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Platner floats jailing billionaires in fiery pre-primary speech pushing far-left agenda

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:23:39 -0400

Scandal-plagued Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner used a fiery pre-primary address to pitch universal health care, wealth taxes, a Green New Deal and other far-left agenda items, like floating an idea that billionaires should be jailed for looking at political ads "the wrong way" in remarks about campaign finance reform.

The comment about jailing billionaires earned the candidate backlash from his Republican critics, who pointed out some of Platner's biggest endorsers are funded by billionaires, highlighted the "Marxist dystopian" nature of the remarks, and joked that Platner must have some sort of affinity for locking people up against their will, referring to recent allegations from an ex-girlfriend.

"We need to get money out of politics. We need to get rid of Citizens United. And, if I had my way, elections would last two months, they will be publicly funded and if a billionaire looked at a TV ad the wrong way, we'd put 'em in jail," Platner told a crowd of constituents Sunday night in Maine, earning applause. The comments came as Platner was laying out his far-left agenda and railing against conservatives, including calling President Donald Trump "dumb."

"That's one way to thank some of his own supporters for their generosity!" quipped veteran Republican strategist Colin Reed, who pointed to Platner's prominent endorsers, like Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who received several contributions last month from billionaires like George Soros, Pat Stryker, Jon Stryker and Jennifer Pritzker, according to campaign finance watchdog OpenSecrets.

PLATNER’S ANTI-CORPORATE CRUSADE HITS AWKWARD SNAG AS RECEIPTS TELL ANOTHER STORY

"Why worry about slowly slipping into a Marxist dystopia? With Graham Platner, you can sprint toward it!" Jason Savage, Executive Director of the Maine GOP, said in response to Platner's stump speech remarks about jailing billionaires.

"Dude is big on locking people in rooms against their will, apparently," joked CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings, an apparent reference to recent reporting on Platner’s past romantic relationships, including one ex-girlfriend’s allegation that he once twisted her arm behind her back, pushed her into a bedroom and held the door shut from the other side. Platner has denied the allegations.

‘HE HATED WOMEN’: EXPLOSIVE ABUSE, NEW NAZI TATTOO ALLEGATIONS FROM EXES ROCK PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN

Platner’s campaign has been dogged by controversies since he emerged as a progressive challenger in Maine’s closely watched Senate race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, including recent complaints from multiple ex-girlfriends about his behavior during their relationships. The reports included accusations from one of Platner's ex-girlfriends, Lyndsey Fifield, who told The New York Times about being trapped in a room by Platner during their relationship more than a decade ago.

"The Platner campaign has already spent more than $14 million and we aren't even past the primary," Shawn Roderick, a spokesperson for the Collins campaign told Fox News Digital. "Does Graham Platner really think that American taxpayers should be paying his high-priced political consultants and the tech billionaires who own the platforms where he does his advertising? He is floating this idea to distract from the many disturbing problems his campaign has faced over the past two weeks."

Platner has also been facing backlash for exchanging sexually explicit messages with multiple women early in his marriage on the platform Kik. Following those reports, Platner was found to still have an active profile on Kik, an anonymous messaging app that has faced criticism from child-safety groups and law enforcement officials. The profile reportedly featured a shirtless mirror selfie of Platner with a towel around his waist, which Republican staffers later appeared to mock outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee by showing up in towels.

SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER SENT EXPLICIT TEXTS TO MULTIPLE WOMEN WHILE MARRIED, WIFE SAYS: REPORT

Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, reportedly disclosed the messages to campaign officials during an internal vetting process, and the campaign has acknowledged the messages existed while arguing the matter was addressed privately between Platner and his wife.

Meanwhile, Platner has argued that the allegations from former girlfriends are politically motivated, while his campaign has accused critics and national media outlets of focusing on private matters and personal attacks rather than the issues affecting Maine voters.

By the time those controversies hit the news, Platner had already faced scrutiny over a tattoo that critics identified as a Nazi-linked symbol, which he later covered up and said he was not aware of its meaning when he got it. One of Platner's former staffers, Genevieve McDonald, alleged that even though Platner has said he was unaware of the symbol’s association with Nazis when he got the tattoo years ago, he has been aware of its meaning for some time.

Platner also apologized after his old Reddit posts resurfaced in which he made a series of inflammatory comments about rape, race, political violence, police, rural Americans and military veterans. Platner has said his views have changed and that some of his past comments reflected a darker period in his life after military service.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Platner campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

LA mayoral race heads to November runoff as Karen Bass faces Mamdani-style socialist

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:13:30 -0400

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Democratic challenger Nithya Raman advanced to a runoff election on Monday evening in a heated primary that has garnered national attention.

The outcome sets up a general election that pits Bass, an incumbent fending off criticism about her record, against Raman’s progressive message of government-led affordability measures.

Voters will decide the matchup in a runoff election on Nov. 3.

Raman, a member of the Los Angeles City Council and Democratic Socialists of America, has served as chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee since 2023. She has also been dubbed a Mamdani-style socialist, referring to far-left New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

LA CITY COUNCILWOMAN PREVIOUSLY BACKED BY DSA RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN PRIMARY CHALLENGE TO BASS

In her view, there is more the city could be doing to address not just its homelessness problem, but also increasing housing supply, maintaining public safety, furthering climate goals and pushing back against federal immigration enforcement efforts.

"We can bring LA back to what it really is: one of the most creative, beautiful and most hopeful places in the world. But only if we come together to fight for it," Raman said in a campaign video.

During the race, Raman pitched herself as a hopeful alternative to Bass’ leadership and what she called a fear-fueled campaign from Spencer Pratt, a rightward-leaning independent who gained traction in the closing weeks of the campaign.

SPENCER PRATT TELLS BILL MAHER HE WOULD ARREST HIM AS LA MAYOR FOR SMOKING POT IN FRONT OF KIDS

"We have a mayor who has failed to lead this city and, on the other hand, a right-wing extremist, powered by MAGA, who’s channeling people’s frustrations about this city into fear and anger and hatred," Raman said.

Bass, who first came into office in 2022, argues she has a track record that is taking the city in the right direction.

Despite fending off criticisms about the Palisade fires, a stubbornly visible homelessness population and budget deficits, Bass argued she’s taken steps to address all of those areas in her three years in the role.

"Los Angeles is at a turning point. After decades of rising homelessness, under-built housing and a shrinking police force, it’s Mayor Karen Bass who finally stepped up to change how City Hall works," Bass’s website reads.

"Homelessness is down, more housing is being built and LAPD is hiring new officers."

LOS ANGELES MAYOR BASS SAYS 'HELL YEAH' SHE REGRETS GHANA TRIP AFTER WILDFIRES RAVAGED CITY

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed Bass on May 28.

Bass originally won election in 2022 in a 54.8% to 45.2% victory over independent challenger Rick J. Caruso.

Knicks, Spurs players react as President Trump's Game 3 visit to MSG brings tighter security

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:00:40 -0400

Madison Square Garden is not playing around with President Donald Trump's attendance at Game 3.

Security has been amped up, and it's rubbing some players the wrong way as the arena braces for its highest-profile guest yet.

Even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has expressed appreciation for Trump's attendance, acknowledging it is a bona fide ratings boost.

Players such as Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox and Knicks forward OG Anunoby don't sound nearly as excited.

SECRET SERVICE, TSA AND NYPD TRANSFORM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN INTO FORTRESS FOR TRUMP'S NBA FINALS VISIT

Fox shared ahead of Game 3 in New York City that the heightened security at MSG has become something of a nuisance.

"I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient on everybody else," Fox said Monday. "We got, obviously, more security. We gotta send stuff early. I think our buses are a little earlier."

"We’re getting screened like it’s TSA," Fox added. "It’s a little inconvenient for the people that got to play, but it is what it is."

Fans attending Game 3 will also undergo additional security screenings due to Trump's appearance.

Meanwhile, with Trump set to celebrate his 80th birthday later this week, Anunoby was asked about the president's expected appearance at Game 3.

"He’ll just be there watching the game. We’re going to go as usual, play our game, try to win the game," Anunoby said matter-of-factly.

Given how polarizing Trump remains, attention quickly turned to which NBA players might publicly support his attendance. Others have argued that the president's presence should be treated as an honor.

Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama also became a topic of discussion after standing with his arms folded during the national anthem before Game 1. Trump, however, had no criticism when asked about the moment.

"Wemby’s a great player," Trump said. "I say, ‘How do you guard this guy?’"

While Hart has not publicly commented on Trump's attendance, Knicks guard Josh Hart is among the more outspoken players participating in the Finals. Hart posted a tweet about Trump in November 2020 that read, "YESSIR!!!! GET TRUMP'S DUMBA** OUT THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!"

The Knicks enter Game 3 with a 2-0 series lead, and history is firmly on their side: teams that take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals go on to win the championship nearly 87% of the time.

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Carville doesn't 'feel sorry' for urging Democrats to move on from the Kamala Harris era

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:00:10 -0400

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville argued on Sunday that former Vice President Kamala Harris should be satisfied with her political record and step aside from the 2028 presidential race.

There are numerous high-profile candidates who are expected to compete for the Democratic Party nomination in 2028. Harris, who initially faced a wave of praise after she stepped in for then-President Joe Biden, suffered a historic defeat to President Trump in 2024. She has been advised by numerous public figures to step out of the spotlight and give another candidate a chance.

One listener named Charles all the way from New Zealand, wrote to the show, asking them why they think Harris would not be a viable candidate, suggesting that if Biden had backed out earlier, she might have won.

Al Hunt, Carville's co-host, swatted that suggestion down, declaring, "Charles, on this one, we're not on the same page."

CARVILLE CLAIMS DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH ANYONE FROM FAILED 2024 HARRIS CAMPAIGN IN 2028

"I thought she was a bad candidate in 2024. I thought she was a bad candidate in 2019. Terrible candidate when she at one point was thought to have a good chance to get the nomination until she campaigned," Hunt added. "I don't think if Joe had gotten out earlier, which he should have, a year earlier, I think there would have been a open contest. I don't think she would have won, and I don't think she's a viable candidate in 2028. I hope she doesn't run."

Carville, who has previously described the Harris campaign's impressive budget as the "most ineffective $2 billion ever spent," began with a lighter touch, saying Harris should be proud of what she actually has accomplished.

"Vice President Harris was the district attorney for San Francisco – major city – was the attorney general of California, to say a major state would be an understatement. Largest state in the country. She was then the United States senator from California. Okay, it's pretty, pretty stout. Then she was vice president. That's really stout. And then she was the uncontested nominee of her party," he recalled.

"You know what? She's had an incredible political career," he continued. "Literally 99.98572% of any politician would give their right arm to have a career that successful. I do not feel sorry for her. You had the greatest gift that anybody can have. You had a chance."

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS TIMETABLE FOR MAKING MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION IN DEEP BLUE STATE

"I don't see any possibility that the Democrats are going to go back to 2024," Carville said, suggesting Democrats simply wish to disassociate from that era completely.

Carville went on to suggest that while people in the party do not dislike Harris as a person, and respect what she has done, nonetheless, "Exit stage left, stage right, I don't care. It's just — you've had a real, real profound political career."

He did suggest one viable avenue for her political career, however.

"Who knows? Maybe as a Democratic president they'll put you in the Supreme Court. You couldn't do no worse than what the f--- we got there now."

Fox News Digital reached out to Kamala Harris and did not receive an immediate reply.

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Rogue swimmer arrested after diving into 11-acre Central Park lake in failed attempt to escape NYPD

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:48:37 -0400

A rogue swimmer who tried to evade police in New York City by taking a dip in a Central Park lake was arrested Monday, authorities said.

Officers with the New York Police Department (NYPD) were initially attempting to arrest the man on charges of petty larceny in Harlem, the NYPD told Fox News Digital.

GOOD SAMARITANS HELP STOP ALLEGED PARK PREDATOR MONTHS AFTER REPEAT OFFENDER RELEASED: REPORT

Determined to avoid custody, the 23-year-old suspect fled into nearby Central Park and dove into the Harlem Meer, an 11-acre lake at the northeast end of the park.

REPEAT OFFENDER STREET RACING AT 106 MPH MOWS DOWN EMT AFTER PREVIOUSLY KILLING SOMEONE IN CRASH: POLICE

Video captured an NYPD helicopter hovering directly above the lake as the suspect attempted to swim to the opposite shore.

NYPD divers eventually entered the water, retrieved the swimmer, and placed him under arrest, police said. He was transported to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital in stable condition.

American Airlines flight attendant killed in tourist hot spot as investigators probe suspected boat strike

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:42:14 -0400

The body of a woman found on a Florida beach last week has been identified as an American Airlines flight attendant who died after an apparent boat strike while snorkeling, officials said.

Kellie Melinda Williams’ remains were discovered by two fishermen in the surf near Hollywood Beach around 8 p.m. June 3, according to CBS Miami.

Authorities reportedly said the 31-year-old flight attendant "showed injuries consistent with a vessel strike," and determined her cause of death was blunt force injuries.

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"Based on the investigation, it appears the deceased was snorkeling/diving in the area of Dr. Von D Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park during the day of June 3," Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) said in a previous statement to Fox News Digital. "FWC investigators are working in partnership with Hollywood detectives on this case."

FLORIDA MAN DIES AFTER GETTING KNOCKED OFF BOAT, CAUGHT IN PROPELLER

Details regarding the suspected boat involved in Williams’ death or if any suspects have been identified have not been released. Fox News Digital reached out to FWC and Hollywood police for comment.

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One witness detailed the scene as the pair of fishermen pulled Williams’ body from the water Wednesday night.

"Two fishermen were fishing right off the beach, and I saw them from my window pulling something, then I saw them drag something onto the shoreline," Emilio Benitez told NBC6 South Florida. "And it turned out to be a lady’s body."

Williams’ parents reportedly told the outlet that their daughter had recently gotten married and moved to Florida, adding that she was an avid snorkeler and "great person."

Williams was a flight attendant based at Miami International Airport, according to the Miami Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

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"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our colleague and fellow MIA Flight Attendant, Kellie Williams," the organization wrote in an Instagram post. "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Kellie's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time."

Williams’ employer, American Airlines, also expressed the company’s grief upon hearing of her passing.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague," an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Our thoughts and support are with her family, loved ones and colleagues at this time."

Fox News Digital's Kelsie Cairns and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

'60 Minutes' host Lesley Stahl mourns CBS firings as 'worst experience' of her career

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:30:19 -0400

"60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl described the wave of high-profile firings from the show, including fellow correspondent Scott Pelley, as the "worst experience" she's ever faced in her career.

Stahl spoke to Puck News on Sunday after she, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim released a joint statement confirming that they would remain on the show for its upcoming 59th season. The 84-year-old veteran journalist confessed there was a level of "reluctance" to stay on their part considering they were— and still are— unsure what prompted the firings in the first place.

"It’s just been obviously the hardest chapter of my career," Stahl said. "This was by far the worst experience I’ve been involved in, or even witnessed. I mean, firing seven people, including the entire management team over here, plus reporters and producers."

SCOTT PELLEY FIRED AT CBS NEWS AFTER BLOWUPS WITH BARI WEISS, NEW '60 MINUTES' PRODUCER

Stahl also described in a conversation with Puck News on Friday, the same day the statement was released, how she learned about "60 Minutes" producer Guy Campanile's firing while he was preparing an interview for Stahl. After he was fired, Stahl described having to make the difficult choice over whether to continue with the story.

"I had to make a decision to go forward with the story, without knowing if I was going to stay or not," Stahl said, adding that she ultimately went through with the interview that is expected to air next season.

SCOTT PELLEY SAYS CBS NEWS IS ‘ON FIRE’ AFTER BARI WEISS TAKEOVER AND ‘60 MINUTES’ BLOODBATH

Despite the frustration over the firings, Stahl reiterated that she, Whitaker and Wertheim have pledged to work with new "60 Minutes" executive producer Nick Bilton to craft the new season, adding that she has already met with Bilton to make "a plea not to change anything on the Sunday night broadcast."

"We understand that we need to do more," she said. "We get that, and if there are good ideas on that front, fine. The Sunday night broadcast, after 60 years, and after increasing our audience this past season, in my view, shouldn’t be tampered with. It’s so not broke, so why, quote, fix it?"

Fox News Digital reached out to CBS News for comment.

FCC CHAIR BRENDAN CARR RIPS SCOTT PELLEY AS ‘COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH’ AFTER CBS FIRING

The long-running program has faced significant upheaval following the firings of producers Tanya Simon and Draggan Mihailovich, correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, among others.

Pelley's firing garnered significant attention last week after it followed a bitter clash between himself, Bilton and the network's editor-in-chief Bari Weiss during a staff meeting. Fox News Digital later confirmed that Pelley accused Weiss of "murdering" "60 Minutes" during the outburst.

Wisconsin teen sentenced to life in brutal slaying of 5-year-old boy found in dumpster

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:06:42 -0400

An 18-year-old Wisconsin man was sentenced Friday to life in prison for his role in the brutal killing of a 5-year-old Milwaukee boy whose disappearance later led to changes in state law.

Erik Mendoza, who was 15 at the time of the crime, will not be eligible to petition for release for 50 years. He pleaded guilty in February to first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety in the death of Prince McCree, according to local outlets FOX 6 and WISN.

"When considering the serious nature of this defendant's offenses, it does not get more serious, more egregious than this," Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Torbenson said during Friday's sentencing hearing.

McCree was reported missing on Oct. 25, 2023, after his mother allowed him to go play video games in the basement of he home where his family lived, where David Pietura — who was later sentenced to life in prison in the case — also lived. When she could not find him later that day, she contacted police, according to FOX 6.

WISCONSIN TEEN CHARGED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF MOTHER, STEPFATHER FOUND DECOMPOSED IN THEIR HOME

The following morning, authorities found the child's body in a dumpster near North 55th Street and West Vliet Street, roughly a mile from his home, WISN reported.

Investigators said Mendoza admitted to choking McCree and striking him multiple times with a golf club, FOX 6 reported, citing court records.

Court records allege Mendoza and accomplice Pietura later disposed of the boy's body. Surveillance video cited in court filings showed the pair carrying a white garbage bag through an alley on the day McCree disappeared, according to the outlet.

Prosecutors said Pietura initially told investigators he and Mendoza had gone for a walk. However, cellphone GPS data contradicted his account. Pietura later directed police to the location of McCree's body, FOX 6 reported.

SLAIN COLLEGE STUDENT'S PARENTS RIP INTO DAUGHTER'S KILLER AFTER MURDER GUILTY PLEA

Pietura pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced to life in prison in 2024, according to FOX 6.

The case prompted the Prince Act, a Wisconsin law that broadened the state's missing-child alert system to include cases that do not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, WISN reported.

During Friday's hearing, McCree's parents delivered emotional victim impact statements.

"What I want to say is. I wish this guy would die and burn. No mercy. And I wish I could do it with my hands," Darron McCree, Prince McCree's father, told the court. "I'm a different person now. My life is my kid's life."

Jordan Barger, Prince McCree's mother, said her "baby didn't deserve anything."

WISCONSIN MOTHER STABS TEEN DAUGHTER TO DEATH TO 'PROTECT' HER FROM ELON MUSK: AUTHORITIES

"He was five. You were 15," Barger said. "That's a very, very big difference. And like I said, I'm just happy justice got served."

Mendoza declined to address the court during sentencing.

The Milwaukee Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Mamdani-linked Platner adviser’s history with nude photos surfaces ahead of crucial Senate primary

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:05:21 -0400

A Democratic Party campaign strategist who recently went viral for doing damage control for Graham Platner amid his public sexting scandals has past writings that include comments about sending and receiving "nudes" and a footnote in a puberty guide for boys that he wrote, which referenced using images of his own penis.

Morris Katz, an up-and-coming New York City Democratic Party campaign strategist credited with being a major factor in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's electoral upset last year, wrote on the Medium blogging platform in 2019, amid a separate Democratic Party sexting scandal, that he had both "sent" and "received nudes." Katz also authored a 2020 puberty guide for boys that included, on page 17, a footnote saying that he initially considered using "images of my penis" to illustrate puberty before the publisher said it was inappropriate.

The resurfaced writings have drawn scrutiny over the last week from Maine Republicans after Katz was accused of trying to contain the fallout from the sexting scandal involving Platner that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women early in his marriage on Kik, an anonymous messaging app that has faced scrutiny over predatory behavior and child-safety concerns.

HOW MUCH BAGGAGE WILL DEMOCRATS ACCEPT FROM MAINE'S GRAHAM PLATNER?

The irony has not gone unnoticed by Republicans in Maine, who argue Katz’s past writings add another bizarre layer to a Platner campaign already struggling to move past allegations involving numerous scandals revolving around the candidate’s judgment.

Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, told Fox News Digital that the combination of Platner and Katz is "like a sort of weird horror story," arguing that both men appear unable to recognize "the guardrails of decency."

"Morris Katz thinking that he was going to call up and intimidate Genevieve McDonald shows how bad his judgement is — he was never going to succeed at that and the fact he didn't have the instincts to know better is just the first red flag of many for him," Savage told Fox News Digital. "The combination of Morris Katz and Graham Platner is this weird horror story where neither one of them really understands the guardrails on decency. Neither one of them can recognize when there is a boundary."

A Republican strategist, who is from rural Maine but wanted to remain anonymous when speaking to Fox News Digital, said the Katz controversy shows national progressive operatives are using Maine as a testing ground for an outsider-backed campaign that could ultimately weaken the seniority and resources incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins has delivered to struggling communities across the state.

'MAINE'S MAMDANI': MAINE GOP CHIEF ISSUES WARNING ABOUT NEW CHALLENGER LOOKING TO OUST SUSAN COLLINS

"This guy [Katz], who is unbelievably strange, comes in from out of state and tries to get this horribly flawed guy, like limping, pleading across the finish line. That is so arrogant," the GOP strategist said. "The arrogance that it takes to come in and say, ‘I’m an out-of-state progressive socialist here to make some money off a flawed candidate bleeding in the polls,’ and then try to take that away from the people who really need it, you're going to take away what Susan Collins has done and will be able to do for these people."

Platner’s campaign has been dogged by controversies since he emerged as a progressive challenger in Maine’s closely watched Senate race against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Some of the most recent firestorms have centered on reports alleging Platner was abusive to an ex-girlfriend and that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with multiple women early in his marriage on the platform Kik. Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, reportedly disclosed the messages to campaign officials during an internal vetting process, and the campaign has acknowledged the messages existed while arguing the matter was addressed privately between Platner and his wife.

SENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER SENT EXPLICIT TEXTS TO MULTIPLE WOMEN WHILE MARRIED, WIFE SAYS: REPORT

The controversy intensified after reports that Platner still had an active profile on Kik, an anonymous messaging app that has faced criticism from child-safety groups and law enforcement officials. The profile reportedly featured a shirtless mirror selfie of Platner with a towel around his waist, which Republican staffers later appeared to mock outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee by showing up in towels.

Platner had already faced scrutiny over a tattoo that critics identified as a Nazi-linked symbol, which he later covered up. Platner has said he was unaware of the symbol’s association with Nazis when he got the tattoo years ago, although McDonald has contested he has been aware of its meaning for some time.

Platner also apologized after old Reddit posts resurfaced in which he made a series of inflammatory comments about rape, race, political violence, police, rural Americans and military veterans. Platner has said his views have changed and that some of his past comments reflected a darker period in his life after military service.

More recently, Platner denied allegations from a former girlfriend who accused him of abusive behavior, calling the claims politically motivated. His campaign has accused critics and national media outlets of focusing on private matters and personal attacks rather than the issues affecting Maine voters.

Fox News Digital reached out to Katz, the Platner campaign, Fight Agency, Mamdani’s team and McDonald for comment.

JFK's grandson Jack Schlossberg warns about the 'genius' way Trump 'programs our minds'

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:00:53 -0400

Former President John F. Kennedy's grandson and New York congressional candidate Jack Schlossberg on Sunday called the way President Donald Trump "programs our minds" a "genius" ability.

Schlossberg brought up this trait when discussing social media's role in campaigns like his, particularly given his background on TikTok. He admitted during an interview on CBS New York that Trump possesses the same ability to utilize social media to an even greater extent.

"I don't admire President Trump for anything, but I deeply, deeply respect and recognize his genius in the way that he programs all of what we talk about every day," Schlossberg said. "He programs our minds."

TRUMP ‘FLIPPED THE SCRIPT,’ POACHED YOUNG VOTERS FROM ‘ANTI-EVERYTHING’ DEMOCRATS, KENNEDY HEIR DECLARES

He added, "He says things, and we end up repeating them all day long. He's living in all of our heads right now. And it's terrible, but it is powerful. And it is the one way to wield power now. And we don't really have an option not to compete out there."

Schlossberg encouraged the Democratic Party to adapt to social media and reach new voters the way he has.

"I do that the way that Democrats in the past have always used new media, which is to celebrate and get the information out about the things that we stand for because we should be proud of it. We should use our humor, our intellect. We should not be afraid to take risks," Schlossberg said.

JFK’S GRANDSON JACK SCHLOSSBERG DOUBLES DOWN ON ATTACKS AGAINST RFK JR, WARNS OF 'DANGEROUS' AGENDA

He continued, "And the way that I do that is not going to be the same as the way another candidate does that. It's about being authentic to who you are and letting people into your world. The other candidates I'm running against, they want you to look away. I want you to look at everything that I'm doing because I'm proud of it and thinking about it, and I'm working 24/7."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

JFK'S GRANDSON ACCUSES 'LOVE STORY' SERIES OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS FAMILY

Schlossberg is one of several Democratic candidates running to replace Rep. Jerry Nadler in New York's 12th Congressional District.

The 33-year-old politician has focused heavily on his social media profile, often making bizarre and outrageous videos. His posts have also been described as "creepy" and polarizing, particularly ones about Vice President JD Vance's wife Usha. Schlossberg, however, has denied taking things too far by targeting Vance's wife.

"I think what's crossing a line is the propaganda that we see issued every single day by the White House and Vance," Schlossberg replied in March. "So, what are we going to do, hold back? Hold back on our sense of humor and not tease them, make fun of them back?"

Two ladies, a dog, a lighthouse and a possible Bigfoot encounter on a beach in Michigan

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:32:36 -0400

Out in the woods in the middle of nowhere isn’t the only place people claim to have seen Bigfoot and not been able to get a single picture of the creature. As we’re about to get into, sightings can also take place on the beach at dusk near a lighthouse.

That time of day makes the lack of evidence collected much more understandable. Visibility wasn’t great and the two witnesses and a dog saw a large silhouette of what was described as a "dark figure" with the build of a "very big lumberjack with no neck."

It was either a huge lumberjack without a neck or a possible Bigfoot. The sighting was sent to The Bigfoot Field Research Organization by a woman named Diane who was visiting Paradise, Michigan, from the Lansing area with her sister Denise.

The two ladies were accompanied by a Doberman named "Snoop Dog" during their sightseeing trip, which took place in May. The dog had been spooked the day before the sighting at Whitefish Lighthouse when they visited nearby Barb’s Beach.

EX-ARMY SERGEANT RECALLS CREATURE SIGHTING THAT CHANGED LIFE AFTER NEW BIGFOOT REPORTS IN OHIO

When they returned to Barb’s Beach the morning of their encounter, May 19, "the dog wanted to go back to the car." Diane told her sister that there must have been a bear or wolf in the area, because the dog doesn’t scare easily.

Then, at dusk later that night, the two sisters both saw a dark upright figure on the beach at Whitefish Lighthouse near a large pile of driftwood by the shore. They could see the figure ducking down when a flashlight they were using was pointed in its direction.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The Doberman alerted them to the presence of something in the pile of wood and started pulling the women back toward the front of the lighthouse. That’s when they "ran and got the hell out of there."

This is a general area with lots of other reported sightings and, according to the BFRO investigator, there was a search and rescue operation being conducted not far from the area where the sisters say they spotted the possible Bigfoot.

There was a lot of police activity that included the use of helicopters and dog teams over roughly a four-mile area in the woods that "might have flushed a sasquatch from there."

Let me know what you think. Did these sisters see the silhouette of a Bigfoot or a big lumberjack with no neck? Also, if you have any Bigfoot stories of your own, send them my way sean.joseph@outkick.com.

Church cans patriotic staple on Biden’s posh vacation enclave — pastor says tradition ‘doesn’t cut it’

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:30:48 -0400

A Nantucket pastor is defending her church’s decision to cancel its annual Fourth of July reading of America’s founding documents, using her sermon to explain why the long-running tradition was axed on the exclusive Massachusetts island favored by former President Joe Biden.

"After two and a half centuries why are our founding documents still celebrated as mainly aspirational? 250 years later aspirational –– not being there yet –– celebrating the promise of those documents –– and our country –– just doesn’t cut it," Rev. Erin Splaine of the Second Congregational Meeting House Society said in a sermon excerpt she provided to Fox News Digital.

The historic Nantucket Unitarian Meeting House has hosted a public reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in downtown Nantucket each Fourth of July holiday for the past 25 years before the church decided to cancel it in May as part of an ongoing effort to understand its "own whiteness."

"What should unify all of us is not to continue to assume –– or hide behind –– aspirational only –– rather to commit to the work of change –– to be brave enough to be uncomfortable –– unsettled –– unaccepting of an incomplete narrative," the sermon continued.

BIDEN’S POSH VACATION ENCLAVE ROILED AS CHURCH AXES JULY 4 TRADITION OVER ‘WHITENESS’ DEBATE: ‘SPEWING LIES’

The decision to cancel the annual reading was announced in a letter published by the Nantucket Current, which discussed ongoing conversations within the congregation about race, privilege and the historical application of constitutional rights.

The cancelation sparked a wave of social media backlash, with critics arguing the decision reflected broader discomfort on the left with traditional celebrations of America’s founding.

The letter stated that Splaine would not "engage" with anyone concerned with the cancelation on social media, saying those concerned could make an "appointment" to speak with her. "Social media is not the place for important, tender conversations," the letter read.

Fox News Digital reached out to Splaine for comment last week, after the Nantucket Current published her letter announcing the event was canceled. She responded with an excerpt from her recent sermon defending the decision.

"While a few people have taken up the invitation to connect - the overwhelming majority who disagree have not. It is disappointing because there is so much to talk about and absolutely no worth in yelling at each other," Splaine told Fox News Digital.

WEALTHY SUMMER SANCTUARY LIMITS TOURISTS, HIRES PATROL 'DOCENTS' TO KEEP OUTSIDERS IN CHECK

Local leaders and the island's chamber of commerce had promoted the event in prior years on social media platforms for all to celebrate the holiday.

"There are also those who have said the event should continue because it is important to bring people together. The crucial question is what people? Who is missing? What story is being celebrated? Whose experience is part of that story –– whose experience is not?" preached Splaine in her sermon.

Nantucket, a famed summer retreat off the Massachusetts coast, attracts celebrities, millionaires — and billionaires. Biden and his family head up to the island almost every year to celebrate Thanksgiving with family for decades.

Critics were quick to flood social media with reactions, pointing to the island's exclusivity and arguing that some on the left appear increasingly uncomfortable celebrating America's founding ahead of the nation's 250th birthday.

THE CHURCH IS HOLY GROUND, NOT A STAGE FOR THE LEFT'S POLITICAL RAGE

"Just another organization with leaders having a hidden agenda. I doubt a poll of all members would show a majority wanting the reading cancelled," commented one person.

"So many churches have been infiltrated by people that don’t believe the word of God in any way shape or form. They’re like a virus that had taken over the host," commented another person.

"I was hoping we were past this - naive of me," shared an X user.

"The left can't have anything that might encourage patriotism," added one person.

PROTECTING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN OUR 250TH YEAR

To salvage the annual event, another church on the island, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, announced it would read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, the Nantucket Current reported.

"We may not be there yet but we felt it was important to gather together and try to live up to the promises our country has made," said St. Paul’s Rev. Max Wolf. "Those documents are aspirational."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Nantucket Unitarian Meeting House for additional comment, as well as Biden's office.

DOJ moves to strip citizenship from 17 people accused of hiding disturbing crimes

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:23:16 -0400

The Department of Justice announced Monday that it is moving to revoke the citizenship of 17 individuals who allegedly obtained naturalization through fraud or deception.

The individuals, from 13 different countries, are accused of serious criminal conduct, including child sexual abuse, narcotics trafficking and large-scale financial fraud.

Nearly all of the individuals reportedly lied during the naturalization process, claiming that they did not commit any crimes the authorities were unaware of, claims that were later found to be untrue or misleading. By making false statements, officials argue that they failed to meet the statutory "good moral character" requirement for U.S. citizenship under federal law.

"Gaining U.S. citizenship is a privilege and under the steadfast leadership of President Trump, this Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse of this process," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

TRUMP DOJ ESCALATES CITIZENSHIP CRACKDOWN ON GROUP ACCUSED OF HIDING TERROR TIES, VIOLENT CRIMES

"American citizenship is a privilege, and it must be earned honestly. If you come here break our laws, and lie in your immigration proceedings, you forfeit that privilege," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin added.

According to the release, the accused individuals are overwhelmingly middle-aged to senior adults, ranging in age from 39 to 69, and originate from 13 countries across the globe.

Nine were from the Caribbean and North America, including Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico. Two were from Colombia in South America. One was from former Yugoslavia in Europe. Three were from Asia, including India, China and the Philippines, and two were from Africa, including Somalia and the Congo.

Officials said many of the applicants were asked under oath whether they had ever committed a crime for which they had not yet been arrested. According to authorities, many of the individuals allegedly provided false statements during their interviews, enabling their applications to be approved.

MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL INTENSIFIES DEBATE OVER STRIPPING CITIZENSHIP

The most common alleged offense among the accused is child sexual abuse. Six of the 17 individuals — roughly 35% — were identified in connection with child sex crimes, including statutory rape and the receipt of explicit images involving minors.

One notable case involved a Roman Catholic priest who allegedly used his position of trust to groom and abuse a child.

FORMER COLOMBIAN PRIEST, CHILD MOLESTER SENTENCED FOR PASSPORT FRAUD AND STRIPPED OF US CITIZENSHIP

The fraud cases also involved large-scale, multi-million-dollar schemes.

One case allegedly involved $54 million in securities and wire fraud. Another centered on $36.7 million in fraudulent claims billed to Blue Cross Blue Shield through fake physical therapy clinics. In a separate case, an individual was accused of using inherited funds tied to a Colombian drug cartel to finance real estate transactions, while another defendant was also accused of stealing millions from a Florida tribal casino.

Several individuals allegedly fabricated their identities in an effort to circumvent the immigration system, the Justice Department said. Four individuals are accused of using false names, misrepresenting marital status to U.S. citizens, or reapplying multiple times under entirely different identities after previous denials.

One woman allegedly adopted a false name after being denied in 1995. Authorities said she was ultimately identified after the government digitized old paper fingerprint records, which linked her current identity to a prior, rejected application.

Lewis Hamilton, worth $500M and dating billionaire Kim Kardashian, wants to put 'a limit' on wealth

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:12:59 -0400

There are few things more insufferable than celebrities talking about financial injustice. And there may be no more insufferable version of that all-too-familiar pattern than legendary Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton is a seven-time world champion. He's one of the most famous racing drivers in the world, and has achieved such status that when he moved to the Ferrari F1 team from Mercedes, Ferrari's stock price actually went up significantly.

As you'd expect, he's also an extremely wealthy man. Estimates on his net worth vary, with some putting it at around $450 million, and others suggesting it's as high as $580 million. Taking a somewhat conservative middle ground, we can estimate it at around $500 million.

He's also being paid an exorbitant salary to race for Ferrari. Most estimates place his earnings, just from the racetrack, at around $60-80 million. $70 million being a reasonable middle ground. But as one of the most marketable athletes in sport, particularly in Europe, it's estimated that he brings in well over $100 million per year when accounting for off-track income.

KIM KARDASHIAN STUNS IN BIKINI PHOTOS AS SHE GOES INSTAGRAM OFFICIAL WITH BOYFRIEND LEWIS HAMILTON

Hamilton is also dating Kim Kardashian. The Kardashian family needs no introduction, but Kim's net worth in particular has soared in recent years, with some saying she's worth nearly $2 billion. Thanks in part to the success of her Skims clothing line.

Why is this relevant? Well, because in a resurfaced interview Lewis Hamilton, who again, is worth $500 million and dating a woman worth $2 billion, said there should be limits on what people can earn and how much money they have. Seriously.

'If you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow," asked British author Jay Shetty, "What would it be?"

"One of the things that I struggle with every day, and it's just how life is, and it's been this way for thousands of years, is that there is such a disparity between the wealthy and the poor," he responded. "When you drive around LA there's still so many people living on the streets.

"You shouldn't be able to have billions, right, I think there should be a limit to how much you can have because there's enough to go around to everyone. So, somehow create a law that creates more equality and equal access for everyone."

"Shouldn't be able to have billions," says Lewis Hamilton. Then starts a relationship with billionaire Kim Kardashian. "Should be a limit to how much you can have," is worth about $500 million himself.

The absurdity doesn't end there. Hamilton himself has engaged in behavior designed specifically to avoid as much of "his" money going to the government for the types of redistributive wealth he praises. Hamilton moved to Geneva, Switzerland, as far back as 2007 to avoid some UK taxes. He's since added a home in Monaco, which famously does not collect personal income taxes, capital gains taxes or wealth or property taxes.

If he wants money from the rich to be given to the poor for "equality," why does he not simply move back to the UK and pay the 60% marginal tax rates on all his income, instead of just some of it?

In 2017, Hamilton famously avoided paying 3.3 million pounds in UK value-added taxes when he bought his private jet for around $17 million. Why work so hard to avoid paying taxes when you want to redistribute money to the poor?

CNN PANEL ERUPTS AFTER GUEST CALLS OUT 'HOLLYWOOD JACKA----' OVER POLITICAL LECTURES AT AWARD SHOWS

His official website links to a drink company called "Almave." Why is Hamilton, who's already extremely wealthy, trying to increase his wealth with more new businesses? He's now a part owner of the Denver Broncos. Why spend the money to buy a portion of an NFL team for $4.65 billion, instead of using that money to end homelessness and lift people out of poverty? He has a lifestyle apparel brand called +44, holds equity in TMRW Sports founded by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. He has a film and television production company. He's an investor in a "plant-based" burger company. Why spend money trying to grow his wealth when he could give it away instead?

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

And again, he's also now dating a billionaire, while bringing in around $100 million per year in earnings.

This is the issue with celebrity lectures. If that's what the market says Hamilton is worth as a driver and spokesman, great, that's how capitalism works. He should be able to buy a private jet and date whomever he wants, and it's rational for him to leave the UK for Monaco to avoid taxes. But then don't lecture anyone about the need for equality and the redistribution of wealth if you aren't willing to follow through on what you say you believe.

Did he tell Kim that he believes she shouldn't be allowed to have the money she has? Did he ask her to give her billions to the homeless in LA? Of course not.

Hamilton doesn't actually care about these issues, he cares about getting praise from the "right" audience. Patting himself on the back for being such a wonderful, kind person. While not following through on the beliefs he claims to hold. Just like all the other celebrities.

Platner’s ‘living on the sea’ claim dismantled by critics as financial docs paint a different picture

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:00:28 -0400

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner claimed that he has been able to "make a living on the sea" since leaving the armed forces during a Friday rally, an assertion his financial disclosures don’t appear to support.

Platner, who is running for Senate in Maine to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins, has long identified himself as an oyster farmer and harbor master, giving a blue-collar tinge to his left-wing campaign. Financial disclosures, however, show that he brings in relatively little money from oyster farming, with reports suggesting that Platner receives the majority of his income through veteran’s disability payments.

"My healthcare gave me freedom," Platner said at a June 5 rally. "It gave me the freedom to take risks, to start a business and to sink my intellect and my physicality into mastering the skills necessary to make a living on the sea."

PLATNER’S ANTI-CORPORATE CRUSADE HITS AWKWARD SNAG AS RECEIPTS TELL ANOTHER STORY

Platner's comments drew ire on social media, with many questioning the Senate hopeful's claim to working-class identity.

Platner’s 2025 financial disclosures show that he listed "other $5,001" as his annual income from farming oysters. The candidate’s entire business is only worth between $50,000 and $100,000, which accounts for his boat, lines, anchors and other farming equipment, per the disclosure.

He earned an additional $3,000 serving as the harbor master for Sullivan, Maine, — a role the Washington Free Beacon reported was largely clerical and where he was responsible for overseeing the 17 boat moorings on the small town's coast.

Taken together, these sums are dwarfed by the $4,800 Platner says he receives through monthly disability payments. Platner is legally entitled to such a sum owing to injuries he suffered while serving in the armed forces.

"I’ve got a couple herniated discs. My shoulder’s a wreck. My knees bother me," Platner, who saw combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, told News Center Maine in an October 2025 interview.

Despite his reliance on disability, Platner has consistently referred to himself as an "oyster farmer" while campaigning for Senate.

In a September 2025 interview with the New Yorker, for example, he called himself a "small-town oyster farmer."

While Platner credits federally funded healthcare for his ability to start a business, a number of other factors have assisted him along the way.

A restaurant owned by Platner’s mother, for instance, is the only customer listed on his financial disclosures as purchasing oysters from him. Additionally, Platner’s farm is located on a private island owned by his business partner’s family and he received a $200,000 loan from his father to purchase his home, the Washington Free Beacon previously reported.

"Platner lies in this clip," freelance journalist Magdi Jacobs said of Platner’s statement on Friday. "He says he ‘makes a living off the sea.’ He objectively does not."

Others pointed out that the reality of Platner's oyster farming may not match what people typically think of when someone says they make their living on the ocean.

"Buddy, I love oyster farmers you're not trawling Georges Bank, you're pulling up traps in a protected 25-foot deep bay," D.C.-based lawyer Patrick Brennan wrote on social media.

PLATNER CONTROVERSIES FUEL SPECULATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN MAINE BALLOT REPLACEMENT PROVISION

The Maine Democrat hasn't been shy about the fact that he receives significant money from the federal government as compensation for disabilities he accrued during his service as an infantryman, telling News Center Maine that, in addition to the estimated $4,800 he receives in cash benefits, a portion of which he puts toward his mortgage every month, he also received subsidized healthcare.

"I put $954 of it toward my mortgage," he said.

He did not mention the loan from his father during the interview.

Platner's ascent within the Democratic Party came off the heels of the 2024 election, where liberals were largely seen as having lost partially due to their failure to appeal to male voters.

"I definitely don’t think I’m uniquely qualified for it," Platner previously said when asked about his purported appeal to younger men. "I do understand that because of my journey, I think my voice on the issue can be more accessible, just because I’ve been angry on the internet as a younger man, I get it. I also get that it wasn’t anger on the internet that got me out of it. It was quite literally, community. It was building healthy, normal relationships with people."

While some have argued that Platner's combat experience and blue-collar background provide what Democrats have been missing, others claim that his public persona doesn't totally match public records.

PLATNER CONTROVERSIES FUEL SPECULATION ABOUT LITTLE-KNOWN MAINE BALLOT REPLACEMENT PROVISION

"The entire fabric of Graham Platner’s biography continues to fall apart under even modest scrutiny," National Republican Senatorial Committee press secretary Bernadette Breslin told Fox News Digital. "Mainers deserve authenticity — not Platner’s perverted past, inflated résumé and ‘working-class’ rebrand."

The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.

Some have argued that the apparent incongruence between Platner's blue-collar public image and what's appeared in media reports doesn't seem to be hurting him with voters.

"Despite this — Platner seems to connect with working class voters here in Maine," Fox News national correspondent Alexis McAdams reported on June 5. "Tonight, at least a dozen veterans stood up in the crowd to show support [and] many people here say they are working two or more jobs to just scrape by."

Platner has been battered by widely publicized scandals in recent weeks surrounding his deleted social media posts, allegedly abusive treatment of women and a Nazi tattoo he got during his time in the armed forces. He has, however, resisted calls to drop out of the race.

"This is the political establishment doing its best to make sure that people like me, who have lived lives that are sometimes flawed, sometimes complicated, they're going to try to send the message that if you ever attempt to get into power, if you ever attempt to advocate for yourself, we will crush you," Platner recently said of the controversy surrounding his candidacy. "This is the political establishment trying to fight back. And they are going to fail."

While Platner has been the presumptive nominee since Democratic Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the Senate race in April, he faces a test on Tuesday as Mainers head to the polls to vote in the state's primary elections.

Democrat who led #MeToo charge stays silent as accusations emerge against Senate hopeful Graham Platner

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:00:03 -0400

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has been conspicuously silent amid allegations against Senate hopeful Graham Platner despite her prominent role at the height of the #MeToo movement spearheading outrage against two men facing sexual misconduct accusations.

Platner allegedly engaged in aggressive physical behavior, according to an ex-girlfriend who spoke with The New York Times. He is expected to become the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine in Tuesday's election.

But Gillibrand has remained silent in the wake of the accusations, despite her vocal support for alleged victims of powerful men in the past.

In 2017, when a mere "#MeToo" allegation could sink a political career, Gillibrand was among the loudest voices who called for the resignation of then Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken. Eight women had accused him of sexual harassment — including claims that he groped or forcibly kissed women without consent.

Franken resigned from Congress in disgrace amid the scandal after immense pressure from inside his own party and from the political right.

He later said in an interview with Conan O'Brien that he "deserved due process" that he never got.

HOW MUCH BAGGAGE WILL DEMOCRATS ACCEPT FROM MAINE'S GRAHAM PLATNER?

Gillibrand stood by her decision to go after a member of her own party when she was running for the Democratic nomination for president despite media scrutiny.

"I know the issue of Sen. Franken is hard for many Democrats. But he had eight credible sexual harassment allegations against him, and I had to choose whether to stay silent, or not. If some megadonors have a problem with that, that's on them," she said on X in 2019.

"Silencing women for the powerful, or for your friends, or for convenience, is neither acceptable, nor just," she said in another post.

GILLIBRAND ON CALLING FOR AL FRANKEN TO RESIGN: 'I WAS NOT GOING TO REMAIN SILENT'

She was at it again when Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, when he was in the throes of the confirmation process, faced an unproven allegation of groping Christine Blasey Ford decades prior when they were teenagers.

"I think this should affect every senator's view on Judge Kavanaugh," she told the Democrat and Chronicle at the time. "I'm hopeful the Senate will at least have some measure of review, maybe a hearing, some measure of analysis of this accusation, and have some measure of clarity on whether this is disqualifying. I believe it is disqualifying, given what we know."

SARAH SILVERMAN CALLS OUT KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND FOR DEFENDING JOE BIDEN AFTER CONDEMNING AL FRANKEN

The New York senator raged against Kavanaugh on Twitter, now X, during his confirmation proceedings and repeatedly said she believes women who allege misconduct by men.

"#IBelieveChristine Blasey Ford," she said on the platform. "Her credible allegation of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh should disqualify him from ever being confirmed to the Supreme Court."

MAHER WARNS DEMOCRATS HAVE 'ANOTHER SEX, CREEP PROBLEM’ WITH PLATNER CITING MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS

Her hypocrisy is now on display as Gillibrand, who once called out members of both parties once allegations are made public against them, has remained silent as Platner faces a number of controversies, including an accusation of physical misconduct.

Lyndsey Fifield, who once dated Platner, told The New York Times that Platner was physically rough with her.

GRAHAM PLATNER ACCUSER HITS NYT FOR ALLEGEDLY SOFTENING ALLEGATIONS, SAYS COVERAGE WAS 'GIFT' TO DEMOCRAT

"[S]he said he regularly grabbed her by the shoulders — sometimes hard enough to leave marks — and, on one occasion, yanked her out of a cab by her wrist after an argument when she wanted to stay in the car," the paper reported.

"During one argument, she recalled, he twisted her arm behind her back, shoved her into a bedroom and held the door closed from the other side so she couldn’t get out, telling her to remain there until she was 'calm.' Eventually, Ms. Fifield said, she fell asleep and left the next morning," according to the report.

Platner's campaign has denied the accusations.

AOC DODGES QUESTIONS ON ABUSE ALLEGATIONS, NAZI TATTOO CLAIMS ROCKING PLATNER'S CAMPAIGN

In a marked change from their loud-cried "believe all women" tune, many Democrats online have accused Fifield, who has worked in the conservative political sphere, of simply being a Republican operative.

Gillibrand has not commented since the Times report was published.

Before the allegations of physical misconduct, Platner faced other significant controversies, and was hauled to Washington, D.C. for a sit-down with powerful elected Democrats to do crisis talks just a week before his primary election in Maine.

WATCH: SCANDAL-PLAGUED PLATNER DODGES QUESTIONS BEFORE DC MEETING WITH DEMOCRATS

Chief among those controversies is a Nazi-linked tattoo on his chest, a lewd post about masturbating inside portable toilets and exchanging sexual messages with women while he was married.

Before the Times report but after other scandals already emerged, Gillibrand and other Democrats lined-up to reiterate their support for Platner.

Gillibrand outside those meetings with the candidate said she thinks her party will win in the Pine Tree State in November, and confirmed she still has confidence in the Maine Democrat.

"I'm very confident we are going to win Maine," she told reporters outside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee building when asked if she still supports the progressive candidate.

"I do. I have confidence that we are going to win Maine and I have no doubt."

Gillibrand's office did not return a request for comment on Monday. Neither did Platner's campaign or a contact for Franken.

Fox News Digital's Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.

Secret Service, TSA and NYPD transform Madison Square Garden into fortress for Trump's NBA Finals visit

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:00:01 -0400

The first NBA Finals game played at Madison Square Garden (MSG) since 1999 came with a massive security presence, as President Donald Trump will be attending the Game 3 matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.

With Trump becoming the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, everyone from media to fans looking to enter "The Garden" was told to arrive early as security protocols would be much more thorough than normal.

Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden about 40 minutes before tip-off.

Fox News Digital was among the media pool waiting around MSG, and can confirm the waits will likely be long with the enhanced security that involves Secret Service, TSA and likely more when fans will be allowed in the building.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

For media, who are allowed bags and equipment for work compared to fans who must comply with a strict no-bag policy on Monday night, Secret Service and TSA were being thorough with their checks upon entry. A walk through your standard metal detector was next and it was good to go.

Fans could experience more when gates open two hours prior to the 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off at MSG, but there are bound to be longer wait times as security and law enforcement personnel make sure to perform their duties to the highest standard.

KNICKS CENTER MITCHELL ROBINSON SEEMS TO BE FIRED UP ABOUT PLAYING GAME 3 IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP

The scene around the arena was a shock to Monday morning commuters, but made sense considering the circumstances. A security fence was put up around the arena, while NYPD announced vehicles and pedestrian traffic was closed from West 30th Street to West 35th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue at 4 p.m.

Thus, no one without a ticket, credential or business inside the restricted area will be allowed in. NYPD was already out in droves in the area, as Fox News Digital captured, ready to enforce the protocols.

Also, watch parties in the area were canceled, with NYPD claiming it was because of security for Trump’s visit.

"The NYPD in coordination with the Secret Service made the decision for Game 3, where we have a presidential visit, that we could not support watch parties right outside of the Garden," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference. "We are looking forward to bringing back watch parties for Game 4. But I think New Yorkers are used to presidents coming to town, and they understand that that generally means lockdowns of areas and that's what you're going to see tonight at the Garden."

MSG pushed back on NYPD’s stance, saying the permit was denied by local city officials rather than Trump’s presence.

Trump has attended numerous sporting events since beginning his second term, including the Super Bowl in New Orleans two seasons ago, the Daytona 500 and the Ryder Cup.

Either way, fans with the privilege of attending MSG for Game 3 at the astronomical get-in prices will need to prepare for long queues and be ready to be thoroughly checked before watching Jalen Brunson and the Knicks go up against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs once more.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Washington school removes testosterone vials from Pride display after district says they were not approved

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:39:16 -0400

A Washington state school district removed testosterone vials from a high school Pride display after administrators determined they had been added without authorization, including some vials that still contained a small amount of unknown liquid.

Bethel School District said administrators discovered testosterone vials "that still contained a small amount of unknown liquid" had been included in a Pride Month display at Graham-Kapowsin High School and removed them after concluding the items had not been approved by school leadership.

"We were made aware of a display at Graham-Kapowsin High School that included empty vials of testosterone as one of its visuals. The display also contained some vials that still contained a small amount of unknown liquid," Douglas Boyles, director of communications at Bethel School District, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

OHIO TEACHER SUES HIGH SCHOOL FOR DEMANDING HE REMOVE LGBT POSTER INSIDE CLASSROOM

"The inclusion of the vials was entirely unauthorized and did not receive approval from school leadership or administration," Boyles said.

He continued, "Administrators have removed the vials and identified the individuals responsible for adding them without leadership approval."

The district did not immediately address why the vials were included in the display or whether they were intended to represent gender-transition treatments.

On Friday, Washington podcaster Brandi Kruse posted a photo of the Pride Month display at Graham-Kapowsin High School that appeared to show a transgender flag, an LGBTQ paper fan, a flyer that said "June is pride month" as well as a book called, "Pink, Blue, and You," along with a clear jar that appeared to be testosterone vials.

"OH. MY. LORD. We were just sent images of the Pride display at Washington’s Graham-Kapowsin High School," Kruse said in the Friday X post. "It contains vials of testosterone injections."

In a Friday reply to Kruse's X post, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank wrote, "Pierce County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating this."

MINNESOTA SCHOOL DISTRICT REMOVES LGBTQ CHILDREN'S BOOK WITH NUDITY, DESPITE OBJECTIONS

Boyles told Fox News Digital that "administrators have removed the vials and identified the individual responsible for adding them without leadership approval."

"We are also actively reviewing our display oversight protocols to ensure all school materials strictly align with our educational standards and community expectations," Boyles said.

"Our primary focus remains on maintaining a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment for all of our students," he added.

HELLOFRESH DRAWS BACKLASH OVER SUGGESTIVE PRIDE MONTH MESSAGE

Some users took to X to share their concern, with one writing, "This school is 5 miles from where we used to live in WA — we would have been at the GK ‘campus’ when my oldest started kindergarten – I saw the writing on the wall EIGHT YEARS AGO and took my child all the way to the other coast to get away from it. Absolutely not."

Another person wrote, "I was just in there to voice my anger at the situation and they yelled at me for taking this picture of the principal's office!"

Repeat offender on probation allegedly kills father who tracked his stolen truck using GPS

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:37:32 -0400

A father in Houston, Texas, was killed during a carjacking Saturday afternoon, and a repeat offender on probation has been charged with his murder.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the owner of the stolen car, identified as 56-year-old Louis Erebia, tracked down the vehicle and confronted the person accused of stealing it, London Hogan Sr. Hogan Sr. allegedly shot and killed Erebia, who was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital.

Hogan Sr. is also accused of shooting another man who is expected to survive.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office told FOX26 that Erebia's son was putting gas into the Chevy Silverado when Hogan allegedly pulled out a gun and took the pickup truck. Erebia and a friend tracked the pickup truck using GPS, which led them to the area it was being driven.

HOUSTON GAS STATION CARJACKING CAUGHT ON VIDEO

The car being driven by Erebia was involved in a collision with the stolen Chevy Silverado, which disabled it, deputies said.

According to the sheriff's office, Erebia chased a male and female suspect who got out of the stolen truck. Deputies said that's when Hogan fired multiple shots.

Hogan was charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

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Hogan has a lengthy criminal history, which includes the following charges:

Nov. 12, 2023: Assault of a family/household member impeding breath/circulation - was given deferred adjudication, resulting in five years of community supervision.

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Sept. 3, 2020: Felon in possession of a weapon - dismissed

HOUSTON THUG CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER 8 ARRESTS SHOWS ‘REVOLVING DOOR’ FAILURES: GOP LAWMAKER

Sept. 3, 2020: Unauthorized use of a vehicle - dismissed

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Sept. 3, 2020: Possession of a controlled substance - dismissed

Aug. 24, 2016: Possession of a controlled substance - guilty

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Oct. 15, 2015: Possession of a controlled substance - guilty

Dec. 16, 2009: Burglary - guilty

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During a hearing on Monday where Hogan had his charges read to him, a judge reiterated that he's on deferred adjudication.

"Looks like you are on a 5-year felony deferred for assault impeding breath. And Mr. Hogan, entered into that deferred March 27th of 2024. Also, murder is an SB9 offense," the judge said.

Amber Burrough, who is related to Erebia, wrote on Facebook that his life was taken "far too soon."

"Louis died doing exactly what he did every day of his life—protecting others. He was a hero down to his very last breath. A pillar of our community, the backbone of our family, and a man whose selflessness impacted countless lives, Louis never hesitated to help those in need. He gave of himself freely and served others without question," Burrough said.

Cleveland Browns players publicly baptized at Cleveland for Christ event in powerful display of faith

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:15:37 -0400

The Cleveland Browns have been in the news their fair share because they recently traded Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, have a full-blown quarterback competition going on this offseason and, yes, they fired Kevin Stefanski and hired Todd Monken as their new coach. But here's a story that also deserves the Browns getting attention:

Their players are openly dedicating their lives to God and Jesus Christ.

Members of the club on Sunday hosted a Cleveland for Christ event with multiple players showing up and getting baptized.

CHARGERS' JIM HARBAUGH LOVES SEEING NFL STARS BEING OPEN ABOUT THEIR FAITH: 'IT'S INSPIRING'

The Christian faith-based gathering featured worship music, testimonies, prayer and baptisms.

The event included quarterback Shedeur Sanders, running back Raheim Sanders, cornerback Tyson Campbell, safety Daniel Thomas and of course, team chaplain Nobles C. Darby among others. It brought together some members of the local community and Browns players for a time of praise, worship and fellowship.

Several Browns players took the opportunity to seal their public dedication to Christ by choosing to be baptized at the event. Among those was linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a second-round pick a year ago who was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.

And look, this isn't for everyone.

If you think God cannot accept you as pure and washed of sin after you've come to Christ, then feel free to live in your unbelief. If you see this as somehow wrong because it was done publicly, perhaps you should read Matthew 32-33 and Luke 8-9.

"Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven," the verses read in the Book of Matthew. "But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven."

Schwesinger did indeed acknowledge Christ publicly.

He was asked if he believes Christ died a sacrifice on the cross and rose again — thereby taking all of Schwesinger's sins.

"Yes," Schwesinger said.

The player was then asked if he was ready to make Jesus the Lord of his life.

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"Yes," Schwesinger responded.

With that he was saved, born again, and soon he was underwater for his baptism.

And now a word to the critics:

NFL PUTS 'INSPIRE CHANGE' AND 'CHOOSE LOVE' ON FIELDS BUT NOT SO AGGRESSIVE ABOUT ITS DOMESTIC ABUSE ISSUES

The NFL in general, and society as a whole, have major problems in 2026. This isn't one of them.

Every day on this Earth, children are abused. Women are abused. People are robbed, assaulted and cheated. Those are problems.

NFL players devoting themselves to God doesn't address those problems in a macro sense. But it certainly is better than players hitting their girlfriends, or speeding 100 mph down the street, or wasting their money in strip clubs while drowning in lust.

This is supposed to settle sin problems and life issues in the micro sense for the individual players.

One more thing: None of this was about players praying for the Browns to win games, and rise from the struggles they've mostly encountered as a franchise for years.

But it cannot hurt because God is an awesome teammate.

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Obama-appointed judge who blocked Trump birthright citizenship order strikes again, throws out visa overhaul

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:02:49 -0400

An Obama-appointed federal judge who previously blocked President Donald Trump's birthright citizenship executive order has again dealt a major setback to the administration by striking down Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa payment requirement and declaring the policy unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin of Massachusetts ruled Monday that the Trump administration lacked the authority to impose the hefty payment on employers seeking new H-1B visas, finding that the requirement amounted to a tax that only Congress has the constitutional power to impose.

In Monday's 42-page decision, Sorokin sided with a coalition of 20 states that challenged Trump's September 2025 proclamation creating a new $100,000 payment requirement for employers filing petitions for foreign workers under the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers. Approximately 65,000 foreign workers are issued a H-1B visa each year.

TRUMP’S $100K H-1B VISA OVERHAUL COULD HIT TECH GIANTS LIKE AMAZON AND MICROSOFT HARDEST

Before Trump's proclamation, employers typically paid between $2,000 and $5,000 in filing fees to sponsor an H-1B worker, depending on the type of application and the size of the company.

The administration had argued that the measure was necessary to curb abuse of the visa system and protect American workers.

Trump's proclamation stated that the H-1B program had been exploited to replace U.S. workers with lower-paid foreign labor and that the new payment would help address those concerns.

Sorokin rejected the administration's legal justification, finding that the Immigration and Nationality Act gives presidents broad authority over the entry of noncitizens but does not authorize them to impose taxes.

"While the Executive has broad discretion over the admission and exclusion of aliens, ... that discretion is not boundless," Sorokin wrote, referring to previous case law.

Sorokin concluded that the payment functioned as a tax rather than a permissible immigration restriction.

TRUMP IS DOWN BUT NOT OUT IN COURT BATTLE OVER HARVARD'S FOREIGN STUDENT VISAS

"The Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress," Sorokin wrote.

He further rejected the administration's argument that the payment requirement was simply another immigration restriction, bluntly stating: "Taxes are not 'restrictions.'"

Beyond the constitutional concerns, Sorokin also found that federal agencies violated the Administrative Procedure Act by implementing the policy without notice-and-comment rule making and concluded that the agencies exceeded their statutory authority.

As a remedy, Sorokin declared the policy unlawful and vacated it in its entirety.

Sorokin, a Yale and Columbia Law School graduate, was nominated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama in 2013 and confirmed by the Senate in 2014. Last year, Sorokin was the fourth judge to issue a nationwide injunction blocking Trump's executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship. He ruled that the policy is likely unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. That dispute has since reached the Supreme Court, and a ruling is expected in the coming weeks.

The administration is expected to appeal Sorokin's decision, setting up another legal battle over the scope of presidential authority in immigration matters and the limits of executive power.

"President Trump has clear legal authority to restrict entry of any class of aliens he determines is not in America’s best interests, and that is exactly what he did," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital. "The H-1B program has been abused for decades, and President Trump finally took action to fix it. A federal judge in Washington already upheld a nearly identical order, and the Administration is confident this order will be reversed on appeal."

In a separate challenge filed in December 2025, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington declined to block the policy after dismissing claims from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that the additional H-1B charge violated federal immigration law.

Minnesota fraud report accuses state AG of 'incompetence, willful blindness or worse'

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:55:01 -0400

The House Oversight Committee's Republican majority accused Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison of repeatedly contradicting public accounts of Minnesota's massive Feeding Our Future fraud scandal in a 205-page report released Monday.

The scandal, which thrust the Land of 10,000 Lakes into the national spotlight, set off a chain of journalistic and congressional investigations that exposed a wider web of waste, fraud and abuse, including allegations that members of Minnesota's Somali community exploited the social services framework to funnel millions of dollars to unqualified recipients, including Mogadishu-area terror groups.

The report describes several instances that investigators said show Ellison and Gov. Tim Walz were aware of fraud concerns earlier than they publicly acknowledged.

"The governor and the attorney general knew about fraud in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) as early as April 2020, despite contrary claims made to the media," the committee said.

WALZ ADMINISTRATION IGNORED FRAUD WARNINGS AS BILLIONS VANISHED, HOUSE OVERSIGHT REPORT ALLEGES

"The governor and the attorney general knew about fraud in the Child Care Assistance Program as well as Non-Emergency Medical Transportation program as early as spring 2019. The Governor and the Attorney General also became aware of fraud in 13 additional high-risk Medicaid programs at various times during their tenure and failed to act."

Interviews with education, human services and executive-office officials led investigators to conclude Ellison was aware of fraud concerns years before they became public.

Those interviews found Ellison was aware of fraud in "high-risk Medicaid programs" administered by the state as early as 2019 and tied that timeline to more than $300 million in Feeding Our Future fraud and what federal prosecutors estimate could be up to $9 billion in fraud involving high-risk Medicaid programs.

MASSIVE MEDICAID FRAUD SCHEME PUTS MINNESOTA’S FEDERAL FUNDING AT RISK — AND FALLOUT COULD WIDEN

The committee said it was unable to determine whether Ellison’s alleged failure to protect Minnesota taxpayers was "incompetence, willful blindness or worse."

Ellison’s office pushed back hard on Republicans’ findings, calling the report "riddled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations in order to politicize the issue of fraud."

In one example, the committee recounted how Ellison issued a press release in September 2022 that "misrepresents the timeline" of his office’s knowledge of alleged impropriety by Feeding Our Future (FOF), and a threat of litigation from the nonprofit against the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).

Ellison claimed he stepped in during the "Fall of 2020" to advise and support MDE against the legal threat from FOF. However, the committee found that MDE had been confronted by FOF in April 2020, leaving what the committee described as months of delay by Democrats.

MDE Assistant Commissioner Daron Korte testified to the committee that it wasn’t until the following year that his agency declared "serious deficiency" in FOF’s compliance with federal program rules – and placed a stop-pay order against them.

Korte said MDE always had the authority to do so, but resumed payments and hedged for fear of being taken to court.

The report found Ellison and Walz showed knowledge of alleged fraud much earlier than they admitted or announced.

MINNESOTA DHS WHISTLEBLOWER DETAILS 'SMEAR CAMPAIGN' AFTER REPORTING FRAUD CONCERNS TO STATE

"[They] claimed to know very little about the widespread fraud occurring in Minnesota until long after potentially billions of dollars had gone out the door, and believed that the child care fraud that predated the beginning of their terms in 2019 had been resolved by the time they took office," the report said.

The committee accused Ellison of slow-walking oversight of FOF and other concerns and characterized the former congressman as instead waiting for the federal government to do his job for him.

They wrote that despite his spring 2020 knowledge of the situation, his corrective actions did not come until after news of the FBI’s pandemic-fraud investigation emerged two years later.

During the trial of FOF leader Aimee Bock, the defense presented Exhibit 710, which included a nearly hour-long recording of AG Ellison meeting with several defendants in the case in 2021.

They included the owner of a now-defunct Somali restaurant, Salim Said, who was convicted of 20 felonies, and others, including Shakur Abdinur Abdisalam, who pleaded guilty in March to defrauding the federal government of millions of dollars.

According to the report, Ellison originally told a reporter that he was prepared to meet with Mohamed Omar, a friend of his who is the Imam of Bloomington, Minnesota’s Dar al-Farooq mosque, and that he was surprised the other attendees were there when he arrived.

AUDIO OF ELLISON MEETING WITH CONVICTED FRAUDSTERS RESURFACES AS LAWYER ALLEGES WALZ, AG SHARE BLAME

But the committee contended that account contradicted what Ellison told Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., during the hearing, when he described the group as coming to him and seeking solutions to "difficult[ies] with the bureaucracy."

Ellison told Luna that he investigated what they told him, and then worked with the feds to prosecute suspects, tallying 57 that were convicted of crimes.

"They were not what they claimed to be," Ellison said.

The report found some at the meeting had "pledged the Somali community’s political and financial support to Ellison" if he intervened in their claims they were being racially profiled or discriminated against by government agencies.

Ellison responded that he would help "fight these people."

When Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., confronted Walz about that exchange during a hearing, the governor said it was his first time hearing it and that he would not "speculate" on it.

GREGG JARRETT: IF WALZ IS CHARGED IN MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL, HIS BEST DEFENSE IS INCOMPETENCE

The committee further found that, when asked about his prosecutorial authority, Ellison said he has jurisdiction over Medicaid fraud probes but that other criminal cases must be referred by county attorneys.

The panel contended that this was an obvious omission from prior testimony before the Senate, when Ellison said non-Medicaid criminal cases may also be referred to him by the governor’s office.

Ellison spokesman Brian Evans told Fox News Digital that the House would be better served by "actually helping Minnesota protect tax dollars and go after fraudsters."

"The record is clear that Attorney General Ellison fought fraud wherever possible and as soon as he was able to," Evans said.

"In areas where Attorney General Ellison has the authority to file criminal charges, he has charged and convicted over 340 Medicaid fraudsters. In fact, Attorney General Ellison's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit regularly ranks as one of the most effective Medicaid fraud-fighting units in the nation."

GOP LAWMAKER UNVEILS WALZ ACT AFTER BILLIONS LOST IN MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL

As for the jurisdictional divisions mentioned in the report, Evans said that when Ellison didn’t have proper jurisdiction to go after fraudsters, he defended Minnesota from frivolous litigation by those trying to hide schemes.

Ellison recently introduced legislation in St. Paul to broaden his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, his office said, while adding that the House report does not properly distinguish between authorities of the AG’s office and other agencies.

Ellison’s office said they remain solely empowered to prosecute Medicaid fraud and that other social services fraud is the purview of counties or the feds.

Walz spokesman Teddy Tschann told Fox News separately the report shows the committee has proven itself "time and time again to be nothing more than a joke" by "rehash[ing] COVID-era fraud to distract from endless wars, gas prices, ICE and [President Donald Trump's alleged] insider trading."

The House report noted both Walz and Ellison were given an opportunity to explain their actions during the March 2026 hearing but failed to provide what the committee considered sufficient answers.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., was so alarmed by the investigation’s findings, he sent a letter Monday to Vice President JD Vance — in the Ohioan’s capacity as chair of the White House Task Force to eliminate fraud — to conduct its own thorough review of Minnesota’s social services programs.

Fox News' Tyler Olson contributed to this report.

Alex Murdaugh murder case gets new judge as retrial looms following Supreme Court reversal

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:52:45 -0400

A South Carolina judge has been assigned to take over Alex Murdaugh’s blockbuster murder case after the disgraced legal scion’s convictions in the slayings of his wife and son were overturned.

South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice John W. Kittredge signed an order Monday giving Judge Debra R. McCaslin jurisdiction over all proceedings tied to Murdaugh’s murder-case indictments.

The order gives McCaslin authority over "any future retrial on the murder charges" as well as motions, jury trials, civil forfeiture actions and other related matters in the case.

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The brief order does not set a new trial date or rule on any outstanding motions. Instead, it puts McCaslin in charge of the next phase of the case.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson's office said: "As always, we look forward to presenting the State's case in court as part of a fair, open, and transparent process."

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McCaslin, an at-large circuit court judge, was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly on Feb. 5, 2020, according to the South Carolina Judicial Branch.

She earned her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar that year. The Judicial Branch says she was also admitted to the U.S. District Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Murdaugh, 57, was convicted in March 2023 of murdering his wife, Maggie, 52, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, at the family’s sprawling hunting estate in Colleton County in June 2021.

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He was sentenced to life in prison, but his lawyers later pushed for a new trial, arguing that the jury had been improperly influenced by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.

MURDAUGH HOUSEKEEPER REVEALS ONE DETAIL THAT CONVINCED HER ALEX WAS GUILTY OF MURDERS: 'HE DID IT'

The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the denial of Murdaugh’s new-trial motion on May 13 and sent the case back to the circuit court.

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Murdaugh, a once-prominent Hampton County lawyer from a powerful legal dynasty, has repeatedly denied killing Maggie and Paul.

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The pair were found shot to death near the dog kennels at the family’s Moselle estate, a sprawling property in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

Prosecutors argued Murdaugh killed his wife and son to distract from his crumbling legal and financial world as years of thefts and lies were closing in on him.

His defense team insisted he was a loving husband and father who had been wrongfully accused after investigators zeroed in on him too quickly.

Although Murdaugh’s murder convictions were overturned, he remains behind bars on separate financial-crime convictions after admitting he stole from clients and his former law firm.

Prosecutors have said they intend to retry him on the murder charges.

Federal judge strikes down Trump’s $100K H-1B visa fee, ruling it an unconstitutional tax

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:33:46 -0400

A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump's $100,000 fee requirement for employers seeking H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, ruling that the administration exceeded its authority by imposing what amounted to a tax that only Congress can authorize or delegate.

U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee, issued the ruling in a lawsuit filed by 20 states in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, according to court filings.

The lawsuit, challenging the fee Trump announced in September, was led by California and named Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, whose department oversees the H-1B visa program, as a defendant. Several federal agencies involved in implementing and enforcing the policy were also named in the suit.

As part of the ruling, Sorokin invalidated agency memoranda, guidance documents, website instructions, FAQs and fee schedules that established and enforced the $100,000 H-1B visa fee.

TRUMP’S $100K H-1B VISA OVERHAUL COULD HIT TECH GIANTS LIKE AMAZON AND MICROSOFT HARDEST

According to the filing, Sorokin ruled that the fee was designed to raise revenue from a lawful program and therefore functioned as a tax rather than a penalty, as the Trump administration had argued. Under the U.S. Constitution, the power to impose or delegate taxes rests with Congress.

"Here, the $100,000 payment requirement for all H-1B petitions does not aim to establish that hiring H-1B workers is illegal," the filing said. "The payment is not a penalty... because it is not ‘punishment for an unlawful act or omission.’ Hiring workers pursuant to the H-1B program is plainly lawful."

VANCE TELLS BLUE STATE THEY ‘MIGHT TRY HIRING AMERICANS’ BEFORE SUING OVER TRUMP’S VISA FEE EXPLOSION

The fee also violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which requires agencies to undergo a "notice-and-comment" period to gather public feedback, the judge ruled.

Sorokin said the agencies that implemented and enforced the fee failed to adequately explain their reasoning, consider alternative options or assess the policy’s potential consequences, and lacked a valid emergency or foreign-affairs justification for bypassing the process.

"[T]he mere fact that Defendants followed a presidential directive does not grant them free rein to ignore the requirements of the APA," Sorokin wrote.

ARE AMERICAN WORKERS BEING REPLACED? INSIDE THE H-1B VISA CONTROVERSY

As of Feb. 15, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received 85 payments of the $100,000 requirement, resulting in $8.5 million in payments, the administration said in a March filing.

The H-1B program provides 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for workers with advanced degrees, typically valid for three to six years, according to Reuters.

Employers generally paid between $960 and $7,595 in fees prior to Trump’s proclamation, court filings said.

Trump introduced the fee last September, arguing the H-1B visa process was fueling the large-scale replacement of American workers and had "undermined both our economic and national security."

His move to address the issue drew widespread criticism from business and tech leaders.

From 2024 through mid-2025, Amazon received 19,301 H-1B approvals, more than any other major tech company, according to USCIS data. Microsoft also secured 9,914, while Apple received 8,075.

Panthers' Bryce Young, Xavier Legette spend offseason weekend riding horses and ripping ATVs

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:29:22 -0400

Bryce Young may be the signal caller, but this weekend he was living in Xavier Legette's world.

The Carolina Panthers teammates enjoyed a little offseason bonding while riding horses and four-wheelers out in the country. Rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell tagged along, too.

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And it looked like a dang good time.

In videos circulating on social media, Young and Legette can be seen riding horses near an open field before hopping on ATVs and cruising around the countryside.

For anyone familiar with Legette, none of this should come as a surprise.

The South Carolina native has become one of the Panthers' most popular players — not just because of his play on the field, but because of his unapologetically country lifestyle off the field. This is the same guy who brings home-cooked raccoon in a lunch box to work.

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Legette owns more than a dozen horses and even rode one of his horses, "Dolla Bill," to a Panthers game last season.

The wide out's love of horses goes far beyond a hobby, too.

While attending the Kentucky Derby last year, Legette revealed that he eventually hopes to have a horse competing in the sport's biggest race.

"I see it as, like, kind of a big investment," Legette said of his stable. "And one day I want to get into the derby."

As for Young, the Panthers’ offense could use every bit of chemistry they can get heading into the 2026 season.

Carolina captured the NFC South title in 2025, though that’s not exactly saying much. The division was by far the weakest in football, and the Panthers won it with an 8-9 record.

So needless to say, there’s room for improvement.

The organization spent the offseason adding defensive talent in linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd and making it clear it expects to contend again. That puts even more pressure on Young, who enters what feels like a pivotal season in his development as the franchise quarterback.

If the Panthers are going to take the next step, Young and his receivers will need to be on the same page.

And if that means riding horses and ripping four-wheelers through the South Carolina countryside, then so be it.