Democrat accused of breaking 1799 law that was used against the first Trump administration
Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s, D-Md., sudden trip to El Salvador to try to free deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia is getting the attention of critics who believe the Maryland Democrat may have violated a 1799 law prohibiting unauthorized diplomacy.
The Logan Act – named for former Pennsylvania Sen. George Logan – stipulates a fine and/or imprisonment for Americans corresponding with foreign officials “with intent to influence the[ir] measures … in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States.”
Logan met with French diplomat Charles de Talleyrand after Paris rebuffed President John Adams, and he attempted to entreat him – in part via a letter from Vice President Thomas Jefferson – to end the Franco-American hostilities of the so-called “Quasi War.”
In that way, several prominent conservatives questioned whether Van Hollen’s actions similarly violated the law.
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“Why hasn’t this U.S. senator been arrested for violation of the Logan Act? It’s illegal to conduct your own foreign policy,” longtime Republican consultant Roger Stone tweeted.
WMAL host Vince Coglianese read the Logan Act statute aloud and asked his audience whether Van Hollen had done what the code outlined.
“Is Chris Van Hollen violating the Logan Act?” Coglianese said. “Because this is what they accused General [Michael] Flynn of doing … the incoming national security advisor … who was merely having conversations with foreign diplomats [after] people had chosen President Donald Trump.”
Democrats previously seized on the Logan Act when Flynn contacted Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak prior to Trump being sworn in the first time, which ultimately led to an FBI probe and tanked his public-service career.
Notes from former FBI agent Peter Strzok read, “VP: Logan Act” and suggested then-Vice President Joe Biden floated using it against Flynn, while then-FBI director Jim Comey said the Kislyak correspondence appeared “legit.”
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Fox News contributor Byron York responded to an X question on the matter by saying that he repeatedly argued during the Flynn matter that the act is a “dead letter.”
“But politically, it’s useful to know that Sen. Van Hollen traveled to a foreign country to bash the President of the United States.”
The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) sent a letter to Senate Ethics Committee Chairman James Lankford, R-Okla, asking to probe for violations, according to the New York Post.
AAF’s Thomas Jones said Garcia “is essentially an enemy combatant in the ongoing invasion … by transnational gangs.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Lankford for comment.
The act was last invoked by Trump critics after a book by Watergate journalist Bob Woodward claimed the mogul held several calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin between his terms in the White House.
Trump was lambasted by the “Never-Trump” Lincoln Project and Kamala Harris over Woodward’s book’s claims.
Agents also considered getting Flynn to admit to breaking the Logan Act:
“What is our goal?” one of the notes from ex-FBI counterintelligence chief Bill Priestap read: “Truth/Admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”
After that situation, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., unsuccessfully sought a Logan Act repeal.
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In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan suggested it be used against Rev. Jesse Jackson for his travels and communications to Cuba and Nicaragua.
Trump previously accused both ex-Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., of violating the Logan Act via their contact with Iran in 2019 and 2020.
“It’s literally my job to meet with foreign leaders,” Murphy shot back, citing his position on a Senate Mideast subcommittee.
Ultimately, no one has been successfully prosecuted under the Logan Act, as the namesake Philadelphian himself was essentially grandfathered out.
Fox News Digital reached out to Van Hollen for comment.
Retail giant plans to eliminate checkout lanes completely with new in-store experience
Sam’s Club, the Walmart-owned membership warehouse, is rolling out a major change to its grocery payment system and embracing artificial intelligence (AI).
The retail giant plans to phase out traditional checkouts across its 600 stores and create a friction-free shopping experience which will include customers scanning goods on the go with an app and then having and AI scanner verify the goods as customers leave. The technology would eliminate the need for receipt checks at the door.
The system, known as “Scan & Go,” was initially launched in April 2024 and allows members to use the Sam’s Club mobile app to scan their products.
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The latest announcement adds the AI check, known as “Just Walk”/”Just Go” exit, to the process and will see the option of traditional checkouts being eliminated.
The new plans were announced by Chris Nicholas, Sam’s Club president and CEO, who outlined the company’s growth ambitions at its 2025 Investment Community Meeting last week.
“This is one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today,” Nicholas said. “We’re investing with intention — in our fleet, our associates and the member experience — to become the world’s best club retailer.”
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The company said its newly opened store in Grapevine, Texas, already has the “Just Walk”/”Just Go” system in place and that store will be “setting the standard” for the club for the future. The new store has designed to make shopping faster, smoother and more enjoyable.
That store is also designed with AI in mind to create a better work environment for workers with upgrades like a vertical tire carousel, automated forklifts and a pizza robot in the café.
“It’s a place where human-centered design and technology meet convenience and discovery, offering a glimpse into the future of retail,” the company wrote in a December press release.
Walmart, meanwhile, is in the middle of experimenting with AI technology and monitoring the risks and benefits.
Costco, the company’s main rival, is taking the opposite approach and sticking with traditional checkout lanes only.
Sam’s Club said its 100,000 associates remain central to the company’s momentum.
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The company said that the adoption of AI tools to streamline repetitive tasks has improved both operational efficiency and associate engagement, while there have also been investments in wages and career progression opportunities.
Sam’s Club said that the new technology will allow more time to enhance the member experience.
“When a member has a meaningful, positive interaction with an associate, they’re more likely to renew — and stay loyal,” Nicholas said. “We’re building a culture that supports our associates as much as our members, because that’s how we win.”
Country star shares habit that ‘annoys’ wife ‘to no end’ — and his audience is hating it too
Jelly Roll revealed one “bad habit” he has that his wife Bunnie Xo can’t stand.
On Friday, Jelly Roll, 40, and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan, 48, appeared on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” where they participated in a rapid-fire questions segment with Hudson, 43.
“What’s one thing you do that drives your wife absolutely crazy?” the two-time Grammy Award winner asked.
“I feel bad for her,” Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, began.
“I have this problem I do where I leave a trail of clothes from the front door to the shower,” he admitted as the audience groaned.
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“Everybody’s like, ‘We hate you.’ I just heard women shake their fists at me,” the “Wild Ones” singer said to laughter from the crowd.
“I know — I’ve been trying to break this habit, y’all! It annoys her to no end.”
Meanwhile, Bryan said that his wife, Caroline Boyer, finds his snoring “no bueno” before sharing another habit that irritates his spouse.
The “Country Girl” hitmaker explained, “if I put creamer in my coffee, stir the spoon and put the spoon down on the countertop,” without placing a paper towel or something else underneath the utensil to “absorb” the liquid, that act can be “worse than snoring.”
Bryan and Boyer first met when they were college students at Georgia Southern University in 1998. The pair had an on-and-off-again relationship for years before tying the knot in 2006. They later welcomed sons Thomas “Bo” Boyer and Tatum “Tate” Christopher.
Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll first met in 2015 after the former sex worker watched the rising country star perform at a concert in Las Vegas. A year later, the two eloped after Jelly Roll proposed to Bunnie XO while onstage at a Yelawolf and Deftones concert.
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While Jelly Roll’s messy clothing habit may vex his spouse, Bunnie XO was quick to defend him over another “little tic.”
During a November episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Bunnie XO addressed a viral video of her husband picking his nose and allegedly eating it.
At the UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 16, the camera captured the musician “knuckle deep in his freaking nose,” according to his wife. The singer was sitting behind President Trump, Elon Musk and Kid Rock.
“Everybody says he ate it, but I saw him roll it in his hand first and kind of flick it and then just touch his mouth,” Bunnie Xo said on her podcast. “But for everybody who wants to say he did… First of all, my husband has a little tic, OK? He’s always had a little tic, and when he’s nervous, he picks his f—ing nose.”
Bunnie Xo noted that she’s usually around when Jelly Roll partakes in his habit, and even if she’s not, he “normally doesn’t eat them.”
“The fact that the world is like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe Jelly Roll f—ing is eating a booger…’ And for those who said they can believe, you know who we f—ing are,” she continued. “We’re dirtbags. We pride ourselves on being dirtbags… Let the man eat his damn f—ing booger.”
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Bunnie Xo went on to say fans should be focused on the good the singer does for his community.
“The man does so much good in this world, and the lady that posted this… Come on, man. This man is a f—ing angel on Earth who does nothing but good for people, and everybody’s like, ‘Oop, there’s the booger-eater.’
“It’s just like, how can f—ing childish can we be, dude? I don’t care. I love my little Boogie Roll,” Bunnie Xo added.
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Jelly Roll, who served as a mentor during “American Idol’s” 22nd season, joined Bryan and his fellow judges Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie for its current 23rd season as the singing competition show’s first-ever “Artist in Residence.”
New episodes of “American Idol” air Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. On Sunday, April 20, the show will air a special Easter episode during which the contestants will perform songs of faith.
Ole Miss coach shocked to hear the truth about Carson Beck’s exorbitant NIL deal
Ole Miss head Lane Kiffin did not mince words when told how much Miami quarterback Carson Beck’s NIL deal was worth.
Kiffin, 49, was told Beck will receive $4.3 million for one season during a recent appearance on “The Pivot Podcast.”
“Miami gave him $4.3 million?” Kiffin asked.
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“Did they watch his game against us?”
Beck transferred from Georgia to Miami this offseason, and Kiffin recalled an Ole Miss win over Georgia in the 2024 season.
Ole Miss defeated Georgia 28-10 in November, and Beck struggled in the loss. The former Georgia quarterback completed 20 of his 31 passes for 186 yards and an interception in the loss.
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Beck spent two seasons as the starting quarterback at Georgia. In his junior year, he had a 72.4% completion percentage and the most completions and passes in the SEC. Beck also led the SEC with 3,941 yards that season and threw for 24 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Last season was a different story for Beck. He completed 64.7% of his passes for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Beck’s 12 interceptions were the most in the SEC.
Beck is expected to replace Cam Ward, the projected No. 1 overall pick in next week’s NFL Draft.
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Ward was sensational in his lone season with the Hurricanes, completing 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards, and he led the ACC with 39 passing touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions.
Not only will Beck have big shoes to fill after Miami went 10-3 and just missed out on the College Football Playoff with Ward last season. But he will also have to deal with the pressure of living up to his exorbitant NIL deal, the one Kiffin couldn’t believe.
‘American Pickers’ star makes tough decision about his storefront after co-star’s death
After nearly a decade-and-a-half of giving vintage finds a second life in the heart of Music City, “American Pickers” star Mike Wolfe is closing a beloved chapter — and a storefront.
Wolfe shared an emotional announcement that the doors of the Antique Archaeology store in Nashville will officially close after 15 years.
“Well, Nashville … it’s time,” he began his lengthy post.
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“After nearly 15 amazing years, we’ve made the tough decision to close the doors of our Antique Archaeology store here in Music City. This place has meant the world to me — not just the brick and mortar, but the people. The community.”
He added, “The visitors from all over the world who came through those doors, shared their stories, and reminded me every day why I started this journey in the first place.”
Nestled inside the historic Marathon Motor Works building, the Nashville shop has long been more than just a retail space — it’s been a place where vintage has been honored.
“After nearly 15 amazing years, we’ve made the tough decision to close the doors of our Antique Archaeology store here in Music City. This place has meant the world to me — not just the brick and mortar, but the people. The community. “
For Wolfe, its meaning runs deep, but he continued to explain that even good things sometimes require letting go.
“I’ve been so proud to be a part of this neighborhood, this city, and this chapter of life,” he added. “But sometimes, even when something is good, you have to pause and ask yourself where your time is going — and where your heart is calling you next.”
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Wolfe continued to explain his Nashville exit and why he has chosen to reside in Iowa for the time being.
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“For me, that’s family. It’s slowing down a little, staying rooted, and focusing on the new projects … I’m not disappearing — not even close,” Wolfe reassured fans. “I’ll still be picking, sharing, and selling online and at our original LeClaire, Iowa store.”
The “American Pickers” star revealed that the store will remain open until April 27. He shared with his fans that he’d be at the store on April 26.
“This isn’t goodbye — it’s just a new rhythm,” Wolfe concluded. “I’ll forever be grateful for every moment in that Nashville space, and for all of you who made it more than just a shop. You made it home.”
Wolfe additionally revealed that his decision to close his store was to spend more time in his hometown of LeClaire, Iowa, where his 81-year-old mom still resides.
“Everything I’ve ever known is there,” he previously told The Tennessean. “I want to drive on roads I’ve driven on my whole life. I want to be around things that are familiar. And I want to be back there more with my little girl and with my mom.”
Wolfe’s decision to shutter his Nashville store comes after the death of his late “America Pickers” co-star and dear friend Frank Fritz.
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Last month, Wolfe remembered Fritz at the “Day of Reckoning” red carpet premiere, as he made his film debut in the Western movie.
The “American Pickers” dynamic duo had a special friendship and starred on the hit show together for over a decade.
“Every day we think about Frank on set. He was such a big part of the show. He was my friend since 8th grade. And a lot of times when we are traveling through a property there are so many things that capture our attention that connect us to him,” Wolfe said in an interview with the New York Post.
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Wolfe, who has helmed the show for years, grappled with the absence of someone who was more than just a colleague, but a lifelong friend.
“It’s kind of hard to talk about because it’s so fresh, but he is with us in spirit every single day,” Wolfe said.
In September 2024, Fritz died of complications from a stroke while in hospice care.
Putin announces temporary ceasefire in war with Ukraine — Zelenskyy responds
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in his country’s war with Ukraine, the Kremlin said Saturday.
The war has raged for more than three years and cost the lives of tens of thousands of people on both sides.
“Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce,’” Putin said in a video posted by the Russian ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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“I order that all military actions be stopped for this period.”
In the video, Putin is joined by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
The move appeared to be scoffed at by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who said shortly after the announcement that air raid alerts were ringing out across Ukraine.
“As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives—at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote on X while giving an update on troop positions. It wasn’t entirely clear if he was addressing the truce.
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“At 17:15, Russian attack drones were detected in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us. Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.”
Zelenskyy wrote that Ukrainian forces were battling in the Kursk region and holding their positions.
“In the Belgorod region, our warriors have advanced and expanded our zone of control,” he wrote.
Russia’s Defense Ministry, however, said its forces pushed Ukrainian troops from one of their last remaining footholds in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.
He later added that Russia had “ignored” the United States’ proposal for a 30-day truce after Ukraine “responded positively.”
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions,” Zelenskyy said. “Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks.”
He said if an Easter ceasefire actually takes hold, he proposes extending it longer. “That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions — because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures,” he said. “Thirty days could give peace a chance.”
He added, “As of now, according to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided. Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow. We know all too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are prepared for anything. Ukraine’s Defense Forces will act rationally — responding in kind. Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response.”
The temporary ceasefire comes after President Donald Trump on Thursday said an 80-page minerals deal will be signed with Ukraine in one week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later amended that it would likely be signed on April 26.
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Details on the agreement still remain relatively unknown, though recent reporting by Bloomberg has suggested the U.S. has eased back its demands of repayment for its aid in Ukraine’s fight against Russia from $300 billion to $100 billion.
On Friday, Trump said the U.S. will “just take a pass” at peace efforts for Ukraine if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to ceasefire terms.
“If for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say ‘you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump told reporters. “But hopefully we won’t have to do that.”
All you need to know about the new identification required for travel in the US
Due to a security law passed 20 years ago, many Americans are now required to update their driver’s license or identification cards to become REAL ID-compliant — or they won’t be able to board U.S. flights.
With the deadline fast approaching on May 7, some conservatives have called on President Donald Trump to do away with the inconvenient requirement that they say violates civil liberties.
What is REAL ID, and why does it matter?
On May 7, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will no longer accept driver’s licenses or ID cards that do not have a star in one of the upper corners to represent their REAL ID verification. To become REAL ID-verified, applicants have to provide additional verifying information like Social Security numbers.
Flyers who don’t have REAL ID verification on their license should plan to use a passport, a passport card, a permanent resident card, military ID or an enhanced driver’s license offered by some states.
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Will travelers get turned away at the airport without a REAL ID?
The TSA says it will begin “phased enforcement” on May 7, but it’s unclear whether that means turning away travelers without proper documentation or subjecting them to additional security screening.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an FAQ on its website that travelers without “a REAL ID-compliant license or acceptable alternative beginning May 7, 2025, will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.”
In a federal rule established this year, the TSA says its “phased approach” could last two years, with the potential to issue warnings to people without REAL ID verification.
Access to other federal facilities and nuclear power plants will also require a REAL ID, according to DHS.
How do you get a REAL ID?
Drivers who have recently renewed their driver’s license may already have a REAL ID. Check for the star in the upper right or left corner. Otherwise, check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles office on how to get a REAL ID or make an appointment to get a new license.
You’ll need documentation to show your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number and lawful status, as well as two proofs of address. If you don’t have your Social Security card, you can provide a W-2 or pay stub with your name and Social Security number on it.
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Why is this happening?
Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act in 2005 after the 9/11 Commission warned that it was too easy for bad actors to obtain a driver’s license.
Implementation of the law has been marred by delays in getting all 50 states and U.S. territories to implement the new requirements and start issuing advanced identification, which the federal government estimated would cost $11 billion in 2007.
The 2020 deadline was pushed back multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TSA senior official Adam Stahl said recently in an announcement that REAL ID “bolsters safety by making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists.”
What’s the backlash?
Some on the right have cried foul, and questioned why, if previous administrations have delayed the implementation, it is necessary now.
When Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a video reminding Americans of the May 7 deadline, former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin responded: “Or what?? Evidently, existing ID requirements for American citizens just aren’t adequate now, so Big Brother is forcing us through more hoops for the ‘right’ to travel within our own country.”
Palin continued: “Other administrations delayed this newfangled, burdensome REAL ID requirement. Are you curious why its implementation is imperative now?? And who came up with this?”
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., argued in an X post, “As long as the pilot’s door is locked and no one has weapons, why do you care that someone who flies has government permission? REAL ID provides no benefit, yet presents a serious risk to freedom. If a person can’t be trusted to fly without weapons, why are they roaming free?”
Massie took shots at Trump in a follow-up post: “REAL ID is a 2005 George Bush-era Patriot Act overreach that went completely unenforced until Trump got into office. Let me guess: he’s playing 4D chess and I should just go along with it?”
Trump ally Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., rebuked REAL ID critics in his own public statement.
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“The REAL ID Act was passed way back in 2005, 20 years ago!!!! It’s about time everyone stop dragging their feet. Quit scrolling through social media, quit complaining, get your info together, and get down to the DMV to get your REAL ID,” Alford said Wednesday.
The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on the criticisms of REAL ID.
Researchers uncover strange inscriptions at site of Jesus’ Last Supper in Jerusalem
Archaeologists recently unveiled a series of strange, centuries-old inscriptions at the site believed to be the location of the Last Supper – just in time for Easter.
The Room of the Last Supper, also known as the Cenacle, is located on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The hall was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century, though pilgrims have venerated the site as early as the 4th century.
The recent discovery was announced by the Austrian Academy of Science (OeAW) on April 16, with the help of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Archaeologists identified some 40 elements of graffiti, including five coats of arms.
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Most of the inscriptions date back to the late Middle Ages.
Researchers found that the site attracted numerous international tourists – and several pilgrims left messages in their native language.
Pictures from the site show various coats of arms and writings in ancient languages.
A drawing of a scorpion was also found — presumably when Suleiman the Magnificent took over the Cenacle in 1523 and turned it into a mosque.
One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms.
The inscriptions were written by pilgrims from Serbia, the modern-day Czech Republic and Germany, as well as Armenia and Syria.
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Most of the graffiti, though, was left by Arabic-speaking Christians.
One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel.
Researchers also found an Armenian inscription reading “Christmas 1300,” as well as an Arabic inscription reading “ya al-Ḥalabīya.”
“Based on the double use of the feminine suffix ‘ya’, the researchers concluded that this is a graffito of a female Christian pilgrim from the Syrian city of Aleppo, making it a rare material trace of pre-modern female pilgrimage,” the statement noted.
Researchers first documented the inscriptions using multispectral photography and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), before analyzing the images in a lab.
Analysts then “digitally merged” the two photographic techniques to make the inscriptions readable.
In the press release, historian Ilya Berkovich said the graffiti was surprisingly diverse, with multiple countries being represented on the walls of the hall.
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“When put together, the inscriptions provide a unique insight into the geographical origins of the pilgrims,” Berkovich said in the release. “This was far more diverse than current Western-dominated research perspective led us to believe.”
Christianity-related finds
The latest discovery is one of many Christianity-related finds in recent months.
Earlier in April, an archaeologist excavating the Church of the Holy Sepulchre found proof of an ancient garden at the site, consistent with biblical scripture.
In December, archaeologists unveiled the known evidence of Christianity north of Italy.
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It consisted of a silver inscription dating back to between 230 and 260 A.D.