Legal experts warn Comey ‘86 47’ indictment faces First Amendment hurdles
Legal questions are emerging over whether charges against former FBI Director James Comey would withstand a First Amendment challenge as he is indicted for a social media post allegedly tied to threats against President Donald Trump. Comey faced charges Tuesday under 18 U.S.C. § 871, which criminalizes threats against the president, and 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), which covers interstate communications containing threats to harm others. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News Digital just before the indictment was released that, if the case is based solely on the widely circulated image posted by Comey, it could face steep constitutional hurdles. “If Comey is charged for the shell picture, it would face a monumental challenge under the First Amendment,” Turley said. “In my view, the image itself is clearly protected speech. Absent some other unknown facts or elements, it would be unlikely to survive a threshold constitutional challenge.” JAMES COMEY INDICTED AGAIN IN NEW JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE Both statutes require prosecutors to prove not only that a statement constituted a “true threat,” but that it was made knowingly and with intent, standards that legal analysts say could prove difficult to meet based on publicly available information. The indictment was filed Tuesday in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey allegedly posted the image of seashells forming the numbers “86 47” during a beach walk. Others pushed back on the idea that the case raises significant First Amendment concerns, arguing that threats against a sitting president fall squarely outside protected speech. “The third assassination attempt against President Trump on Saturday made this crystal clear: The Justice Department must prosecute those who threaten to assassinate the president,” said Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project. “No one has a First Amendment right to do this. No one is above the law, especially not a former director of the FBI who should know better. A jury of James Comey’s peers will decide his fate.” That argument comes amid heightened concerns about threats against Trump after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. A suspect has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president. Prosecutors allege that the post would be interpreted by a “reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances” as a serious expression of intent to harm the president, signaling they intend to rely heavily on context surrounding the message rather than explicit language alone. The U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, W. Ellis Boyle, will oversee the case. Boyle was appointed in 2025 and sworn in by his father, a longtime federal judge in the district, after being selected for the role by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi. The indictment marks the second time Comey has been charged during the second Trump administration. In 2025, he was indicted on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding tied to his testimony in the FBI’s Russia probe. That case was later dismissed after a federal judge ruled the prosecutor in the case had been unlawfully appointed. Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, has long been a polarizing figure in U.S. politics, drawing criticism from both parties over his handling of the Clinton email investigation and the FBI’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential links between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. He was fired by Trump in 2017 amid escalating tensions tied in part to the Russia investigation. SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AS RESURFACED AG JAMES POSTS COME BACK TO HAUNT HER: ‘NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW’ The expected charges stem from a social media post in which Comey shared an image of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” which some critics interpreted as a coded threat against Trump. The post drew swift backlash and prompted an investigation. Comey later said he did not intend the image to be interpreted as a call for violence. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.” His explanation could complicate prosecutors’ efforts to establish intent, a key element required under both statutes. Comey’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Woman pleads guilty to paying for sexual torture videos involving monkeys for online group: ‘Sick person’
A woman from Illinois is pleading guilty after paying thousands of dollars to have others make so-called “animal crush videos,” which included depictions of adult and baby monkeys being mutilated and tortured for users in a deranged online chat group. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent out a press release Monday indicating Amanda Leigh Fourez, a U.S. citizen from Illinois, pleaded guilty earlier this month to distributing and conspiracy to create and distribute these sorts of videos. The videos Fourez paid for included footage that showed the monkeys being burned alive, having their genitals mutilated and other atrocities, according to the press release. “Fourez paid thousands of dollars to commission bespoke sexual torture videos of monkeys and later she distributed the obscene crush videos over the Internet. Fourez archived and controlled the distribution of animal crush videos,” the Department of Justice added in its press release. ICE BUSTS SEVERAL CONVICTED CRIMINALS, INCLUDING CHILD RAPIST WHO THREATENED TO KILL 11-YEAR-OLD VICTIM Fourez was a member of several online chat groups and private payment groups dedicated to making, distributing and discussing “animal crush videos” and others of the same violent nature, according to ICE. Another member of these groups, Joseph Garrett Buckland, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, also pleaded guilty a few weeks ago to one count of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos. Buckland was charged Feb. 26 with violating a federal animal crushing statute, according to the Department of Justice. A bill was passed in Congress in 2010 banning videos depicting acts of animal cruelty to satisfy a sexual fetish, and the law was updated in 2019 to ban the act itself. EX-FAUCI TOP ADVISOR INDICTED OVER ALLEGED COVID COVER-UP, HIDDEN EMAILS ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ New Orleans Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations and the FBI investigated the case against Fourez. ICE enforces over 400 federal laws and statutes, including cybercrimes. Fourez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for the distribution charge and a fine of up to $500,000. A judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors, according to the Department of Justice. Fox News Digital inquired with ICE for an update on Fourez’s sentencing but did not get a response. “Fourez admitted to her role in making these horrific videos and posting them online,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “What kind of sick person would pay someone to make a video of sexualized animal torture? ICE will continue investigating these sadistic online groups and do everything in our power to stop them.”
Patel turns tables on Walz in response to viral tweet on Minnesota fraud raids: ‘Come again?’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced immediate backlash Tuesday after claiming credit for federal fraud raids in Minneapolis, prompting a sharp rebuke from FBI Director Kash Patel. The clash underscores growing political tensions over a sweeping probe into fraud that critics say unfolded under Walz’s watch, as federal authorities now take the lead. “Come again?” Patel posted on X in response to Walz, who claimed that Tuesday’s raids happened because Minnesota state agencies “caught irregular behavior and reported it.” “This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.” Walz’s tweet, viewed over a million times in just a few hours, was widely panned by conservatives who pointed out that the massive fraud scandal unfolded under his watch and that the public pressure was ultimately what forced him to drop his re-election bid for governor. TOP 5 WILDEST MOMENTS AS GOP LAWMAKERS CLASHED WITH WALZ, ELLISON IN HEATED FRAUD HEARING: ‘UNBELIEVABLE’ “Arsonist masquerading as a firefighter,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. “The main problem Tim Walz has now is that no one – Republican or Democrat – takes him seriously,” Republican operative and Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh posted on X. “He’s proven that he’s that much of a boob.” “The same guy who spent a whole hearing dodging questions about $9 BILLION in fraud in Minnesota and talking about ICE instead is now praising fraud control,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee posted on X. “Tomorrow, we will pass legislation in the Committee to make sure it never happens again. Sit this one out, Tim.” MN LAWMAKER TAKES ACTION TO GET ANSWERS ON OMAR’S ALLEGED FRAUD TIES AFTER SHE SKIPS KEY HEARING: ‘GHOSTED US’ “.@GovTimWalz is a stolen valor POS,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., posted on X, referencing past criticisms of Walz’s military record that surfaced during the 2024 presidential campaign. “This is par for the course.” “Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., posted on X. Others on social media pointed to an X post from the city of Minneapolis assuring citizens that it is not involved in the raids. Federal authorities raided more than 20 locations, including childcare facilities, in Minneapolis on Tuesday as part of a sweeping fraud investigation into largely Somali-owned businesses, sources confirmed to Fox News. “Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said. Authorities executed 22 federal search warrants in Minnesota on Tuesday morning as part of the operation, which is not immigration-related, sources said. Fox News Digital’s Bill Melugin and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
WATCH: Cornyn tears into Dems for holding DHS ‘hostage’ and failing the No. 1 ‘non-negotiable’ for America
Longtime Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn accused Democrats of jeopardizing American lives amid heightened threats by supporting sanctuary policies and allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain unfunded. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cornyn decried the Democrats, saying, “This is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left.” The comments come amid heightened national concern over public safety threats following what appeared to be another attempted assassination targeting President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday. There is also widespread concern over violent crimes involving illegal immigrants in communities across the country. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is experiencing the longest funding lapse in its history, further straining its ability to respond to threats. RO KHANNA SAYS DHS MUST BE FUNDED AFTER PRESSED ON WHCD SHOOTING FALLOUT “We know there are dangerous people here,” he said. “People with criminal records and others who are a threat to public safety. And if there’s one job that is No. 1, non-negotiable, when it comes to our citizens, it’s public safety.” Cornyn, one of the most senior members of the Senate who chairs the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee, introduced the Sanctuary City Elimination Act last week to ensure local police comply with ICE detainers by barring sanctuary cities from accessing federal funding. Speaking with Fox News Digital, Cornyn also accused Democrats of holding DHS “hostage” to “avoid funding immigration enforcement.” He added that “this is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left, specifically now in the context of illegal immigration.” Cornyn ripped into Democrats, pointing to deaths such as that of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, a U.S. citizen living in Houston who was killed by two illegal immigrants during the Biden administration in 2024. “Folks in Texas remember names like Jocelyn Nungaray and others who have been victims of the unlimited open borders immigration that the Biden administration allowed during his four years in office,” he said. “Now that we have safe, secure borders under President Trump, [Democrats] are saying they don’t want to support the Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE].” Cornyn is locked in a bitter primary runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The attorney general is challenging Cornyn for the Senate seat he has held since 2002. While Paxton has received endorsements from the likes of Turning Point USA, Cornyn has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council. President Donald Trump has not issued an endorsement in the race, which will be decided by voters in late May. WHCD SHOOTING SHOWS DEMS ARE ‘PLAYING’ WITH AMERICANS’ SAFETY BY WITHHOLDING DHS FUNDING, GOP LAWMAKER SAYS Cornyn’s Sanctuary City Elimination Act is cosponsored by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Ted Budd, R-N.C., Tim Scott, R-S.C., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. If passed, the measure would bar sanctuary cities and states from receiving certain federal funds and grants, including arts, education, environmental and community development block grants, according to Cornyn’s office. The bill would also seek to shield state and local law enforcement officers who comply with ICE detainers from prosecution by treating them as federal officers. Additionally, the bill allows state governments “harmed by criminal aliens released by sanctuary jurisdictions” to sue those jurisdictions and the federal government to enforce the prohibition on funding to that sanctuary jurisdiction. The same week Cornyn introduced the bill, the Houston City Council backed off a sanctuary-type policy amid threats of legal action from state officials. Cornyn believes his bill can accomplish a similar result across the country. He noted that even if Democrats stymie progress on his bill, “We can certainly try to pass this using the same reconciliation process that we’ll use to fund ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.” “This is a battleground that we should not shy away from,” he said. SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY AS WHCD ATTENDEES CITE INCONSISTENT SCREENING BEFORE SHOOTING Alluding to the upcoming midterm elections, Cornyn expressed confidence the issue will continue to resonate with voters in November. “They don’t care about public safety. … We do care about public safety,” he said, adding that “is a pretty good contrast and one that we may need to just take to the voters.” Addressing the weekend shooting, Cornyn told Fox News Digital, “Democrats cannot feign concern for President Trump’s life while also refusing to fund the very Department that houses Secret Service and other agencies sworn to protect him. “I hope that, finally, the events of this past weekend will serve as a wake-up call for Democrats to fund DHS.” Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for former President Joe Biden and to Paxton for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for comment.
Emmer says MN fraud raids send ‘crystal clear’ message after feds hit dozens of sites
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., celebrated a massive federal operation in Minneapolis as part of a sweeping fraud investigation into largely Somali-owned businesses, saying law enforcement sent a “crystal clear” message. Emmer, whose district covers much of the northern and western suburbs of Minneapolis, applauded reports that the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials raided 22 alleged fraud sites on Tuesday morning. The whip thanked the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security “for taking action against Somali fraudsters.” He said that “Minnesotans and U.S. taxpayers across the nation are grateful.” “President Trump and his administration have made it crystal clear — our country will not tolerate waste, fraud, and abuse, and we are not going to allow people to take advantage of Americans’ generosity,” he added. MISSPELLED ‘LEARNING’ CENTER, NO CHILDREN INSIDE: EMMER PRESSES WALZ OVER MINNESOTA DAYCARE TIED TO $4M The DOJ confirmed that the raids were conducted in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement and were court authorized. The raids center on federal fraud investigations into largely Somali-owned businesses, including childcare facilities that registered with the state but were allegedly billing for care that was not provided. Sources told Fox News that two of the raids were conducted at the Quality Learning Center, best known for its misprinted sign that read “Quality Learing Center,” and Baby Halimo Child Care, both in Minneapolis. The Quality Learning Center received national attention after blogger Nick Shirley visited several childcare addresses, only to find an assortment of vacant or non-operational storefronts, closed businesses or occupants who refused to answer questions or entertain the pair’s mock efforts to “register” a child with the supposed daycare. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MINNESOTA’S ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ FRAUD AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S LATEST CRACKDOWN Following reports of the raids, DHS confirmed that HSI “in cooperation with our law enforcement partners, executed criminal search warrants in Minneapolis relating to the rampant fraud of U.S. taxpayers’ dollars.” Vice President JD Vance, who the president appointed “fraud czar,” also commented after the raids that the fraud task force and DOJ “will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding.” Emmer has been highly critical of Minnesota state leaders, especially Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, for their handling of the fraud scandal. In March, Emmer called for a deeper investigation into allegations that Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison knowingly ignored evidence of welfare fraud. He called for those leaders to even face incarceration if the allegations were proven true. “People are sick and tired of elected officials having a double standard, being treated differently than they are. They’re held accountable for things that they should be held accountable for, when their elected officials are not,” Emmer told Fox News Digital in March. NYC DEM, HOCHUL AIDE UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER ALLEGED MIGRANT SHELTER BRIBES “If these two guys are dirty, they should be held accountable, and they should serve jail time.” Both Walz and Ellison insisted that they were serious about prosecuting fraud in the state’s social programs and that they took action to stop it once it was brought to their attention. Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Cuccinelli says Dems undercut own redistricting defense as Virginia justices press ‘Yes’ camp
The Supreme Court of Virginia heard oral arguments in a challenge to Tuesday’s redistricting amendment, as a former state prosecutor said Democrats’ eagerness to ram through early voting may help derail their redistricting effort. The state’s high court appeared to press the attorney for the Democrat-led “Yes” camp more than the lawyer for Republican plaintiffs, as Chief Justice Cleo Powell brought the court to order Monday. While election certification is on hold after Tazewell County Judge Jack Hurley Jr. issued a legal challenge following projections that “Yes” would win by single digits, a separate argument over the validity of the October-November process that led to the referendum was before the high court in Richmond. In a post-mortem analysis of Monday’s arguments, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said that only a few justices asked questions of the litigants and their questions for the “Yes” camp were particularly pointed. OBAMA URGES VIRGINIANS TO VOTE YES ON REDISTRICTING MEASURE THAT COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS 4 MORE HOUSE SEATS Attorneys Richard Hawkins and Matthew Seligman, and Solicitor General Tillman Breckenridge represented Democrats seeking to uphold Tuesday’s election result, while attorney Thomas McCarthy argued for Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, and other officials challenging it. Justice Wesley Russell’s first question to Seligman and Hawkins was whether the vote Tuesday in which the “Yes” camp won even mattered in a legal setting. “He got counsel for the defendants to concede ‘no the vote outcome does not matter’ — they didn’t talk about the margin [or the] 3:1 spending,” Cuccinelli said later Monday. Cuccinelli said Democrats, led by Attorney General Jay Jones, have used that victory since as their reason for the redistricting’s legitimacy. “The current attorney general of Virginia… has really in his public statements; the only defense I’ve heard him offer is the ‘will of the people’… and his own lawyer in court today says that was irrelevant,” Cuccinelli said. “[Hawkins] completely undercut the public stance of the current attorney general.” Cuccinelli added that the defendants were also “shockingly blasé” when they suggested early voters vote at their own risk of an “October Surprise” like redistricting, when challenged on the merits of the case given the 45-day early voting window established the last time Democrats had full control in Richmond. INSIDE JAY JONES AND THE DEMOCRATS’ LATE SURGE TO UPSET WINS ACROSS VIRGINIA, FROM THE SUBURBS TO THE SHORE The former AG said it may be that effort that gets “hoisted on their own 45-day patard” and that, with Republicans being outspent 3:1, the only thing Democrats’ money would have been good for is “making voters mad” and therefore giving the GOP an accidental win. In court, Seligman addressed the justices, saying Virginians spoke out with their vote in a “clear and comprehensive process” outlined in the Virginia Constitution, and that the General Assembly, led by Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, and Senate President L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, passed the measure through the proper means during an October special session. Republicans have argued that the intent of the special session — called months earlier by then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin and adjourned indefinitely — was improperly used to pass the amendment. They also argue the November 2025 election did not represent an “intervening election” as required by law because early voting had already begun. DAVID MARCUS: VIRGINIA’S BATTLE OVER GERRYMANDERING BETRAYS OUR BROKEN POLITICS Seligman said the assembly rightly referred the proposed amendment to legislators a second time in January as required and it went to voters on Tuesday. “That is all that Article 12 requires. As a result, the proposed constitutional amendment has been ratified and is now part of the Virginia Constitution. The circuit court attempted to interfere with that democratic process by halting it,” he said, referring to Hurley’s prior objection. “This court properly put a stop to that.” Responding to Seligman, a justice said he didn’t understand the explanation “as a legal argument” given that Democrats had asked the court — according to the jurist — to hold off on deciding on procedural irregularities until after the actual election in conforming with a 100-year-old SCOVA decision in that regard. “The fact that there’s a ‘yes’ vote doesn’t tell us anything about the merits” of McDougle’s camp’s argument that the legislative piece of the referendum’s creation didn’t conform with law. Another justice offered an incredulous response during a discussion about the “constitutional silence” surrounding when a special session adjourned “indefinitely/sine die” is actually officially over — including if a regular session convenes potentially in between. “Would a special session convened in 1929, if they forgot to adjourn sine die, still be in-session?” the justice asked. Seligman said it would not, while later adding that the practice of such has been “mixed” in Richmond and Washington. By contrast, the justices’ questions for McCarthy appeared more open-ended, as he began his remarks by saying the redistricting amendment violates the state Constitution’s limitations on special sessions in multiple ways, including that then-Gov. Youngkin called it for budget — not election-planning — purposes. In turn, the justices asked questions seeking McCarthy to expound upon “historical record” of General Assembly special sessions, and whether the two-thirds majority policy or called-by-the-governor argument are more prominent. The court is expected to operate on an expedited schedule in this matter, as the 2026 primary election is about two months away and districts must be known by then.
Safe sex is about to get more expensive, world’s largest condom maker warns
The Iran war could hit consumers where they least expect it: condom prices. Karex, the world’s largest condom manufacturer, told Reuters it may soon hike prices by as much as 30% as the Middle East conflict strains global energy and supply chains. The warning underscores how the war is driving up costs, delaying shipments and squeezing supply. And the impact on condom prices highlights how even niche consumer goods are caught up in broader global disruptions. WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN It all traces back to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies, where shipping has slowed sharply. The shipping lane is surrounded by Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates and is widely disputed amid the conflict as ships — especially those carrying oil and other fuel — are prevented from traversing through the contentious waterway. The bottleneck is also driving up the cost of petroleum-based products like plastics and rubber, which are found in everything from medical supplies to household items to clothing and beauty products. That’s creating a one-two punch — higher costs and shipping delays that are shrinking supply and raising prices. Amid those pressures, Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat said the energy crunch has him weighing a price increase. THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT MIGHT DISRUPT YOUR SUMMER BBQ PLANS THIS YEAR Kiat says the conflict has pushed aluminum used in foil packaging to a four-year high and silicone oil, a key ingredient in condom manufacturing, is up about 30%. Shortages of synthetic rubber used in some non-latex condoms are further adding to the strain. Karex, a Malaysia-based firm that produces more than 5 billion condoms every year and exports to more than 130 countries, is struggling to keep up as demand outpaces supply. Karex supplies to the world’s largest condom brands, including Trojan and Durex. Shipping delays are worsening the crunch on getting these products to customers, with more inventory stuck at sea than reaching shelves. Karex products going to the U.S. and Europe are taking up to two months to arrive, while developing countries already facing shortages are seeing even longer delays. There are growing concerns that these disruptions could hit some of the world’s most vulnerable populations since Karex helps supply United Nations aid programs. Karex also manufactures personal lubricants, catheters, probe covers and gloves, underscoring the broader impact supply disruptions could have beyond condoms. For consumers, that could mean paying more at the checkout counter for a basic health product.
Ex-Fauci top advisor indicted over alleged COVID cover-up, hidden emails
The Justice Department is accusing a longtime senior advisor to Dr. Anthony Fauci of using his private email to hide communication about the COVID-19 virus from public view while helping to shape the narrative about its origins. David M. Morens, 78, who served for years as a top advisor within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), was indicted and is accused of using his personal email account to evade federal transparency laws and shield key discussions from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, according to a DOJ indictment unsealed Tuesday. Prosecutors allege that Morens conspired with others during the pandemic to hide communications related to a controversial coronavirus research grant that involved collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. The grant was later terminated amid scrutiny over whether COVID-19 may have originated from a lab leak. The indictment alleges that Morens and his associates deliberately moved conversations off official government systems and onto private email accounts to keep them from public disclosure. The communications allegedly included internal discussions about COVID research, efforts to influence funding decisions, and exchanges related to messaging on the virus’s origins. FAUCI HOLDS ‘DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR’ ROLE AT DC UNIVERSITY BUT HASN’T TAUGHT ONE CLASS: REPORT The indictment also alleges that Morens played a behind-the-scenes role in relaying information to senior agency leadership, who in turn briefed the White House, Congress and the public during the pandemic. Federal prosecutors also claim that Morens received gifts from a collaborator — including wine and offers of high-end meals — and later took steps to justify those perks by contributing to a scientific publication supporting the theory that COVID-19 emerged naturally rather than from the Wuhan lab. Morens did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for the National Institutes of Health also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Morens previously faced scrutiny from House lawmakers over emails related to COVID-era communications. During congressional testimony, he said he regretted the tone of certain messages and described some remarks as “black humor.” The charges include conspiracy, destruction and concealment of federal records and related offenses. Morens faces decades in prison if convicted. The case is likely to intensify scrutiny of how federal health officials handled key questions during the pandemic, particularly debates over the virus’s origins.
Mike Johnson faces revolt from GOP privacy hawks threatening to kill FISA renewal as deadline looms
House GOP leadership is struggling to win over GOP privacy hawks as lawmakers race to extend a powerful government surveillance program ahead of Thursday’s deadline. The House Rules Committee on Tuesday postponed consideration of a rule teeing up a chamber-wide vote on an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as Republicans remain sharply divided over the program. The plan would renew the spy law for three years while enacting new penalties for abuses of FISA searches. The measure, however, stops short of incorporating a warrant requirement desired by GOP privacy hawks, who want the adoption of tougher privacy guardrails. The postponed committee action raises doubts about whether House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can pass an extension of the law before it lapses on April 30. HOUSE VOTE ON ‘VERY SIMILAR’ SPENDING BILL EXPECTED FRIDAY MORNING, GOP LAWMAKER SAYS The mounting obstacles to passing a FISA renewal in the House could also allow the Senate to act first and force the lower chamber to swallow whatever it passes. The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on a three-year extension bill later on Tuesday. Democrats on the House Rules Committee blasted Republicans for indefinitely postponing consideration of the measure after punting a previously scheduled Tuesday morning meeting to take up the procedural measure. The panel initially adjourned on Monday evening after an hours-long session to allow for more time for Republicans to reach a deal. “After waiting around all night for Republicans to make a deal — with themselves — on a procedural rule for the week, Democrats showed up to the Rules Committee for an 8 a.m. meeting,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., wrote on social media. “Unsurprisingly, when we showed up, we were told there is still no deal. “Their chaos is only matched by their incompetence,” he added. The stalled rule also delays consideration of a budget blueprint to fund immigration enforcement and a sweeping bill authorizing agriculture and nutrition priorities known as the farm bill, which GOP leadership is hoping to pass on the floor this week. House conservatives, who voted down two previous proposals offered by GOP leadership, have so far withheld their support for reauthorizing Section 702 absent reforms. JOHNSON FACES GOP REVOLT OVER WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE POWERS AHEAD OF KEY VOTE The spy tool allows the government to surveil foreigners abroad who use U.S. platforms even when those communications involve Americans. A mix of conservatives and progressives have long advocated for changes to the program to force intelligence officials to obtain a warrant prior to reviewing Americans’ data. Several conservative lawmakers on Monday criticized leadership’s proposal as a minor reworking of the original 18-month extension bill that failed on the House floor. “Really what we’re doing is taking existing law improvements based on two years ago, making some improvements on penalties and on some FISA transparency… but not going further with respect to warrant protections for American citizens on warrantless surveillance,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a key member of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), said during debate on the measure in the House Rules Committee. HFC members have sought to add a warrant requirement and language banning a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to the bill — policies they say are critical to winning their votes. “Even as we are working to right the wrongs and abuses of FISA, it is important we permanently ban what would be the ultimate surveillance tool against our fellow citizens, a central bank digital currency,” Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital in a statement. The Trump administration has pushed for a clean reauthorization of the program, citing the law’s critical national security role. Proponents of the spy law have hailed its ability to gather intelligence that has stopped potential terrorist attacks and drug trafficking. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, a notable GOP privacy hawk, offered his support for the three-year FISA extension during a post on social media last week. “Collectively, this set of reforms provides robust privacy protections for American citizens. Congress should bank this win and reauthorize Section 702,” Davidson said. “Then, we should swiftly begin gutting the unmitigated surveillance state left growing unchecked during these 702 fights.” House Democratic leadership previewed their objections to Republicans’ FISA reauthorization plan on Monday. Widespread Democratic opposition means Johnson could afford to spare just a handful of GOP defections during a critical procedural vote that could occur as early as Tuesday afternoon. “This surveillance mechanism could be abused by the likes of individuals like Kash Patel and the acting attorney general,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said during a news conference Monday. “These people have weaponized the criminal justice system, and they simply cannot be trusted to protect the privacy and the civil liberties of the American people.”
State Department urges Americans to avoid Mexican city just across Texas border
The State Department warned Americans to avoid a city in Mexico just over the border from Texas after receiving reports of “violent criminal activity.” The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico said U.S. government employees have been ordered to stay away from the area of Reynosa, a city of about 700,000 residents located near McAllen, Texas. “U.S. Consulate Matamoros has received reports of violent criminal activity including roadblocks in Reynosa,” it said in the advisory, urging any Americans there to “be aware of your surroundings,” maintain “a high level of vigilance” and to “keep a low profile.” The McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge links Reynosa to Texas. The State Department has issued a “Level 2 – Exercise increased caution” for all of Mexico, but in Tamaulipas state – where Reynosa is located – that risk is elevated to “Level: 4 – Do not travel,” due to “terrorism, crime and kidnapping.” TOURISTS TRAPPED IN PUERTO VALLARTA RECOUNT CARTEL RETALIATION AFTER EL MENCHO KILLED “There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations,” the State Department said. “Organized crime activity is common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. It includes gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault,” it added. MEXICO PYRAMID SHOOTER WHO TOOK HOSTAGES AND KILLED 1 IS IDENTIFIED The State Department advisory noted that U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents “have been victims of kidnapping.” “Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol the state, especially along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo,” it also warned. “They act without fear of punishment in these areas, and local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to crime.”