Judge orders deportation of NYC council staffer following arrest, Mamdani fires back
An immigration judge has ordered the deportation of a former New York City Council employee federal officials said in January was an undocumented immigrant with a prior assault arrest.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced the deportation ruling on Wednesday, condemning it as a “miscarriage of justice and wholly deplorable” and pledging to fight back by filing an appeal.
Two months ago, Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez, 53, was detained during an immigration appointment and was identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Venezuelan “criminal illegal alien” who overstayed his visa.
Federal officials said despite having no work authorization, Rubio Bohorquez was employed by the New York City council as a data analyst for roughly one year.
DHS EXPOSES BACKGROUND OF NYC COUNCIL EMPLOYEE AFTER MENDINI FUMED OVER ARREST
Local officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Menin, strongly disputed DHS claims, stressing that Rubio Bohorquez had legal authorization to remain in the U.S., including the right to work.
“Today, Judge Conroy ordered the removal of Rafael Rubio, our City Council employee, from the United States,” Menin said. “We are outraged and will continue to pursue every legal avenue to secure his release and ensure his case is properly heard on appeal.”
“This is an affront to justice,” Mamdani added in a post on X. “A dedicated public servant with legal authorization to remain in the country, Rafael showed up for a routine immigration appointment and, despite following the rules, he was detained and has now been held for months.”
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Rubio Bohorquez entered the United States on a B2 tourist visa in 2017, which required him to depart the same year, according to DHS. Menin said the staff member had been cleared to remain in the country until October 2026.
She further called his immigration order a “technical error” related to his asylum application. The staffer reportedly had a missing signature on his papers and was denied the opportunity to rectify it, a process Rubio Bohorquez’s lawyer said would only take one hour, the New York Post reported, citing Menin.
“Today’s ruling appears to hinge on a procedural issue related to his asylum application,” Menin added. “That is extremely troubling. A technical error should not determine the fate of a man who has done everything right and poses no risk to anyone.”
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Local officials added they will file an appeal and demanded Rubio Bohorquez’s immediate release until the legal proceedings are completed.
“Let me be clear: Rafael should not continue to be detained while this is sorted out,” Menin said. “An appeal will be filed, and we demand that Rafael’s case be properly heard by the deadline on April 17. At a minimum, he should be released pending that appeal. There is no justification for continuing to hold him under these circumstances.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the DHS for more information.
‘Tell me to my face’: Top moments in Mullin’s heated confirmation hearing
Frustrations, friendship and questions of temperament dominated the confirmation hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as the Senate sprints to confirm him to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The hearing, led by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chair Rand Paul, R-Ky., started with a tense exchange between him and Mullin and ended with questions about whether the committee would even hold a confirmation vote.
President Donald Trump tapped Mullin to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The Senate has little time to move through the process, given that Trump set a deadline of March 31 to have Mullin installed as the next Homeland Security chief.
MULLIN FACES DEMOCRAT GRILLING IN FIRST HURDLE TO LEAD DHS AMID SHUTDOWN FIGHT
Paul plans to oppose him, meaning that unless Mullin can generate support from Democrats on the panel, his nomination will be substantially slowed.
It was fast, explosive and marred by the ongoing DHS shutdown, which entered its 33rd day on Wednesday. Below are top moments from the back-and-forth that will decide whether Mullin gets the job to lead the embattled agency.
‘Tell me to my face’
The hearing immediately opened with fireworks over Mullin’s comments that Paul’s 2017 assault, which left him with several broken ribs and the removal of part of his lung, was “justified.”
Paul accused Mullin of never having “the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified.”
“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force,” Paul said.
Mullin shot back before launching into his opening remarks, saying Paul called him a “liar,” and argued, “everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct and to the point.”
“And if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face. If you recall, back in my House days, we actually did have this conversation because of remarks that I made.”
“You were in a room. I simply addressed that,” he continued. “I said I could understand, because of the behavior you were having, that I could understand why your neighbor did what he did.”
‘Those words probably should have been retracted’
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the panel’s top Democrat, pressed Mullin on his accusation that Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota, was a “deranged individual that came in to cause max damage.”
“Could we expect those kinds of quick responses if you are confirmed as secretary?” Peters said. “Would you be — basically — were you responding as Secretary Noem, are we going to expect that same behavior all over again?”
Mullin didn’t push back against Peters’ question.
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“Those words probably should have been retracted,” Mullin said. “I shouldn’t have said that. If secretary, I wouldn’t. The investigation is ongoing.”
“And there is — like I said — there’s sometimes going to make mistakes, and I own that one. I went out there too fast. I was responding immediately without the facts,” he continued. “That’s my fault. That won’t happen as secretary.”
Fetterman breaks with Dems
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is no stranger to bucking his own party, and he’ll likely do it again during Mullin’s confirmation vote.
The pair became friendly during a congressional delegation trip and have maintained that relationship ever since.
And he recognizes that he’ll likely be the key vote to confirm his colleague.
“I came here and committed to come here with an open mind, and I’m going to continue to do that. It’s not going to be about gotcha moments for me. My experience with you has been consistent and professionalism,” Fetterman said.
But Fetterman also took a moment to blast his party for continuing to block DHS funding and noted that he was “the only Democrat that refused to shut our DHS down.”
“It’s a strange devotion. I don’t understand why you would shut the entire agency down just because you want those kinds of reforms on ICE that have absolutely no impact on ICE and don’t force any of those things,” Fetterman said. “I refuse to do that.”
Mullin’s classified trip
The nature of a shadowy trip Mullin took while serving in the House nearly derailed his expected confirmation vote on Thursday.
Peters questioned the lawmaker about an undisclosed trip taken between 2015 and 2016 and charged that “quite frankly, as we’ve had these conversations, you have not been forthcoming with me or this committee.”
“The story always seems to evolve, to kind of change, and as you know, candor, honesty, transparency are absolutely critical, particularly at this time, to try to build trust as the secretary of Homeland Security,” Peters said.
TEAMSTERS BOSS PRAISES MULLIN DHS NOMINATION DESPITE PAST HEATED HEARINGS
Paul asked Mullin to explain the trip in a classified setting and threatened to cancel the hearing otherwise.
“I’m still willing to have the vote tomorrow, but I can cancel the vote tomorrow,” Paul said. “I’m still willing to have the vote, get this done and get it over with.”
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Mullin argued that, to his knowledge, only four people were aware of the details of the trip, and he did not have the authority to tell Paul or Peters.
“I would really enjoy sitting there and having a conversation with you, because I don’t want you to have questions or question my character on this,” Mullin said. “That’s very simple for me, but I can’t make that authorization. You guys know that.”
SEN JOHN KENNEDY: Democrats are playing politics with national security
My Democratic colleagues have opposed President Donald Trump’s agenda at every turn, and that’s their right. But their decision to shut down the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) isn’t some harmless act of political gamesmanship; it’s incredibly dangerous.
In the one month since Democrats voted to deny funding to DHS, the United States has faced at least four apparent terrorist attacks.
On March 1, a gunman wearing a “Property of Allah” shirt killed three Americans and wounded 13 others outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas. On March 7, two men tossed explosives into a crowd of protesters near Gracie Mansion in New York City. The men told the New York Police Department that they had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. They had hoped to kill more people than the Boston bombers, but the courageous acts of NYPD officers on the scene foiled their attack.
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On March 12, a gunman — who had been released from prison after providing material support to ISIS — entered a classroom on the campus of Old Dominion University, shouted “Allahu Akbar,” and opened fire. He killed an ROTC instructor before brave students stopped him. That same day, a man in West Bloomfield, Michigan, injured one security guard when he rammed his vehicle into the Temple Israel synagogue while preschool was in session. According to the Israeli government, the suspect — who apparently shot himself amid a shootout with the Temple’s security — had a brother who was a member of the terrorist group Hezbollah.
These terrorists killed four Americans and injured dozens more. It makes me nauseous to imagine how many more could have died if not for the bravery of local law enforcement officers, the Temple’s armed security and Old Dominion’s ROTC students.
These attacks on American soil all occurred against the backdrop of President Trump’s decisive action in Iran. To be clear: President Trump had no choice but to strike Iran. He wasn’t trying to start a war; he is trying to end one. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — who shared the same affinity for killing Americans as the terrorists who just struck within the United States — wanted to resume building nuclear weapons, and he would have been able to do that if we didn’t stop Iran’s missile and drone production soon.
I’m confident our airmen will annihilate Iran’s missile supply, but that won’t eliminate the threat to the American people. The Ayatollah may have used his last rotten breath to trigger sleeper cells within the United States. These lone-wolf terrorists may be plotting additional attacks here at home, and we have no clue how many terrorists may be living among us because President Biden left our border wide open for four years.
During that time, the Biden administration released at least 99 known individuals from the terrorist watchlist into the country — and those are just the suspects we know about. It will take an all-hands-on-deck effort to find and deport every terrorist lurking among the estimated millions of unvetted people that the Biden administration released into our country.
Yet DHS, which employs the very people who should be hunting these lone wolves, is shut down because my Democratic colleagues have been throwing a month-long temper tantrum.
At the heart of this meltdown is the fact that many of my Democratic colleagues want open borders. They don’t think we should deport anybody, and they’re holding funding for DHS hostage because they hate the idea that officers at Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might actually enforce our immigration laws.
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In turn, they’ve made a series of demands to resume funding. Some of the requests were reasonable, and the Trump administration agreed to implement them as soon as possible. For example, all ICE officers will wear body cameras during future operations. They’d do it right now, but it’s hard to buy cameras when Democrats won’t approve their funding.
The remaining Democratic demands are weapons-grade stupid. For example, they want to forbid ICE officers from wearing masks and force them to display their names on their uniforms. These policies would endanger the lives of ICE agents and their families. We can’t expect these law enforcement officers to focus on hunting terrorists when anti-ICE lunatics are following their vehicles or showing up at their churches.
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We all know some Democrats hate President Trump more than the Devil hates holy water, but we’ve seen four apparent terrorist attacks in two weeks. The Department of Homeland Security isn’t a pawn in a political game. We need these officers focused on spotting sleeper cells, not their missing paychecks.
To my Democratic colleagues: Don’t wait for another attack to get serious about protecting America’s security. Reopen DHS today.
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Joseph Duggar arrested for alleged molestation of girl under 12 years old
Joseph Garrett Duggar was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl years earlier.
The former “19 Kids and Counting” star was arrested and charged with molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The alleged victim, now 14, told investigators during a forensic interview that the allegations happened while she was on a vacation to Panama City Beach in Florida with her family in 2020.
During the vacation, the former reality star allegedly asked the girl to sit on his lap, then he asked her to sit next to him and covered both of them with a blanket, the sheriff’s office said in a release.
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The office said: “Duggar manipulated the victim’s underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.”
Duggar later apologized for what he allegedly did to the girl, and it stopped, officials said.
The girl’s father confronted Duggar about the crimes on Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said, adding that Duggar admitted what he had done to him and police.
Duggar, who lives in Arkansas, is awaiting extradition to Florida.
He was booked into jail in Washington County, Arkansas, according to People magazine.
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Duggar’s older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted and sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison in 2022 for possessing child sex abuse material.
Josh is expected to remain in prison until 2032 after his appeal for a new trial failed in 2023.
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A federal jury in Arkansas found Josh, 38, guilty in December 2021 on charges related to the receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced in May 2022 to 151 months in prison. Duggar was later transferred from Washington County Jail in his home state of Arkansas to FCI Seagoville in Texas.
The allegations against Josh date to 2006 after a family friend sent a tip to authorities that he had allegedly molested four of his sisters. But the investigation ended because the statute of limitations had passed.
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The allegations reemerged in 2015, leading to the cancellation of “19 Kids and Counting.” Josh apologized for marital infidelity and a pornography addiction at the time and sought treatment.
He is married to Anna Duggar, and they share seven children together.
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Joseph is also married with children.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Duggar family and the Bay County Sheriff’s Department for comment.
Former Trump admin official under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified info
The FBI is investigating former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent over allegations that he leaked classified information, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The probe predates Kent’s departure from government, sources told Fox News Digital.
The FBI declined Fox News’ request for comment.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Kent by phone and email for comment.
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Kent resigned Tuesday from his role as the nation’s top counterterrorism official, citing opposition to the U.S. war against Iran.
In a public statement, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war,” arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat and that the conflict marked a break from the administration’s prior approach to avoiding prolonged wars in the Middle East.
A senior administration official previously told Fox News Digital that Kent was a “known leaker” who had been cut out of intelligence briefings months before his resignation.
OUSTED HEGSETH AIDE RESURFACES IN INTEL ROLE AS IRAN WAR SPARKS INTERNAL STRAIN
It is unclear whether the FBI investigation is related to those concerns or to a separate matter.
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Kent, a former Army Green Beret and CIA paramilitary officer, was appointed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center in early 2025. He is a Gold Star spouse.
Cruise line cancels planned sailings, upending vacations: ‘Definitely a disappointment’
Carnival Cruise Line has canceled 11 sailings on its Carnival Firenze ship, which were all scheduled for fall 2026.
“Due to changes to itinerary plans, we have canceled sailings aboard Carnival Firenze scheduled between Oct. 12, 2026, and Nov. 16, 2026,” Carnival said in a shared statement with Fox News Digital.
The cruise cancellations are connected to a redeployment effort, according to a statement by the company to booked guests.
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Carnival is planning to redeploy its Firenze ship from Long Beach to Miami in early 2027, followed by a permanent move to New York City in the summer of 2027, it said. The vessel will offer voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Canada, TravelAge West reported.
The redeployment will include a Carnival Journeys Southern Caribbean voyage departing from Miami in May 2027 before it leaves for New York City, according to Cruise Industry News.
“Guests booked on the affected sailings, as well as their travel advisors, have been notified directly. We have apologized to our impacted guests and are offering them the option to rebook another,” the statement continued.
Carnival Firenze was scheduled to operate three- and four-night cruises due to depart from Long Beach.
Carnival is working closely with booked passengers to find a similar voyage.
Gene Sloan, cruise director at The Points Guy, said these kinds of itinerary changes aren’t unusual.
“It’s definitely a disappointment for customers who are booked on the existing sailings that get canceled. But given the sailings on Carnival Firenze are 7-8 months out, it probably doesn’t affect a huge number of people,” Sloan told Fox News Digital.
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“In general, shorter sailings get booked up closer to departure dates.”
Carnival is working closely with booked passengers to find a similar voyage, it said. In the event that those passengers do not want to change their itineraries, they will receive a full refund.
Carnival cruise passengers have the option of booking comparable sailing in similar accommodations, along with an onboard credit, Carnival said.
“Guests who choose not to reschedule will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items to the original form of payment,” the statement concluded.
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If booked passengers schedule a comparable sailing by March 25, 2026, they will receive a $50 per person onboard credit, according to Yahoo Travel.
After the March 25 deadline, reservations will be automatically canceled and a full refund will be issued, the same source said.
The Carnival Firenze debuted in April 2024. It’s known for its “Fun Italian Style” cruising, inspired by the city of Florence.
It had been operating year-round out of Long Beach, California.
The Firenze can accommodate around 4,126 passengers at double occupancy, with a maximum capacity of roughly 5,245 to 5,260 guests, according to the company.
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The ship features Italian-themed décor and dining — such as the Terrazza staterooms and Amari cocktail bar — and familiar favorites such as Guy’s Burger Joint.
Carnival also notified booked guests this week of another change in California. Several 2026 voyages on the Carnival Panoramawill have a revised schedule implemented.
Carnival Panorama also departs from Long Beach and visits Mexican Riviera ports, including Mazatlán, La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.
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None of the destinations have been removed, but the company changed the order of port calls, port times and some departure and return times from Long Beach, according to CruiseHive.
Passengers rattled
In recent weeks, many cruise lines have been thrown into chaos after the killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho” and most recently due to the Iran conflict.
Safety concerns rattled cruise passengers after the U.S. government issued security warnings for Mexico Feb. 22. Puerto Vallarta was of particular concern to cruise ship operators.
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Additionally, thousands of passengers were on ships in Doha and Dubai during the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Cruise lines have been facing the volatility in oil prices during the industry’s busiest booking period, known as the “wave season,” which runs between January and March. It typically sees operators offering special deals and discounts for trips.
These cruises tend to run during the third quarter and have a disproportionately large contribution to cruise operators’ incomes, according to Lizzie Dove, an analyst at Goldman Sachs.
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Dove noted that the oil shock could affect Americans’ bookings to Europe, particularly for higher-priced transatlantic trips.
Spring break party scenes turn ugly as cops ramp up public shaming campaign
Authorities in the Florida Panhandle are taking spring break by storm by sharing viral bodycam video in an effort to crack down on rowdy college students allegedly breaking the law.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), which has jurisdiction over hotspot Panama City, has launched a social media campaign looking to deter college students from engaging in unlawful behavior by promoting arrests online.
“We appreciate visitors that respect our community and laws, but will not tolerate disorder in illegal activity,” Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said in a video posted to Facebook.
The department is sharing clips of recent incidents stemming from spring break chaos, earning hundreds of thousands of views as officials throughout the Sunshine State grapple with another year of college students descending on their city’s beaches.
VIDEO SHOWS PANICKED SPRING BREAK CROWDS FLEEING BEACH HOTSPOT AFTER REPORTS OF FIVE WEEKEND SHOOTINGS
In the fourteenth episode of “Busted in the Panhandle,” BCSO takes viewers along for the ride as they break up multiple house parties and street racing events tied to spring break.
A portion of the video shows a chaotic scene outside a residential home in which a college-aged man is covered in blood while claiming he was “jumped,” as authorities respond to a call regarding a house party disturbance on Feb. 28.
According to an incident report obtained by Fox News Digital, authorities arrived on the scene to find Steven Claghorn “with blood on his face and shirt attempting to enter a vehicle,” while a woman identified as “Ava” was yelling at him.
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Upon speaking to several witnesses, deputies learned Claghorn had broken up with Ava “on her birthday” during a party at the house, resulting in a fight between the pair.
The altercation allegedly turned physical when Claghorn raised his fist and attempted to swing at Ava, but was blocked by the group, according to the incident report.
After officers arrived, the situation quickly escalated after Ava appeared to shove a female police officer, causing her to be taken into custody.
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“Don’t handle her like that,” Claghorn, who appears to be intoxicated, tells the officer. “I don’t care about the job title. Don’t handle her like that.”
Ava can be heard hysterically screaming as she is handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car after being arrested on charges of willfully and knowingly obstructing or opposing a law enforcement officer.
Claghorn was subsequently arrested on charges of assault and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, according to police.
Another clip shows officers breaking up a house party hosted by students at the start of spring break on March 8.
Approximately a dozen students, dressed in party clothes and bathing suits, can be seen filing out of the home as officers try to determine who is in charge of the party.
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At one point, the students are lined up along the wall and questioned as to who is currently staying at the house.
“We live in a city where people come in for vacation and have a good time, but at no point does that mean that we’re going to be okay with people coming into our county or our city and breaking our rules and our laws,” an officer can be heard telling the group. “Does that makes sense?”
In another clip, authorities take an individual into custody for allegedly street racing with a pair of vehicles on Feb. 28.
According to an incident report obtained by Fox News Digital, an officer witnessed two vehicles engaged in an apparent street racing match in which the leading vehicle was observed reaching speeds of 107 mph.
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Bodycam video shows officers taking the driver into custody.
“I’m under arrest?” The driver can be heard asking.
“Yeah, 107 [mph] in a 45 [mph zone],” the officer replies as he places handcuffs on the individual.
The driver, identified as Rodney Jackson, was subsequently arrested and charged with racing on the roadway and super speeder – speed over 100 mph.
In response to the Spring Break chaos, authorities have banned alcohol on Panama City Beach for the month of March and bars must close by 2 a.m. Additionally, BCSO has implemented a nighttime curfew for minors and vacation rentals are barred from renting to anyone under 21 years of age.
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In nearby Volusia County, officials made 133 spring break-related arrests over the weekend.
“If you plan on engaging in this type of activity, I’d recommend you find somewhere else to go,” Ford said. “We encourage parents of minors considering coming to Panama City Beach to make them aware of these rules to avoid significant expense and legal consequences.”
Newsom, CA Dems ‘processing’ Cesar Chavez abuse claims after bombshell report
California Democratic leaders have released statements attempting to distance themselves from pro-labor union activist Cesar Chavez in the wake of “heartbreaking” allegations against him.
On Wednesday, The New York Times published a bombshell report revealing accusations that Chavez sexually abused several women, including fellow labor activist Dolores Huerta, prior to his death in 1993.
In response to the article, several California elected officials have released statements condemning the actions and expressing support for the victims.
“These are heartbreaking, horrific accounts of abuse. I stand with the survivors, commend them for their bravery in sharing their stories, and condemn the abhorrent actions they described. The survivors deserve to be heard. They deserve to be supported. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” Sen. Alex Padilla wrote in a statement.
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He continued, “There must be zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, and the silencing of victims, no matter who is involved. Confronting painful truths and ensuring accountability is essential to honoring the very values the greater farm worker movement stands for — values rooted in dignity and justice for all.”
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote on X, “It takes immense bravery to come forward, and my heart goes out to all of the survivors, including Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas, and Dolores Huerta. The accounts of abuse are deeply disturbing and unacceptable. I’ve been in touch with labor and community leaders in San Francisco and will continue to ensure we are supporting this community and all survivors.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also wrote in a statement, “The sickening reality is that what Dolores, Ana, and Debra endured is not isolated, nor is it of the past. Real progress requires more than moments of reckoning – it demands sustained action to dismantle social, cultural, economic, and political structures that have hurt women throughout our history. Dolores and leaders like her inspired so many of us to activism.”
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Other California political leaders also expressed solidarity with the victims but emphasized the need to separate Chavez from the overall labor movement.
Sen. Adam Schiff wrote on X, “The legacy of UFW promoting equitable and fair treatment for our farm workers is not the province of any one person, including Cesar Chavez. The work that the organizers and leaders of UFW continue to do today is absolutely essential, and especially now, when immigrants and farmworker communities are under assault.”
“The women who have come forward are carrying years of pain. Speaking about that takes real courage. Ana Murguia, Debra Rojas and Dolores Huerta are speaking with clarity and strength. I stand with them and condemn all instances of sexual assault. The United Farm Workers was built by a movement of people — especially women — and its legacy is bigger than one individual,” Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Eric Swalwell wrote.
Rep. Lou Correa’s statement about the report called for “zero tolerance” for sexual predators, including “the president of the United States.”
“Whether it is the president of the United States, a British prince or a leader of farm workers, all sexual predators must be held accountable. There must be zero tolerance for sexual predators, especially those who prey on young children,” Correa said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was asked about the report during a press conference and also emphasized the need to focus on the labor movement.
“I’m just processing this within hours… I just read the article this morning… As I say, there was never an indication all these years, particularly having spent so much time with Dolores, and now, I have about two kids. I mean, it was just a lot to process. So look, I think again, it’s about the movement. It’s about farmworkers. It’s about labor. It’s about social justice, economic justice, racial justice, all things that the movement you know has inspired, and we should all be celebrating,” Newsom said.
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He did not have a clear answer about how the state would respond to Cesar Chavez Day, ordinarily a formal holiday in California, on March 31 or the dozens of schools, streets and libraries named after Chavez.
In a comment to Fox News Digital, chief deputy director of communications Diana Crofts-Pelayo gave an additional statement while adding that Newsom is “open to conversations with the Legislature on any statutory changes” regarding the report.
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“We’re all absorbing. Jen and I are very close to Dolores. So many of us are… for decades and decades, and none of us knew, and we are all processing this. The farm workers movement and a labor movement are much bigger than one man — and we celebrate that and that will be our focus as we process what the next steps are. We’re for justice. We’re for truth. We’re for transparency. We will have the backs of these victims,” the statement read.
Prior to The New York Times’ report, local organizations and labor unions began canceling celebrations for Cesar Chavez Day. The United Farm Workers, the labor union co-founded by Chavez, released a statement on Tuesday confirming that it would not be taking part in any Cesar Chavez Day activities.
Former ‘Price Is Right’ model claims she was axed for refusing to lie about Bob Barker
Holly Hallstrom says her time on “The Price Is Right” came at a steep cost.
The former model, who showcased prizes as one of “Barker’s Beauties” — a nod to “Charlie’s Angels” — is speaking out in a new episode of E!’s documentary series “Dirty Rotten Scandals,” premiering Wednesday.
The episode examines allegations that the beloved game show was marred by a hostile work environment, sexual harassment and discrimination.
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Bob Barker, who hosted the show for 35 years, died in 2023 at age 99.
Hallstrom appeared on the show from 1977 until she was fired in 1995, a decision she has said was blamed on weight gain caused by medication. However, Hallstrom alleges she was actually dismissed after declining to publicly support Barker when fellow model Dian Parkinson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in 1994.
Barker consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that any relationships were consensual.
WATCH: FAMOUS GAME SHOW HOST BOB BARKER PASSES AWAY AT 99
“I want people to know the whole story, not just Barker’s side of it,” Hallstrom told Fox News Digital. “After all these years, people who have only heard one side are going to hear the other side, and our side is court-documented testimony. You can’t argue against that.”
When Hallstrom was invited to “come on down” and audition for the show, she said she was immediately sold. Onstage, contestants competed for prizes by trying to guess their exact retail value, a simple premise that quickly became a television sensation.
“I thought it would be like working for the circus every day,” she recalled. “It was so big, bright and colorful. The people were so happy and excited to be there. It was just a wonderful environment. I thought, ‘I would love to work here, plus they’re going to pay me all this money?’ It was very exciting. It was scary, don’t get me wrong. It was terrifying to be auditioning for a show that size. And it’s a live audience, live theater.”
Hallstrom said the atmosphere quickly changed on set. In the episode, Hallstrom said show producers pressured her to alter her appearance to keep her role.
“I was very young, and at that time, everyone was getting breast implants,” she explained to Fox News Digital. “They were kind of the new thing. And I loved my job. I thought, ‘This is what you have to do. If you’re going to be an actress on TV, you have to look the part.’ I thought it was just part of the job, having the job, getting the job, keeping the job.
“It turned out that I hated my breast implants. I hated them for years and years. And the fact that I had to pay for them didn’t surprise me because the executive producer at that time was cheap. He’s like, ‘I’m not paying for them. You want this job? You pay for your breast implants yourself.’”
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But things worsened when Parkinson filed her lawsuit. Parkinson alleged that Barker had forced her to perform oral sex, and that she agreed to have sex with him only because she feared losing her job, Business Insider reported. According to the episode, many attempts were made to contact Parkinson. Fox News Digital also reached out to the former model for comment.
“When Dian filed her suit, oh boy, that was the beginning of when everything got really bad,” said Hallstrom. “I thought the whole situation, all the publicity, all the media attention, I thought it was horrible. I thought it was tacky. I was glad [co-creator] Mark Goodson had died [in 1992]. He would’ve been mortified to see that kind of tacky scandal on what was a family show.”
“I didn’t want to be involved in it at all,” said Hallstrom. “Barker wanted us to go on all these talk shows and say he was the victim and that Dian was lying. I didn’t participate because I didn’t want to, and I thought it was tacky. And also because I could not honestly say, ‘Oh yes, Dian is lying,’ or ‘Oh no, Dian is not lying.’ I was not present for those conversations.”
“I just avoided doing all of Bob’s PR tour,” Hallstrom continued. “Finally, I was told I would be appearing on ‘The Suzanne Somers Show,’ period. And I did. Of course, all they wanted was for me to say that Dian was lying. When Suzanne asked me if I thought Dian was lying, I just babbled some answer, and that was that.
“But then that week, I read in the tabloids, ‘Holly says, ‘Dian is lying.’ I never said that. I called the tabloid and demanded a retraction. They printed a retraction. But that was the beginning of the big rift between Bob and me. That’s when I got on his s–t list.”
Parkinson dropped her lawsuit in 1995. At the time, her attorney said the legal battle had become too emotionally and financially draining, while impacting her physical health. Barker maintained that their relationship was consensual.
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“Barker went all over television saying, ‘Her case was dismissed, and I’m totally vindicated,’” Hallstrom recalled. “I said, ‘That’s not true.’ I would not comment on that. I did not participate in those interviews. … I would not change my testimony to suit Barker. That’s when I was told my weight was a problem. I was off the show.”
“That was, well, probably the worst thing in my life at that point that had ever happened,” Hallstrom admitted. “It only got worse from there.”
Hallstrom and Barker spent nearly a decade locked in a legal battle after he sued her for defamation, according to Business Insider. She responded with a countersuit alleging defamation, along with claims of emotional distress and discrimination.
According to the outlet, Hallstrom said she was effectively blacklisted in the entertainment industry and pushed to the brink financially. She also declined settlement offers, saying she refused to be silenced by a nondisclosure agreement.
“As soon as I said I was fired because of my weight, for the first time in his career, Bob Barker was bombarded with hate mail,” said Hallstrom. “They would bring boxes, bags of letters to the network by the truckload. That’s when Barker said, ‘Holly is lying. Weight was never mentioned.’
“But I knew that I had the show on videotape showing where I was cut out, supposedly because of my weight problem. If it ever went to court, I would win. But the problem was, Barker spent the next 10 years fighting to keep his own lawsuit against me from ever going to court.”
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“I knew that it was just a matter of time that one of two things would happen,” she said. “I was going to run out of money and have to accept the settlement with the non-disclosure, or I was going to hang in there until Barker ran out of legal moves. That’s what finally happened — he ran out of legal moves at the same time I ran out of money.”
Two days before Hallstrom’s case was scheduled to go to trial, Barker and CBS had agreed to settle, Business Insider reported. The outlet reported that the network agreed to pay her a settlement reportedly in the millions. The terms were not disclosed, and settlements do not constitute an admission of wrongdoing.
“I was not going to sign a non-disclosure for that show or anything,” she said. “I was not going to sign away my right to free speech. It also meant that Barker could not do to me what he did to Dian, go out and claim victory and vindication. … He could not say anything about me as long as I could speak out for myself. And he never said another word.”
Today, Hallstrom doesn’t watch old clips of herself, a reminder of a chapter she now views very differently. Even so, she says she has no regrets about taking the chance and auditioning for the show.
“I see myself, and I see someone who is trying so hard to appear graceful and poised like a professional model,” she said. “But I also see a young woman who was having a wonderful time entertaining people. And those were the happiest parts of my work, those hours when we were shooting in front of the audience.”
“No matter what was happening backstage, I still felt the happiness of the audience,” she said. “And to be in that position, to bring people happiness, is a gift. It was worth everything that was happening backstage.”
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“All the backstage stuff disappeared as soon as I stepped on stage,” Hallstrom added.