humidity and heat.  Of the 340 pallets, 120 were sent to Taiwan containing more than 3,000 mildewed body armor plates and 500 wet and moldy tactical vests.  The inspector general’s office observed the pallets had “visible mold spores, wrapped in plastic that had trapped water, facilitating further deterioration and mold growth.” Taiwan authorities spent weeks trying to air out the gear, according to the report.  U.S. personnel told the inspector general’s office they spent $619,000 in labor and materials at the base to clean and dry the wet, moldy armor that had not been sent and another $113,000 to replace some of the equipment before it was sent to Taiwan.  The DOD inspector general concluded that between November 2023 and March 2024 the Pentagon failed to follow guidelines on delivering the equipment through the presidential drawdown authority, which allows the U.S. to send equipment from current DOD stocks.  “Had policies been followed, the Defense Department would have been able to provide Taiwan with military equipment in acceptable condition,” Inspector General Robert Storch said in a statement. “Instead, the equipment arrived in Taiwan damaged and moldy. Such performance risks eroding Taiwan’s confidence in the United States as a reliable source of assistance.”   Ernst noted the Trump administration approved fighter jets for Taiwan in 2019 that still have not been delivered.  “It took U.S. armed forces less time to plan, launch, and execute the liberation of Europe from the Nazis in World War II,” Ernst said.  After a two-year delay, Taiwan in July finally received the U.S. shipment of anti-tank weapons it had been promised. But the anti-tank missile launchers arrived without the proper missiles. The missiles Taiwan was forced to use with them had a low accuracy, prompting it to rethink their combat use.  The damaged equipment was part of a $345 million package the Biden administration announced in July 2023, the first drawdown the U.S. had committed to Taiwan.  ENCIRCLING TAIWAN WAS A SMOKESCREEN FOR CHINA’S REAL GOAL OF CONVINCING US NOT TO INTERVENE, EXPERT SAYS  The report determined there had been a breakdown in communication about whose responsibility it was to arrange the delivery flights to Taiwan and recommended the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, tasked with providing equipment to U.S. allies, come up with a standard procedure that clarifies responsibilities, timelines and quality control checks for deliveries.  As of May 31, 2024, the U.S. had not replaced the damaged body armor plates and tactical vests that had not arrived.  The report also found the shipment contained some 2.7 million rounds of ammunition that were manufactured in 1983. Some of the rounds were “poorly packaged,” while others were expired, the inspector general found.  Some of the rounds arrived in opened boxes, making it seem to Taiwanese officials that U.S. service members “cleared out stuff they didn’t want.” Six M240B machine guns from the National Guard in Clovis, New Mexico, included in the shipment were dumped into cardboard boxes without any wrapping, according to the report.  Ernst demanded answers on what steps were taken to clarify whose responsibility it was to get out such shipments, to improve oversight and to expedite replacement of the damaged equipment. She also asked what the funding source was for the $730,000 used to fix the issue.  The report warned the mistake risked Taiwan’s confidence in the U.S. at a critical time when China threatens to invade at any moment.  China said it would carry out live fire drills in the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, ratcheting up tensions that have reached a fever pitch since the re-election of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan, a sign that voters continue to support resisting mainland China.  Taiwan’s premier, Cho Jung-tai, said Tuesday the drills, planned for an island about 100 miles from Taipei, risked “unnecessary tension.” “No matter how large the scale of the drill is, they should not be frequent and close to Taiwan,” he told reporters. “This will only cause unnecessary tension.”

Harris campaign plagued by surrogates’ gaffes: ‘Colossally inept campaign’

Harris campaign plagued by surrogates’ gaffes: ‘Colossally inept campaign’

While Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz have drawn backlash over awkward moments during the presidential race, their surrogates have not escaped criticism for their own gaffes.  In addition to Walz saying he is “friends with school shooters” and Harris calling North Korea “an alliance,” their campaign surrogates have mispronounced the vice president’s name, called Tim Walz “Tom,” told males they are misogynists, attempted to imitate former President Trump, accidentally supported his policies and more. “Not sure we’ve ever seen such a colossally inept campaign like the one run by Kamala Harris,” Fox Business “Evening Edit” anchor Elizabeth MacDonald said last week. WALZ EXPLAINS ‘FRIENDS WITH SHOOTERS’ GAFFE FROM THE VP DEBATE WITH VANCE Former President Clinton, for example, committed many of those gaffes.  During the Democratic National Convention, he was blasted for mispronouncing Harris’ name, referring to her as “Camel-la.” Last week, Clinton continued his gaffes when he confused a crowd of North Carolinians with a very dry imitation of Donald Trump, suggesting at the same time the former president might send him to a “supermax” prison for life. The former Democratic president struck again that same week with yet another gaffe when he suggested college nursing student Laken Riley would still be alive if the Biden-Harris administration secured the border properly.  “You had a case in Georgia not very long ago, didn’t you? They made an ad about it, a young woman who had been killed by an immigrant,” Clinton said from Georgia. “Yeah, well, if they’d all been properly vetted that probably wouldn’t have happened.” KIMMEL POKES FUN AT WALZ AFTER INTERVIEW GAFFE ABOUT ‘WAKING UP ON NOVEMBER 6 WITH MADAM PRESIDENT Critics roundly mocked the former Democratic president and chimed in following the comments about Riley, pointing out that Clinton was “right.”  Meanwhile, former President Obama received some backlash of his own after his latest gaffe earlier this month at a campaign event in Pittsburgh. Speaking to a group of Black men, Obama insisted to them that men “just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.” “Barack Obama — we’re not sexist or misogynist. We’re disappointed and sick of the bullsh—,” responded former professional basketball player and U.S. Senate candidate in Minnesota Royce White.” DO NOT vote for me because I’m Black. Vote for me because you have enough self-respect to think.” BRITISH PM MAKES UNFORTUNATE ‘RETURN TO THE SAUSAGES’ GAFFE DURING SERIOUS SPEECH Another Harris campaign surrogate, Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, has not escaped criticism either. During the Democratic National Convention, Evers awkwardly stammered through his state’s roll call vote after declaring he was “jazzed as hell” that all but a single delegate in his state voted for Harris. More recently, Evers referred to Harris’ vice presidential running mate Tim Walz as “Tom” during a Labor Day stump speech for Harris. This week, Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California, was also lumped into the cadre of gaffe-prone Harris camp supporters. The moment came when she was moderating a town hall event in Michigan with Harris and former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney. Shriver told the audience at the event that only “predetermined” questions would be allowed to be asked.  “Are we going to be able to ask a question?” asked a woman in the audience. “You’re not, unfortunately,” Shriver replied. “We have some predetermined questions, and, hopefully, I’ll be able to ask some of the questions that might be in your head. I hope so.”  Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign but did not receive a response by press time. 

Early in-person voting kicks off in West Virginia

Early in-person voting kicks off in West Virginia

West Virginia kicks off early in-person voting Wednesday, 13 days from Election Day. In addition to the U.S. presidential race, voting also begins Wednesday in several down-ballot races. For a full list of competitive elections, see the latest Senate and House rankings. NEW DOJ GUIDANCE MEANT TO SCARE ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM CLEANING UP VOTER ROLLS, SAYS EXPERT DEM LOSES IT ON ‘UNINFORMED’ WORKERS AFTER POWERFUL UNION REFUSES TO ENDORSE VP HARRIS This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for West Virginia. West Virginia began absentee voting in late September. Applicants must provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The county must receive a ballot application by Oct. 30, and that ballot must be submitted by Nov. 5. Early in-person voting begins Wednesday and will continue through Nov. 2. Absentee ballots can be submitted in person through Nov. 4. The voter registration deadline in West Virginia was Oct. 15.

Suspected drunk driver drove wrong way toward Kamala Harris’ motorcade in Milwaukee

Suspected drunk driver drove wrong way toward Kamala Harris’ motorcade in Milwaukee

A suspected drunk driver drove on an interstate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, toward Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade. The incident happened at about 8:20 p.m. Monday on I-94 near the Marquette Interchange, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said, according to Fox 6. A 55-year-old man was observed driving an SUV westbound in the eastbound lanes when he was approaching Harris’ motorcade and came close to striking a vehicle in her motorcade. HARRIS AIDE WALKS BACK PROMISE NOT TO SUPPORT NEW DRILLING As the vehicle came closer to the motorcade, deputies stopped the man and determined he was impaired before taking him into custody on recommended charges of operating while intoxicated and recklessly endangering safety, although he has not yet been formally charged. When officers told the driver he almost struck a vehicle in Harris’ motorcade, he was “extremely surprised” and had “no recollection” of entering the freeway or coming close to hitting another vehicle, the arrest report stated, according to WISN. HARRIS SENIOR SPOKESMAN SILENT ON WHETHER HE STILL THINKS LIZ CHENEY IS ‘CRAZY,’ A ‘WARLORD’ The man also said he did not have any intention of harming Harris or anybody related to her campaign. According to the arrest report, he failed several field sobriety tests and had an open beer can in his vehicle. The man remained in jail Tuesday night without bail. Nobody was injured in the incident. The U.S. Secret Service said it was aware of the incident and that it is grateful to deputies for their response. The agency “is aware of the incident involving a motorist traveling in the opposite direction on the highway while the Vice President was in her motorcade. We are grateful to the Milwaukee Sheriff’s Office for their response which allowed them to stop the motorist and take the driver into custody for DUI,” Secret Service spokesperson Joe Routh told WISN.

North Carolina environmental rules are ‘insult to injury’ for Helene recovery efforts, lawmaker says

North Carolina environmental rules are ‘insult to injury’ for Helene recovery efforts, lawmaker says

A state lawmaker who represents part of North Carolina hit hard by Hurricane Helene said rules on the books of the state’s environmental agency will sandbag recovery. State Rep. Jake Johnson of the North Carolina General Assembly told Fox News Digital the current regulations by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hamper rebuilding efforts after Helene ravaged parts of the state’s northwest.  He said the general assembly already targeted rules on debris removal via burning but said policies like those dictating how close to a river developments can be built up could also impede rebuilding after the storm. “Where a lot of the rebuilding is going to have to be done — and a lot of the cleanup, obviously, is near the river — one thing we need to look at is, you know, at least temporarily suspending some of the [regulations], how close you can work to a river and making sure that, you know, they’re not cracking down on that,” Johnson said.  WHAT ARE ELECTION BETTING ODDS? EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY TRUMP IS CURRENT FAVORITE “They’ve got enough on their plate. … You’re going to have people working in areas where they wouldn’t normally be working,” Johnson said of recovery teams in the area. “And, I mean, that would just be insult to injury for them to come in and be cracking down on these contractors when they’re just in there trying to do a good job and clean things up.” He suggested the GOP-held general assembly would work to roll back several regulations that Johnson sees as barriers to rebuilding. “But, at the end of the day, the enforcement mechanism and the permitting is still done by a department head that is appointed by Roy Cooper, a very liberal Democrat governor,” he said. “I don’t really see them doing too much of that on their own without us directing it.” However, Johnson conceded that Cooper would likely put politics aside to sign multiple regulatory rollbacks if they were put on his desk. DOJ DEPLOYS DISTRICT ELECTIONS OFFICERS TO HANDLE ‘THREATS AND INTIMIDATION’ “We had, I believe it was, a unanimous vote in both chambers for the first bill, and it did include some rolling back those regulatory boundaries on burning,” he said. “So, yes. I mean, I believe — if anything we have in there to expedite the cleanup, I think he would sign.” North Carolina state Rep. Ray Pickett did not name a specific policy he was most concerned about but said he was worried about DEQ’s permitting and approvals process in general. “I absolutely share those concerns,” Pickett told Fox News Digital. “I see it with some of our infrastructure that’s going to have to be replaced. DEQ … has not always been the quickest agency we have. “We have wastewater treatment plants that are going to have to be rebuilt. They’re going to have to speed those things up, and they’re going to have to get along with the program.” DEQ told Fox News Digital, however, that it requested the regulatory rollbacks recently passed and would utilize “flexibility” to assess further needs.   NC FAMILY THAT LOST 11 IN HURRICANE HELENE MUDSLIDES SAYS COMMUNITY SACRIFICED ‘LIFE AND LIMB’ TO SAVE EACH OTHER “The department is utilizing all available flexibility and discretion in regulatory, funding and enforcement decisions to ensure the focus is on restoring critical infrastructure and services to the people of North Carolina. DEQ requested the regulatory changes in the recent legislative package and will continue to do so as needed to support recovery efforts,” an agency spokesperson said. But Johnson also told Fox News Digital he was “frustrated” by delays in DEQ staff getting to certain parts of the state after Helene, specifically in the first week after the storm, which DEQ denied. “That’s usually the department — if you’re doing any kind of building or development … if there’s even mud on the road or something, you know, any kind of minor erosion, they’re all over it,” he said.  Johnson said he did not see DEQ personnel on the ground for at least the first week after the storm. “Ideally, they would have personnel helping clean it up. But even something as simple as taking levels of how, you know, maybe how toxic the water is, the estimated amount of spillage that is in there and helping get quotes for cleanup – I mean, all those things would be great first steps that would certainly at least help,” he said. Pickett said of his experience the week after the storm, “I had to make a few phone calls to get things moving a little quicker. … I shouldn’t have had to made those phone calls. They should have understood that we’ve got to move fast.” DEQ, however, told Fox News Digital its staff was “on the ground during the storm and in the days immediately after providing emergency response, support and assessments.” “Our staff have been working — and will continue to work — directly with water and wastewater systems, along with our federal and state partners, to assess damages, coordinate resources and provide technical assistance to restore services to western North Carolina,” the agency said. The DEQ’s mission is “providing science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians,” according to its website. The agency is dedicated to helping the state improve air and water quality as well as issuing and overseeing permits for development, water storage and other initiatives. “The governor has taken meaningful action to bolster the state’s unprecedented response to this storm, including issuing an executive order that waives regulations in order to ensure that water systems and environmental needs can be met quickly during recovery,” Cooper’s spokesperson, Jordan Monaghan, told Fox News Digital in response to Johnson’s comments. Cooper’s executive order empowers DEQ to expedite repairs related to drinking water and wastewater issues. It also grants DEQ the discretion to waive certain requirements related to projects “that require an individual water quality certification”