Pager detonations will ‘seem simple’ compared to Israel’s Iran action, ambassador says

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said surprises will emerge amid the Jewish State’s conflict with Iran that will make Israel’s explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies used by members of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria last year look “simple.”

“We’ve pulled off a number of surprises,” Leiter said during a Tuesday appearance on the TV network Merit Street. “When the dust settles, you’re going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple,” he continued.

He later clarified on X that he was describing Israel’s actions in the past week, not future actions. 

Leiter was referring to near-simultaneous detonations of pagers used by members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group that killed at least 12 people, including two children, and wounded nearly 3,000 on Sept. 17 in Lebanon and Syria. The following day, at least 25 people were killed and more than 600 were wounded when walkie-talkies were detonated in the region.

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Israel was subsequently found to be behind the attacks, in which small amounts of explosives hidden in the devices were detonated. A U.S. official told The Associated Press at the time that Israel briefed the U.S. government after the attacks.

But then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. “did not know about, nor was it involved in, these incidents.”

Leiter on Tuesday also posted a video message on X that was recorded outside the Situation Room in the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., where he explained that Israel was “not in the business of regime change.”

MIKE JOHNSON CALLS OFF ISRAEL TRIP AMID IRAN CONFLICT

“Today we continue to peel back the surface-to-surface missile systems that are spread throughout Iran. We’ve reached the point where between a third and a half have been demolished,” he said. “We hit today the broadcast center in the middle of Tehran after we informed the people living in the vicinity to leave. Hundreds of thousands of Tehranis have escaped Tehran to be out of the line of danger. And we took out the broadcast system. This is very important because this serves the mullahs and their information campaign, the propaganda campaign throughout.”

“Iran, to incite the public and to warn the public against any kind of demonstrations against the government,” the ambassador continued. “A lot of questions have been asked today about regime change. In many of the interviews that I gave, that was the key question. We’re not in the business of regime change. We’re interested in neutralizing the threat to our existence through a nuclear weaponization program in Iran and a ballistic missile program.”

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, and U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

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“If the Iranian people rise up and change their regime, that’s their choice,” Leiter said. “And if we play a role in facilitating that eventuality, then history will judge us favorably, I believe. It’s important also to emphasize that our economy remains strong and resilient despite the war, and the stock market in Israel once again, for the second day in a row, continued to rise.”

“We are working very hard to assist those stranded both in Israel wanting to leave and those wanting to get back to Israel, to their families, to their positions in society and the army,” he added. “And we’re hoping to find solutions through our neighbors in the next couple of days. We continue to press on. We continue to press forward. And we thank you for your support and prayers.”

Family dog euthanized after Minnesota lawmaker and husband murdered in home attack

Only days after a gunman shot and killed Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, the family’s rescue dog Gilbert had to be euthanized.

Vance Boelter allegedly shot Gilbert, the family’s golden retriever, during the attack at the Brooklyn Park home.

Fellow Minnesota House Rep. Erin Koegel commented on social media platform X that he was put down following the murder.

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“Her children had to put down him after learning their parents had been murdered. Gilbert wasn’t going to survive. Melissa loved that dog. She trained him as a service dog. He flunked out of school and she was so happy he failed so he could stay! She needed him in heaven with her,” Koegel said.

Helping Paws, a local non-profit in Eden Prairie, Minn, took to Facebook after hearing of Rep. Hortman’s death to share some kind words and a photo of Gilbert and Hortman together.

The group said they remembered Hortman for her kindness and compassion.  They said she always strived to make the world a better place.

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“This morning, we learned of the tragic and senseless death of former Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark,” the post began. 

“Melissa served her community in more ways than one. She was a Helping Paws Foster Home Trainer, a neighbor, and a friend. The Hortman family raised and trained Minnie, who is now a working service dog partnered with a Veteran. They also helped raise and train Gilbert, a service dog in training who was eventually career changed and became a cherished member of their family. At this time, we do not have confirmed information about Gilbert’s condition,” the nonprofit wrote Saturday, after Hortman’s death. 

Koegel told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the House sergeant-at-arms informed members that Gilbert had to be put down. Hortman’s adult children released a statement Monday night, saying that one way to keep their parent’s memory alive would be to: “Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.” 

Vance Boelter, 57, was hit with multiple federal charges after officials captured him Sunday in what police described as the “largest manhunt” in the state’s history.

Police found him after the massive two-day manhunt in the woods near his home.

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He is charged with two counts of stalking, two counts of murder and two counts of firearm-related crimes in federal court.

In addition to the federal charges, Boelter is facing second-degree murder charges filed in Hennepin County, where he is accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning at their Brooklyn Park home in Minneapolis, and of shooting State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their nearby Champlin home in a related attack. 

Fake cop suspected in lawmaker assassination may have had ‘trigger event’: expert

The Minnesota man accused of murdering a lawmaker and her husband, and leaving another lawmaker and his wife injured while dressed as a police officer possessed an extensive security background, raising questions about his access to weapons and law enforcement uniforms in what authorities are calling a “targeted” attack. 

Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in separate incidents early Saturday morning. 

Boelter allegedly arrived at both lawmakers’ homes dressed in a law enforcement-like uniform and driving a black SUV with flashing emergency lights and a license plate that read “police.” 

MINNESOTA SHOOTING SUSPECT VANCE BOELTER TO FACE FEDERAL CHARGES IN LAWMAKER ATTACKS

“Boelter wore a black tactical vest and body armor. He carried a flashlight and a Beretta 9 mm handgun,” acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said. “He also wore a hyper-realistic silicon mask. Senator Hoffman had a security camera. I’ve seen the footage from that camera, and it is chilling. Boelter knocked on Senator Hoffman’s front door, and repeatedly shouted, ‘This is police. Open the door.'”

When Hoffman and his wife approached, Boelter allegedly shined a flashlight into their faces before shooting them and fleeing the scene. The couple’s daughter then called 911, according to Thompson. 

“Let’s say I’m an active cop,” Bill Stanton, a former NYPD officer and author of “Prepared Not Scared,” told Fox News Digital. “And many of these states have different uniforms county to county. So if I roll up and I see a car with flashing lights, it may be a county I didn’t know. My initial knee-jerk reaction, as a cop responding, is this law enforcement agency that I’m not aware of.” 

MINNESOTA LAWMAKER SHOOTING SUSPECT HAD CACHE OF WEAPONS, HIT LIST IN VEHICLE, COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW

After leaving Hoffman’s home, Boelter then allegedly drove to Hortman’s residence and knocked on the lawmaker’s door wearing a silicone mask and law enforcement uniform. At the same time, local police were en route to Hoffman’s home to conduct a wellness check. 

“The New Hope police officer pulled up next to Boelter, rolled down her window and attempted to speak with him,” Thompson said. “Boelter did not respond. The New Hope police officer proceeded to the state senator’s home, and she waited for law enforcement to arrive. By the time they did, Boelter had left the scene.”

Boelter allegedly fled on foot, prompting a two-day-long manhunt that ended with him being taken into custody without incident. 

Fox News Digital was unable to immediately identify an attorney for Boelter. 

SUSPECTED MINNESOTA LAWMAKER ASSASSIN VANCE BOELTER CAPTURED

“My first instinct wouldn’t be [that] this is a fake cop looking to kill someone,” Stanton said. “The reason being is it’s so rare, because it’s such a heavy charge – impersonating a police officer. That’s a major felony in many, many states.” 

Boelter has an extensive history of private security training and was working as director of Praetorian Guard Security Services, a company created by his wife, and CEO of Red Lion Group, according to his LinkedIn page. 

“I have been doing projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa for the last three years with the Red Lion Group,” Boelter wrote on his LinkedIn page last month, noting that he is currently open to work.

MINNESOTA OFFICIALS FIND CAR, HAT BELONGING TO ASSASSIN SUSPECT VANCE BOELTER ON HIGHWAY IN ‘FLUID’ SEARCH

Boelter’s ties to private security and prior law enforcement training may have provided him with the tools needed to carry out the alleged crimes, Stanton said.

“It was a long decline into insanity with this guy,” Stanton told Fox News Digital. “An obsession – he started targeting; My guess is he’s been doing this for years. And then finally, there was some trigger event that made him activate.” 

In addition to his experience in security, Boelter has reportedly received training by members of the U.S. military and private firms, with the Praetorian Guard Security’s website depicting photos of tactical gear and other police-style uniforms. 

WHO IS VANCE LUTHER BOELTER? SUSPECT IN MINNESOTA LAWMAKER KILLINGS IDENTIFIED 

However, Stanton pointed to the improbability of an individual going to the lengths of impersonating a police officer to commit a crime, suggesting Boelter allegedly did so because of his high-profile targets. 

“The odds of someone perpetuating themselves as a false cop are so rare [that] the odds are much greater that you’re going to get straight up mugged, robbed or burglarized,” Stanton said, adding, “The fact that this was politically motivated and someone went to such obsessive means to achieve their end, that’s why this isn’t an everyday occurrence.” 

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While the odds of being approached by a fake officer are lower than being victimized by other crimes, Stanton stresses that there are ways to stay safe if an individual appears suspicious, such as calling the police to confirm an officer’s identity before engaging or driving to a police station while being pulled over. 

“We see videos of thugs trying to kick in the door with a mask or a hoodie on,” Stanton said. “That’s what’s going to happen a lot sooner than someone identifying themselves as a cop. So be prepared, not scared, and have your situational awareness of security.” 

Boelter is charged with two counts of stalking, two counts of murder and two counts of firearm-related crimes in federal court. He is also facing second-degree murder charges on the state level. 

Trump not on ballot but president influences Tuesday’s high stakes primary

Virginia, one of only two states to hold gubernatorial elections this year, conducts high-profile primaries on Tuesday that may grab national attention.

Voters in Virginia, a competitive state in American political elections, will cast Democrat and Republican primary ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and for state lawmakers in the House of Delegates. 

And while President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, his sweeping and controversial agenda has been a key part of the conversation on the Virginia campaign trail.

Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, better-known by its acronym DOGE, has been on a mission to chop government spending and cut the federal workforce.

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The moves by DOGE, which until last month was steered by Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, have been acutely felt in suburban Washington’s heavily populated Northern Virginia, with its large federal workforce.

“The policies of DOGE have hit northern Virginia hard,” Dave Richards, political science chair at the University of Lynchburg, noted.

Trump’s name and his policies have been front-and-center on the Virginia campaign trail in recent weeks. That’s fueled strong turnout in the Democratic Party contests in the 45 days of early voting leading up to primary day as the candidates have pledged to fight the president’s agenda.

“Over 189,000 Virginians cast their ballots early in the Democratic primaries. 189,000!!!!” the state Democratic Party touted in a social media post on the eve of primary day.

The healthy turnout comes despite there being no drama at the top of the ticket.

The race for governor has already been set, between Republican gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

But the winner in November will make history as Virginia’s first female governor. And if Sears comes out on top, she’ll become the nation’s first Black woman to win election as governor. Virginia elected its first Black governor, L. Douglas Wilder, in 1989.

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Incumbent Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has a large national profile, is prevented from running for re-election as Virginia’s constitution doesn’t allow sitting governors to seek consecutive terms.

Republicans have already decided their nominations for lieutenant governor and attorney general, so all the action down ballot is among the Democrats.

The GOP’s lieutenant governor nominee is former radio host John Reid, who, if elected, would be Virginia’s first openly gay lieutenant governor.

The six Democrats running to face off in November with Reid are, in alphabetical order, attorney Alex Bastani, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, chair of the Prince William County school board Babur Lateef, state Sen. Aaron Rouse, federal prosecutor and law professor Victor Salgado, and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.

The Republican nominee for attorney general is incumbent Jason Miyares. Two Democrats, former state lawmaker and former Washington, D.C., Assistant Attorney General Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor, are running to face off with Miyares in November.

While Republicans currently control all three statewide offices, Democrats hold slim majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. All 100 seats in the House of Delegates – which the Democrats control 51-49 – are up for grabs in November.

Kyle Kondik, the managing editor of the non-partisan political handicapper Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, highlighted that “the gubernatorial race will really help set the tone for the other statewide races and the race for the House of Delegates.”

And Richards noted, “the Republican ticket is very diverse, and the results of the Democratic primary will determine how diverse the democratic ticket is.”

Virginia’s primaries are likely to grab attention, as it and New Jersey – which held primaries last week – are the only two states to hold gubernatorial showdowns in the year following a presidential election.

And the results are also seen as a precursor to the following year’s midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their House and Senate majorities, and 36 states will hold elections for governor.

Republicans swept the elections for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general in Virginia four years ago, breaking a 12-year losing streak to the Democrats. 

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And while Republicans haven’t carried the Commonwealth in a White House contest since 2004, Trump only lost the state by six points in last November’s presidential election, a four-point improvement from his 2020 defeat.

But Republicans will be facing historical headwinds this November. With only one exception since 1977, the party that holds the White House loses Virginia’s gubernatorial election.

America’s longest-running TV evangelist fighting for his life after medical emergency

The family of prominent televangelist the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, 90, said he remains hospitalized in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest.

During a Sunday service, Swaggart’s son, the Rev. Donnie Swaggart, asked the congregation to keep his father in their prayers, saying that only a “miracle” could extend his father’s life.

“On this Father’s Day, we urgently ask you to pray for Brother Swaggart. He needs a miracle from heaven right now, this morning. We must have the Lord intervene in this situation, and we need your prayers,” Donnie Swaggart wrote in a post on his father’s Facebook page.

“He’s my rock and my hero and he needs the Lord’s healing power today. If I am able to get away, I will try to be at the service to give everyone an update,” Donnie Swaggart wrote in another post. 

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The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart has preached the gospel of Jesus Christ on television longer than any other American evangelist in history, according to his ministry website. 

Swaggart, who was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, launched into full-time ministry in 1955. He serves as the pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is the founder of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

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At his peak in the mid-1980s, Swaggart was the country’s top-rated TV preacher. His services were broadcast to over 2 million households.

However, his image was bruised after he was linked to a 1987 scandal involving a prostitute that he met in a seedy New Orleans motel. 

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Swaggart never confessed to anything more than an unspecified sin during a televised apology in which he tearfully delivered his “I have sinned speech.” 

A few years later, he was stopped by police while driving in California with a suspected prostitute in his car.

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Swaggart also made headlines for saying in a televised worship service that he would kill any gay man who looked at him romantically. Swaggart said he made the comment jokingly and did not mean any harm.

Fox News Digital reached out to Swaggart’s representatives for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

Illegal immigrant makes crucial admission while getting arrested by ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says an illegal immigrant with a past robbery conviction, and who was previously arrested on murder and assault charges, was arrested after spitting on an agent last Tuesday.

Omar Pulido Bastida, 41, is facing a federal assault charge for allegedly spitting on an ICE agent while they were trying to arrest him for illegally returning to the United States, as he’s been deported before.

“Despite the Los Angeles riots, ICE law enforcement officers arrested Omar Pulido-Bastida. This criminal illegal alien has been convicted of robbery and has arrests for murder and assault,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital about the Mexican national.

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“This is the type of criminal illegal alien that rioters are fighting to protect. How much longer will Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass continue to prioritize these criminal illegal aliens over their own citizens? Secretary Noem has a message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law and arrest criminal illegal aliens,” McLaughlin continued.

Pulido Bastida resides in South Central Los Angeles, and he could face eight years behind bars if convicted of assault.

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“This defendant found out the hard way: When you spit, we hit – with a felony charge,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement last week. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives and safety to uphold the law. To treat them with the disrespect, like this defendant did, mocks our great nation and such behavior will be punished accordingly.”

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The Department of Justice alleges the man first insulted an ICE officer from his balcony before coming down and spitting on an agent through a gate, saying just before that, “No, get out of here. I know my rights. I’m calling my lawyer.” After that, ICE then “forced entry” into his home and arrested the man, who was hiding and said, “OK, you got me,” before his arrest, the news release added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office. Bass’s office pointed Fox News Digital to a quote from her press conference last week.

“These aren’t the criminals the administration is allegedly targeting,” Bass said. “These are mothers and fathers, restaurant workers, seamstresses, home care workers, everyday Angelenos trying to make a living. We’ve heard stories of unmarked federal vans parked near LAUSD school graduations, a U.S. citizen nine months pregnant who was hospitalized after being detained by federal agents, and an apparel business in downtown L.A. raided, where many Korean and Latino workers work long hours to support their families.”

The arrest announcement comes after anti-ICE protests and riots broke out in Los Angeles last week as the agency did sweeps throughout the region. On Sunday night, President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social that he wanted to see arrests ramped up further to “achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”

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The president specifically mentioned that operations in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York could be increased.

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“His plan is clear: Incite violence and chaos in blue states, have an excuse to militarize our cities, demonize his opponents, keep breaking the law and consolidate power. It’s illegal and we will not let it stand,” Newsom posted to X in direct response to Trump’s post.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle face staff exodus as 4 employees leave their circle

There’s been another staff shake-up within the House of Sussex.

Four members of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s staff have left in recent weeks, People magazine confirmed on Friday. Hello! Magazine, which was the first outlet to report the news, said that the staffers who left included their Los Angeles-based deputy press secretary, Kyle Boulia, and their U.K. press officer, Charlie Gipson. Both were brought on last year.

Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment.

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“This stands as another indication of the dysfunction and instability within their household,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital.

“Highly qualified professionals from many top-notch firms have previously struggled to thrive under the Sussexes,” Fordwich claimed. “This latest bloodbath serves as solid confirmation.”

According to People, Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, hired Meredith Maines as their chief communications officer earlier this year. She previously worked for Google, Hulu and “American Idol.” The couple also added Emily Robinson, formerly of Netflix, as the new director of communications.

“Something tells me there will be another change in the future,” a source told Hello! Magazine. “Meghan and Harry have hired some of the most incredible people at the top of their fields, yet somehow none of them ever work out.”

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that about 20 people have left their roles working for the Sussexes. The couple stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California.

“Something is clearly very wrong if you work for the Sussexes,” Fitzwilliams claimed.

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“There are those who would link this to the reputation Meghan has of being difficult to work with,” he shared. “Bullying allegations, which Meghan has strongly denied, have dogged her since they surfaced in The Times before the notorious Oprah interview [in 2021]. They were recently repeated in The Hollywood Reporter where it was alleged that Meghan was ‘a dictator in high heels’ and also appeared in Vanity Fair.

“There could be another reason – the Sussexes are often dreadful at making plans,” Fitzwilliams claimed. “On the one hand, it was always clear that a series like ‘Polo’ for Netflix would flop. Yet, they still went ahead. On the other hand, it is most unlikely that Harry took advice before he appeared on the BBC [in May] after he lost his case on security.”

“I would love to know who advised them that it made sense to post the ‘twerking video,’” said Fitzwilliams, referring to the video Meghan posted of her and Harry doing the “Baby Mama Dance” on the day of Princess Lilibet’s birth.

“This will haunt them,” said Fitzwilliams. “With judgments as bad as this… you can’t blame staff for looking elsewhere.”

British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the Sussexes are “on a mission to create their own royal court.”

“[They want to] boost their profiles,” she claimed. “[There’s a view] that a new, bigger team will be better for them and especially help Meghan create a financial empire.”

WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY ACTED LIKE A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS, PALACE SOURCES ALLEGE IN EXPLOSIVE NEW BOOK

In February, Vanity Fair published a scathing cover story about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s lives in California. A spokesperson for the couple didn’t immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment at the time.

Several of those who worked with the former American actress came forward to the outlet and candidly shared their experiences. They described how, at first, the mother of two would be “warm and effusive,” creating an atmosphere of “professional camaraderie.”

However, whenever something went poorly, “often due to Meghan and Harry’s own demands,” she would become “cold and withholding towards the person she perceived to be responsible.”

A source told the outlet that it was “really, really, really awful. Very painful.”

“She’s constantly playing checkers,” the source claimed. “She’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you’re not in it, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment.”

The source described it as “undermining.”

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“It’s talking behind your back. It’s gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like ‘Mean Girls’ teenager,” claimed the source.

Producer Jane Marie had a different experience collaborating with the duchess.

“She’s just a lovely, genuine person,” Marie told the outlet.

Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that the Sussexes are looking to revamp their image as they continue raising their young family in the U.S.

“The Sussexes seem to be losing the war against the constant vitriolic comments from unnamed individuals close to the royal family in London,” he claimed.

“The Crown seems to be turning fiction into reality now with brand and media battles constantly going on,” he said. “King Charles is seen giving a cheery wave and smile in public but has his head in his hands in private over how to unite the family.”

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Fordwich and Fitzwilliams said the couple’s swift staff turnaround has raised eyebrows.

Two sources told Vanity Fair that a colleague with ties to the couple’s Spotify podcast “Archetypes” took a leave of absence after working on three episodes. Several others said they took extended breaks from work “to escape scrutiny,” left their jobs, or underwent “long-term therapy after working with Meghan.”

“I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better,” a source told Vanity Fair. “But who am I to criticize Meghan Markle? She’s doing great.”

When the couple made their royal exit, they cited the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media, as well as a lack of support from the palace, as their reasons for stepping back. But in 2021, days before Meghan and Harry’s televised interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, royal reporter Valentine Low broke the story of bullying allegations against the duchess.

Meghan’s team strongly refuted the claims.

“The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma,” a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital at the time. 

PRINCE HARRY ACCUSED OF BULLYING IN ‘DEEPLY DAMAGING’ CLAIMS AS NEW SCANDAL ROCKS SUSSEXES: EXPERT

“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”

A spokesperson for the Sussexes also told The Times, “Let’s just call this what it is – a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation.”

Low told Fox News Digital in 2023 that he stood by his reporting.

“The important thing is we all know they’re quite litigious,” he said, referring to the Sussexes. “But despite getting several strongly worded letters from their lawyers before we published – after we published, we didn’t hear a word from them. So that speaks volumes, too.”

Low’s book “Courtiers” also alleged that “relations between the couple and some of their senior staff became so fractious that William’s private secretary had to step in to help keep the peace.” Low also claimed that some former staff still had difficulty discussing their experiences. Some would even refer to themselves as members of “The Sussex Survivors’ Club.”

When Low’s book was published in 2023, reps for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn’t immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously told Fox News Digital they generally do not comment “on such books.”

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Meghan returned to Instagram in the new year after disabling her social media accounts ahead of her 2018 royal wedding. There, she regularly promotes her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and her Netflix lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan.” New episodes are premiering in the fall.

Former MLB All-Star warns he’ll refuse Trump support amid Middle East tensions

Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart was a staunch supporter of Donald Trump as he defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House in the 2024 presidential election.

But the one-time MLB All-Star drew a line in his support for the president on Monday as Trump called for mass evacuations in Tehran while tensions between Israel and Iran escalated.

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“If Trump gets us in a war, I will no longer support him, and I’m sure most of you know I love Trump,” Cozart wrote in a post on X.

Trump is set to depart the G7 summit in Canada on Monday night because of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”

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Trump has requested that the National Security Council be prepared in the situation room for his return, Fox News has learned.

Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer dismissed reports the U.S. military was joining Israel in an attack on Iran.

“This is not true. American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests,” Pfeiffer wrote on X.

Cozart came out in support of Trump ahead of the president’s speech at the Republican National Convention nearly a year ago.

“I dunno bout yall but I can’t wait to vote for Trump… I’ve honestly never seen the party as united as now… they tried to kill our President … least we can do is VOTE!!” he wrote.

Cozart played in Major League Baseball from 2011 to 2019. The Tennessee native was a second-round pick of the Reds in 2007. He played with the Los Angeles Angels for the final two years of his career in 2018 and 2019.

He was an All-Star in 2017 when he hit 24 home runs, drove in 63 runs and hit .297.

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He played in 839 career games, batted .247 with a .300 on-base percentage and a .699 OPS with 87 career home runs and 305 RBI.

Helene-ravaged river town reopens for visitors: ‘It felt like victory’

MARSHALL, NC – Nearly nine months have passed since Hurricane Helene made its way through Western North Carolina, washing out homes and businesses. 

In the small mountain town of Marshall, just 30 minutes north of Asheville, business owners are eager for visitors. The main town sits along the French Broad River, which rose nearly 25 feet during Helene’s storms, calculated by the U.S. Geological Survey. 

The town reopened to visitors in May and each week more businesses are opening their doors. Some business owners still remember the layer of mud caked on the floor, covering their belongings like a blanket. 

“I had no words, I mean I was crying,” said Connie Molland, co-founder of Flow Gallery. “To walk into this space and see what we had left was all toppled all over and covered in mud.”

POPULAR NORTH CAROLINA DESTINATIONS STILL RECOVERING FROM HELENE

Molland said before the storm she tried to gather as much of the handcrafted art as she could. The gallery lost about 30% of its artwork from Helene. 

The gallery was not the only business crushed under Helene’s wrath. 

Zuma’s Coffee owner, Joel Friedman, says he had to climb through his windows just to get inside his coffee shop.

“All these windows busted out, all the contents went out with it. All the tables, chairs, the equipment. It was total destruction,” he told Fox News. 

Friedman and Molland said volunteers from all over the country showed up on their doorstep — wearing protective gear, carrying tools, and ready to work. 

NORTH CAROLINA TOWN DESTROYED BY HURRICANE HELENE HOPING TO WELCOME TOURISTS BACK BY MIDSUMMER 

“That’s what was keeping us going during that time,” said Molland. “People [were] just showing up and feeling good about how they were helping us.”

Friedman has the same story. “Soon as everybody could come downtown, they were here with shovels and wheelbarrows and they went to work.”

Flow Gallery opened at the end of March and it has been six weeks since Zuma’s Coffee invited locals back in.

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“It felt like victory. There’s just small victories every day leading up to the final, ‘ahhh, we’ve made it,'” said Friedman.

“It is back to where it was, or maybe even a little better.”

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 Several businesses are still rebuilding and getting ready to reopen their doors.