Russia probe leader reportedly diagnosed with debilitating disease as testimony nixed
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his family revealed to the New York Times.
Mueller is the former special counsel who led the Russia investigation into President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Mueller, 81, was diagnosed in 2021 and retired from public life the following year after briefly teaching law, according to a family statement provided to The Times.
“Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021. He retired from the practice of law at the end of that year. He taught at his law school alma mater during the fall of both 2021 and 2022, and he retired at the end of 2022,” the statement said.
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“His family asks that his privacy be respected,” they added.
House Oversight Committee investigators had subpoenaed Mueller to testify as part of their probe into Jeffrey Epstein, but lawmakers withdrew the request after learning of his health struggles. A source familiar told Fox News Digital the panel “learned that Mr. Mueller has health issues that preclude him from being able to testify.”
This happened before The New York Times reported on Mueller’s Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Recently, Mueller has struggled with speech and mobility, leaving him unable to comply with a congressional subpoena regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
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As FBI director from 2001 to 2013, Mueller oversaw the bureau during its 2007 investigation of Epstein.
Mueller was one of many notable figures, including the Clintons, who House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., subpoenaed to testify before the panel.
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Comer has argued that period is central to his inquiry, citing prosecutors’ draft 60-count indictment that was later set aside in favor of a widely criticized non-prosecution agreement.
Rosie O’Donnell walks back claim about Minneapolis shooter after backlash
Rosie O’Donnell, the liberal actress and comic, apologized on social media Sunday after falsely claiming the Minneapolis Catholic church school shooter was a MAGA supporter, a Republican and a white supremacist.
Last Thursday, O’Donnell posted a video after learning about the attack that left two children dead and 18 others injured, 15 of them kids.
The comedian said the violence reminded her of the Columbine massacre in 1999, when she struggled to comprehend that American students were shooting each other in schools.
Regarding the Minneapolis shooting, O’Donnell pointed out it took place inside a Catholic school and added: “What do you know? It was a white guy, Republican, MAGA person. What do you know? White supremacists.”
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By Sunday, O’Donnell walked back her comments, admitting she was wrong about the shooter’s identity.
“I knew a lot of you were very upset about the video I made before I went away for a few days,” she said in a new video, adding that she did not have time to read through the comments until Sunday. “You are right. I did not do my due diligence before I made that emotional statement, and I said things about the shooter that were incorrect.
“I assumed, like most shooters, they followed a standard MO and had standard, you know, feelings of… you know, NRA-loving kind of gun people,” O’Donnell continued. “Anyway, the truth is I messed up, and when you mess up, you fess up. I’m sorry. This is my apology video and I hope it’s enough.”
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Her apology drew sharp criticism online. One user called it “the most unapologetic apology ever.” Another wrote, “She’s not sorry, she still means exactly what she said.” A third said she was “trying to save face, because she opened her mouth and was so wrong.”
In the comments, O’Donnell replied to one critic, writing, “I was wrong – and I apologize – what more do [you] want?”
Others said the misstep reflected a bigger problem. “It’s good that you apologized, but this is what is keeping this country so divided,” one person wrote. “So much mistruths being spread by both sides. People need to fact check every single political thing that they see because the majority of it is a lie.”
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O’Donnell’s remarks came less than a week after the gunman opened fire during a Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, where students from the attached school were gathered.
The gunfire shattered stained-glass and pew-side windows as students and parishioners ducked for cover.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday the “barbaric” attack appeared to be an act of domestic terrorism “motivated by a hate-filled ideology.”
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Patel said the shooter’s manifesto and writings on firearms expressed anti-Catholic and anti-religious themes, along with violent antisemitic messages. Among them were phrases such as “Israel must fall” and “Free Palestine,” alongside Holocaust-related slurs.
Hollywood star admits he’s only ‘70%’ ready for potential apocalypse at ‘doomsday cabin’
Josh Duhamel revealed how he’s preparing to survive a potential global catastrophe.
During a recent interview with People magazine, the 52-year-old actor reflected on whether his family were ready to weather an apocalypse in their Minnesota home — a spot he calls his “doomsday cabin.”
“Well, I have enough,” the “Ransom Canyon” star said. “Not 100%. Probably 70%.”
Duhamel admitted that he still needs sharpen his survival skills so that he could provide a steady source of food in the aftermath of a world-ending event.
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“I could be a better hunter, I could be a better fisherman. I could stockpile a little more food supply,” he said.
The “Las Vegas” actor previously told Parade that he left Los Angeles behind to live off-grid in the cabin he spent 15 years building.
“The closest store is 40 miles away,” he said in April. “Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other – making memories, spending time with family and friends.”
While it took years for Duhamel to build the off-the-grid spot for his family, he said that he is grateful to have the opportunity to “get back to the basics.”
“You’re not consumed by all these other distractions,” Duhamel said. “When you’re out there, it’s really about having fun, making sure everybody’s warm, everybody’s got food and water.”
The actor lives in the cabin with his wife Audra Mari and their 1-year-old son Shepherd. Duhamel’s 11-year-old son Axl, whom he shares with his ex-wife Fergie, also spends time at the home.
Duhamel told People that his home is located about an hour and a half away from Fargo, North Dakota. He explained that he initially purchased a half parcel of land on which he built his home. However, Duhamel said that he later acquired additional land to expand his property.
The “Transformers” star recalled that he and his family lived without running water, electricity or other basic amenities for “a long time.”
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While speaking with the outlet, Duhamel reflected on why he decided to embrace a more rustic lifestyle.
“I make movies and TV shows, and I love it, I truly do love it, but I had this calling,” Duhamel explained.
He said that he felt the urge “to go and really do things with my hands again — fix things, make things and just do the basic things that we take for granted.”
Duhamel told People that his Minnesota retreat also offers a “respite” from “this world of massive technology,” noting that the advent of artificial intelligence particularly “scares” him.
However, the actor clarified that his home in North Star state wasn’t only intended to be safe haven in the face of a worldwide Armageddon.
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“The truth is, yes, people want to call it a doomsday prepper thing, but it’s really not that,” he told People. “I’m really more of a guy who wants to stay true to my roots, get back to the basics, hone whatever basic skills I need.”
“I don’t think that we’re in any dire situation that we have to worry about prepping for doomsday, but it is good to have some of those skills,” Duhamel added.
“I was getting so far away from it for so long, that I felt like I wanted to get back to some of that.”
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Parents watch in fear as boy walks elevated track at popular theme park
A frightening video taken inside Hersheypark in Pennsylvania shows a young boy balancing almost 100 feet above ground on a suspended monorail track, sparking panic among terrified onlookers.
The clip, shared on TikTok, captures the small child carefully walking along the slim metal track alone as stunned guests point, shout and wave their arms in an attempt to guide him to safety.
Spectators in the video can be heard urging the boy to move toward a nearby building, where a man eventually climbs up and waits on a roof to help him.
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“Go to him now!” one person shouted, as the man bent down to reach the boy. Confused and panicked voices can be heard in the crowd.
“Stop, no—no, keep going?” some said.
Eventually, the rescuer pulls the boy to safety and relief spreads through the crowd below as cheers and applause erupt.
The boy was said to be later reunited with his parents, per a statement from Hersheypark.
According to officials, the monorail was closed at the time of the incident and a barricaded turnstile was meant to prevent anyone from accessing the track.
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The young boy was also reported missing just after 5 p.m. on Saturday after becoming separated from his parents.
“We are grateful for the vigilance of our guests and the swift response of our team, and we remain committed to maintaining the highest levels of guest safety throughout Hersheypark,” a park official said in the statement.
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Despite the successful rescue, some online expressed concern. One TikToker @Maruo Bekhit summed up the frustration: “Hersheypark, you gotta do better #hersheypark.”
FOX Business reached out to Hershey Entertainment & Resorts for comment.
Maritime expert warns Thunberg’s Gaza aid flotilla ‘unsustainable’ amid blockade
Humanitarian aid transported by Greta Thunberg’s second flotilla won’t even reach Gaza because of a lack of docking facilities and Israel’s “lawful” blockade, a maritime expert has said.
As the Swedish activist’s boats left Barcelona Sunday, Thunberg was joined by figures, including Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of about 70 boats, is carrying aid including food, water and medicine and hoping to bring this to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The flotilla is expected to be joined by more boats before they reach Gaza around Sep. 14 or 15.
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“The whole world knows that this is coming and the IDF is going to maintain a security perimeter out in the water to protect the beaches of Gaza,” Professor James Kraska, S.J.D., told Fox News Digital.
“There aren’t any port facilities in this area to unload anything and Gaza lacks a port sufficient to receive such a large flotilla. There’s a small fishing port, but that’s inadequate.
“The U.S. built a temporary port at considerable expense, about $200 million, and dismantled it because the weather and meteorology in the area made it unsustainable,” the U.S. Naval War College professor confirmed.
Thunberg’s second attempt at leading a flotilla comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza City that has killed more than 63,000 people.
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At a press conference in Barcelona before she left, Thunberg framed the mission as an act of survival.
“The story here is about Palestine. The story here is how people are being deliberately deprived of the very basic means to survive,” Thunberg said, alleging that Israel was violating international law by “unlawfully intercepting boats in international waters” and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians.
This is not Thunberg’s first attempt at delivering aid. In June, she was deported after her ship, the Madleen, was stopped by Israeli forces along with 11 others on board.
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Professor Kraska emphasized that having Israel’s blockade is a lawful operation during an armed conflict to prevent vessels entering, but it must meet certain requirements, including notice, effectiveness, and impartial enforcement.
“Ultimately, there is authority for Israel to defend the blockade,” Kraska said. “But it’s not just the law — politics and practical realities are involved as well. Both sides are weighing those dimensions.
“Israel, however, maintains that its maritime security operations, which look like a blockade, are a lawful measure of war and will act to prevent ships from docking.
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“There is not one controlling narrative: there is international law, the political situation and the tactical dimension,” he added.
’13 Going on 30′ star says she fled from wealthy cult leader after failed romance
“13 Going on 30” star Christa B. Allen shared that she ran away from a cult after ending her romance with its leader.
The 33-year-old actress made the revelation in a video that she shared on TikTok Thursday. In the clip, Allen was seen wearing a beige sweater, a cream-colored miniskirt and brown boots as she spun around with her arms outstretched on a lawn.
The video was set to a part of Chappell Roan’s song “Subway” in which the singer repeats the lyrics “She got away.”
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“How it feels rebuilding your life after being in love with a charismatic wealthy cult leader who burned it to the ground,” the “Revenge” star wrote over the clip.
In the caption, Allen further detailed her experience with her former boyfriend, whom she did not name.
“Let me be very clear: nobody can burn down your life unless you give them access to it. That’s the part I’ve had to own,” she wrote.
Allen continued, “So I’ve sat with the hardest questions: why did I trust him? Why did I hand over my power? Why did I silence my own inner knowing?”
The actress reflected on her ex, recalling how he dazzled her with his lavish lifestyle but later showed himself to be deceptive.
“The truth is, he was selling fairytales and from luxurious penthouses and private jets, I foolishly bought in,” Allen wrote.
“What I learned is that even if you spend every waking moment with someone— studying, eating, traveling, working, building, dreaming— you still may not KNOW them,” she continued. “Especially when you’re dealing with someone who lies as easily as they breathe.”
“That realization shattered me, but it also forced me to rebuild from the ground up. And fire is also cleansing,” Allen added.
Allen promised her fans that she would reveal more details about her experience in the future but currently plans to focus on the next chapter of her life.
“One day I’ll share the full story but for now I’m walking forward with feet on solid ground and a heart that knows its strength,” she wrote.
In a TikTok video that she shared on Aug. 19, Allen appeared to refer to her ex, accusing him of infidelity.
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“When the ‘spiritual’ guy you were dating forced you to quit your job because he promised to take care of you… then left you with zero income while cheating and sleeping around with countless women while lying about it all…,” she wrote over a video in which she was seen behind the wheel of a car.
,”But then you remember — he knows the laws of the universe, and the universe don’t miss,” she added.
Allen’s first movie role was playing the younger version of Jennifer Garner’s character Jenna Rink in the 2004 romantic comedy “13 Going on 30.”
The actress once again played the younger version of Garner’s character Jenny Perotti in the 2009 fantasy romantic comedy movie “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” which was a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol.”
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She went on to star as socialite Charlotte Grayson in the hit TV drama series “Revenge” from 2011 to 2015.
Allen has also made appearances on Disney Channel TV shows and TV series, including “Grey’s Anatomy” and “ER.”
In recent years, Allen shifted away from acting and moved more toward social media influencing.
Powerful quake rocks Afghanistan as officials warn hundreds have perished
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near its shared border with Pakistan late Sunday, killing upwards of 800 people and injuring thousands more.
The quake was reported at 11:47 p.m. some 17 miles east-northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Footage showed rescuers taking injured people on stretchers from collapsed buildings and into helicopters as people frantically dug through rubble with their hands.
A Taliban government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said at a press conference that most of the casualties were in Kunar province.
Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are of poor construction.
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The earthquake was just 5 miles deep and shallower quakes tend to cause more damage.
A 4.5 magnitude quake occurred in the same province just after midnight.
Afghanistan is especially vulnerable to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush Mountain range where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
One of the deadliest natural disasters to strike Afghanistan in recent memory occurred on Oct. 7, 2023, when a 6.3 earthquake struck the South-Central Asian nation, followed by strong aftershocks.
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The Taliban government estimated that at least 4,000 people perished, though the U.N. gave a far lower death toll of about 1,500.
Charlie Woods sinks perfect 177-yard shot as famous father’s talent emerges
Charlie Woods added another hole-in-one to his young resume, this time doing so at the Junior Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Woods, the 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods, stepped up to his tee shot on the par-3 third hole, and he hit a pure shot as it drew into the green 177 yards away.
Woods watched as the ball landed on the green, and it drained, leading to a celebration on the tee box with his playing partners.
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Woods ended up carding a 72, which was even-par, on Sunday. He finished 7-over for the tournament, which had him well outside the top of the leaderboard.
This wasn’t the first hole-in-one of Woods’ career, as he hit one while playing alongside his father at the PNC Championship in December 2024, with his father ecstatic when he saw the ball fall into the hole.
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Tiger had 20 hole-in-ones during his legendary career, though only three occurred during official PGA Tour events.
He may not have won this tournament, but Woods added some hardware to his trophy case earlier this year with the Team TaylorMade Invitational win at Streamsong Resort Black Course in Bowling Green, Florida. It was his first American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) victory of his young career.
Woods has more wins on his resume, as he won the 14-15-year-old category at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s Major Championship in June 2023. He also won the Last Chance Regional golf tournament later that year.
Woods qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur last summer, but he failed to make the cut there.
Of course, the expectations are going to be astronomical for Woods due to his father’s accomplishments, but the talent is certainly there to go the distance as a professional.
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Tiger has 82 professional wins under his belt, including the career Grand Slam with wins at the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. Those 82 wins are tied with Sam Snead for the most ever.
Rudy Giuliani seriously injured in car wreck
A spokesman for Rudy Giuliani says the 81‑year‑old former New York City mayor was seriously injured in a car crash in New Hampshire on Saturday night.
According to an official statement shared with Fox News Digital, Giuliani was flagged down by a woman fleeing a domestic-violence incident. He helped the woman and called 911, remaining on the scene until police arrived.
While later traveling on the highway, his rental vehicle was hit from behind at high speed. According to a New Hampshire State Police news release, the crash happened just before 10 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 93 in Manchester.
Troopers and fire personnel were already on the southbound side handling a reported domestic-violence incident when they witnessed a two-vehicle collision on the northbound side; both vehicles went into the median and were heavily damaged, police said.
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He is in “good spirits and recovering tremendously,” spokesman and head of security Michael Ragusa told Fox News Digital.
“He’ll be released in a few days and he’s doing great. Conscious, alert, strong. He’ll be back to business as usual this week,” Ragusa added.
State Police identified the vehicles as a Honda HR-V and a Ford Bronco. Giuliani was riding as a passenger in the Bronco. Police said the Honda struck the back of the Bronco.
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No charges have been filed related to the crash as police continue to investigate.
Giuliani was officially diagnosed with “a fractured thoracic vertebrae,” multiple lacerations and contusions and injuries to his left arm and lower leg, Ragusa said.
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“This was not a targeted attack,” Ragusa added in a reply post on X. “We ask everyone to respect Mayor Giuliani’s privacy and recovery, and refrain from spreading unfounded conspiracy theories.”
Giuliani’s business partner and medical provider went to the hospital to oversee his care, according to Ragusa.