Judge limits Trump’s immigration crackdown with sweeping restraining order
A federal judge in Los Angeles late Friday issued a sweeping temporary restraining order (TRO) against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ruling that the agency likely violated constitutional protections through its immigration enforcement practices in California.
In a 53-page order issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, a Biden appointee, barred ICE from conducting detentive stops in the Central District of California unless agents have “reasonable suspicion” that a person is in the country unlawfully.
Frimpong’s ruling explicitly prohibits ICE from relying solely on race or ethnicity, speaking Spanish or English with an accent, location, or type of work when forming suspicion, citing the Fourth Amendment.
The order also requires ICE to keep and turn over detailed records of each stop and agents’ reasoning for them, develop official guidance for determining “reasonable suspicion,” and implement mandatory training for agents.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SUES LOS ANGELES OVER SANCTUARY POLICIES THAT ‘IMPEDE’ ICE OPERATIONS
Frimpong presided over a hearing Thursday where she considered granting the request that will have major implications for immigration enforcement in California, a state that has become a focal point in President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation plans.
The judge heard arguments about whether to grant the TRO against ICE over allegations the agency is violating constitutional rights during its immigration arrests.
Frimpong said during the hearing on Thursday that she was leaning toward granting the TRO Friday.
“I think it’s important for the court not to burden otherwise lawful law enforcement activities,” the judge said.
The case was initially brought in June as a routine petition from three detainees, but it has ballooned into a weighty lawsuit challenging the way ICE operates.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the federal court’s decision to issue a temporary restraining order halting what she described as “unconstitutional and reckless raids conducted under the Trump Administration.”
“Today, the Court ruled in favor of the United States Constitution, of American values and decency — this is an important step toward restoring safety, security and defending the rights of all Angelenos,” Bass shared in a statement.
Bass characterized the federal actions as aggressive and harmful and reaffirmed Los Angeles’ commitment to protecting its residents’ rights.
“Los Angeles has been under assault by the Trump Administration as masked men grab people off the street, chase working people through parking lots and march through children’s summer camps. We went to court against the administration because we will never accept these outrageous and un-American acts as normal,” she continued.
Immigration rights groups and local governments, including the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Culver, and West Hollywood, have all intervened in the case and Democrat-led states have filed an amicus brief in support of them.
The plaintiffs alleged in court papers that ICE is “indiscriminately” arresting people with “brown skin” at Home Depots, car washes, farms and more. Authorities made the arrests with no “reasonable suspicion” and sometimes mistakenly apprehended U.S. citizens in the process, all in violation of the Fourth Amendment, attorneys wrote.
The plaintiffs argued the Trump administration gave ICE an unrealistic quota of 3,000 arrests per day, causing officers to feel pressured to blow past legal requirements to achieve those numbers.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is disputing the allegations and denies wrongdoing.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli responded to the ruling and vehemently opposed the allegations in the lawsuit.
“We strongly disagree with the allegations in the lawsuit and maintain that our agents have never detained individuals without proper legal justification,” Essayli wrote in a post on X.
“Our federal agents will continue to enforce the law and abide by the U.S. Constitution.”
Department of Justice attorneys wrote that immigration arrests, of which there have been nearly 3,000 across California since early June, have been carried out legally.
“Their request that immigration authorities be enjoined from relying on certain factors like occupation and location flies in the face of established law requiring immigration officials to consider the totality of the circumstances, including things like occupation and location,” the attorneys wrote.
The plaintiffs have also asked the judge to expand visitor access to a short-term detention facility in downtown Los Angeles.
The facility became the site of protests and unrest in early June, leading to authorities temporarily abandoning the building. The plaintiffs allege that detainees’ access to lawyers has been hindered while in the facility, in violation of the Fifth Amendment.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Frimpong’s order reinforces their Fifth Amendment claim, requiring ICE to ensure immediate legal access for detainees. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect pending further litigation.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Charlie Kirk warns Republicans risk losing White House in 2028 if they don’t do this
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk cautioned Friday that the Republican Party risks losing support from the same young voters who propelled President Donald Trump to the White House if it fails to follow through on key promises.
“The biggest threat to the Republican Party in 2028 is if we do not deliver on our promises of [home]ownership for the next generation,” Kirk told Fox News Digital in an interview at the Turning Point Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida. “The youth vote didn’t just vote for Donald Trump. Young voters put Donald Trump in the White House.”
Kirk discussed the future of the conservative movement, why Generation Z is trending rightward, and why tech giants are suddenly showing interest in engaging with Republicans.
I’M A YOUNG DEMOCRAT AND I’VE GOT TO ADMIT MY PARTY IS LOSING 2025 WHILE LOOKING AT 2028
The influential conservative media personality said there was no doubt that younger voters were trending conservative, and he believes that the shift was largely driven by losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Canceled milestones like prom, graduation, and in-person learning had a huge impact on this generation, he said.
“There’s very low trust of institutions and the institutions have failed them,” Kirk told Fox News Digital. “Primarily, if you’re 18, 19, 20, 21 right now, that kind of portion of Generation Z, they were lied to during COVID and so much of their livelihood and so much of what they care about, and they’re deeply passionate about was taken from them abruptly… So they’re a little bitter about that.”
Kirk also pointed to skyrocketing prices and record-breaking illegal border crossings under the Biden administration as driving factors behind Gen Z’s growing alignment with Trump. But he warned that unless Republicans can deliver solutions, the party risks alienating this emerging bloc of voters by 2028.
“If we don’t fix the homeownership problem in this country, the cost-of-living crisis, and if we don’t give the next generation [a chance] at being owners and not renters, we are going to see what I call ‘Mamdani-ism’ spread across the country,” he predicted.
CHARLIE KIRK WARNS ‘MAMDANI EFFECT’ METASTASIZING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH ‘GRIEVANCE-BASED POLITICS’
Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens, soared to victory in New York City’s Democratic primary mayoral race on a hard-left platform that included freezing rent, city-owned grocery stores, free buses, free childcare, raising corporate taxes and massively increasing the minimum wage.
“Mamdani-ism is the radical element of the Democratic Party, which is bitterness, discontent, the mobilization of grievances,” Kirk told Fox News Digital. “Where it is free stuff, populism weaponized against the American public.” He sees 2028 as a battle between two choices for America: an “optimistic” and patriotic vision where Americans take pride in ownership or one that follows more closely to Mamdani’s views.
Voters under 30 were the “decisive element” in the 2024 election, Kirk said, boosting Trump to victory in key swing states like Michigan and narrowing the gap in bluer places.
“So we must deliver for this cohort. We must show them that their lives are tangibly better, or else in 2028, we’re going to be in a much more competitive race than I’d like to be,” he said.
Big Tech has also seemed to notice the generational shift to the right, with several Silicon Valley leaders appearing to want a friendlier relationship with President Trump in his second term.
Meta was one of the tech companies sponsoring the conservative event in Tampa. Kirk said he’s “thrilled” that Silicon Valley seems more open to conservatives after years of tension and hostility between the two over social media censorship.
With Kirk and other Turning Point figures’ success on social media, he thinks it should be a “no-brainer” for tech companies to seek a friendlier relationship with young conservatives.
“7,000 students, this is your target demo,” he said. “And secondly, we want to dominate on these platforms because, honestly, we already are. I mean, my personal Instagram, I think we’re upwards of almost 6.4 million followers. We get billions of impressions a year. You know, were very viral around TikTok. So I can’t speak for Mark Zuckerberg, but we’re thrilled to have Meta, Rumble and any other tech companies as well.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Babysitter dead after Lufthansa CEO’s wife allegedly strikes her in resort town
The wife of Lufthansa airlines CEO Carsten Spohr is accused of running down a babysitter while on vacation on an Italian island before flying home to Germany while under investigation for vehicular homicide, according to reports.
Vivian Alexandra Spohr, 51, was driving a BMW X5 Tuesday when she struck Gaia Costa, 24, at a crosswalk in the upscale Italian resort town of Porto Cervo in Sardinia, according to Corriere News.
Spohr allegedly kept driving until she was waved down before she fainted, according to Italian news reports. She later tested negative for alcohol or drugs.
SOUTHWEST ADDS ‘POWERFUL’ COCKPIT ALERT SYSTEM
First responders tried reviving Costa, but she died from severe head injuries, the reports said.
Spohr, who was being investigated for involuntary manslaughter, flew home to Berlin, the New York Post reported. However, she was not legally required to remain on the island and has promised to cooperate with investigators.
JETBLUE TO CUT FLIGHTS AS CARRIER SAYS ‘UNLIKELY’ TO BREAK EVEN IN 2025 DUE TO WEAKER TRAVEL DEMAND
“Vivian Spohr, who was involved in the tragic death, expresses her dismay and deep regret over this very serious accident,” her attorney, Angelo Merlini, told La Repubblica.
“She has placed herself at the complete disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary investigations and, although aware that such a great personal loss cannot be remedied, will take steps to mitigate the consequences.”
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Fox News Digital has reached out to Lufthansa.
Hollywood comedy legend backs Trump over Democrats’ stance on ‘big dumb issues’
Legendary director of the original “Naked Gun” movies, David Zucker, might think President Donald Trump is nuts, but he also believes the current Democratic Party is much worse for the country.
Speaking with Fox News Digital ahead of a reboot of his “Naked Gun” series set for release next month – he is not involved – the famous spoof filmmaker got candid about his views on politics, admitting he voted for Trump, even though he thinks he’s “crazy,” because he didn’t have much of a choice.
“You know, as crazy as Trump is, and I acknowledge, yeah, he’s a crazy guy, but… Look at what the other side is,” Zucker said, saying the political left is on the “wrong side” of huge issues, like biological men competing in women’s sports.
1980s CHILD STAR TALKS ‘GOONIES’ SEQUEL, MUSIC CAREER, AND WHY AI THREATENS HOLLYWOOD’S ‘MAGIC’
The veteran director, one of a minority number of outspoken conservatives in Hollywood, admitted that his Democratic friends and even his family can’t understand why he threw his support behind Trump in the 2024 election. He said he tells them, “This is what I go by, just the big dumb issues, which is Israel – that’s how I moved right in the first place – and men in women’s sports.”
“These are just big dumb issues,” Zucker said. “And I think that the other side is – they’re on the wrong side of all these – I think they call them 80/20 issues.”
The filmmaker indicated that he wasn’t originally a conservative in the traditional sense, but an old-school Democratic voter who was abandoned by modern liberalism.
COMEDIAN NATE BARGATZE SAYS DISNEY HAS ABANDONED ITS AUDIENCE AS HE TALKS ABOUT BUILDING RIVAL MEDIA EMPIRE
“You know, I was always a John F. Kennedy Democrat. You know, strong military, lower taxes and p—-,” he said. “That’s what I was fixated on.”
Again, he seemed to marvel at the fact that the president represents the voice of reason on the “big dumb issues” of today. He continued, “And Trump, as crazy as he is, he’s the one who is trying to – he’s keeping men out of women’s sport.”
“It’s so outrageous to me when I see these stories about these women who had to share a locker room with biological men. It’s – I mean people will look back on this era as, ‘Well, America was crazy,’” he said.
“And I think America is crazier in this way than Europe,” the director added.
Zucker, who has been a filmmaker in Hollywood since the early ’70s, has also used his comedy directing chops to make political ads mocking Democratic Party figures and causes. He made one mocking former Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., in 2010, and another criticizing former President Barack Obama’s Iran deal.
“The Iran Deal video was called ‘Side Effects,’ he told Fox News Digital, about the ad that came out around the Obama-McCain presidential election in 2008. “It was done like one of these drug ads that keeps saying, ‘It’s great, it’s great. But there are these side effects.’”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
He also directed a feature-length spoof in 2008 mocking the liberal documentarian Michael Moore and the far left in America, titled “An American Carol.” Zucker remarked that he’s proud of that film even though it didn’t perform too well at the box office when it came out.
“And oh my God, it’s funny. I’m so proud of that. It’s completely flatlined. I mean, talk about misjudging the audience,” he said. “The left doesn’t have a sense of humor about itself, and the Republicans don’t go to movies. So, I had no audience, but I wanted to do this.”
Ironically, Zucker said that he wrote the film with his leftist friend. “I wrote it with a high school friend who’s the funniest guy that I know, and he’s to the left of Castro. But he loved making movies.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Connecticut pastor criticizes youth values after confronting teen carjacker in Baltimore
A Connecticut pastor is sounding the alarm on a “Godless generation” after getting attacked by a teen carjacker during a trip to Baltimore to perform a funeral.
Pastor Kenneth Moales, Jr. fought back, wrestling the gun away from the 16-year-old suspect before tackling him to the ground.
When Moales realized the attacker was only a teen, he offered not to press charges and let him go, but the suspect refused and still took the car after getting his gun back.
The attacker was later arrested with two other teens and the car was recovered.
AMERICAN CAR THEFTS SURGE AS TEENAGE BANDITS, INTERNATIONAL CRIME RINGS SHIP STOLEN VEHICLES OVERSEAS
Speaking to “Fox & Friends First” on Thursday, the pastor revealed what was going through his mind during the attack last month.
“I’m thinking about one thing – life,” he told Fox News’ Todd Piro.
“I’m thinking that I need to find a way to make sure I don’t die in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland. I’m thinking about my wife and my children. I’m trying to make sure I get back home.”
Moales said he “absolutely” hesitated to jump into action when the attacker approached and tapped on the vehicle with a gun, but once the suspect opened the door, “fight mode” turned on.
CALIFORNIA OFFICER’S GUN STOLEN BY HALF-NAKED SUSPECT WHO WAS LATER SHOT DEAD BY ANOTHER OFFICER: BODYCAM
“I start to size them up, look at what’s going on, and realize that I can take him, and I knew then I have to decide quickly, ‘What are you going to do? Are you going to get the gun?’” he said.
At that point, the suspect aimed the gun at Moales’ chest, forcing him to fight for his life.
“[It was] not much of a fight at all…” he said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“But let me be clear, I am in no way a hero. I’m a miracle. I am glad the Lord covered my life and kept me.”
Moales revealed his identity as a pastor in hopes of defusing the situation, but said the young suspect’s lack of “reverence” for his role hurt him the most.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, relax. I’m a pastor, I’m not going to hurt you. We need to stop. This is crazy. I’m not going to press charges,’ and before I knew it, he’s pushing me down, and believe it or not, that’s what hurts me more. Not that he robbed, took the car… this is such a Godless generation. How could he not at least back off knowing I’m a pastor? And he didn’t care.”
Arizona farm owner reveals border crisis impact: ‘The system isn’t set up for them
An Arizona farmer is pushing for a more functional approach to the hiring of skilled labor in agriculture amid President Donald Trump’s border crackdown, telling Fox News Digital that the current system is sowing fear among Hispanic workers.
During a visit to the remote, mountainous landscape of Dudleyville, Ariz., farmer Scott Heartquist expressed a desire for more collaboration between business owners, workers, and immigration authorities to find practical solutions that address labor needs — while also upholding the law of the United States.
“There’s a humanitarian side that everybody’s like, ‘I feel for them,’” Heartquist said, referencing skilled workers looking to enter the country. “And I even understand that our system isn’t set up for them to easily come in.”
TRUMP PITCHES PLAN ALLOWING FARMERS TO VOUCH FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WORKERS FACING DEPORTATION
While some farmers have experienced issues with migrants trespassing on or stealing from their properties, Heartquist said his personal relationship with and support for the Hispanic community has allowed him to run his business without issue.
“Immigration is such a touchy subject and, you know, we were just talking about it — my staff. They’re all legal, but a good portion of the people in the community aren’t. And so, we see it, we have it around. We have much less of an issue with it now,” he continued.
The family farm began on a small piece of land in Arizona. After surviving bone cancer, Scott Heartquist’s wife, Christie, worked with her husband to teach their children where their food comes from by growing and raising a healthy meat supply.
The family operates its own inspected processing plant at the ranch, providing hormone-free, steroid-free, vaccine-free, and antibiotic-free grass-fed and grass-finished beef, pork, and lamb to locals.
The Heartquist family has cultivated not just a solid business but also a close-knit commune. Several family members and staff live on the Heartquist Hollow Farm property in Dudleyville — often sharing fresh meals and stories after a hard day’s work.
TRUMP ‘WORKING ON’ DEPORTATION EXEMPTIONS FOR ILLEGAL FARM AND HOSPITALITY WORKERS
During a warm summer’s evening dinner, Saúl Márquez, a butcher at the farm, said he is thankful that the family has provided good working conditions and strong benefits to their immigrant workers.
Márquez also praised God for allowing his daughter to flourish as a citizen in the U.S. — a milestone that helped him and his wife obtain permanent residency three years ago.
“My friends say that you earn very well here. So, you risk coming here illegally because it’s the American dream. It’s the American dream. And everyone is going to take a risk. Before, it was easy, now it’s not easy,” he told Fox News Digital.
He also recommended that immigrants explore legal pathways to come to the U.S., such as work visas for farm jobs, rather than trying to enter illegally — stressing that the current political climate has heightened concerns among both documented and undocumented Hispanic workers.
CRITICS SOUND OFF AGAINST TRUMP’S ‘TEMPORARY PASS’ FOR MIGRANT FARM, HOSPITALITY WORKERS
“You hear a lot of things about the new administration,” Márquez said. “We are, and the people are, very scared. Because I have friends and family who, unfortunately, do not have documents yet. So right now, there is a lot of fear with this administration that people do not want to go out to the stores.”
A combination of factors — including labor shortages for meat cutters and the cumbersome process of obtaining visas — has made it difficult for the Heartquists to hire workers with the skill set needed to provide the community with a wide range of grass-fed, pasture-raised meats.
Heartquist claimed that many of these issues stem from the Obama administration.
“You had some abuses going on in some areas, and instead of dealing with the individual abuses, they just cut visas. And so, they made it more challenging for us to get the visas,” he said.
TRUMP URGES ‘TEMPORARY PASS’ FROM IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN FOR KEY INDUSTRIES: ‘I CHERISH OUR FARMERS’
“I can tell you right now, there are 16-and-17-year-olds in Mexico and Central America that are cutting meat. To be able to bring them in, give them more training, teach them food safety issues, and all of those pieces would be amazing. We just can’t. It’s not built into our system,” Heartquist continued.
Without a more robust system and discussions about the potential to bring in workers from other countries to fill these labor needs, Heartquist predicted that immigration issues will continue to proliferate.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We’re going to have mass deportations that are going to happen right now. The administration will change in three years,” he said. “Maybe it’ll still be strict on the border, maybe it won’t, and so we’ll have another onslaught, another flood of people coming in. The problem that we face is… There’s a small portion of that community that’s really just not good people, and it gets bled out onto the whole community and that’s not fair.”
Fugitive flashes unexpected grin after month-long escape ends with ‘VIP’ return
A fugitive who escaped custody at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in May appeared surprisingly pleased with his recapture, flashing a broad grin as law enforcement escorted him back to Kentucky.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Office shared the update on Sedrick T. Stevenson, thanking the other agencies for their help, stating that they “coordinated closely” with U.S. Marshals and Seattle-area agencies to ensure Stevenson’s secure return.
Photos released by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office show Stevenson smiling cheerfully while seated on a plane alongside multiple law enforcement officers — a striking contrast to the circumstances of his return to custody.
“Therefore, we wanted to ensure he was brought back without issue. We underwent coordination with the Port of Seattle Police, Seattle Police, US Marshals, Air Marshals, and TSA,” the sheriff’s office shared.
PASSENGER IN CUSTODY AFTER ‘DIRECT THREAT’ TO AIRPLANE SHUTS DOWN SEATTLE AIRPORT RUNWAYS
Authorities took no chances with Stevenson this time and guaranteed he would return to Kentucky with zero issues as he was pictured strapped to a wheelchair and put in the plane’s window seat under the careful watch of law enforcement.
Deputies joked about the cross-country trip to retrieve Stevenson, pointing out it took nearly 24-hours to conduct the mission.
“I am happy to report that after 2 direct flights, 4 time zone changes, and 21 straight hours, he was booked into the WCRJ,” officials said. “He (Stevenson) received VIP service and ensured a 5-Star Yelp review.”
SIXTH FUGITIVE FROM NEW ORLEANS JAILBREAK CAPTURED IN BATON ROUGE
Stevenson, 28, who was wanted on warrants out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, snuck away from a contracted agent on May 4 when the agent lost control of him at the ticket counter at the airport.
Port of Seattle Police confirmed via video cameras that Stevenson, who was in shackles, was caught on video escaping by boarding a light rail train and disappearing for more than a month until he was captured by U.S. Marshals.
MANHUNT AFTER INMATE ESCAPES AT SEATTLE AIRPORT, BOARDS TRAIN
The U.S. Marshals Service told FOX 13 Seattle that Stevenson was arrested in a Seattle neighborhood, along with a second person who investigators said was reportedly assisting Stevenson in his escape.
“This arrest sends a clear message: no matter how long it takes or how far someone runs, justice will catch up with them. Our deputies and taskforce officers worked tirelessly and with unwavering dedication to bring Stevenson back into custody. The community can rest easier, knowing a dangerous fugitive is no longer on the streets” U.S. Marshal Donrien Stephens told the outlet.
Stevenson was being held in the King County jail until authorities in Kentucky were able to transport him back to their state.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
At the time of his escape, Stevenson was being extradited to Kentucky to face multiple charges, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Office, including being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, third-degree assault, and enhanced possession of a controlled substance.
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Marshal’s Office, but did not immediately receive a response.
Deputy FBI director reportedly absent from work after dispute over handling of Epstein docs
FBI deputy director Dan Bongino is considering resigning over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a source told Fox News Digital, noting that Bongino took a day off from work on Friday due to his frustrations.
Bongino has not been seen in the office since Wednesday, a source told Fox News Digital. He has yet to make a final decision about his future, the source said.
The latest revelation comes on the heels of a heated argument between Bongino and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that occurred on Wednesday at the White House, two sources confirmed.
BONDI UNDER SIEGE AFTER DOJ REVEALS NO EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST
Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have been in touch several times during the past few days and are on the same page, a source told Fox News Digital.
Sources close to Bondi say she has no intention of stepping down and is proud of the department and its work. Patel, too, says he is happy with his job and has no intention of leaving, a source in close contact with the director told Fox News Digital.
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital. “Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.”
Earlier on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also pushed back on reports of internal strife.
“I worked closely with @FBIDirectorKash and @FBIDDBongino on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files,” Blanche posted on X. “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo.
“The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI on Sunday released a joint review that ended theories about an alleged Epstein client list, concluding there was no such list detailing the names of the world’s elite who allegedly took part in Epstein’s history as a sexual predator.
The DOJ also concluded the disgraced financier committed suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting further sex trafficking charges.
The latest revelation comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s quip to a White House reporter during a cabinet meeting, in which he called the late sex criminal and financier a “creep.”
“Can I just interrupt for one second?” Trump said after a reporter directed an Epstein question at Bondi. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?”
HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING
“This guy’s been talked about for years. You’re asking.… We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people are still talking about this guy, this creep?” Trump asked. “That is unbelievable.”
Public outrage ensued following the release of a prison surveillance video that the administration used to prove that no one entered Epstein’s cell in the hours leading up to his death.
The 10-hour video, though, has one minute missing, which has fueled conspiracy theories that the administration is participating in a cover-up involving Epstein’s death.
“President Trump is proud of Attorney General Bondi’s efforts to execute his Make America Safe Again agenda, restore the integrity of the Department of Justice, and bring justice to victims of crime. The continued fixation on sowing division in President Trump’s Cabinet is baseless and unfounded in reality,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Ancient Roman ‘perfume garden’ blooms again in Pompeii, 1,900 years later
An ancient garden in Pompeii has been reconstructed with thousands of historically accurate plants — breathing new life into a once-thriving Roman sanctuary.
The Pompeii Archaeological Park announced the recent reconstruction of the Garden of Hercules in a June Facebook post.
The garden features 800 “antique” roses and 1,200 violets, along with 1,000 ruscus plants, also known as butcher’s bloom.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER LONG-LOST ANCIENT ROMAN BUILDING AT CONSTRUCTION SITE WITH A LITTLE HELP
Cherry trees, grapevines and quince trees were also planted at the site, which is near a structure known as the House of the Garden of Hercules.
The Hercules reference comes from a marble statue of the god that was found in a shrine called a lararium.
“It is a typical ‘row house’ of Pompeii, known for the inscription cras credo (‘tomorrow, we give credit’) at the entrance,” the archaeological park said in its statement.
Also known as the House of the Perfumer, the dwelling was built in the third century B.C., around 300 years before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
ANCIENT ROMAN THEATER DISCOVERED BENEATH TOWN HALL THANKS TO MASSIVE EARTHQUAKES
The eruption wasn’t the only natural disaster the house saw: It was almost destroyed in an earthquake in 62 A.D.
“Production was still active at the time of the Vesuvius eruption.”
At the time of the earthquake, the homeowner acquired and demolished neighboring townhouses, or domus, to create the garden.
The purpose of this garden, according to the park, was to cultivate and sell flowers.
Historians believe the blossoms were used to produce perfume, leading to its nickname of a “perfume garden.”
“Originally, the house comprised eight rooms and a vegetable garden,” the statement noted. “Production was still active at the time of the Vesuvius eruption.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
After the eruption, the house lay in ruin for almost 1,900 years before it was eventually excavated in the 20th century.
Numerous Ancient Roman objects, including small glass bottles for perfumes, were found during the excavations.
Archaeologists also found that the property was extensively renovated before it was destroyed.
“Notably, some rooms in the House of the Garden of Hercules contained unused construction materials,” the archaeological park noted.
“From the mid-1st century BC, the area underwent structural mergers and demolitions, transforming into a district dedicated to specialized production.”
The ruins of Pompeii have captivated archaeologists ever since they were uncovered at the end of the 16th century.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
New revelations about the site still emerge today.
For example, in April, the Pompeii Archaeological Park released new details about an ancient family’s fight for survival, thanks to an excavation.