175 Democrats demand Trump admin stop Ilhan Omar investigation, warn it could hurt her re-election bid
Nearly 200 House Democrats are moving to shield Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from further investigation after federal investigators raided her Washington, D.C., home earlier this month. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., led 175 members of the House Democratic Caucus in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Attorney General Todd Blanche, criticizing the probe into Omar’s immigration history as a partisan attack and accusing them of trying to sway her bid for another term in Congress. “Congresswoman Omar is seeking reelection in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district in just one week. News of the search warrant, whether properly predicated or not, could affect voters’ decisions, which is exactly why federal law enforcement should not engage in such conduct when voters are casting their ballots. This type of interference strips Minnesotans of their right to a free and fair election guaranteed to them under the Constitution,” the letter said. “We stand with Congresswoman Omar and condemn the weaponization of law enforcement against her. You have already disgraced the offices you hold, and we demand you refrain from taking any further actions that could affect the outcome of the upcoming election.” DEMOCRATS’ FURY OVER ILHAN OMAR RAID DRAWS STINGING GOP REMINDER ABOUT RAID FROM THE PAST: ‘SET THE PRECEDENT’ Omar, D-Minn., is under federal investigation over allegations she or her father lied about her birth year on immigration paperwork to obtain her citizenship when her family fled Somalia in the late 1990s. If she was 17 when her father obtained citizenship, as previously thought, she would have automatically qualified along with him. If she was 18 or older, which federal officials now suspect, she would have had to make her own application. FEDERAL AGENTS RAID ILHAN OMAR’S DC HOME AMID IMMIGRATION FRAUD INVESTIGATION Her fellow House Democrats recounted the allegations in their letter, saying, “Your probe into the congresswoman reportedly concerns her late father’s filing of immigration paperwork after she fled Somalia’s civil war at age eight, making her a U.S. citizen at age seventeen.” But they argued it does not justify “a pre-dawn raid on her home for paperwork her father filed when she was a minor.” DEMOCRATS HAVE ‘DIRTY HANDS’ OVER COMPLAINTS ABOUT OMAR RAID WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION, EX-PROSECUTOR SAYS Federal agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant on Omar’s home on Oct. 12, seizing multiple phones and notebooks, among other items. “This weaponization of law enforcement to harass a sitting Member of Congress 22 days before an election is unprecedented and unacceptable,” Democrats’ letter said. “DOJ has long followed a policy not to take investigative steps relating to a candidate this close to an election if delaying the action will not jeopardize a criminal investigation, a policy which Attorney General Blanche has previously invoked as far back as nine months before an election.” ILHAN OMAR BELIEVES TRUMP RAID ON HOME WAS MEANT TO ‘INTIMIDATE AND SCARE PEOPLE’ FROM VOTING They argued the probe was “driven by a pre-determined political outcome rather than an objective pursuit of justice.” Omar has dismissed the probe as a political hit job against one of Trump’s loudest critics. Others, however, like House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., have called for Omar to be jailed and deported if the accusations are proven true. Fox News Digital reached out to DHS and the Department of Justice for comment.
Shouting match erupts at UN as Cuban foreign minister moves toward US ambassador’s podium: ‘Back up!’
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told Cuba’s foreign minister to “back up” Tuesday after the Cuban diplomat approached the podium and interrupted his remarks on the floor of the U.N. General Assembly. “Well, we know. We know where it went. And today we are here to share it to the world,” Waltz said as he accused Cuba’s government of enriching its leaders while its people suffered. As the Cuban delegation sought to interrupt his remarks, Waltz fired back. “I know you don’t like to hear this,” Waltz said. “This is America, my friend. This is the United Nations. This isn’t your communist dictatorship. You cannot silence me.” CUBAN EXILE-TURNED-CONGRESSMAN UNLOADS ON DEM SENATE HOPEFUL OVER CUBA REMARKS Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla continued toward the podium as the president of the General Assembly attempted to restore order, reminding delegates that they would have an opportunity to respond. “This individual needs to back away from this podium,” Waltz said as the confrontation escalated. “He’s not going to intimidate me in the United States of America. “I’m the representative of the United States of America. Back up! Back up, Ambassador. Back away! This isn’t Havana.” CUBA’S ECONOMIC FREEFALL IS HIDING A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT JUST MILES FROM FLORIDA: REPORT The confrontation erupted during the General Assembly’s annual debate over the decades-old U.S. embargo on Cuba, with Waltz urging member states to reject a resolution calling for an end to the restrictions. Waltz accused Havana’s communist government of enriching itself while blaming Washington for hardships he said were caused by corruption and repression inside Cuba. After Cuba was eventually granted the floor, the delegation’s foreign minister accused Waltz of “lying” and asked the General Assembly president to call him to order. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “Mr. Waltz is lying yet again,” he said, arguing that the U.S. ambassador’s remarks were “beneath the dignity of this forum and member states” and were insulting to Cuba’s government and people. In a subsequent post on X, Waltz shot said the “Communist leaders” in Cuba “don’t want you to know about their luxury real estate portfolio,” adding that he was bringing the receipts and the delegation didn’t like it.
Britain’s sweeping new crackdown on ‘antisocial’ behavior sparks free speech backlash: ‘Peak insanity’
The United Kingdom introduced new “respect orders” across England and Wales on Monday, giving authorities expanded powers to crack down on persistent “antisocial” behavior and drawing criticism from free speech advocates concerned about potential government overreach. The U.K. government’s order enables police and councils to take stronger “enforcement action” against “adult offenders” of persistent “antisocial” behavior, according to a government news release. Under the new restrictions, U.K. courts could ban offenders from town centers or prohibit them from drinking in “public hot spots” like local parks, the announcement states. Courts can impose restrictions and requirements through a civil Respect Order, while individuals who breach an order without a reasonable excuse can face criminal prosecution, including potentially unlimited fines or imprisonment. Under the legislation governing the Respect Orders, antisocial behavior is defined as conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person. The definition has prompted concerns from critics that the powers could be applied too broadly, although the law requires judicial approval before an order can be imposed. UK PRIME MINISTER SAYS FOOTBALL FANS ‘SINGLED OUT’ BY ALCOHOL BAN NOT IMPOSED ON RUGBY MATCHES “Unchecked, antisocial [behavior] blights our communities,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement. “But it is not inevitable, and I won’t accept it. For too long, we have lacked the powers we need to deal with this problem properly. From today, that changes: authorities will be able to take tough action against these offenders. “This delivers on a commitment we made to the British people in our manifesto,” Mahmood continued. “And, most importantly, those who make life a misery for others will now face the consequences of their actions.” Some offenders may be required to “tackle” the “root causes” of their behavior by participating in drug or alcohol treatment or anger-management programs, according to the announcement. Violating a respect order is considered a criminal offense, giving police the power to arrest anyone on charges of violating the rules, according to the press release. Those who defy an order could also face up to two years of jail time. When reached for comment, the U.K. Cabinet Office referred Fox News Digital to the Home Office, which could not immediately be reached for comment. Alan Mendoza, co-founder and executive director of U.K.-based think tank the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital Tuesday that “vague” definitions under the government’s respect orders could result in such enforcement actions being wrongfully “applied to lawful speech or protest.” “I think the breadth of these orders deserves scrutiny, particularly in the case of potentially unlimited fines,” Mendoza explained. “The government has a legitimate duty to tackle genuinely antisocial behaviour, but the powers need to be tightly defined and proportionate. Vague or elastic definitions could allow measures intended for serious nuisance or harassment to be applied to lawful speech or protest. We have already seen similar after all with social media posts and police investigations that follow. “There should be clear statutory limits, proper evidence requirements, judicial oversight and an effective right of appeal,” he added. “Online criticism, however unwelcome, should not be treated as antisocial [behavior] simply because it is unpopular or embarrassing to those in authority.” UK POLICE APOLOGIZE TO ‘FATHER TED’ CREATOR GRAHAM LINEHAN FOR ARREST OVER TRANS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS Mendoza said the U.K. government “should be able to demonstrate that these powers are necessary and contain adequate safeguards against arbitrary or disproportionate use.” The orders notably replace civil injunctions for adult offenders and grant U.K. police more enforcement powers, “including the ability to arrest anyone who breaches an order,” according to the announcement. The new restrictions have drawn intense criticism across social media, with one X user claiming in a post Monday that the orders are “mental,” while another X account referred to the rules as “peak insanity.” “Laugh all you want at what a joke England has become, but understand that the U.S. will follow right behind if Democrats ever take full power again,” the Federalist CEO and co-founder Sean Davis wrote Monday in an X post. Tech and free speech lawyer Preston Byrne similarly took to social media to criticize the orders, saying that U.K. residents should “keep in mind that one can cause ‘harassment, alarm, or distress’ in England and Wales by uttering a true statement of fact to someone who doesn’t want to hear it, or by offering an honestly-held opinion or belief, spoken or written, which also offends.” British political commentator Calvin Robinson wrote in an X post Monday responding to the orders that “this tyranny must end.” The U.K. has notably enacted a spate of laws restricting free speech in recent years, including the 2023 Online Safety Act, which gives the country’s regulator the authority to impose major fines on digital platforms if they fail to comply with certain requirements. The new restrictions come amid growing tensions across Europe, where protests and riots have rocked countries, most notably France.
Ilhan Omar’s radical streamer ally rallies with embattled lawmaker after DC home raid
Far-left streamer Hasan Piker dodged his controversial past in an exchange with Fox News Digital on Tuesday, hours after teaming up with embattled Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on the campaign trail to co-host an event in her home state of Minnesota. He also dismissed his disagreements with Democratic Party leaders after he called Republicans “terrorists” and Omar said the GOP is the “pedophile protection party” during the stream on Monday. Omar’s decision to embrace Piker on the campaign trail marks a potentially risky political alliance, coming on the back of a high-profile raid on her Washington, D.C., home amid two dueling investigations — one for alleged immigration fraud, which could threaten her political future and citizenship status, and the other for fishy financial disclosure statement discrepancies. The lawmaker’s appearance with Piker comes after Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed drew backlash from his own party for campaigning with the controversial Twitch streamer earlier this cycle. HASAN PIKER LASHES OUT AT REPUBLICANS, CALLS THEM ‘TERRORISTS’ IN EVENT WITH ILHAN OMAR Fox News Digital confronted Piker at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport heading out of Minnesota after the Monday livestream. He was pressed on the criticism stemming from Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., after the two condemned Piker’s comments and pushed back on Democrats’ choice to engage with him on the campaign trail. “Well, Angie Craig lost, and I think Klobuchar is going to make for a great governor,” Piker told Fox News Digital while walking to security. Klobuchar condemned Piker’s past statements as “reckless and unacceptable,” while Craig called his rhetoric “polarizing and dangerous” and directly called out Minnesota Democrats, like Omar and Fateh, for hosting Monday’s event with Piker as a “mistake.” When asked if the two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were right to call out the rhetoric, Piker wrote off their disagreements as “the beauty of democracy,” while also throwing jabs at Fox News. “I know this is probably going to come across as confusing, because you work for Fox News, but we sometimes disagree with our leadership in the Democratic Party,” he said. “And sometimes our leadership disagrees with us.” “But at the end of the day,” he continued, “that’s the beauty of democracy.” HASAN PIKER ADMITS HE HAS ‘DIALED DOWN’ HIS OPINIONS AFTER PUBLIC AND DEMOCRATIC BACKLASH The controversy over the Somali-born congresswoman deciding to sit down with Piker with just over one week until the 2026 midterms exposes a divide among Minnesota Democrats — is it justifiable to work with Piker in order to rally his large, young, progressive base to get out and vote despite his heavily condemned commentary? Piker was asked on Tuesday about his previous comments on Jewish people and Israel after prominent Democrats joined Republicans who have called the streamer antisemitic. He suggested that Jewish Americans were inviting violence against themselves over their support for Israel. He has repeatedly stood by his comments against Israel over its ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza. “Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism,” Piker told Fox News Digital. “I will always fight against antisemitism and I find all bigotry to be morally repugnant and completely unacceptable. But I also find it a real shame to constantly complain about people who are outspoken on the issue of Israel’s genocide.” It was after Democrats, including House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., began calling out Piker for his extreme comments that El-Sayed distanced himself after frequently making appearances side-by-side. Another reason why Omar’s choice to engage with Piker has been questioned within the party. Piker refused to comment on one issue though — his past comments claiming America “deserved 9/11.” “You made some comments on 9/11, do you still stand by them?” Fox News Digital asked Piker, at which point he ignored the question and walked through the line for security. Both Piker and Omar attacked President Donald Trump during their event Monday night, with the Somali-born lawmaker ripping his “obsession” with Minnesotans. Piker, meanwhile, shamed Democrats for ceding on immigration arguments to Trump’s agenda back in 2024. REP ILHAN OMAR’S IMMIGRATION HISTORY FACES NEW SCRUTINY AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS SUBPOENA RELATIVES “That’s unacceptable. Migrants are not a national security threat. They are our neighbors. They are allies. They work alongside us. They are not the burden, but a benefit. They are what make this country strong, and they’re what make it this country great,” Piker insisted. “Any Democrat that refuses to recognize that, in my opinion, is un-American,” he concluded. Omar is running for reelection and projected for a clear win, despite being under investigation by both Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for immigration fraud and questionable financial filings. The Minnesota Democrat’s name has also come into question following HSI’s raid on her Washington, D.C., home, with a new federal court filing referring to her as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar,” as first reported by Fox News Digital. A source told Fox that the language used for her name in the filing was reflective of the evidence compiled in the immigration fraud probe into Omar. Omar has defended her name as “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar” and has also denied wrongdoing, accusing the Trump administration of targeting her for political reasons.
DHS suspends visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals amid birth tourism, security concerns
The Trump administration is suspending a visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals visiting a U.S. island territory after Republican lawmakers warned it could facilitate birth tourism and pose national security risks. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s decision targets a Biden-era program that allowed prescreened Chinese nationals to visit the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 14 days without a visa. In a notice announcing the decision, the Department of Homeland Security cited concerns that the program could facilitate birth tourism, espionage and illegal onward travel to nearby Guam, a key hub for the U.S. military. BIRTH TOURISM FIGHT SHIFTS TO US ‘TROPICAL MATERNITY WARD’ WITH HISTORY OF CHINESE EXPLOITATION The decision comes after senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, Rick Scott, R-Fla., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., urged Mullin in April to end the program, warning that it encouraged birth tourism and posed national security risks. Lee celebrated the decision in a post on X. BIRTH TOURISM CRACKDOWN EXPANDS AS HOUSE CHAIRMAN RAISES CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY CASE “America is not a nursery for the CCP to steal citizenship,” Lee wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. “Thank you, President Trump!” Rep. Chip Roy’s press office also welcomed the move, saying the Texas Republican and Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., had raised concerns about the program in March. GOP FIREBRAND TARGETS BOOMING BUSINESS LETTING FOREIGNERS EXPLOIT US CITIZENSHIP LAWS “Rep. Roy is pleased to hear the Trump Admin closed this dangerous loophole,” his office wrote on X. Birth tourism is when someone travels to the United States primarily to give birth so their child can become an American citizen. Some travelers have hidden the purpose of their trip when applying for a visa. FIRST ON FOX: RUBIO RAMPS UP BIRTH TOURISM CRACKDOWN HOURS BEFORE XI TOUCHES DOWN IN US The program at issue was created in 2024 and took effect the following year. More than 3,000 Chinese nationals used it to enter the Northern Mariana Islands in fiscal year 2025, according to DHS. Those travelers were screened by Customs and Border Protection, but did not have to obtain a visa through a U.S. consulate, the department said. EXCLUSIVE: STATE DEPARTMENT REVOKES OVER 250,000 VISAS IN BROAD IMMIGRATION VETTING CRACKDOWN The suspension is set to take effect at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30 and will apply to both new applicants and travelers who have already been approved. Those already in the territory under the program may finish their authorized stays but will need a visa for future visits unless another lawful exception applies. DHS said the suspension will remain in place while the department evaluates the program with the secretaries of state and the interior. BIRTH TOURISM COULD SOON CARRY A SEVERE NEW CONSEQUENCE FEW WOULD RISK: ‘EXISTENTIAL CRISIS’ The department warned that the program could make it easier for Chinese nationals to travel to the territory to give birth. “While birth tourism has long been an issue in the CNMI, the availability of visa-exempt travel and reduced vetting under EVS-TAP may lower barriers to this practice,” the notice says. HOUSE REPUBLICAN CALLS FOR YANKING STUDENT VISAS OF CHINESE NATIONALS DHS also said birth tourism can strain the islands’ medical system. The notice did not provide a number of births linked to travelers who entered through the program, formally known as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program. The department warned that visa-free travel could be exploited for intelligence gathering near U.S. military facilities. The Northern Mariana Islands are home to Tinian Air Base, while Guam hosts several military installations. TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, BIRTH TOURISM AFTER SUPREME COURT SETBACK Although the program did not permit visitors to travel to Guam or the U.S. mainland, DHS cited previous cases involving Chinese nationals smuggled by boat from the Northern Mariana Islands to Guam. Those cases involved earlier travel policies or other streamlined arrangements, but DHS said they showed a vulnerability that the newer program had not eliminated. The suspension comes as the Trump administration pursues a broader crackdown on birth tourism. A State Department task force launched Aug. 12 had revoked more than 750 visas tied to suspected birth tourism activity as of late August, the department previously told Fox News Digital. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told Fox News Digital that officials were working with international partners and law enforcement to identify travel patterns that could point to birth tourism networks. Pigott said some networks help visitors conceal the purpose of their trips and then coach them on how to avoid paying medical bills. The Northern Mariana Islands program is separate from the visitor visa process targeted by those revocations. Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to why removing Ilhan Omar from Congress could be harder than Trump expects
Republicans hope there are lots of Democrats who won’t win re-election next week and return to Capitol Hill. Republicans are imploring voters to kick them out. But President Trump is focused on bouncing one Democrat from Congress who likely wins re-election in a solidly blue district. That’s Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). She carried her district two years ago with nearly three-quarters of the vote. But President Trump questions whether Omar is in the country legally and, therefore, qualified to sit in Congress. “She used a fake name to be sworn in,” said the President. “She’s a little troublemaker.” The Department of Justice is investigating Omar for potential immigration fraud. Federal authorities raided her Washington, DC home recently and removed 17 items. That included phones, notebooks, a camera and a Somali phrase book for her kids. President Trump suggests that her name is not “Ilhan Omar” and that it’s “an entirely different name name. Ihan Nur Sayeed Elmi. It’s close.” A federal filing in that inquiry lists the Congresswoman’s name as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.” That’s why the President says “she must immediately resign from Congress.” A reporter for Fox Digital confronted the Congresswoman about her name. SOMALI RAP PROMISING TO ‘SCATTER’ ENEMIES UNDERSCORES OMAR’S SERENE LAKESIDE VIDEO “Is your name Ilhan Sayed, Ilhan Nur Sayed Alami, or Ilhan Abdullahi Omar?” asked Rashid Umar Abbasi, working for Fox. “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar. You know it,” replied Omar. “Ma’am?” asked Abbasi for clarification. “It’s Ilhan Abdullahi Omar,” she confirmed. The Clerk of the House of Representatives officially lists the Congresswoman as solely “Ilhan Omar” on 15 different financial disclosure reports dating back to 2018. That’s even before she entered Congress. The same with the Minnesota state legislature where Omar served prior to coming to Washington. The discrepancy is why the President wants the House to banish Omar. “She will not be legally allowed to be a member of that august body that sits in Washington,” said President Trump. But it’s not his call. However, Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution grants both bodies of Congress final authority about who it admits to its membership. At least one House Republican is willing to explore that. But only if the facts merit it. “The House has the prerogative to seat or not seat and to throw Members out if it so chooses,” said Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.). “There ought to be good sound reasons for it.” It’s a different set of rules, but Griffith had experience with this as the Virginia House of Delegates grappled with a similar issue about seating lawmakers in the Commonwealth in 1988. But Congress is altogether different. “It would be extraordinary. And it should be extraordinary and it should not be used except in extraordinary circumstances,” said Griffith. Yours truly asked what would meet that bar to block someone from serving in the House. “It’s like the Supreme Court said about pornography. I’ll know it when I see it,” said Griffith, paraphrasing late Justice Potter Stewart from a key 1964 obscenity case. ILHAN OMAR HIT WITH EXPULSION THREAT AS GOP LAWMAKER VOWS TO BOOT HER FROM CONGRESS OVER DOJ PROBE House Republicans have two options to deal with Omar if they are truly determined to take action – regardless of what is proven or not. Qualifications for the House are pretty simple. You must be a citizen and a resident of the state you are representing. And, you must be 25 years old. You could even be convicted of a crime and serving time in jail. The Constitution is silent on all other credentials. You could also have a resume which is without a blemish. It doesn’t matter. The House could still take action against you. The first conceivable option could come now. The Constitution grants the House and Senate the right to expel Members – provided there’s a two-thirds vote. Any scenario to expel Omar seems remarkable. Especially since she hasn’t been convicted of a crime. And even if she is charged, there are lots of other issues which could emerge before a trial. It would be strange to have the executive branch of government trying to remove a Member of the legislative branch of government. Moreover, it’s likely that the House counsel would contest any effort by federal prosecutors to procure Omar’s official House communication devices as well as documents. There’s a firewall between the legislative branch and executive branch known as the “Speech or Debate Clause.” Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution grants lawmakers privileges tied to their official duties. So getting those papers — let alone potentially deporting her as some have suggested – is a far cry. Especially since she’s a Member and this all hinges on expulsion. Moreover, two-thirds of the House will never vote to expel a Member under these circumstances unless there’s ironclad proof of wrongdoing. That’s why the House has only expelled six Members in its history. The last was former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) in 2023. However, what may be an issue is whether or not there could be an objection to seating Omar when the new Congress convenes in January. In 1968, then Rep. Adam Clayton Powell (D-NY) faced a criminal investigation. House Speaker John McCormack (D-Mass.) refused to seat Powell – even though he met all other requirements. The Supreme Court ruled in Powell v. McCormack that the House can’t exclude a Member if they meet the basic standards to serve in the House. TRUMP IMMIGRATION WIN COULD STRENGTHEN ADMIN’S HAND IN LOOMING SUPREME COURT FIGHT That said, it’s possible there could be motions not to seat Omar – or even other progressive Members-elect who have said controversial things about the U.S. and Constitution. Such a motion would come right after the House chooses a Speaker. But the Speaker has not sworn-in the rest of the Members. The House would then swear-in everyone – except the Member or Members-elect who may face questions about serving. Once the House swears in the
Billionaire with Epstein ties emerges as top Dem donor bankrolling ads weaponizing disgraced financier’s files
Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn who has faced scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, was among the largest donors to House Majority PAC, a key Democratic fundraising group that is now using Epstein-themed ads to target GOP candidates, according to Federal Election Commission filings released last week. In recent weeks, HMP has begun spending heavily as Election Day nears, pressing the case that Republicans have failed to make good on promises to bring transparency to Epstein’s child sex trafficking activities and whether he facilitated illegal sexual encounters for others. The filings do not identify which donor funds were used for specific advertisements, but Hoffman’s contribution came as HMP ramped up spending on Epstein- focused ads just two weeks ahead of election night. In one such campaign, HMP targeted Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, over his vote against a procedural motion that would have advanced consideration of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Begich later voted in favor of the legislation, which passed with near-unanimous support. EPSTEIN-LINKED BILLIONAIRE POURS $500K INTO SUPER PAC BACKING KENTUCKY DEMOCRAT: ‘DIRTY EPSTEIN-CLASS MONEY’ “How did Jeffrey Epstein hide it? He was protected by the elites — elites like Nick Begich. Begich voted against releasing the Epstein Files, trying to hide the truth. Alaskans need someone who cares more about bringing down costs than protecting a rapist,” the ad claims. The legislation, which became law in November 2025, requires the Justice Department to release records related to Epstein, with some protections to conceal the identity of his victims. HMP has spent $543,300 on the ad campaign, according to FEC records. But the group has also targeted races in a number of other battleground states, spending $ 480,000 in Iowa’s Second Congressional District, $ 2.06 million in Pennsylvania’s 1st District, $550,150 in Arizona’s 2nd District and $628,000 in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. All the ads launched within the past week, according to ADMO, an advertising- tracking service. TRUMP-LINKED SUPER PAC PULLS FUNDING FROM 2 HOUSE REPUBLICANS AS GOP FIGHTS TO KEEP MAJORITY At least one Republican argued that Hoffman’s ties to Epstein made his contribution — and HMP’s Epstein-focused ads — hypocritical. “Democrats have no problem with money in politics so long as it benefits their own campaign, even if it comes from certified perverts like Reid Hoffman who maintained a relationship with Epstein after his conviction,” Natalie Baldassarre, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC), said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Democrats have no morals when power and money are on the line, and they’ll take both from anyone willing to write a check.” For many years, Epstein and Hoffman exchanged correspondence and gifts. They also helped raise money for MIT’s Media Lab. According to records made public through the DOJ’s Epstein Files library, Hoffman joined Epstein at his private island and visited him at his residence in New York. In one email, sent on Christmas Eve in 2014, Hoffman told Epstein he had sent him a pair of gifts. “Sent you two gifts to NYC addie. 1 – Ice cream. If you have any interest, you should try — [or] else for the girls. 2 – something that may strike your funny bone for the island,” Hoffman wrote, referring to a surfer statue. Hoffman has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, telling The Wall Street Journal in 2019 that he regretted continuing their relationship after Epstein was convicted in 2008 on charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor. “My last interaction with Epstein was in 2015. Still, by agreeing to participate in any fundraising activity where Epstein was present, I helped to repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice,” Hoffman said in 2019. “For this, I am deeply regretful.” EXCLUSIVE: OSSOFF CHALLENGED TO RETURN EPSTEIN-LINKED DONATION OR RETRACT ‘EPSTEIN CLASS ATTACK’ There is no allegation in the records cited by Fox News Digital that Hoffman participated in Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Fox News Digital asked HMP whether it was aware of Hoffman’s past relationship with Epstein when it accepted his contribution and whether the group considers his donation consistent with its messaging about Epstein. Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Hoffman but did not receive a response.
Not even sky high gas prices or the Iran war will stop Trump supporters voting MAGA
PORT HURON, Michigan – They’re coping with high prices at the gas and diesel pumps and at the supermarket, but the MAGA faithful in this key battleground state remain firmly supportive of President Donald Trump. In conversations with nearly 20 Michigan voters who waited in line for hours to attend a Trump rally in this small city on the shores of Lake Huron, voters made clear they’re sticking with Republicans in the midterm elections and view Democrats as “socialists.” “He has our best interests at heart. He loves our country and he is doing the right things for us to get back on track,” Carol Mocan of Warren, Michigan told Fox News Digital. As they fight to hold their slim House and Senate majorities, Republicans are fighting political history, as the party in power in Washington has traditionally lost seats during midterm election years. The GOP also faces a challenging political climate fueled by persistent inflation tied in part to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and Trump’s increasingly negative approval ratings. KAROLINE LEAVITT TELLS FOX NEWS DIGITAL TRUMP IS DEFYING MIDTERM HEADWINDS Trump stood at 36% approval in the latest Fox News national poll, his lowest level ever in a Fox News survey. But among self-described MAGA voters, the president’s approval rating remained at a sky high 95%. “I know that Trump is always out for America’s interests first. And that’s what I really like about him,” Bay City resident James Blake said. Linda Taggart of Marysville called the current high prices “short term pain for long term gain…. We see the long term goal and we support that.” Port Huron resident Bob Kemp said Trump is getting the U.S. back on course following four years of Democratic control in the White House under former President Joe Biden, noting “whenever you’re fixing something, it always gets worse before it gets better.” Another Port Huron resident, Michael Bacheller, said the affordability issue wouldn’t impact his vote in the midterms. “I think it’s kind of a small price that we have to pay temporarily, and I think that’s how Trump’s, you know, putting it, and I can agree with that,” he said. Asked if she blamed Trump for high prices, Judith Troy of Port Huron said “yes and no, you know, because he’s doing what he has to do. Which causes, you know, prices to go up and that, but he’s doing it for a good cause, so, you know, it’s expected.” Trump touted during his speech at the rally that “we are ensuring that Iran will never have, ever have, ever, ever a nuclear weapon,” as he offered his reason for launching the war against Iran. The argument resonates with MAGA voters. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER “He’s taken the fight to the terrorists over in Iran,” James Blake said. Carol Mocan said she doesn’t blame Trump for the high cost of living “because Iran needed to be taken care of. And no one else has done it for a long time, and I don’t know who else would have, and I really think it needs to be shut down.” Ken Gunnels of Clio, Michigan said, “I believe Iran was a genuine threat to this country. If a nuclear bomb went off in one of our major cities, I don’t think any of us would have any idea the repercussions…that this country would suffer from that. I think those people are monsters, and I think we had to have a president that would stand up to them.” Other MAGA voters said while the war and the economy are important, another issue takes precedence. “My biggest thing is the immigration. If you’re here illegally, expect a knock on your door from ICE,” Burtchville resident Steve Scouten said. WHO’S UP AND WHO’S DOWN IN THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS Bacheller, Scouten’s longtime friend, agreed. “I’m with Steve. I think if I could pick one thing that Trump should really go down for is the immigration policy,” he said. James Blake emphasized that Trump’s “shut the borders.” He added that the president has “also has advocated for no men in women’s sports, which is a huge one for us. Also with no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security, that’s huge, especially for a lot of members of my family.” And Port Huron resident Rolande Debell highlighted she’s “all for Trump” because “it’s all about being American. It’s all about our freedom. It’s all about our rights. It’s all about our Ten Commandments, and that’s Trump.” DEMOCRACY 2026: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB None of the MAGA voters Fox Digital interviewed said they would vote for a Democrat in the midterms. “I don’t like a lot of the things that they believe in,” Judith Troy said. Carol Mocan argued that Democrats “don’t live in the same world that that the rest of us do. They just don’t, they don’t think about the people. They think about their careers… whatever it takes to get elected.” Asked why he won’t consider voting for Democrats, James Blake said, “I’m not in the business of socialism. I don’t think that’s a good way to go, and I think that’s where the Democrats are heading at this time.” Meanwhile, Steve Scouten shared that he “used to be a Democrat.” “Never again. They’re too far to the left,” he claimed.
James Comey faces new DOJ case over alleged national defense disclosure
The Justice Department filed a criminal information against former FBI Director James Comey over allegations that he willfully communicated national defense information to an unauthorized person in connection with an alleged 2016 disclosure. Federal prosecutors filed the two-count criminal information in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging Comey communicated national defense information and conspired with others to unlawfully disclose it. The Justice Department said that the filing was made to preserve the allegations before the statute of limitations expired as an investigation remains ongoing. NEW FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUBPOENA ISSUED TO FORMER JAMES COMEY ADVISOR IN LEAK INVESTIGATION: SOURCES “The Department filed a waiverless criminal information to toll the statute of limitations as it relates to allegations concerning former FBI Director Comey,” a spokesperson for the DOJ said. “Filing a criminal information to toll the statute of limitations is a widely recognized practice in federal court and has been approved by multiple Circuit Courts of Appeals. This is an ongoing criminal investigation, and we will not comment further.” Comey’s attorneys have challenged the filing. They’ve argued that prosecutors cannot move forward with the case without first obtaining an indictment from a federal grand jury. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden held an emergency, closed-door hearing on Oct. 9 after Comey’s attorneys moved to dismiss the case and unseal the proceedings. McFadden, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Donald Trump in 2017, granted the request to unseal the case but has not ruled on Comey’s motion to dismiss. OBAMA JUDGE RULES TRUMP DOJ ILLEGALLY FIRED JAMES COMEY’S DAUGHTER, REJECTS SWEEPING ARTICLE II CLAIM It remains unclear when or if prosecutors will seek an indictment from a grand jury. Prosecutors allege that on or about Oct. 5, 2016, Comey knowingly and willfully communicated information related to the national defense to a person who was not entitled to receive it. Comey denied wrongdoing in an Instagram post Monday, calling the latest action an “appalling abuse of the Department of Justice.” “Nothing’s changed with me. I’m still innocent. I’m not afraid of these people. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary,” Comey said. He added that his family and legal team would “stand up in court and fight the latest and whatever comes after this.” OKLAHOMA STATE AGENCY FIRES STAFF ATTORNEY AFTER ANTI-ICE SOCIAL MEDIA TIRADE Prosecutors also allege Comey conspired with others to unlawfully disclose national defense information. The case marks the third attempt by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump to prosecute Comey. A previous case accusing him of lying to Congress was dismissed, while a separate case stemming from his “86 47” seashell social media post remains pending.
Dem bucks party over alleged Alaska vote-siphoning effort: ‘Neither party should be doing it’
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand is criticizing an alleged effort by Democrats to “siphon” votes from a Republican senator, calling the tactic “manipulating the political system” as the controversy consumes Alaska’s bruising Senate race. Sand was asked by Fox News about allegations that Democrats have boosted unaffiliated Alaska Senate candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whose name closely resembles that of incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, in an effort to draw votes away from the senator. “Both parties are doing it and neither party should be doing it,” Sand told Fox News in an exclusive interview Sunday. “To me, it’s manipulating the political system and it’s not a good thing to do.” TOP ELECTION SCHEMES ROILING KEY MIDTERM RACES AS BOTH PARTIES ACCUSE RIVALS OF TRICKERY The unusual candidacy has become the center of an escalating legal and political fight in Alaska, where the Justice Department has intervened, arguing that the similarity between the candidates’ names could confuse voters. On the ballot, the Republican incumbent appears as “Dan S. Sullivan,” identified as a Republican and the incumbent, while his unaffiliated challenger appears as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” Republicans argue the similarity could cause some voters intending to support the senator to instead select his unaffiliated challenger, accusing Democratic operatives of helping elevate Daniel J. Sullivan to “siphon” votes from the GOP incumbent. Democrats have blasted the Trump administration’s intervention, while Daniel J. Sullivan has denied that he is a Democratic plant. TRUMP SAYS ‘WE ARE LOOKING INTO’ OTHER DAN SULLIVAN ON ALASKA BALLOT, WARNS ABOUT GOVERNOR’S RACE Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate results if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses to his Democratic opponent, Mary Peltola. The administration says the lawsuit is intended to address the possible voter confusion, but Peltola called the case “flagrant corruption,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called it “an outrage.” MANCHIN CALLS SCHUMER ‘CRAZY’ FOR TRYING TO OUST GOP SENATOR IN CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN “This is an outrage,” Schumer said on social media about the suit. “It shows they know they’re going to lose. We will fight tooth and nail. And we will win.” Peltola has argued that voters can distinguish between the two candidates and her campaign has asked a federal judge to dismiss the Justice Department’s case.