School superintendent arrested on immigration and weapons charges
An Iowa school district superintendent living in the United States illegally who also faces weapons charges was arrested Friday, authorities said.
Ian Andre Roberts, who heads the Des Moines Public Schools—the largest school district in the state—was taken into custody on a fugitive warrant. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pursued Roberts after he sped away, authorities said.
They later found his vehicle abandoned, and an Iowa State Patrol K-9 was called in to help search for him.
ICE ARRESTS SUSPECTED MS-13 GANG MEMBER WHO WAS LIVING ‘JUST STEPS’ AWAY FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL
“After a search of the area, the subject was located in the brush approximately 200 yards south of where the vehicle was abandoned,” an ICE statement said.
Inside the vehicle, authorities found $3,000 in cash, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and a loaded Glock 19 firearm, ICE said.
“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement,” said ICE Enforcement Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson. “This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats. How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district.”
Roberts entered the U.S. illegally from Guyana, authorities said. He last entered the country through New York on Aug. 30, 1999, on an F-1 student visa to attend St. John’s University in Queens.
Roberts was not legally authorized to work in the U.S. after his employment authorization card expired in 2020, authorities said.
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“Subject was encountered by Port Authority PD and arrested for weapons possession charges, which are still pending,” ICE said of existing weapon possession charges from Feb. 5, 2020.
On May 22, 2024, a judge ordered that he be deported. The proceedings were held in absentia. On April 24, 2025, an immigration judge in Dallas denied a motion to reopen the case.
Roberts was hired to serve as superintendent for Des Moines Public Schools on July 1, 2023, following a nationwide search for qualified candidates. A statement announcing his hiring said he was “chosen through a comprehensive national search based on the leadership profile prepared by the Board after receiving input from staff, parents, students and community members.”
“Dr. Roberts proudly shares that he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana, and spent most of his formative years in Brooklyn, NY.,” the DMPS news release stated at the time.
Roberts worked in education in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and St. Louis.
A message from Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris said Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will serve as interim superintendent until further notice.
MAINE RESERVE POLICE OFFICER AGREES TO LEAVE US VOLUNTARILY AFTER ICE ARREST FOR IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS
“This action follows Dr. Ian Roberts being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this morning. We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps,” the Friday message stated.
Before a career in education, Roberts competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in track and field for Guyana as a middle-distance runner, the Des Moines Register reported.
Roberts also served on the board of the Directors Council, a local group comprised of several nonprofits focused on Des Moines’ Black community.
“Dr. Roberts has been a trusted partner, a dedicated advocate for equity, and an unwavering supporter of families and youth in Polk County,” the group said in a statement. “His contributions to both The Directors Council and the wider community are immeasurable, and we stand with him during this uncertain moment.”
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“We know this news raises many questions and concerns. As an organization, our priority is to continue advancing our mission with stability and integrity while also offering our full support to Dr. Roberts and his family,” the statement continued. “We are committed to sharing updates with you as we receive confirmed information.”
Foreign leaders plead for US troops as Russia makes brazen moves into NATO territory
Eastern European leaders are urging President Donald Trump to keep U.S. troops on NATO’s eastern flank after a wave of Russian air and drone incursions, warning that Vladimir Putin is “pushing the limits” and will “believe only what he sees” from allied defenses.
In interviews with Fox News Digital, ministers from Estonia, Lithuania and Romania said the alliance must harden its posture — moving from air policing to integrated air and missile defenses, sharpening rules of engagement and sustaining U.S. troop rotations — to prevent Russia from normalizing violations and eroding Article 5 credibility. They paired the military message with calls for tighter sanctions and an end to European energy dependence that funds the Kremlin’s war machine.
Their appeals land as Washington weighs a new national security strategy aimed at prioritizing homeland defense. Before the most recent incursions, U.S. officials had cautioned allies to prepare for a reduction of the American footprint, pressing Europe to take on a greater share of the burden.
“We hope U.S. troops remain in the region. Their presence secures peace and sends a clear signal,” Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said. “Putin understands only the language of strength. His goal is the restoration of the Soviet empire.”
RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT INVADED TWO NATO MEMBERS IN TWO WEEKS. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
This month Russian drones were detected in Polish and Romanian airspace, while Russian missile-carrying MiG-29s crossed briefly into Estonian territory. For the ninth time this year, Russian jets were also spotted inside the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.
Ahead of the U.S. expected global review of force posture, Lithuania’s foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys said deterrence must be visible, not theoretical.
He said he has been making the case to U.S. counterparts: “This presence makes the difference. It forces Russia to change its calculations.”
“Russia they have to see. They don’t believe in our plans and our protocols. They believe in what they see. So they are crossing our airspace, and they see no reaction,” he went on. “With the presence of the troops. When they see that they are stationed there, and they are training. And they’re interacting with the local armed forces. For them, this is the message that, okay, we are not getting in there.”
“U.S. rotational deployments are one of the most effective deterrents,” Budrys said. “Russia doesn’t believe in our plans; it believes what it sees.”
Romania’s warning
Romanian foreign minister Oana Țoiu echoed the Baltics, adding that security on the Black Sea is tied to U.S. interests.
“Every country sets its priorities, but the security of the eastern flank also serves U.S. security and financial interests — there’s real potential for joint investment, cyber, energy and infrastructure if security is ensured,” she said.
RUSSIA SHIFTS FROM TALK TO ACTION, TARGETING NATO HOMELAND AMID FEARS OF GLOBAL WAR
Țoiu noted Romania has authorized its forces to shoot down Russian drones that threaten its territory and economy, and stressed the importance of NATO’s U.S. presence. Bucharest is also positioning itself as a regional energy supplier, expanding nuclear power with U.S. support and tapping natural gas fields in the Black Sea.
Washington’s role
About 80,000 American troops are stationed across Europe, according to U.S. European Command — down from roughly 105,000 just after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thousands rotate through Lithuania, Estonia hosts a persistent U.S. contingent and roughly 3,000 are based in Romania, according to the State Department.
Despite speculation about U.S. drawdowns, Trump and senior officials have sharpened their rhetoric. On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz pledged Washington would defend “every inch” of NATO territory. Trump suggested intruding Russian aircraft should be shot down and insisted Ukraine, with European support, can take back all of its territory.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said those statements have resonance.
“The unity of NATO has never been clearer,” Wilson told Fox News Digital. “Sweden and Finland are now members. Trump correctly pointed out allies weren’t reaching 2 percent, now he’s moving to 5 percent. That means peace through strength.”
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Eastern Sentry
In response to Russia’s provocations, NATO launched Eastern Sentry on September 12, 2025. The multidomain activity, led by Allied Command Operations, brings together fighter jets, naval assets and counter-drone systems from multiple allies to plug gaps and rotate forces across the eastern flank — from the Baltics to the Black Sea. Unlike a static buildup, the mission is designed to adapt quickly to emerging threats and demonstrate flexible deterrence.
Liberal justices fume as Supreme Court lets Trump block $5B in foreign aid
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday extended an earlier order that allows the Trump administration to continue blocking nearly $5 billion in congressionally appropriated foreign funds.
The U.S. Department of Justice had reached out to the high court for an emergency appeal after a district court judge ruled the administration’s decision to hold the aid was likely illegal, adding that Congress would need to approve the withholding of funds.
“This case raises questions of immense legal and practical importance, including whether there is any avenue to test the executive branch’s decision not to spend congressionally appropriated funds,” District Judge Amir Ali said at the time.
Friday’s ruling was 6 to 3, with the three liberal justices dissenting.
TRUMP CANCELS $4.9B FOREIGN AID, PUSHES DC DEATH PENALTY, TOUTS KIM TIES
President Donald Trump last month sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, explaining he was using a pocket rescission, which allows a president to submit a request to Congress to hold approved funds near the end of the fiscal year.
Under federal law, Congress has to approve the rescission within 45 days or the money must be spent. But the budget year will end before the 45-day window closes, and, in this situation, the White House is asserting that congressional inaction allows it not to spend the money.
It was the first use of a pocket rescission in 50 years.
Friday’s ruling extends a temporary block put on the lower court ruling by Chief Justice John Roberts on Sept. 9.
The conservative justices in the majority Friday said that Trump’s authority on foreign policy weighed in the decision but cautioned that it wasn’t a final ruling on the matter.
WHITE HOUSE MOVE TO CANCEL $4.9B FOREIGN AID WITH ‘POCKET RESCISSION’ BLASTED AS ILLEGAL
Reductions in foreign aid have become a hallmark of the Trump administration’s America First agenda.
In her dissenting opinion, Justice Elena Kagan, joined by justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, said, “The effect is to prevent the funds from reaching their intended recipients — not just now but (because of their impending expiration) for all time.”
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The administration called the funds, which would have been used as foreign aid, for United Nations peacekeeping efforts and to promote democracy in other countries, “contrary to U.S. foreign policy.”
Newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents mention more influential figures
House Oversight Democrats released more documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein that mention X CEO Elon Musk, political strategist Steve Bannon and tech billionaire Peter Thiel.
Democrats on the committee released six heavily redacted pages on Friday afternoon out of the 8,544 documents it received, which includes portions of Epstein’s apparent schedule and ledger.
Musk was mentioned in Epstein’s apparent schedule regarding a potential trip to his island.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS OPEN PROBE INTO FBI’S HANDLING OF EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS
Epstein owned a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the time.
“Reminder: Elon Musk to island on Dec. 6 (is this still happening?),” the apparent schedule stated, listing Dec. 6, 2014.
On Nov. 27, 2017, Epstein was scheduled to have lunch with Thiel. Bannon was scheduled to have lunch with Epstein on Feb 16, 2019.
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In releasing the documents, a Democrat spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee said they “will not stop until we identify everyone complicit in Epstein’s heinous crimes.”
“It should be clear to every American that Jeffrey Epstein was friends with some of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world. Every new document produced provides new information as we work to bring justice for the survivors and victims,” the spokesperson said. “It’s past time for Attorney General Bondi to release all the files now.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a GOP spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee accused Democrats of cherry-picking the documents.
“It’s unfortunate that Democrats continue to meaninglessly cherry-pick documents and politicize this investigation. They are intentionally withholding documents that contain names of Democrat officials, and the information they released today is old news. We are focused on delivering transparency and accountability for the survivors, and will release documents in full,” the spokesperson said.
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Epstein faced several sex-related charges as prosecutors alleged he ran a sex trafficking operation that preyed on underage girls, but killed himself in August 2019.
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Musk, Thiel, Bannon and House Oversight Democrats for comment.
Bruce Springsteen criticizes Democratic Party for losing touch with everyday Americans
Rock star Bruce Springsteen warned that the Democratic Party has alienated Americans with its far-left policies, even as he remains a staunch critic of President Trump.
Springsteen, who remains an all-American icon known for anthems like “Born to Run,” “Thunder Road” and “Born in the U.S.A.,” has not been shy about sharing his political views over the past few decades. The rocker campaigned for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, then-candidate Joe Biden in 2020, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, and President Barack Obama in 2012 and 2008.
In an interview with Time Magazine, Springsteen revealed that he is one of many left-leaning figures who believe the Democratic Party has lost touch with everyday Americans.
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“We’re desperately in need of an effective alternative party, or for the Democratic Party to find someone who can speak to the majority of the nation. There is a problem with the language that they’re using and the way they’re trying to reach people,” he said.
Time Magazine noted the irony in that left-leaning Springsteen appeals to working-class fans while being extremely wealthy, particularly as many of his core audience have “flocked to Trump.”
“A lot of people bought into his lies,” the rocker lamented to Time Magazine. “He doesn’t care about the forgotten anybody but himself and the multibillionaires who stood behind him on Inauguration Day.”
Springsteen later added, “You have to face the fact that a good number of Americans are simply comfortable with his politics of power and dominance.”
EX-NBC NEWS HOST CHUCK TODD LAMENTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY A ‘COLLECTION OF PEOPLE THAT DON’T LIKE TRUMP’
“He’s the living personification of what the 25th Amendment and impeachment were for. If Congress had any guts, he’d be consigned to the trash heap of history,” he concluded.
In 2020, Springsteen’s 2002 hit “The Rising” became something of an anthem for the Biden campaign during the Democratic National Convention that year, to the point an Esquire article warned about the risk of its potential parallels with Clinton’s campaign using a “Glee” version of Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Springsteen’s remarks and has not received an immediate response.
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Common vitamin may slash skin cancer risk when taken at specific time
A common vitamin could help prevent the development of skin cancer, new research suggests.
The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, found a decreased risk of three types of skin cancer associated with the use of nicotinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3.
The research examined the health data of more than 33,000 veterans from 1999 to 2024, pulled from Veterans Affairs (VA) records.
COMMON DAILY VITAMIN SHOWN TO SLOW AGING PROCESS OVER FOUR-YEAR PERIOD
Patients who took nicotinamide were matched with similar patients who did not, based on characteristics like age, sex, race, skin cancer history and exposure to other treatments.
The researchers also considered whether patients had health conditions like an organ transplant history or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Among the study group, 12,287 patients were exposed to oral vitamin B3 at 500 mg twice daily for more than 30 days and were compared to 21,479 patients who did not take it.
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The researchers found that patients who took vitamin B3 had fewer skin cancers overall.
The risk of developing skin cancers — including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — was reduced by about 14% in those exposed to the supplement.
The researchers also investigated the rate of skin cancer recurrence, noting that those who started taking nicotinamide right after their first skin cancer diagnosis had a 54% reduced risk of the disease coming back. The benefit was not as significant after being diagnosed with more than one skin cancer.
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Patients with organ transplants did not have a large difference in overall risk unless they began taking vitamin B3 early, which seemed to lower the risk of squamous cell carcinoma.
These results suggest a “decreased risk of skin cancer among patients treated with nicotinamide, with the greatest effect seen when initiated after the first skin cancer,” the researchers wrote.
In a recent JAMA Dermatology podcast episode, co-researcher Dr. Lee Wheless of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee discussed the link between skin cancer recurrence and nicotinamide exposure.
The doctor said he wouldn’t recommend that anyone who gets their first skin cancer diagnosis “immediately” starts taking nicotinamide, but the findings have “shifted” his thinking.
“If a patient has developed that field cancerization already, I really question — is this going to be as effective as if we had started before?” he asked. “I think we’re all really good at seeing that patient who has lots of [skin damage]. They’ve had a couple skin cancers, and you just get this sense that they are teetering on the edge of exploding with a number of skin cancers.
“I think this really pushes me to say we need to start now and not wait for you to have that sixth, seventh or more skin cancer before we start doing something preventive.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.
Loved ones reeling after pro golfer’s girlfriend dies at 28: ‘One of a kind’
Makena White, the girlfriend of PGA Tour golfer Jake Knapp, has died, her loved ones confirmed. She was 28.
“Hi everyone – this is Makena’s friend, writing with the heaviest heart to share that Makena passed away earlier this week,” a social media post read. “She is already so deeply missed by her Dad, her family, her friends, and of course by Nelly and Fergie.”
The names Nelly and Fergie refer to White’s beloved dogs.
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The post also highlighted White’s remarkable ability to make a lasting impact on others.
“Makena was one of a kind. She had this rare way of making you feel special, and her huge heart was always overflowing with love. To be loved by Makena was a gift; one that came with endless laughter, so much joy, and a healthy sprinkling of chaos as we tried to keep up with her travel schedule.”
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The announcement also encouraged support for the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic or the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund.
“If you would like to honour Makena’s memory, donations to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic or the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund would mean a lot.”
White’s mother, Crystal, began visiting the clinic in 2018, after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In a 2022 social media post, White announced her mother’s death.
Additional details surrounding White’s cause of death were not released.
Fox News Digital requested comment from Knapp’s representatives but did not immediately receive a response.
Knapp is not part of the U.S. team for the Ryder Cup in New York. Last month’s FedEx St. Jude Championship marked the most recent time Knapp competed in a pro golf event.
On Knapp’s birthday in May, White described the golfer as her “very best friend.”
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White attended the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, where Knapp tied for 55th place.
SEE IT: Lockheed Martin unveils plans for stealthy combat drone to defend US
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division unveiled plans for a stealthy combat drone to keep the U.S. at the forefront of air power superiority.
The drone is designed to work independently or alongside combat aircraft like the F-35 Lightning, also made by Lockheed.
The aircraft is capable of executing precision strikes, ISR targeting, electronic warfare and offensive and defensive counter air missions, the defense company said. The division leading the development of the combat drone is charting a new path to rapidly create new, advanced technologies that work seamlessly together at a competitive price point.
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“Vectis is the culmination of our expertise in complex systems integration, advanced fighter development and autonomy,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We’re not simply building a new platform – we’re creating a new paradigm for air power based on a highly capable, customizable and affordable agile drone framework.”
The defense company said the development of the drone is already underway. Meanwhile, Skunk Works is investing the funds and staff necessary to develop and test tough, reliable systems, while making sure they fit with the U.S. military’s new joint-service plans and the needs of allies worldwide.
The goal is to build and fly the drones within two years.
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The news comes on the heels of President Donald Trump signing an executive order in June prioritizing the accelerated integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), an industry term for drones, into U.S. national airspace.
In the executive order, the administration underscored the importance of drones, saying they enhance United States productivity, create high-skilled jobs and reshape the future of aviation.
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“Building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people,” the executive order read. “The time has come to accelerate testing and to enable routine drone operations, scale up domestic production, and expand the export of trusted, American-manufactured drone technologies to global markets.”
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The administration said drones have already begun transforming industries from logistics and infrastructure inspection to precision agriculture, emergency response and public safety. It also said that emerging technologies such as electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft will modernize methods for cargo delivery, passenger transport and other advanced air mobility capabilities.
Shortly after the executive order, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a directive to ensure the U.S. becomes a leader in drone capabilities. He told senior Pentagon leadership in July that he is rescinding restrictive policies that hindered production and limited access to these vital technologies, unleashing the combined potential of American manufacturing and warfighter ingenuity. He also said in the directive that he is delegating authorities to procure and operate drones from the bureaucracy to U.S. warfighters.
“Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, accounting for most of this year’s casualties in Ukraine. Our adversaries collectively produce millions of cheap drones each year,” Hegseth said. “While global military drone production skyrocketed over the last three years, the previous administration deployed red tape. U.S. units are not outfitted with the lethal small drones the modern battlefield requires.”
Supreme Court case over trans athletes in women’s sports gets dramatic update
FIRST ON FOX: The legal team representing defendants in a forthcoming Supreme Court case to protect women’s sports has responded after the transgender plaintiff asked the court to drop the case.
The defense team, led by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorney Kristen Waggoner, filed its response after former Boise State University transgender athlete Lindsay Hecox, requested the athlete’s initial lawsuit to fight for trans inclusion in women’s sports from 2022 be dismissed, after SCOTUS agreed to hear the case.
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“After five years, Idaho’s law protecting women’s sports has finally reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, the [American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is representing Hecox] wants to drop the case because they know the strength of our argument. But the legal arguments of one male athlete do not change the facts: Girls across Idaho can still be forced to compete against boys,” Labrador told Fox News Digital.
“That’s not fair, it’s not safe and it strips young women of equal opportunities. We’re urging the court to affirm that states have the authority to preserve and protect women’s sports.”
The Little v. Hecox lawsuit was initially filed by Hecox in 2020, when the trans athlete wanted to join the women’s cross-country team and block the state’s law preventing trans athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Hecox was joined by an anonymous biological female student, Jane Doe, who was concerned about the potential of being subjected to the sex dispute verification process. The challenge was successful, and a federal judge blocked Idaho’s state law.
A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld an injunction blocking the state law in 2023, before the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in July. Hecox then asked SCOTUS earlier this month to drop the challenge, claiming the athlete “has therefore decided to permanently withdraw and refrain from playing any women’s sports at BSU or in Idaho.”
But Labrador and Waggoner are now arguing that Hecox’s attempt to dismiss the case is barred by the a stay of all proceedings that Hecox previously agreed to. The defense attorneys also argue Hecox still has an interest in preserving the lower court decision to keep open the option of playing women’s sports.
“This case is not moot simply because Hecox claims to have decided not to play women’s sports,” the response read.
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Ultimately, the defense in this case is looking for a bigger-picture outcome than simply whether Hecox can play women’s sports.
Labrador previously said he hopes for the Supreme Court to cast a decision with a wider impact than just letting one state carry out its own specific law on the issue. He wants a new national precedent.
“I believe that that’s what they’re gonna do,” Labrador previously told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
“I think they’re going to have a big ruling on whether men can participate in women’s sports, and, more importantly, how to determine whether transgender individuals are protected by the federal constitutions and state and federal laws.”
Attorneys general from 27 states and the U.S. territory of Guam have signed onto amicus briefs to support the defense in the upcoming SCOTUS case.
AGs from Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming and the U.S. territory of Guam are all throwing their support behind the defendants, according to copies of the briefs obtained by Fox News Digital.
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The list includes the AGs from Idaho and West Virginia only signed the briefs for the case that is not based in their state, as they are already a defendant in the case within their state.
“At the heart of these cases is a fundamental question: can states uphold laws that preserve fairness and opportunity for female athletes? The answer must be yes. Across the country, girls and women are once again being asked to overcome structural disadvantages that Title IX was designed to eliminate. This is not about exclusion. It’s about preserving the integrity of female athletics,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
“We must protect these opportunities because law, science and the public will is on our side. We believe the court will be as well.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Hecox’s attorneys for a response.
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