Comer readies blistering opening statement ahead of high-profile Minnesota fraud hearing
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., will accuse top Minnesota government officials of being “asleep at the wheel” at the start of his panel’s high-profile hearing into alleged fraud.
In Comer’s opening statement, obtained by Fox News Digital, he is expected to question whether “Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership” were negligent or “complicit” in the growing scandal.
“Minnesota’s social services — which are funded by you, the American taxpayer — are being ripped off. The most vulnerable are suffering as a result,” Comer will say, according to his prepared remarks.
“The fraudsters — many of whom are from Minnesota’s Somali community — have stolen from programs meant to feed needy kids, provide services to autistic children, house low-income and disabled Americans, and provide healthcare to vulnerable Medicaid recipients.”
HOUSE GOP BILL COULD TRIGGER SELF-DEPORTATION FOR SOMALI REFUGEES AMID MINNESOTA FRAUD PROBE
Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have charged multiple people with stealing more than $240 million from the Federal Child Nutrition Program through the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future.
However, the probe has since widened to multiple state-run programs being investigated for potential fraud. Childcare providers receiving state funding, mainly within the Somali community, are also under scrutiny.
U.S. attorneys have alleged that billions more dollars could have fallen prey to fraud in the state, something Walz has pushed back on while accusing Republicans of politicizing the scandal.
“Fraudsters like these take millions to enrich themselves while providing nothing, overstating, or outright faking the services. How many children have gone hungry because fraudsters stole money that was intended to provide them with food?” Comer will say.
KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS ‘PEOPLE WILL BE IN HANDCUFFS’ AS FEDS ZERO IN ON MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
“How many autistic children were denied services because fraudsters instead sent this money overseas? How many low-income seniors, people with disabilities, or those with mental illnesses were denied access to housing because fraudsters drained resources and pocketed the money for themselves?”
Comer will argue in his statement that the revelations so far are “just the tip of the iceberg.”
The Wednesday hearing, which kicks off at 10 a.m. ET, will feature testimony from three Republicans in the state legislature.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Comer summoned Walz and Ellison for a follow-up hearing on Feb. 10, but it’s not yet clear if they will attend.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., will also take part in Wednesday’s hearing, Fox News Digital was told. Emmer is a longtime critic of Walz’s administration and represents a district that’s home to two out of three of the hearing’s GOP witnesses.
Golden Globes host explains why one celebrity is off-limits for jokes at awards show
Nikki Glaser revealed the one A-Lister that she doesn’t dare to roast when she returns as host of the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
The 41-year-old comedian, who became the first woman to host the awards ceremony solo last year, was tapped as emcee again after earning overwhelmingly positive reviews for her debut.
During a Tuesday appearance on “CBS Mornings,” Glaser shed some light on what the awards attendees and viewers can expect from her performance this year. She explained that she has been testing her material for the upcoming show at some of her stand-up gigs and admitted that there was one star that she would avoid mocking.
GOLDEN GLOBES HOST NIKKI GLASER RIPS ALEC BALDWIN, NICOLE KIDMAN IN JOKES TOO PROVOCATIVE FOR TV
“I’m trying out my monologue around LA at the clubs here and just even any joke about Julia Roberts, they are not there for,” she said.
“You cannot make fun of America’s sweetheart,” she continued. “Whatever I end up saying about her, that is the most fine-tuned joke that I’ve worked on so hard, because it is very delicate.”
“I mean, they were booing, and I was like, ‘Is she here?’” Glaser added. “It’s insane.”
“Nikki, Julia is everywhere,” “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King said.
JULIA ROBERTS JOKES ABOUT HOW MANY ‘MOVIES LEFT’ IN HER CAREER, FEELS A ‘COMPULSION’ TO RETURN TO THEATER
“Yeah, she’s all around us always,” Glaser agreed.
King noted that Glaser had contacted some celebrities last year for their input regarding jokes she planned to make about them and asked if she had reached out to anyone this year.
“Not yet, but I was wondering if anyone there had Sean Penn’s number because I would like to get his approval,” she said with a laugh. “Last year I was able to reach out to Benny Blanco. I had a friend of a friend who knew him and he seemed like someone I could kind of cold text, but I don’t even know if Leo [DiCaprio] has a phone.”
EMMYS HOST NATE BARGATZE PROMISES NO POLITICAL JOKES AT AWARDS SHOW AFTER KIRK ASSASSINATION
“There’s certain people that I don’t even know what I would say,” Glaser continued. “It’s almost like some of these jokes you think about, ‘OK, if I got their number, would I write them and ask them?’ And then I go, ‘You know what, they might say no.’ And I know the joke isn’t that mean. I would rather ask for forgiveness later at the after party when they’re drunk.”
The “Trainwreck” actress explained that she viewed the Golden Globes hosting gig as a “covert mission” since she has to please both the viewers at home and the stars in the audience at the ceremony.
“You have to be very delicate about making jokes that aren’t going to ruin anyone’s night, but you also want to give the people at home something to laugh at, and you want to poke fun at the people that they’re dying for you to make fun of,” she said. “Like people at home want you to make fun of the A-listers.”
“They want you to make them feel a little bit uncomfortable,” Glaser added. “So, it’s covert in the sense that I want to get away with those jokes without just ruining the vibe in the room. So, it’s really strategic, and it’s one of the most difficult jobs I’ve ever had is picking the perfect jokes.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Glaser has previously participated in several celebrity roasts, including those of Rob Lowe, Bruce Willis and Tom Brady and she has become known for her scathing jabs and fearless takedowns. The comedian was hailed as one of the standout performers at Brady’s roast in May 2024, which significantly raised her profile and led to her selection as the Golden Globes host for the 2025 awards show.
During her appearance on “CBS Mornings,” Glaser noted that her approach to performing at a roast differed from how she handles Golden Globes hosting duties.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
“I leave the mean for the roast,” she said. “I think people have known me as like, ‘Wow, she tells really mean jokes.’ I really save that for the roast because that’s the place to do them. People have signed up for that.”
“This, I feel like, I don’t know, I am a huge fan of these people, and this year’s a little bit different because we have so like many huge A-listers that I grew up kind of really admiring, and it’s easy for me to take down the newer batch of actresses and actors who are younger than me,” Glaser explained.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“It’s like ‘OK, I can make fun of you. I’m like a veteran,'” she continued. “But when it’s like people that I grew up admiring, it’s ‘Oh my gosh.’”
“It’s a different approach this year.”
Vance reposts meme poking fun at Democrats’ Jan 6 candlelight vigil
Vice President JD Vance shared a meme of congressional Democrats attending a candlelight vigil Tuesday marking the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6, reposting content that added sombreros to images of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as they held candles on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
Vance posted the image from his verified X account without commentary, showing Democratic leaders, including Schumer and Jeffries, prominently from a video clip below.
The original video clip was posted by the “End Wokeness” X account, which had the caption: “BREAKING: Congressional Dems just held a candlelit vigil to honor the 5th January 6th anniversary.”
The vigil itself featured remarks from Schumer and Jeffries, who described the ceremony as an effort to remember the events of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, and honor law enforcement officers and others who died in connection with the riot.
WHITE HOUSE TORCHES DEMOCRATS’ JAN 6 ‘GASLIGHTING’ CLAIMS IN ANNIVERSARY TAKEDOWN
“We are here today because we must never forget what happened on Jan. 6 five years ago,” Schumer said, adding that future generations should remember it. “The day democracy was placed at greater risk than it has been in a century, and more than a century.”
Schumer recalled being evacuated during the breach, saying he and others were “within 20 feet of those rioters of those insurrectionists” as they were moved to safety.
“On Jan. 6, our Capitol Police officers were heroes. Our DC police were heroes,” Schumer said. “…We will make sure that your sacrifices that day are never forgotten, nor will we ever, ever forget the lives of those we lost in the connection with the attack.”
Jeffries called Jan. 6 a “violent insurrection incited by Donald Trump to overturn the results of a free and fair election” and praised law enforcement who defended the Capitol.
“We owe these heroes an eternal debt of gratitude and will never forget their service and their sacrifice,” Jeffries said.
JD VANCE RESPONDS TO HAKEEM JEFFRIES’ CLAIM SOMBRERO MEME IS ‘RACIST’
Jeffries later asked attendees to observe a moment of silence “to remember those whose lives were lost as a result of the tragic and horrific events of Janu. 6, 2021.”
Following the moment of silence, attendees sang “God Bless America,” with Schumer’s voice carrying above the group.
Vance did not reference the victims or the vigil’s remarks in his repost, instead sharing the altered image without commentary.
Some social media users who supported the repost framed it as criticism of what they described as political theater rather than an attack on the victims of Jan. 6.
“These people and their theater antics are so embarrassing,” one user wrote in response to the post. “I’d laugh more often at them were it not for the very real authoritarian danger they pose which hides in plain sight.”
Another commenter criticized Democratic leadership for focusing on symbolic gestures rather than governance, writing, “I wish they put the same effort into their states and cities.”
Democrat leaders have previously faced criticism from conservative commentators over what they described as performative displays during moments of national tension.
In 2020, several lawmakers, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., drew attention for kneeling while wearing traditional Ghanaian Kente cloth stoles during Capitol events following the death of George Floyd; actions that were praised by supporters and criticized by opponents as political theater.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Variations of the sombrero meme targeting Jeffries have circulated online since the federal government shutdown last year amid criticism of Democratic leadership. The imagery has since reemerged periodically in online political satire.
Vance’s, Schumer’s and Jeffries’ offices did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Trump admin deals major blow to Minnesota hotel after ICE agents denied rooms
FIRST ON FOX: The General Services Administration (GSA) said it is terminating the Hampton Inn Lakeville in Minnesota from its list of approved lodging sites for all federal employees after the hotel refused to accommodate ICE agents and immigration officers.
Several emails posted by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE on Monday showed that the hotel was “not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property.”
“After I was informed that a local Hilton property canceled rooms reserved for ICE, GSA immediately reviewed the matter and found the hotel to be in clear violation of its government lodging program requirements,” GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst told Fox News Digital in a statement. “The property has been removed from the programs and booking tools effective immediately. GSA unequivocally supports our federal law enforcement partners.”
The GSA is a federal agency responsible for managing and supporting the basic functioning of federal agencies. Forst was nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the agency, and he was sworn in on Christmas Eve after being confirmed by the Senate in mid-December.
DHS SWEEPS TWIN CITIES, ARRESTS 400 AS FEDS BLAST WALZ FOR ‘FAILING TO PROTECT MINNESOTA’
The formerly Hilton-branded hotel was stripped of its Hilton label by the hotel chain Tuesday morning after a video surfaced appearing to show that the location continued to deny immigration officers despite Hilton Hotels saying that the venue had apologized and that “properties are open to everyone, and we do not tolerate any form of discrimination.”
The hotel participated in a government lodging program partnership, known as GSA FedRooms, between federal employees and the location. After the Hampton Inn Lakeville denied federal agents rooms, GSA removed the property from all lodging programs and travel systems.
HOMAN VOWS TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS IN TWIN CITIES ‘WITHOUT APOLOGY’ AMID MAYOR OPPOSITION
FedRooms is a GSA-managed transient lodging program providing Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) compliant hotel accommodations to U.S. government and military travelers at or below federal per diem rates.
GSA also terminated emergency lodging services and long-term lodging at the property.
Fox News Digital learned through sources that the hotel accommodated federal agents for roughly 130 total nights last year.
FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE’ INVESTIGATION AFTER VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGES MINNESOTA DAYCARE FRAUD
Including active-duty military members along with civilian employees, the total number of federal workforce exceeds 4 million.
Hilton Hotels noted in its initial statement that the Hampton Inn Lakeville is independently owned and operated and said that officials from the property took “immediate action to resolve this matter and are contacting impacted guests to ensure they are accommodated.”
However, a viral video posted to X by freelance journalist Nick Sortor Tuesday morning showed an employee at the counter continuing to deny federal agents, going against Hilton’s statement.
Hilton Hotels took action shortly after, separating the individual hotel from their network.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“A recent video clearly raises concerns that they are not meeting our standards and values,” Hilton Hotels said in a statement. “As such, we are taking immediate action to remove this hotel from our systems. Hilton is — and has always been — a welcoming place for all.”
Hampton Inn Lakeville appears to have been removed from Hilton’s website.
Trump unleashes the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ and puts socialists on notice worldwide
For the past 26 years, we have witnessed the devastating impact of socialism on the Venezuelan people. Today, we are filled with hope as we watch President Donald Trump take action to end that nightmare. Under Trump’s leadership, the United States is not only restoring order, but also implementing a modern vision of the Monroe Doctrine — countering foreign adversaries and paving the way for security and prosperity in the region.
President Trump’s actions in Venezuela are necessary and entirely lawful, grounded in well-established U.S. precedents for intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Drawing from historical examples, such as the 1983 invasion of Grenada to rescue Americans and halt a communist coup — and the 1989 invasion of Panama to oust the drug-trafficking dictator Manuel Noriega, Trump has ample legal authority under Article II of the Constitution as commander in chief.
These interventions were justified under the need to protect U.S. citizens, combat threats to regional stability and advance U.S. interests against narcotics and communism. Similarly, Trump’s deployment draws on the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) framework and executive powers affirmed by the Supreme Court, which recognizes the president’s broad authority in foreign affairs.
‘NOT EVEN IN MY MOST OPTIMISTIC FANTASIES’: VENEZUELAN REFUGEE WHO FLED PERSECUTION PRAISES MADURO’S CAPTURE
These precedents underscore that when a neighboring regime poses a clear and present danger — through mass migration, drug flows and alliances with hostile powers — the U.S. has the right to act decisively. Moreover, Trump’s bold strike aligns with the principles of just war theory, which justifies military action when it meets criteria such as just cause, right intention and proportionality.
Unlike previous presidents — who lacked the courage to defend America against encroaching socialism, allowing regimes like Maduro’s to fester and export chaos — Trump’s resolve marks a pivotal shift, invoking tools like the Alien Enemies Act and the War Powers Resolution to confront these dangers head-on. While prior U.S. administrations squandered resources on misguided foreign policy programs, including the promotion of LGBT and gender ideology initiatives that alienated traditional allies and distracted from core threats, Trump’s actions have swept away such follies, refocusing American foreign policy on tangible results and moral clarity.
True to his word, President Trump is fulfilling his promises by addressing the Venezuelan crisis head-on, including securing the nation’s vast oil reserves. By taking control of the oil that powered the communist regime for over two decades, Trump is reclaiming resources that have been weaponized against America.
These moves echo Trump’s “America First” ethos, ensuring that Venezuelan oil bolsters U.S. energy independence rather than funding anti-American forces. It’s a pragmatic step toward stabilization, preventing further humanitarian collapse and stemming the tide of refugees overwhelming our borders. Importantly, Americans played a key role in developing Venezuela’s oil infrastructure in the early 20th century, with American companies investing heavily to build refineries, pipelines and extraction facilities that transformed the nation into a major producer. Yet, under communist Hugo Chávez, this infrastructure was confiscated through nationalization and expropriation, stripping rightful stakeholders and leading to its decay because of communist plundering.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
“Operation Absolute Resolve,” conducted by the U.S. Department of War, represents a robust implementation of the Monroe Doctrine, originally proclaimed in 1823 to ward off European powers. Now evolved, under Trump as the “Donroe Doctrine,” this hemispheric strategy aims to counter contemporary threats from communist China, Cuba, as well as Russia and Iran. These adversaries have entrenched themselves in Venezuela: China through predatory loans and resource extraction, Cuba via its intelligence apparatus propping up Maduro’s repression and Russia with military advisors and arms deals that destabilize the region.
Trump’s intervention is challenging this axis of authoritarianism, hopefully expelling foreign influencers and reasserting U.S. primacy in our backyard by implementing the new National Security Strategy. By dismantling these networks, we not only neutralize immediate security risks — like potential missile bases or cyber threats — but also send a clear message that the Americas will no longer be a playground for hostile forces. To ensure success, the embargo on Venezuelan oil must continue until the dictatorial regime is no longer in power.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Ultimately, Venezuela’s oil must be administered by the United States to ensure a smooth transition. American stewardship provides the economic leverage needed for reconstruction and the incoming investments by U.S. energy firms will only benefit Venezuelan citizens. Under U.S. oversight, we can root out corruption, rebuild infrastructure and avoid the costly nation-building mistakes of the past that were paid for by American taxpayers.
Venezuela’s liberation by Trump proves that America is back. Communist dictators in Cuba and Nicaragua should take note: Under the “Donroe Doctrine,” we will no longer sit idle as an axis of evil grows in our backyard.
Teenager missing since November found safe as authorities make arrest
A South Carolina teenager reported missing late last year has been found safe, and a man has been arrested in the case, authorities said.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Office said Mackenzie Dalton, 16, was found in Lexington County following an investigation into her disappearance.
Deputies said there is no indication Dalton was ever held against her will or with someone she did not want to be with.
Dalton was reported missing after she was last seen leaving her home in late November, according to a Jan. 2 statement from the sheriff’s office. At the time, authorities said she was considered an endangered juvenile due to her age and the length of the time she had been gone.
TEEN GIRL VANISHES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA HOME; POLICE FEAR SHE’S IN SERIOUS DANGER AFTER MONTHLONG SEARCH
Investigators previously said they believed Dalton may have been with a man she knew, although authorities did not release the man’s identity.
The sheriff’s office said the vehicle Dalton drove away in and the suitcase she took from her home were recovered during the investigation. The teen was described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing 118 pounds.
Deputies arrested Mackenzie Keith English Jr., 18, charging him with obstruction of justice, during their investigation.
Authorities accuse English of lying to investigators about being with Dalton and about his knowledge of her whereabouts.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
English is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, the sheriff’s office said.
Sanctioned tanker flees US forces, now under Russian naval escort off Irish coast
A Venezuela-linked oil tanker operating in the so-called “dark fleet” painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia in an apparent bid to evade the U.S. Coast Guard, according to reports.
The vessel has since been spotted off Ireland, with the U.S., U.K., France and Ireland reportedly conducting aerial surveillance after it escaped U.S. interception in December, The Times reported.
Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly since deployed a submarine and naval assets to escort the tanker to its own waters, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday.
Russia’s state-controlled foreign media outlet RT shared a video filmed from the tanker’s deck, allegedly showing a U.S. Coast Guard cutter following the vessel.
The tanker, Bella 1, had renamed itself Marinera and registered under the Russian flag after fleeing the region, according to an intelligence report from AI maritime analytics firm Windward.
TREASURY TARGETS OIL TRADERS, TANKERS ACCUSED OF HELPING MADURO EVADE U.S. SANCTIONS
“Runaway Venezuela-trading tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia mid-voyage last week to avoid capture by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean,” Windward said.
Multiple reports said Tuesday the vessel is now under U.S. military surveillance roughly 230 miles off the Irish coast.
According to reports, U.S. P-8 surveillance aircraft have tracked the tanker off Ireland only in recent days.
CBS News reported that U.S. forces have pursued the vessel since December, as Washington intensified enforcement against Venezuelan oil shipments.
Intelligence sources said Venezuela had considered placing military personnel aboard oil tankers disguised as civilians to help vessels evade U.S. blockades and that U.S. forces are likely preparing to intercept the tanker.
The pursuit of the vessel follows strikes in Venezuela under the Trump administration and the Jan. 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP’S PUSH TO PUT US OIL FIRMS BACK IN VENEZUELA
Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism charges and said he was a “prisoner of war.”
On Jan. 1, Russia had formally asked the U.S. to stop its pursuit of the vessel, according to Reuters.
Citing two people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that Moscow made the diplomatic request as U.S. forces continued tracking the vessel for nearly two weeks in the Atlantic.
The request came as Trump simultaneously sought to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Reuters added.
TRUMP’S VENEZUELA STRIKE SPARKS CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH AS MADURO IS HAULED INTO US
TankerTrackers.com alleges the vessel previously transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China between 2021 and 2025.
“Bella 1, now known as Marinera, is not alone,” Windward said.
The tanker has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since June 2024, accused of transporting illicit oil cargoes linked to a Hezbollah-connected company.
“The very large crude carrier is joining a growing fleet of Western-sanctioned tankers seeking protection under Russia’s national flag,” the firm added.
“Over the past six months, a dozen or more of the darkest tankers operating globally have switched from open registries to Russia. This trend accelerated in December as the flag state emerged as a critical shield against drone strikes and vessel seizures.”
VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO’S ARREST BY US FORCES
Windward also identified two additional Western-sanctioned tankers currently in Venezuelan waters that have reflagged to Russia in recent days to prevent U.S. naval interception.
The tanker Hyperion departed Venezuela on Jan. 1 flying the Russian flag, while Premier signaled via AIS that it changed its flag from Gambia to Russia on Dec. 22.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Premier remains at the José Terminal in Venezuela,” Windward said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard and the White House for comment.
Heavily armed police swarm suspects during brazen handbag heist worth $100K
California officials announced Tuesday that authorities have arrested two individuals after video captured suspects allegedly trying to nab nearly $100,000 worth of luxury handbags from a retail store.
The Irvine Police Department (IPD) released footage showing what appears to be heavily armed officers foiling the brazen burglary as two suspects, dressed in black hoodies and face masks, attempted to flee with an armful of designer items.
Authorities said police responded to reports of a burglary early morning, when security staff alerted officers of the troubling incident.
“Early this morning, Irvine Police Department responded to a burglary of a luxury handbag store in the area of Jamboree and Dupont,” the agency said. “The building security alerted officers that two people were seen on surveillance entering the building.”
SOPHISTICATED PORCH PIRATE RING HACKED SHIPMENT TRACKING INFO TO STEAL HUNDREDS OF PHONES, PROSECUTOR SAYS
IPD identified the two suspects as Richard Bernard Spencer, 40, of Los Angeles, and Marcellus Ronell Shelby, 30, of Hollywood.
In the footage, two suspects were seen scaling a tall wall before entering the building. They then appeared to enter a luxury store that carried popular brands such as Celine and Givenchy.
The individuals were then spotted by security cameras attempting to leave through an emergency exit door while carrying numerous bags, before suddenly pivoting toward a flight of stairs and running up to the floor above.
SUSPECTED THIEVES CAUGHT ON CAMERA SMASHING WASHINGTON STATE STOREFRONT WITH TRUCK IN ATM HEIST ATTEMPT
Numerous officers, heavily armed with what appeared to be assault rifles, then found the two suspects hiding near office spaces, according to the video. They were accompanied by K9 units and partners from the Costa Mesa Police Department, which provided drone support, according to the IPD.
The suspects were then caught on camera getting handcuffed and escorted to a police cruiser, body camera footage shows. Officers noted that the suspects resisted arrest when apprehended.
About $100,000 worth of handbags were recovered and returned to the victim, the police said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The two suspects were arrested and booked in Orange County Jail on charges of burglary, grand theft, conspiracy, vandalism and resisting arrest.
Mamdani tenant chief said collective housing will impact ‘White families especially’
In a resurfaced tweet and video clip, a top housing official in newly minted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration previously called homeownership a “weapon of white supremacy” and argued that property should be treated as a “collective good.”
Cea Weaver, a longtime housing activist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), was tapped by Mamdani to be his director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.
Since taking office, Weaver has gone viral for several tweets she posted on her since-deleted X account.
A screenshot of an Aug. 21, 2019, tweet shows Weaver writing that “private property including and kind of ESPECIALLY homeownership is a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as ‘wealth building’ public policy.”
In an earlier tweet from Dec. 18, 2017, Weaver also called to “elect more communists.”
MAMDANI ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICE OF MASS ENGAGEMENT; SAYS HE NEEDED A ‘CLEAN SLATE’ TO GOVERN NEW YORK CITY
In a DSA video from March 2021 that has since gone viral, Weaver said, “I think the reality is that for centuries, we have really treated property as an individualized good and not a collective good.”
She went on to say that “transitioning to treating it as a collective good towards a model of shared equity, will require that we think about it differently.”
Weaver said this “will mean that families, and white families especially, but some POC [people of color] families who are homeowners as well, are going to have a different relationship to property than the one that we currently have.”
In response, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon told Fox News that the “Civil Rights Division of the DOJ is on high alert as to the radical agenda promised by Mayor Mamdani, much of which is at odds with our federal Constitutional and civil rights norms.”
BISHOP ROBERT BARRON SLAMS ZOHRAN MAMDANI ‘WARMTH OF COLLECTIVISM’ LINE: ‘FOR GOD’S SAKE’
Dhillon said the DOJ “will not hesitate to take legal action to protect the civil rights of New York City residents.”
Before joining the Mamdani administration, Weaver was a longtime housing activist and served as executive director of Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Bloc.
In a statement announcing Weaver’s appointment, Mamdani said: “You cannot hold landlords who violate the law to account unless you have a proven principled and tireless fighter at the helm. That is why I am proud today to announce my friend Cea Weaver as the Director of the newly reinvigorated Mayor’s office to protect tenants.”
In the statement, Weaver said she was “humbled and honored to join Mayor Mamdani’s administration – and to stand with him on his very first day in office as he makes clear where his priorities lie: with the millions of tenants in New York City who have been mistreated for too long by negligent landlords.”
MAMDANI-LINKED DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS DEMAND TRUMP FREE MADURO FROM LOCKUP — AND SEND HIM BACK TO POWER
Weaver said that “our work will only grow and this newly revitalized office marks a new era of standing up for tenants and fighting for safe, stable, and affordable homes.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office and Weaver for comment, but did not immediately receive a response by press time.