Almost 200 House Dems vote against deporting people who commit welfare fraud
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday to crack down on illegal immigrants participating in welfare fraud despite fierce objections from most Democrats. Lawmakers voted 231-186 to approve the Deporting Fraudsters Act, with 186 Democrats opposing the measure. The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Taylor, R-Ohio, would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly define fraud as a deportable offense. Republicans said the legislation is necessary to ensure that noncitizens who steal taxpayer dollars are no longer eligible for immigration relief services or legal protections. “If you admit to or you’re convicted of fraudulently receiving public benefits, you are out of here on the next plane and can never return,” Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said Wednesday on the House floor. WALZ’S MINNESOTA MESS COULD SPARK THE TOUGHEST FRAUD REFORMS IN DECADES Democratic lawmakers largely opposed the GOP-authored bill, arguing that noncitizens convicted of fraud are already eligible for deportation. “Another week, another redundant and completely unnecessary immigration crime bill,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said during debate on the measure. Democrats also sharply criticized the measure for eroding legal immigrants’ due process rights by permitting noncitizens to be deported prior to prosecutors securing a conviction. “By bypassing the conviction requirement, this legislation would hand a liberal get-out-of-jail free card to immigrants who commit fraud by deporting them without going through the criminal justice system and giving their victims a day in court,” Raskin said. GOP lawmakers countered that there is no language in the bill that prevents noncitizens from being prosecuted for alleged fraud prior to removal from the country. HAWLEY TARGETS MINNESOTA FRAUD, CCP-LINKED MONEY AT SENATE HEARING: ‘TAXPAYERS ROBBED BLIND’ The bill is likely dead on arrival in the Senate given widespread opposition from Democrats. Under Senate rules, most legislation must overcome a 60-vote threshold to advance to a vote on final passage. The vote follows heightened scrutiny from House Republicans on welfare fraud nationwide. The House Oversight Committee in December launched a probe into massive welfare fraud involving Minnesota’s social services programs. Federal prosecutors say as much as $9 billion in taxpayer money may have been stolen in various fraud schemes and have charged nearly 100 individuals, including many of Somali descent. House Republicans have also spotlighted reporting from independent journalist Nick Shirley, who has probed alleged daycare fraud in Minnesota and California. “We have already seen why action is needed,” Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., said Tuesday during a House GOP leadership news conference. “Independent journalist Nick Shirley helped expose a massive fraud scheme, showing how organized and widespread these scams can become even when oversight fails.”
‘How do you sleep at night?’ Moreno slams ‘disgraceful’ shutdown leaving 260,000 workers without pay
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, lambasted his Democratic colleagues for blaming Republicans for the partial government shutdown during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, calling their behavior “disgusting” and “disgraceful.” Moreno used his allotted time during Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing for the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to focus on the close to 260,000 DHS employees, which includes Transportation Security Administration employees, who have gone without a paycheck for more than a month. “260,000 American citizen families who have not received a paycheck in over a month. None of those people are in charge of policy,” Moreno said. “It’s not one of those families that makes policy decisions. For the most part, that’s on the people here. There isn’t a single human being on this dais that has missed a paycheck. Every single one of us has gotten a paycheck the last 30 days and before that.” ‘YOU CAN CRY ABOUT IT’: TEMPERS FLARE IN SENATE AS DHS SHUTDOWN DEBATE ERUPTS, STALEMATE DIGS DEEPER Moreno argued that the real victims of the government shutdown are DHS employees. “They’re having to tell their kids they can’t send them to dance recital because they did everything right in life except got a job with the Department of Homeland Security so that a politician can make a 30-second video online to fundraiser for the next election,” he said. “That’s disgusting.” Weeks ago, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., posted a video on social media vowing to vote against funding DHS until reforms are made to the agency. CORNYN CLASHES WITH PROGRESSIVE REP GREG CASAR IN HEATED AIRPORT FACE-OFF OVER DHS SHUTDOWN Moreno then turned his attention toward Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs ranking member Gary Peters, D-Mich., accusing him of failing to keep his promise of keeping key agencies funded. But Peters wasn’t paying attention. Moreno called it “incredibly disrespectful” before laying in on Peters. “You said you’re going to fund all these agencies,” Moreno said to Peters. “Here’s one that you haven’t funded.” Moreno showcased a large poster board, which shared how the mission of DHS was being compromised by the government shutdown. At the top of the board was listed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “USCIS is near and dear to my heart,” Moreno said. “That’s how I became a US citizen. We’ve defunded the agency that allows legal immigrants into this country. That is insane. Never hear the Democrats talk about that. 3,300 employees, trying to process legal immigrants. They don’t get a paycheck.” He also railed against the defunding of Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration Customs and Enforcement. “Are you suggesting that we not fund an organization that tracks transnational organizations?” Moreno rhetorically asked Democrats of ICE funding. “Be specific. When you say you don’t want to fund ICE, I want you to say the words ‘we do not want to fund 7,000 special agents that are in charge of stopping transnational criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human traffickers.” Moreno’s comments during Mullin’s Senate confirmation hearing come a day after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., accused Democratic leadership of holding DHS agencies “hostage” amid negotiations for appropriations. Fox News Digital reached out to Sen. Peters for comment.
GOP governors, AGs back Trump SAVE Act push, warn system gives ‘undue influence’ to states with illegal aliens
FIRST ON FOX: Republican governors and attorneys general are backing President Donald Trump’s push to require proof of citizenship for voting, warning in an exclusive letter that current registration systems rely on an “honor system” and fail to adequately verify who is casting ballots in federal elections. The coalition argued the gaps give states with large populations of people in the country illegally “undue influence” over federal elections and how billions in taxpayer dollars are distributed. The letters, from members of the America First Policy Institute’s (AFPI) Governors and Attorneys General Councils and obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, show coordinated support from Republican state leaders for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation Trump has previously said he has to sign before he’ll sign anything else. Trump has recently ramped up pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE Act, aka the SAVE America Act, calling mail-in voting “corrupt as h—“ as the legislation moved to the Senate floor this week. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE ‘TALKING FILIBUSTER’ AND THE SAVE ACT “The biggest thing coming up is the SAVE America Act in the Senate,” Trump said Tuesday, adding, “Who would not have voter ID, who would not have proof of citizenship? … The only people who would want not to have that are people that want to cheat.” Senate Republicans have already taken initial steps to advance the bill, voting 51-48 to begin debate, though its path forward remains uncertain as Democrats remain unified in opposition. In a letter to Senate leadership, members of AFPI’s Governors Council described the SAVE America Act as a “commonsense measure” to ensure elections are decided “by, and only by, American citizens.” GOP TRIGGERS MARATHON SENATE FIGHT TO EXPOSE DEMS’ OPPOSITION TO TRUMP-BACKED VOTER ID BILL The letter was signed by a group of Republican governors, including Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, as well as attorneys general from states including Iowa, Alabama and South Carolina. They argued that while federal law limits voting in federal elections to U.S. citizens, states are “not required to verify citizenship at the time of registration.” “States with large illegal populations and little to no safeguards… unfairly hold undue influence in our Nation’s law-making process and how billions of dollars in tax revenue are distributed,” the governors wrote. REPS. FINE, SELF, HARRIS, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: WE’LL BLOCK THE SENATE UNTIL THE SAVE ACT PASSES The governors also pointed to gaps in current systems, noting that while many states require identification at the polls, others lack mechanisms to verify eligibility at the registration stage. They said they are prepared to work with state election officials to implement the law in a way that protects access for eligible voters while strengthening safeguards. In a separate letter, Republican attorneys general echoed those concerns, focusing on enforcement and the structure of current voter registration systems. “Existing voter registration procedures largely rely on the honor system, with voters simply checking a box to claim U.S. citizenship without requiring any documentary verification,” the group wrote. The attorneys general said the SAVE Act would close that gap by requiring applicants to provide “documentary proof of United States citizenship” when registering to vote in federal elections. They emphasized that the bill would preserve state control over election administration. “[The SAVE Act] does not nationalize elections,” the group wrote, adding that it also would not “disenfranchise American citizens.” The attorneys general also pushed back on criticism of the proposal, writing: “It is an insult to suggest that minorities, women, or members of the working class are not smart enough to obtain and provide simple proofs of citizenship.” The governors said they are committed to implementing the law in a way that ensures “no eligible American citizen is unduly burdened” while preventing ineligible registrations. “Our constituents deserve to know that their votes are protected and that elections in this country are free, fair, and secure,” they wrote. The governors’ letter and attorneys’ general letter can be read at the links provided here. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this reporting.
GOP candidate cites ‘failure’ of Newsom, Dems as new poll shows Republicans leading crowded California field
Steve Hilton, a legal immigrant and political newcomer running as a Republican for governor of California, said the “absolute failure on every front” by current Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats means the GOP has a real shot at pulling off an upset in the Golden State. Though California has long since been written off by many as a progressive stronghold, the most recent polling indicates Hilton may be right. On Wednesday, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies released a poll showing Hilton leading California voter preferences at 17 percent. Another Republican, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, follows at 16 percent. Both Republicans are ahead of the two top Democratic names, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and former Rep. Katie Porter, who are each at 13 percent. “I know people look at California and assume that it’s going to be Democrat forever. It’s a deep blue state, but people here are sick of it. There’s a revolution brewing in California,” Hilton told Fox News Digital, adding, “This is our year.” CALIFORNIA GOP LAUNCHES PETITION TARGETING NEWSOM PAROLE BOARD OVER SEX OFFENDERS Hilton, an entrepreneur who immigrated to California from the United Kingdom in 2014, credits Newsom and years of one-party Democratic rule with voters waking up to the “complete disaster” unfolding in California. “It’s not just the visible signs of failure that you see when you look at California. You know the homelessness crisis, by far the worst in the country. The crime that’s out of control, the smash-and-grab rates, the videos of that — those things are visible. But if you actually look under the hood, as it were, of daily life in California, it is an absolute failure on every front,” he said, emphasizing, “It’s not just that we’re doing badly in California under Gavin Newsom, we are the worst-performing state.” He said that California’s sanctuary policies are a perfect illustration of this. “People are infuriated when they see illegal immigrants in our state getting rewarded and getting away with crime and getting away with things that just regular Californians wouldn’t be able to get away with,” he said. “It’s an insult to regular, hardworking California taxpayers when they see people who are here illegally getting things for free that they have to pay for.” Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment. The same Berkeley poll indicated that 42 percent of California voters consider a candidate’s ability to “aggressively fight Trump administration policies” important in selecting their preferred candidate. Additionally, 28 percent believe a candidate holding progressive views is important. California saw some of the most dramatic expressions of anti-Trump sentiment in his first year, with anti-ICE riots breaking out throughout the summer. TRUMP QUESTIONS NEWSOM’S FITNESS FOR WHITE HOUSE, CITING HIS DYSLEXIA However, even with this, there is concern among Democratic strategists that the liberal and progressive vote will be split among the high number of Democratic candidates running for governor. Due to California’s unique top-two primary system, a fractured Democratic vote could mean Hilton and Bianco are the only two candidates to advance to the November general election. Hilton is confident that Republicans can capitalize on dissatisfaction with Newsom’s tenure as governor to propel them to victory. He referred to the anti-ICE agitators as a “very loud, well-organized, often well-funded minority of activists.” “It’s activists, political activists on the far left who are pushing this,” he said. “Most regular people believe that our laws should be properly enforced. That’s the majority position, I would say even in California.” Regarding his stance on the issue, Hilton said that as governor, he would “not accept California sanctuary state law,” and would “very clearly and strongly work with the federal administration to enforce the law.” “I have absolutely no doubt that standing up for the enforcement of the law and saying very clearly that, of course, this is America, and we want to welcome immigrants to our country, but it has to be done the right way, and if you break our laws to come here, then you shouldn’t be here. And it’s as simple as that,” he explained. NEWSOM KNOCKED FOR ‘INSANE’ CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES AFTER BLAMING TRUMP FOR RISING COSTS Being from a family of immigrants himself — his parents fled to the U.K. from communist Hungary — Hilton said he is solidly “pro-immigration,” while noting, “But it’s got to be controlled.” “I hear all the time that we should be offering a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. There is a pathway of citizenship. It’s called legal immigration. I just took it. It is available,” he said. Hilton concluded that while some conservatives may have written off California, he believes the gubernatorial race has an impact on the entire country. “So many of the terrible policies that are infecting the rest of the country, they all started here. The gender extremism, the climate extremism. All this nonsense, it started here in California,” he said. “So, if we beat them here, then we are doing something very important for the whole country.” “That’s why I think it’s a race that actually really matters a lot.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Swalwell and Porter campaigns for comment.
Blue-state Democrat on fast track to Senate defies Schumer
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is on a glide path to the U.S. Senate. But Stratton, who captured the Democratic Senate nomination in blue-leaning Illinois by winning Tuesday’s primary, has made it clear that if she makes it to Capitol Hill, she won’t be supporting Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democrats’ longtime leader in the chamber. And Stratton — who if victorious in November would become only the fifth Black woman in the nation’s history to win election to the Senate — is part of a sizable list of Democratic Senate candidates who are highlighting their opposition to Schumer continuing as the leader of their party in the chamber. PRITZKER SCORES BIG: STRATTON VICTORY IN DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRIMARY TEST OF GOVERNOR’S CLOUT Stratton topped Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, her two leading rivals among a crowded field of contenders, in a contentious and extremely expensive Democratic Senate primary. Stratton was boosted by the support and deep pockets of her boss, billionaire Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who was unopposed as he landed re-nomination for a third term as governor. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Schumer, along with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, congratulated Stratton immediately after her victory was called. “Juliana’s commitment to standing up for working families runs deep — and now, she’s taking that fight to the U.S. Senate. We are proud to congratulate Juliana on her history-making campaign, and we are excited to welcome her as the next U.S. Senator from Illinois in November,” Schumer and Gillibrand wrote in a statement. But Stratton, during her primary campaign, made her stance on Schumer crystal clear. “I’m the only person on this stage that has said so,” Stratton said during a recent debate, as she highlighted that she would not back Schumer as Democratic leader. “I’m the only candidate in this race that has made it clear I’m not going to support Chuck Schumer to lead the Democratic caucus, Senate caucus, because that’s not what people are looking for right now,” Stratton said in a recent NBC News interview. “They want someone who’s going to fight, and we need fighters and not folders.” And further explaining why she wouldn’t back Schumer, Stratton told progressive Gen Z political commentator Jack Cocchiarella, “What I’m hearing from voters all across the state of Illinois is that they’re fed up. They’re fed up with what’s happening in Washington. They”re fed up with business as usual and the status quo.” Stratton is far from the only Democratic Senate candidate to argue that the party needs younger and more aggressive leadership in the chamber to fight back against President Donald Trump‘s unprecedented second-term agenda. Among them are Graham Platner, the U.S. Marine and Army veteran and oyster farmer from Maine who has the backing of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont as he battles for the Democratic Senate nomination against two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who has Schumer’s tacit support. Also on the list is Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, one of three frontrunners battling for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination in the Great Lakes battleground.
Sen Rand Paul grills Mullin on past comments on assault: ‘Tell it to my face’
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., pulled no punches in his opening statement Wednesday morning at the Department of Homeland Security Committee hearing on fellow GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to be Kristi Noem‘s successor as secretary. Paul, chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, accused Mullin of excusing political violence and challenging him to repeat past remarks of having called him a “snake” and saying he understood why Paul was attacked violently by a neighbor in 2017. “You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified,” Paul told the committee in his opening remarks. “So today you’ll have your chance. Today I’ll give you that chance to clear the record. “Tell it to my face if that’s what you believe. Tell it to me today. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung. 40+ HOUSE REPUBLICANS RALLY BEHIND MARKWAYNE MULLIN FOR DHS, CALL IT A ‘CRITICAL MOMENT’ FOR BORDER SECURITY “Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it.” Mullin opened his own remarks off the cuff before his prepared statement to address Paul’s verbal attack. “I have to address the remarks the chairman made, calling me a liar,” Mullin opened. “Everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face.” WATCH MULLIN’S RESPONSE: Mullin pointed Paul back to a private conversation back in their days as House GOP members. MULLIN FACES DEMOCRAT GRILLING IN FIRST HURDLE TO LEAD DHS AMID SHUTDOWN FIGHT “I said I could understand because of the behavior you were having, that I could understand why your neighbor…did what he did,” Mullin said. “As far as my terms, the snake in the grass, sir, I work around this room to try to fix problems. I’ve worked with many people in this room. “It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us. I did address those remarks.” Mullin vowed to Paul to be blunt and direct. “If I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows how I’ll come straight to you,” he said. “I’ll say it publicly and I’ll say it privately, but I’ll never say it behind your back.” TEAMSTERS BOSS PRAISES MULLIN DHS NOMINATION DESPITE PAST HEATED HEARINGS Mullin acknowledged about Paul, “We just don’t get along,” and saying Paul has “spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me.” “That doesn’t keep me at all from doing my job,” Mullin continued. “I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland, I’ll be protecting everybody, including Kentucky, as much as I will my own backyard in Oklahoma. “It’s bigger than the partisan bickering that we have. It’s bigger than the political differences we have.” “The truth is, I have a job to do, and I don’t like to fail at anything at all. So I can set it aside, if you’re willing to set it aside. Let me earn your respect. I’m going to earn the job. I won’t fail you. I won’t back down from a challenge. And I’ll also admit when I’m wrong. I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you.” Paul showed no interest in setting the feud aside. MULLIN FACES DHS CONFIRMATION HEARING AMID SHUTDOWN “The record should show, and I think we’ll show a lack of contrition: No apology and no regrets for your support,” Paul picked up in his first line of questioning. “You completely understand the violence that was perpetrated on me. You’re unrepentant. The only thing you quibble about is whether I met you somehow when you’re in the House.” “I don’t think we ever met when you were in the House, and this idea that the only thing you’re upset about is not that you are for violence. What you’re upset about is that I called you a liar because you said it to my face. So it’s really more about this machismo that you have.” Paul was under some scrutiny for blocking fellow Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., from introducing Mullin at the start of the hearing, forcing Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., to do the introduction instead, three sources told Fox News’ Bill Melugin. “Rand Paul has become completely blinded by his hatred of President Trump and petty personal squabbles,” a senior Senate Republican source told Melugin. “His actions today were those of a seething snake — and a hopeless hypocrite.” “What kind of free speech advocate would bar Sen. Mullin’s choice to deliver his introduction from speaking?” the source asked. “What kind of Republican would bar a fellow Republican Senator from voicing their support of a colleague? Why is this guy allowed to hold a Republican gavel anymore?”
NATO heavyweights balk at Hormuz mission as Trump warns alliance at risk
NATO allies are declining to join a potential effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, frustrating President Donald Trump and prompting questions among some U.S. officials about the alliance’s reliability in a major global crisis. Trump has warned the Hormuz standoff with Iran could have serious consequences for NATO, arguing that allies benefit from global security without sharing the burden. “The United States has been informed by most of our NATO ‘Allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation,” the president wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. “We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” he said. IRAN HOLDS WORLD ENERGY HOSTAGE WITH ‘NIGHTMARE’ STRAIT OF HORMUZ SEA MINES, FORMER CENTCOM OFFICIAL WARNS The Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy, carrying about 20% of the world’s oil supply. Even limited disruption can send energy prices soaring and strain economies worldwide. Though NATO’s core mission is regional defense, allied involvement in securing the strait would demonstrate whether the alliance can project power beyond Europe — or whether it relies primarily on the U.S. to safeguard global commerce. The frustration is spreading beyond the White House. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said the lack of allied support “makes me second guess the value of these alliances,” warning the repercussions could be “wide and deep.” Trump also has questioned the future of the alliance. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” he told the Financial Times. IRAN WAR JEOPARDIZES TRUMP ECONOMIC BOOM BEFORE KEY MIDTERM ELECTIONS European allies, however, have shown little willingness to join a U.S.-led military effort against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that serves as the primary transit route for roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. The current standoff follows escalating U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, raising fears Tehran could retaliate by disrupting shipping through the strait using naval mines, drones or fast-attack vessels. Insurance companies have begun refusing to insure ships traversing the strait and a very limited number of ships have passed since the start of the U.S.-led mission against Iran known as Operation Epic Fury. The United Kingdom has ruled out sending warships into the Strait of Hormuz or nearby Iranian waters, signaling it will avoid direct involvement in combat operations. Instead, British officials have discussed more limited support, including the use of minesweeping drones — unmanned systems designed to detect and help neutralize naval mines, which Iran historically has used as a low-cost way to threaten commercial shipping. While such systems can help keep sea lanes open, they are typically used after mines are deployed and do not deter attacks in real time. The UK has permitted the U.S. to use two of its military bases — Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and Royal Air Force Fairford in England — for “specific and limited” defensive actions against Iran. Diego Garcia has long served as a staging ground for U.S. long-range bomber operations and logistics in the Middle East, while RAF Fairford is one of the few European bases capable of hosting U.S. strategic bombers, including B-52 and B-2 aircraft, which can be used for strike missions or deterrence patrols. France similarly has declined to participate in combat operations, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying any potential escort mission would only take place once the situation stabilizes. Germany has taken an even firmer stance, ruling out involvement entirely and emphasizing that NATO is a defensive alliance not designed for intervention in conflicts like the current Iran crisis. While larger European allies have declined to participate, some smaller partners have signaled a willingness to contribute. Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said the country is prepared to discuss how it could assist if Washington makes a formal request. Ukraine also has moved to provide expertise and technology to counter Iranian drone attacks, including low-cost interceptor drones and battlefield-tested air defense tactics developed during its war with Russia. U.S. and Gulf partners already have requested Ukrainian assistance, with Kyiv signaling it is prepared to share both systems and personnel to help defend against Iranian aerial threats. “Estonia joined NATO barely 20 years ago, Ukraine isn’t even a member, and they’re both ready to roll,” one European policy analyst said. “Meanwhile the rest of Europe is still debating how to form a committee to form a working group to study the matter.” The Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies — has seen shipping disrupted amid escalating conflict, with tanker movements slowing or halting after repeated attacks and threats from Iran. The waterway carries roughly 20% of the world’s oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas, and the disruption has pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel. The Trump administration has said the U.S. could deploy naval escorts to protect commercial tankers, but so far have not done so as officials weigh the risks and resources required. Naval capability across Europe is uneven, with only a handful of countries — particularly the United Kingdom and France — able to deploy the kind of assets required for a high-risk mission in the region. “Only England and France really have any type of naval power that could be helpful,” said Harley Lippman, a geopolitical analyst who regularly engages with Gulf leaders, adding that other European navies are “too small and too weak.” Securing the narrow waterway likely would require naval escorts, air and missile defense, and mine-clearing capabilities, all while operating within range of Iranian forces. “There are significant operational considerations. … It is not a simple operating environment,” said Kristine Berzina, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, a Washington-based think tank focused on transatlantic relations. “But there’s also an overarching political climate” shaping decisions about involvement. That broader context includes concerns about escalation, as well
Top DOJ officials to brief House Oversight Committee for Jeffrey Epstein probe
Top officials in President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) are briefing the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday to aid Congress’ ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche are expected on Capitol Hill late Wednesday afternoon for a closed-door meeting with House lawmakers. It comes a day after committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., subpoenaed Bondi for a sworn deposition in connection with the probe, to take place April 14. BILL CLINTON REVEALS TRUMP ‘NEVER SAID ANYTHING’ LINKING HIMSELF TO EPSTEIN’S CRIMES “The Committee has questions regarding the Department of Justice’s handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act,” the subpoena read. “As Attorney General, you are directly responsible for overseeing the Department’s collection, review, and determinations regarding the release of files pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the Committee therefore believes that you possess valuable insight into these efforts.” Both the House and Senate voted in near-unanimous fashion late last year to compel the DOJ to make public all of its files related to Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. HOUSE OVERSIGHT SUBPOENAS AG BONDI IN PROBE OF EPSTEIN CASE ‘MISMANAGEMENT’ The DOJ said on Jan. 30 that it had released all required documents, but some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pushed back on that claim. A DOJ spokesperson also panned the subpoena in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday. “This subpoena is completely unnecessary. Lawmakers have been invited to view the unredacted files for themselves at the Department of Justice, and the Attorney General has always made herself available to speak directly with members of Congress,” the spokesperson said. “She continues to have calls and meetings with members of Congress on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which is why the Department offered to brief the committee tomorrow.” Comer’s subpoena came after a vote by five Republicans and all Democrats on the committee earlier this month, initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. Mace said in a statement after Comer followed through on the subpoena, “We moved to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi because the Department of Justice has not complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. They claim all files have been released. The facts say otherwise. Key evidence remains hidden from the public and from victims seeking justice.” The committee’s months-long probe has seen lawmakers hear from figures on both sides of the aisle and non-political players within Epstein’s inner circle. Last month, the panel deposed former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in their hometown of Chappaqua, New York. Lawmakers also recently heard from Richard Kahn, Epstein’s former longtime accountant. Ex-Trump Attorney General Bill Barr and former Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta also appeared before the panel.
Federal judge refuses to recuse himself from Minnesota DHS, ICE case
A federal judge in Minnesota declined to step aside from an immigration-related case despite a conflict-of-interest challenge tied to his spouse’s legal work. The U.S. Department of Justice plans to appeal the judge’s order, which called the government’s motion “improper, untimely, and lacking merit.” Last week, the DOJ formally moved to disqualify U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan, arguing his impartiality could reasonably be questioned because his wife serves as Minnesota’s solicitor general under Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison and is leading a separate lawsuit against federal immigration enforcement actions at issue in Bryan’s courtroom. In its filing, DOJ emphasized that federal law requires recusal when “a judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned,” noting the standard is meant to avoid even “the appearance of partiality” — noting that “public perceptions of partiality can undermine confidence in the courts.” APPEALS COURT DISMISSES DOJ MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT AGAINST FEDERAL JUDGE The motion pointed to significant overlap between the habeas case before Bryan and the state’s lawsuit led by his spouse, both of which challenge the legality of Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration enforcement effort. According to the filing, both cases allege that federal agents conducted “warrantless arrests,” engaged in “racial profiling,” and “terrorized, assaulted, and harassed” individuals. DOJ stressed that the issue is not whether Bryan is personally biased, but whether a reasonable observer could question his neutrality given the circumstances. “The Court must consider whether the public might reasonably question Judge Bryan’s impartiality,” U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen’s filing concluded. The department also noted that Bryan “did not disclose his marriage relationship” to the parties, arguing that disclosure is a prerequisite for any waiver of potential conflicts under federal law. READ THE ORDER ON MOTION FOR DISQUALIFICATION – APP USERS, CLICK HERE: Judge Bryan denied the recusal request, allowing himself to remain on the case. The DOJ has indicated it will appeal that decision, setting up a potential higher court review of the recusal standards and their application in politically charged immigration litigation. The dispute comes amid broader legal battles over Operation Metro Surge, which plaintiffs claim involved unconstitutional enforcement tactics, while federal officials have defended it as a lawful exercise of immigration authority. Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report.
New audit exposes flawed system critics say let Minnesota fraud slip through cracks: ‘Didn’t act for years’
A new state audit investigating the massive fraud scandal in Gov. Tim Walz’s Minnesota revealed that the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) failed for years to properly investigate Medicaid kickback allegations while incorrectly claiming that they did not have the authority to do so. The Office of the Legislative Auditor report released on Tuesday, titled “Department of Human Services Investigations of Alleged Kickbacks in the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention Program,” found that DHS’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has long possessed the legal authority to pursue kickback cases independently, contradicting the agency’s own claims. Instead, DHS officials operated under the belief that they could only investigate kickbacks if they were tied to other forms of fraud, such as billing abuse or theft, prompting a rebuke in the report. “We disagree with DHS’s assertion that it did not have the authority to investigate allegations of kickbacks alone,” the report states. “Based on our analysis, DHS has had the authority to investigate allegations of kickbacks in MA since the late 1990s.” TOP 5 WILDEST MOMENTS AS GOP LAWMAKERS CLASHED WITH WALZ, ELLISON IN HEATED FRAUD HEARING: ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ The audit found DHS declined to investigate three specific kickback allegations from 2021 to 2023 after concluding it lacked authority. “In the three cases that we identified in this review, they did not refer any of the three cases to law enforcement or any other investigation agency,” Deputy Legislative Auditor Katherine Theisen said, according to KARE 11 News. She added that DHS also declined to flag the cases for further review. The report also identified a decades-old error in DHS administrative rules that may have limited the agency’s ability to suspend payments during kickback investigations. The Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which provides autism services, has faced scrutiny over fraud risks as the program’s budget jumped from $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in 2023. Kickbacks were a key component of fraud schemes uncovered in the state’s autism services program, with prosecutors describing how providers used financial incentives to attract and retain families in order to maximize Medicaid billing, CBS News reported in December. In one case, investigators said an autism center operator fraudulently billed millions while using tactics that included offering payments or benefits tied to enrollment, illustrating how kickbacks helped drive inflated claims and contributed to large-scale misuse of public funds intended for children with autism. The audit recommended that DHS “should amend its administrative rule defining ‘fraud’ to clearly include kickbacks” and said the legislature should intervene if that doesn’t take place. MINNESOTA HUMAN SERVICES OFFICIALS SKIP FRAUD HEARING AS WALZ PROMISES REFORM The department responded in a letter included in the report, saying, “We agree with the recommendation that fraud should be defined to more clearly include kickbacks.” In a press release, Minnesota House Fraud Prevention Committee Chair Kristin Robbins, a Republican state representative running for governor, wrote, “The continued lack of accountability for the rampant fraud in this state is astounding.” “DHS has been complicit in fraud because they have repeatedly failed to investigate credible allegations of fraud in multiple programs over many years. This OLA report provides the latest proof of their failure to provide proper oversight in the EIDBI (autism) program.” Robbins added that “if DHS had corrected an error in its administrative rules, two other decades-old state law provisions would also have permitted DHS to suspend payments during an investigation for kickbacks.” Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office for comment. The report’s findings quickly sparked outrage from conservatives on social media. “The feds need to step in immediately,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. “Despite claiming they had no authority, a new OLA report confirms DHS could investigate fraud in autism services,” Minnesota House Republicans posted on X. “The Walz administration didn’t act for years. How much did it cost Minnesotans?” “Contrary to Walz administration claims, they have always had the legal authority to address kickback schemes,” Minnesota Republican state Rep. Walter Hudson posted on X. “They simply choose not to.”