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A state senator is demanding that Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr file an emergency motion to intervene and demand the death penalty against Laken Riley’s killer. 

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, for the Western Judicial District encompassing Athens, previously wrote in court documents that she would not pursue the death penalty, citing “collateral consequences to undocumented defendants.” 

Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant who received taxpayer-funded flights, was found guilty Wednesday of stalking, raping and murdering Riley in February. The nursing student, out for an early morning run on the University of Georgia campus, fought her attacker for approximately 18 minutes but died from blunt force trauma. Ibarra bashed her skull with a rock after dragging her off a wooded trail, prosecutors said. 

“I am officially calling on Attorney General Chris Carr to file an emergency motion to intervene and demand the death penalty for the murderer of Laken Riley,” state Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican, wrote on X. “District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez let her radical political agenda stand in the way of justice. By refusing to seek the death penalty, she denied Laken’s family, friends, and community the full measure of justice they deserve.”

LAKEN RILEY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS BIDEN-ERA IMMIGRATION CRISIS AS MOM OF SLAIN CHEERLEADER AWAITS JUSTICE

“Join me in calling on AG Chris Carr to demand the death penalty for Jose Ibarra,” he said. 

In response to an inquiry from Fox News Digital regarding Gonzalez’s reasoning, the DA’s office told Fox News Digital that the reference to collateral consequences for undocumented defendants is “DA Gonzalez’s stance on sentencing in general.”

“Life without parole is an appropriately serious sentence and is a decision supported by the family, as heard in the impact statements delivered by Laken Riley’s family and friends during yesterday’s sentencing,” a spokesperson for Gonzalez added. 

A spokesperson for Carr’s office claimed the state attorney general does not have jurisdiction and, therefore, cannot intervene, but Moore argued otherwise. 

“I can send you a copy of the Constitution of Georgia, section 3, paragraph 4. It clearly states that the attorney general has jurisdiction in any felony case,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “And the state, I mean the attorney general’s office, has intervened in cases before. You know, he is the chief law enforcement officer of our state. He should have known that the district attorney is one of the most liberal district attorneys in the country, that she wasn’t going to pursue the death penalty. Why even have capital punishment in our state?” 

“I mean clear evidence, it’s not like we’re killing an innocent person here,” Moore said. “I mean, his DNA was underneath Laken Riley’s fingernails. It was very clear he’s the perpetrator. He’s the guilty one. And we have capital punishment in our state for a reason. And I can’t imagine another crime that would suit capital punishment like his crime. He’s the chief law enforcement officer, it’s clearly stated in the constitution that he has jurisdiction.” 

Moore noted how Ibarra received taxpayer-funded flights and now taxpayers will foot the bill to house and feed him after Riley’s killer was sentenced to life without parole. 

“I’m very concerned, you know, about any student going to the University of Georgia when this area is a sanctuary city now. And, you know, these killers, these guys can come in here, and they don’t have to worry about capital punishment,” Moore told Fox News Digital. “Probably $2 million is what we’re going to have to pay as taxpayers to give him three meals and a cot for the rest of his life. You know, three hots and a cot.” 

LAKEN RILEY MURDER: JUDGE SENTENCES COLLEGE STUDENT KILLER AFTER FAMILY ADDRESSES ‘MONSTER’ IN COURT

As for Carr not intervening, Moore said he will be “pushing hard to get a different attorney general in the next election.” 

“Word on the street is he plans on running for governor. You know, I’ll do everything I can to campaign against him and in hopes of another governor, because I certainly don’t want that going forward for the future of our state,” Moore said. 

Carr launched his gubernatorial campaign for the 2026 race this week. 

Moore said it was not enough for Carr to appear on “Fox & Friends” last week decrying the 2020-era criminal justice reforms when Gonzalez came to power as district attorney.

“As a father, the Attorney General believes that the Court should have been able to consider the strongest possible sentence given the horrific nature of the crimes committed. Unfortunately, the current Athens District Attorney disagreed,” Carr’s spokesperson Kara Murray said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Under the Georgia Constitution and law, the Attorney General does not have the authority to do what some are suggesting. The decision not to seek the death penalty was solely at the discretion of the local District Attorney, who had exclusive jurisdiction over this case.” 

In a separate statement reacting to the verdict, Carr said Riley’s death “should have never occurred” and “it is absolutely gut-wrenching to hear the evidence that Laken Riley fought for her life and fought for her dignity, and the statements made by her family and friends in court break my heart.” 

“We’re grateful to Sheila Ross with the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for ensuring that a conviction was obtained, and we will continue to pray for all who knew and loved Laken,” Carr said. 

Gonzalez lost her re-election bid this month. She handed the prosecution of Ibarra over to Sheila Ross in February.

The Biden administration told Congress it plans to cancel $4.65 billion in debt owed by Ukraine, approximately half of an economic loan offered earlier this year. 

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the plans in a briefing on Wednesday. “So we have taken the step that was outlined in the law to cancel those loans, provide that economic assistance to Ukraine,” he said. 

In April, Congress passed a supplemental funding package that earmarked $60 billion worth of aid for Ukraine, including $9 billion structured as a loan, with a provision that allowed the administration to forgive it, according to Miller. 

Miller added that Congress could pass a resolution of disapproval to overturn the cancellation. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced such a resolution on Wednesday night. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., immediately said he would introduce a resolution to block the measure. 

Such a resolution is unlikely to pass a Democratic-controlled Senate, and President Joe Biden could veto it. The supplemental funding package gave the administration the power to forgive 50% of the loan, and the remaining 50% could be forgiven after January 2026.

RUSSIA LAUNCHED INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE TOWARD UKRAINE, AIR FORCE SAYS

“On his way out, Joe Biden is trying to forgive $4.65 billion of debt Ukraine owes America’s taxpayers. I just introduced H.J. Res 224 to stop this “America Last” policy from taking effect,” he posted to X, formerly Twitter.

Congress has appropriated more than $175 billion for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Biden has gone into overdrive to assist Ukraine in the weeks since President-elect Donald Trump won the election. 

After months of hesitation, he authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike into Russia this week. Shortly thereafter, he allowed them to use anti-personnel land mines, which drew the ire of human rights groups. 

US EMBASSY IN KYIV CLOSED WEDNESDAY AS ‘POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT AIR ATTACK’ LOOMS

The Biden administration said the decision was made after Russia brought in 10,000 troops from North Korea to fight in the war in Ukraine. 

Biden has also vowed to commit the remaining $7 billion from the supplemental package to Ukraine before Biden leaves office. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced $275 million for Ukraine that would include more drones, artillery ammunition and mortars. 

Trump allies have accused Biden of “escalating” the war on his way out the door “for politics.” 

Other hawkish lawmakers say it’s a long overdue step. 

Earlier this month, Biden also approved U.S. military contractors going to Ukraine to help the country maintain and repair U.S.-made weapons systems. 

It’s unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump will keep such policies in place when he takes office, though he has suggested that he believes he could end the war “in 24 hours” at the negotiating table with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Some House Republicans are embracing the idea of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., leading a new congressional subcommittee dedicated to cutting down on government waste.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is planning to commission a new panel under his purview called the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, Fox News Digital first learned on Thursday.

And multiple Republican lawmakers have already told Fox News Digital they hope to join the panel.

“Marjorie would take no prisoners,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who said he’s already texted Greene about the subcommittee. “I would love to be on it.”

MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN AFTER TRUMP ENDORSEMENT

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who is also aiming for a spot on the committee, said, “good for her” when asked about Greene leading the panel.

“I think she’ll be a basically an immovable object on some of the spending cuts that we need,” Luna said.

As to her own bid for a spot, she said, “We’re going to make a push right now.”

It comes after Trump announced the creation of an advisory panel called the Department of Government Efficiency, which he tapped Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk to lead.

Trump said the panel would help his administration “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure Federal Agencies.”

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., a member of the newly created DOGE Caucus, said that whoever were to lead the subcommittee should be “hawkish” on fiscal matters.

JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’

“I’d definitely be interested in it,” Mills said. “ I always talk about three things, which is repealing programs and departments that no longer serve the intended purposes; reforming certain areas where we understand that, just the way times change, the requirements and needs change as well; and then also re-energize in certain areas to make sure that Americans know what’s accessible to them as far as assets or resources.”

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who serves on Comer’s Oversight Committee, did not feel strongly one way or another about joining the DOGE subcommittee but praised Greene’s ascension to the chair.

“One thing about Marjorie is that she’s, you know, she’s locked in on details, and so she’s going to want to be very helpful to Elon and Vivek,” Donalds said. “And obviously, we’re breaking new ground here.”

He also suggested that Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, would be “very good” on the subcommittee.

Cloud did show interest when asked by Fox News Digital, and he similarly praised Greene.

MATT GAETZ FACES GOP SENATE OPPOSITION AFTER TRUMP SELECTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

“Reining in the federal government and restoring accountability is one of the most important tasks we face in this next Congress. These efforts are essential if we are to support the mandate President Trump has been given by the American people, and I am eager to contribute to this effort in any capacity,” Cloud said in a statement. 

“Congresswoman Greene has shown she’s the right person to challenge the norms and drive the kind of change Washington desperately needs.”

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., did not weigh in directly on Greene but said he “would hope” some fiscal hawks in his conservative group would be considered for positions.

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Matt Gaetz, the former Florida representative and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, announced Thursday that he is withdrawing as Trump’s pick for the top prosecutor. 

Who is in consideration now for the top spot? Here are potential names floated to head the Department of Justice next. 

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey was tapped by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson in 2022 to be the state’s top prosecutor after then-state Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate.

GAETZ WITHDRAWS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE

Bailey, an Army veteran, received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri. He then proceeded to work in the state attorney general’s office and also served as an assistant county prosecutor and a state government lawyer before joining the office of Gov. Mike Parson.

WHO’S WHO ON TRUMP’S SHORT LIST FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

Parson tapped Bailey in 2022 to be the state’s top prosecutor after then-state Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Since becoming attorney general, Bailey has launched dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration and sought to defend the state on a number of conservative issues.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee from Utah is also a name being floated for consideration. Lee is currently a high-ranking Republican in the chamber and would face a somewhat easy path to Senate confirmation, at least compared to some of the more controversial names that have surfaced previously. 

HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE SAYS NO AGREEMENT REACHED ON RELEASING MATT GAETZ REPORT

Lee had previously expressed that he would not be aiming for the role, telling the Deseret News in an interview, “I have the job I want.”

Lee also told the outlet at the time that he was looking “forward to working in the next Congress and with President Trump and his team to implement his agenda and the reform agenda that Republicans have offered and campaigned on, and it’s going to be an exciting time. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Gaetz announced his decision on X early Thursday afternoon. In his post, he described his nomination as “a distraction.” Allegations of him purportedly paying underage women for sex had surfaced amid his nomination. 

Trump took to social media shortly after the news broke that Gaetz would be withdrawing his name from consideration, writing on Truth Social, “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”

Gaetz had been under a months-long investigation by the House Ethics Committee until his resignation last Wednesday from the current congressional session.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.

The Biden administration is loosening some key immigration restrictions ahead of President-elect Trump’s second term, opening the door for thousands more illegal immigrants to enter the country.

Trump has indicated that he could declare a national emergency and use military assets to carry out mass deportations. The Biden administration, however, is taking steps to make Trump’s plans for the border more difficult. The Biden Department of Homeland Security is launching an ICE Portal app in December that will allow migrants to skip their in-person check-ins at an ICE office and instead check in with immigration officials via an app on a phone or computer, according to reporting by The New York Post.

The app reportedly has severe glitching issues and does not track a migrant’s location if he or she is using an Android phone or laptop.

Further, the app does not check migrants for past arrests or outstanding warrants and allows them to opt out of or contest government orders to undergo electronic tracking.  

EXPECT TRUMP TO ROLL BACK HABITUALLY ‘DEFRAUDED’ IMMIGRATION PROGRAM, EXPERT SAYS

The New York Post reported that up to 100,000 migrants will be enrolled in the new program’s first wave.

This comes after the Biden administration set the record for the highest number of illegal migrants entering the country in a single year in 2023, with 3.2 million entries. This surpassed the previous record of 2.7 million set the year before.

Among the cities most impacted by this surge is New York, which has seen over 223,000 migrants arrive in the city since spring 2022. As a sanctuary city, New York spent $3.7 billion in housing, food and other costs in the 2024 fiscal year alone.

Joe Borelli, a Republican New York City council member, told Fox News Digital that many were hoping that with a second Trump presidency on the horizon, the crisis would “wind down.”

Instead, he said, “These actions taken during the death gargles of the Biden administration are disheartening, to say the least.”

“This doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of the peaceful transition Biden promised,” he added. “This is a last-ditch effort to usurp the will of the people who voted decisively against sanctuary city policies and unrestrained illegal immigration.”  

Meanwhile, Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican who represents the suburban New York District 17, told Fox News Digital that the administration’s decision to further loosen restrictions immediately after the murder trial of Laken Reilly’s killer “defies logic and all common sense.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS

“For this news to come out just a day after Laken Reilly’s killer, Jose Ibarra was sentenced is astounding,” he said. “Mr. Ibarra lived in a taxpayer-funded hotel in Queens and received a taxpayer-funded airplane ticket to Athens, Georgia, where he committed the heinous murder of Ms. Reilly.”  

“It is appalling that in the waning days of the Biden administration, Alejandro Mayorkas is seeking to loosen restrictions on those who crossed the border illegally in the biggest sanctuary city in the country,” he added.

Five more of President Biden’s judicial nominees advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and will proceed to the Senate floor in the coming days.

Senate Democrats confirmed Biden’s 220th federal court appointment on Wednesday and are hoping to add to that number before the Thanksgiving holiday. Republicans have fought several of these nominees on grounds that they are too left wing, but a number of Biden’s appointments were confirmed after GOP senators missed votes.

President-elect Trump accused Democrats of attempting to “stack the Courts” with radical appointees and urged Republicans to “Show Up and Hold the Line.” 

“No more Judges confirmed before Inauguration Day!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

SENATE SHOWDOWN: GOP SECURES DEAL WITH SCHUMER TO SAVE COVETED APPELLATE JUDGES FOR TRUMP

Democrats are in a mad rush to confirm as many of Biden’s nominees as possible before Trump returns to the White House and Republicans install their incoming Senate majority. 

The nominees advanced Thursday include Anthony Brindisi, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York; Elizabeth Coombe, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York; Sarah Davenport, nominated to the District Court for the District of New Mexico; Tiffany Johnson, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; and Keli Neary, nominated to the U.S. District court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The committee also advanced Miranda Holloway-Baggett, a nominee to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Alabama. 

Senators reached a bipartisan agreement on judicial nominations late Wednesday that secured Trump’s ability to appoint four crucial appellate court judges after he assumes office in January.

SENATE GOP INITIATES THUNE-ENGINEERED SLOWDOWN AS SCHUMER LOOKS TO STACK JUDICIAL VOTES

Republicans agreed to halt procedural delay tactics and permit Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to hold votes on four district court judges in exchange for pulling four higher tier circuit court judicial nominees, a Senate source told Fox News Digital.

Trump will be able to fill those higher court vacancies while Democrats confirm judges to the lower courts.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Senate will vote to end debate on the Biden nominees this week and will vote to confirm several judges when the Senate reconvenes after Thanksgiving, a Democratic source familiar told Fox News Digital.

The nomination of Amir Ali to the District of Columbia was confirmed Wednesday night. The Senate voted on cloture on four other nominations as well. The Senate will vote Thursday on cloture on two further nominations, Noel Wise of California to be District Judge for the Northern District of California and Gail A. Weilheimer to be District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and vote on confirmation of one District Court Judge, Sharad Desai to be District Judge for Arizona. 

SPRINT TO CONFIRM TRUMP NOMINEES KICKS OFF IN JANUARY

The deal was primarily motivated by a Senate slowdown initiated by Republicans through procedural maneuvers on Monday night, which was spearheaded by Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., who was recently elected as the next Republican Senate leader. The delay tactic plan came in response to Schumer’s efforts to stack additional judicial confirmation votes on the calendar ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

“If Sen. Schumer thought Senate Republicans would just roll over and allow him to quickly confirm multiple Biden-appointed judges to lifetime jobs in the final weeks of the Democrat majority, he thought wrong,” Thune told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement at the time. 

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By objecting to Democrats’ unanimous consent requests in order to file cloture on the Biden nominees, Republicans were adding additional votes to the schedule, taking up a substantial amount of time and forcing senators to spend all night at the Capitol.

The source noted to Fox News Digital that the new deal did not mean Republicans were going to allow the Biden district judges to sail through without opposition. GOP senators are still expected to fight and vote against the Democrat-nominated judges as they have done throughout Biden’s term. 

Fox News Digital’s Haley Chi-Sing and Julia Johnson contributed to this report. 

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is urging the Biden administration to halt a $1.25 billion “Digital Equity” program, calling it unconstitutional for using race-based criteria to expand broadband access.

“I urge you to withdraw the unlawful [Notice of Funding Opportunity] NOFO and halt issuing Program grants before you cause real harm,” Cruz wrote to Alan Davidson, the assistant secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Thursday morning. “NTIA’s use of racial classifications, as set forth in the NOFO, does not serve a compelling governmental interest.”

The letter comes as Republicans push back against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as they gear up for the incoming Trump administration. Under the soon-to-be Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, such programs like the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program could be examined as government waste.

“Any source of government waste is in scope for DOGE,” a Ramaswamy spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER RANTS ABOUT ‘THE WHITE MAN’ DURING A HEARING ON THE DISMANTLE DEI ACT

The letter criticizes NTIA’s guidance for the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, as Cruz claims it violates the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, lacking evidence of racial discrimination in internet access and failing to provide clear metrics for its race-based criteria.

The program was a key initiative under the Digital Equity Act, which was authorized by President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. It is the third of three digital equity programs established by the act.

Cruz asserts that the program requires grant applicants to prioritize “Covered Populations,” a category that explicitly includes racial and ethnic minorities in the program. He argued the approach includes impermissible racial discrimination, arguing that the federal government cannot use racial classifications without demonstrating a compelling interest and “narrowly tailored” measures. 

RAMASWAMY OUTLINES DOGE’S VISION

“The NOFO provides no evidence racial minorities face discrimination in accessing the internet, let alone specific instances of discrimination that NTIA is seeking to address,” Cruz wrote. “And it does not attempt to make any claim that this discrimination is necessary to avoid a prison race riot.”

Cruz added that “the NOFO does not define ‘minority,’ making it impossible to determine whether it is underinclusive, but in any event, it is overinclusive because it includes anyone who falls into some racial group, without any determination that that specific group has faced discrimination in access to broadband.”

ELON MUSK, VIVEK RAMASWAMY TO LEAD TRUMP’S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

Cruz, the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, urged the NTIA to respond by Dec. 12, either by confirming the withdrawal of the guidance or by providing a detailed explanation of how it complies with constitutional requirements.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the NTIA for comment. 

Bipartisan backlash erupted in response to news that Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with arrest warrants.

The chamber issued the arrest warrants against the two men “for crimes against humanity and war crimes,” according to the ICC.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. – who has been a stalwart supporter of Israel in the wake of the heinous Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against the Jewish state – responded to the ICC’s move in a post on X, writing, “No standing, relevance, or path. F— that.” He capped off the tweet with an Israeli flag emoji.

ICC REJECTS ISRAELI APPEALS, ISSUES ARREST WARRANTS FOR BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, YOAV GALLANT

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., excoriated the ICC, accusing it of ignoring the context of Israel’s war effort, which the U.S. ally launched in response to the horrific Oct. 7 attack last year. During the assault, Hamas terrorists committed atrocities including rape, murder and kidnapping.

“The ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants against the leadership of Israel represents the weaponization of international law at its most egregious. The ICC has set a precedent for criminalizing self-defense: any country daring to defend itself against an enemy that exploits civilians as human shields will face persecution posing as prosecution,” Torres declared in a post on X.

“The ICC ignores the cause and context of the war. Israel did not initiate the war. The war was imposed upon Israel by the unbridged barbarism of Hamas on October 7th. Not only did Hamas wage war on Israel, causing the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, it carefully constructed a battlefield designed to maximize the loss of civilian life,” he continued. 

NEW YORK DEM WARNS ‘VILIFYING VOTERS OF COLOR AS WHITE SUPREMACISTS’ PUSHES ‘THEM FURTHER INTO TRUMP’S CAMP’

“None of that context seems to matter to the kangaroo court of the ICC, which cannot let facts get in the way of its ideological crusade against the Jewish State. The ICC should be sanctioned not for enforcing the law but for distorting it beyond recognition,” the congressman concluded.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, declared in a post, “Enough of this dangerous lawfare against ⁦⁦@netanyahu & Israel. @SenSchumer must stop blocking a Senate vote on my bipartisan (42 Dems joined) House-passed ICC sanctions bill, #HR8282. Vote now!”⁦

Torres was one of the dozens of House Democrats who voted in favor of passing the measure earlier this year.

THUNE THREATENS INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT WITH SANCTIONS IF IT DOESN’T DROP NETANYAHU WARRANT FOR ARREST

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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., referred to the ICC as “a dangerous joke,” declaring in a tweet, “It is now time for the U.S. Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body.”

Matt Gaetz, the former Florida representative and Trump nominee for Attorney General, announced Thursday that he is withdrawing as Trump’s pick for the top prosecutor, citing what he described as the “distraction” his nomination had caused due to a swirl of allegations about paying underage women for sex. 

“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz said.

“There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”

This is a breaking news story. Check back soon for updates. 

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., claims that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray skipped a public Senate hearing Thursday to avoid criticism over the verdict in the case of Laken Riley’s murder.

Mayorkas and Wray were scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed after they insisted it be classified and not open to the public. Hawley told Fox News Digital in a Thursday interview that he is calling on Committee Chairman Gary Peters, D-Mich., to subpoena the pair’s public testimony.

“Let’s not forget who let him into country,” Hawley said of Riley’s murderer, Jose Ibarra. “Mayorkas lied about how he got into country. He said authorities didn’t have information about his past crimes. False. Then he claimed he didn’t remember the details. False. Now he’s refusing to comment.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Hawley’s remarks, but they did not immediately respond.

Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday.

LAKEN RILEY MURDER: FAMILY OF SLAIN UGA STUDENT SOBS IN COURT AS WITNESSES DESCRIBE CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE

Thursday’s hearing is the second time in as many days that Mayorkas and Wray have forced the postponement of their testimony before Congress by insisting on a classified setting.

The House Homeland Security Committee punted its hearing, originally scheduled for Wednesday, to December. A source with the committee told Fox News Digital that the hearing will be classified.

LAKEN RILEY MURDER TRIAL: PROSECUTORS PLACE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUSPECT AT SCENE IN OPENING STATEMENTS

Hawley indicated that the Senate would not comply so easily, however. He said he is formally calling on Peters to issue subpoenas to force both Mayorkas and Wray to testify publicly.

Representatives for the FBI and DHS told Fox News Digital earlier on Thursday that they believe Mayorkas and Wray have already provided “extensive testimony” to the House, Senate and the American people.

LAKEN RILEY’S ALLEGED KILLER JOSE IBARRA FLEW FROM ‘GROUND ZERO’ OF MIGRANT CRISIS TO GEORGIA

Peters’ office did not immediately respond when asked about potential subpoenas. The senator was heavily critical of Mayorkas and Wray in a statement on X, however, saying that their refusal to testify publicly “robs Americans of critical information.”

Hawley went on to call for Wray to resign ahead of President-elect Doanld Trump’s inauguration, citing his record on illegal immigration and his alleged hostility toward Catholic Americans.

“If he doesn’t resign, Trump should fire him,” Hawley said of Wray.