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Democrats join Republican push for Biden administration to refreeze $6B Iranian assets
Some Democratic Senators are joining Republicans in calling on the Biden administration to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets that were released last month, after Hamas attacked Israel.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, posted about his support of freezing the $6 billion in Iranian assets to the social media platform X on Tuesday.
“As American intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided,” the senator said. “At a minimum, we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal.”
REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN FOR RELEASING $6B IN FROZEN IRAN FUNDS AHEAD OF HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL
Another Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, told Politico on Tuesday he, too, supported refreezing the $6 billion in assets.
“I wasn’t supportive of the initial $6 billion transfer,” he told the publication. “We should absolutely freeze these Iranian assets while we also consider additional sanctions.”
Manchin did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital on the matter.
In September, the Biden administration made a deal with Iran to swap prisoners and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds.
As part of the deal, Iran released five American citizens detained in Iran and the U.S. released five Iranian citizens being held in the U.S. The deal also created a blanket waiver to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar without fear of violating U.S. sanctions.
None of the money went directly to Iran and no U.S. taxpayer funds were reportedly used.
ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES ‘WAR AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK: LIVE UPDATES
The unfreezing of the money took place nearly a month before Hamas terrorists launched a massive, deadly attack on Israel on Saturday, and Republicans in the House and Senate are tearing into the Biden administration, calling the move “false and misleading.”
“Just weeks ago, the Biden administration handed over $6 billion to Iran, and today, innocent Israelis were murdered by Iran-backed terrorists,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said in a statement shortly after the attacks. “We must continue to support our strongest ally in the Middle East and their right to defend themselves against these unprovoked, horrific attacks.”
The administration says the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes and the U.S. will have oversight on how and when the funds are used.
Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, told reporters “not a dollar” of the money has been spent.
Still, critics argue the funds can be diverted to other places. Iran is a known backer of Hamas and praised the attacks on Israel. The State Department has stated in the past the Iran provides some $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
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Kari Lake launches bid for US Senate in Arizona
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate and conservative firebrand Kari Lake formally announced Tuesday she will seek the Republican nomination for Senate in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched races of 2024.
“I am not going to retreat. I’m going to stand on top of this hill with every single one of you. And I know you’re on my side as I formally announce my candidacy for the United States Senate,” Lake told a crowd in Scottsdale, Arizona as they cheered the longtime former television anchor turned MAGA champion who narrowly lost her race to be the state’s governor last year.
She will face off with Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, the only other major candidate in the race for the GOP nomination, and the winner will likely face Phoenix-area Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is seen as the front-runner for his party’s nomination.
KARI LAKE BOOSTS NATIONAL PROFILE AS TOP TRUMP SURROGATE, GOP CAMPAIGNER AHEAD OF LIKELY SENATE RUN
Incumbent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who left the Democrat Party to become an independent last year, has not yet said whether she will run for re-election.
Lake spent the months leading up to her announcement boosting her national profile by hitting the pavement as a top surrogate for former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and campaigning for Republican candidates across the country.
In the past three months alone, Lake has traveled to 14 states to headline events and address Republican organizations at the state and county levels, and has even thrown her support behind candidates in other Senate races.
In a statement following Lake’s entry into the race, Lamb said he was the “only one proven conservative winner” running for Senate in Arizona.
“I am a lifelong conservative who has dedicated my life to protecting Arizonans and keeping them safe when Democrat policies make that job almost impossible. I have been in Arizona fighting for the people that call this great state home. I’m not a talker, I’m a doer, and I win elections. That is what separates me from my opponents,” he said.
Gallego’s campaign reacted to Lake’s announcement by predicting voters would reject her “again,” referencing her loss to current Democrat Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs last year.
“Arizonans — including a significant chunk of Republicans — already rejected Kari Lake once because of her dangerous plans to ban abortion and undermine our democracy. Her extremism should disqualify her from public office — and it will. Again,” Gallego campaign spokesperson Hanna Goss told Fox News Digital.
Fox also reached out to a spokesperson for Sinema, but did not receive a response.
Democrats currently hold a narrow one-seat majority in the Senate, with three independent senators, including Sinema, caucusing with them.
Arizona is one of Republicans’ top targets to flip from the Democrats in their efforts to regain the majority in 2024, in addition to the Pennsylvania, Ohio, Montana, Nevada and West Virginia seats also up for grabs.
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Harvard law student linked to statement blaming Israel denounces contents, says she didn’t read it
A Harvard law student claims she resigned from her post on the board of a student group that co-signed a statement solely blaming Israel for the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists.
Danielle Mikaelian, a Harvard law student involved in multiple campus groups according to information she has posted online, announced Tuesday that she had stepped down from her role as a board member of one of the student groups that co-signed the controversial statement, calling it “egregious.” She also claimed the group subsequently removed its name from the list.
She also claimed that she didn’t read the statement before her group signed on because of a lack of a “formal process” for approval.
“I am sorry for the pain this caused. My organization did not have a formal process and I didn’t even see the statement until we had signed on,” Mikaelian stated on X Tuesday evening.
The statement, which was released Sunday evening just a day following the terror that resulted in the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust, said that Hamas’ killing, torturing, and abduction of Israeli’s “did not occur in a vacuum.”
“For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison. Israeli officials promise to “open the gates of hell,” and the massacres in Gaza have already commenced. Palestinians in Gaza have no shelters for refuge and nowhere to escape. In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israel’s violence,” the statement signed by two-dozen Harvard student groups read.
“The apartheid regime is the only one to blame,” the statement read.
“Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years. From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden,” it said.
ISRAEL LAUNCHES MASSIVE AIRSTRIKES ON DOWNTOWN GAZA CITY, NETANYAHU SAYS: ‘WE HAVE ONLY STARTED
“Today, the Palestinian ordeal enters into uncharted territory. The coming days will require a firm stand against colonial retaliation. We call on the Harvard community to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians,” it concluded.
Mikaelian claimed that she “prevented another student group I remain on the board of from signing on when I saw the statement” and that the statement, “is not representative of my values and my heart is with those impacted.”
Mikaelian’s comments come roughly 48 hours after the statement was released.
The centuries-old university came under sharp criticism when the university didn’t immediately condemn the statement. And when Harvard president Claudine Gay issued an official statement Monday condemning the attacks and that “no student group — not even 30 student groups — speaks for Harvard University or its leadership,”one of its top alumni said it was too little too late.
“Why can’t we find anything approaching the moral clarity of Harvard statements after George Floyd’s death or Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when terrorists kill, rape and take hostage hundreds of Israelis attending a music festival?” questioned Lawrence H. Summers, president emeritus of Harvard.
“Why can’t we give reassurance that the University stands squarely against Hamas terror to frightened students when 35 groups of their fellow students appear to be blaming all the violence on Israel?” Summers, who served in senior leadership posts under Presidents Clinton and Obama, asked in a post on X on Tuesday.
CAUSALITIES, KIDNAPPED AND MORE NUMBERS SINCE HAMAS’ ATTACK ON ISRAEL
Several CEOs of major companies like Delta Airlines and Hewlett Packard Enterprises, vocalized their support for Israel and offered support.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said that all employees working in Israel and traveling in the region are safe and that the bank supports the country.
“This past weekend’s attack on Israel and its people and the resulting war and bloodshed are a terrible tragedy,” Dimon said Sunday in an internal memo obtained by CNN. “We stand with our employees, their families and the people of Israel during this time of great suffering and loss.”
Tuesday afternoon, Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square, posted on X that “a number of CEOs” have asked if Harvard “would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas’ heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members.”
“If, in fact, their members support the letter they have released, the names of the signatories should be made public so their views are publicly known. One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, who, we now learn, have beheaded babies, among other inconceivably despicable acts,” Ackman said.
As of Tuesday evening, the original Google document of the signatory groups had been edited to remove the names of the groups that signed it.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chicago law firm Winston & Strawn announced they rescinded an employment offer from a New York University (NYU) law student and NYU Student Bar Association president after she issued a statement saying she “would not condemn Palestinian violence” and that “Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life.”
On Tuesday, Israeli media reported Israel’s military has discovered unspeakable horrors in an Israeli community that was attacked by Hamas on Saturday, including the bodies dozens of babies who were beaded by the terrorists.
According to local Israeli outlet i24News, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers moved into Kfar Aza, one of the communities Hamas terrorists invaded early Saturday morning, and discovered about 40 dead babies, some decapitated — highlighting the brutality of the invading forces.
IDF were removing the bodies of victims found in the area when they found the children’s remains. Israeli soldiers are attempting to use bones to identify the victims, according to the report.
Fox News Digital’s Danielle Genovese contributed to this report.
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Pressure Builds on Biden to Freeze $6 Billion in Iranian Cash as Democrat Senators Join Push
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GOP Report: Biden Welcomed 4 Million Illegal Migrants Within 26 Months
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Congress urges State Department to use charter flights to evacuate Americans from Israel
Members of Congress called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to do everything possible to evacuate Americans out of Israel, including chartering flights as airlines have canceled most flights out of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In a letter addressed to Blinken and signed by 146 members of Congress, the representatives expressed “grave concern” for the “wellbeing and safety” of Americans who are in Israel and seeking to return to the U.S. as soon as possible.
“Given the rapidly escalating situation as Israel launches a counteroffensive, it is imperative that you use all tools at your disposal to return all U.S. nationals in Israel home who wish to do so,” the letter reads.
ISRAELI MUSIC FESTIVAL SURVIVOR DESCRIBES HORROR OF HAMAS-LED ATTACK THAT LEFT 260 DEAD
On Saturday, Hamas launched the biggest attack in Israel in over 50 years, killing nearly 1,600 people and wounding thousands more with a barrage of rockets.
Hamas-led militants poured over the Israel-Gaza border as residents slept, then dragged people into the streets, took hostages, and beheaded and killed others.
ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS AFTER SURPRISE ATTACKS, AROUND 1,000 ISRAELIS DEAD
“To date, thousands of lives — including 11 Americans — have been lost due to Hamas’ indiscriminate and brutal assault since Saturday,” the letter read. “Hamas’ heinous actions also include taking over 150 Israeli hostages, which our offices have received reports that Americans are among those taken hostage in Gaz, including New Yorkers.”
After the attacks, several U.S. airlines suspended flight operations to Israel and canceled flights from Israel’s airports, making it near impossible for Americans in the country to flee back home.
AMERICAN WOMAN SAYS FAMILY HAS BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS IN ISRAEL: ‘ANY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE’
Congressional members acknowledged the airlines’ decisions to cancel flights in and out of Tel Aviv and the region.
“As the number of casualties continue to rise, our constituents who remain in Israel fear for their lives,” the letter to Blinken reads. “We ask that you consider charter flights and military options for evacuation, simultaneously. At this harrowing moment in Israel’s history, it is more important than ever that every American who is looking to return home has the opportunity to do so.”
The letter was sent to Blinken the same day it was announced the Secretary of State would travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support and solidarity from the U.S.
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GOP lawmaker vows to support McCarthy in House-wide speaker vote despite pitches from Scalise, Jordan
EXCLUSIVE: House GOP Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., will not vote for either of the formally-declared candidates for speaker and will instead back former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on the House floor, he told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night.
Gimenez has been a steadfast McCarthy ally in the week since his ouster by a majority vote of eight GOP hardliners and every House Democrat.
“I’m still with Kevin McCarthy. I think that what happened to him was a travesty, and I just don’t wish to be part of it,” Gimenez said. “I’ll continue to vote for Kevin until Kevin tells me that he’s no longer a candidate.”
‘UNMITIGATED S—SHOW’: HOUSE REPUBLICANS FUME OVER SPEAKER VACANCY AMID ISRAEL CRISIS
He left early during a closed-door House GOP forum where Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, were making their final pitches before a closed-door conference vote on Wednesday morning to pick Republicans’ new nominee for the gavel.
McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday that he’s asked Republicans not to elect him as a candidate in the closed-door Wednesday vote.
‘SHELL SHOCKED’ KEVIN MCCARTHY WILL NOT RUN FOR HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN FOLLOWING REMOVAL
Gimenez said, “[McCarthy] said, please don’t nominate him. That doesn’t mean ‘Please don’t vote for me.’”
“Scalise and Jordan are going to do exactly the same thing Kevin McCarthy would’ve done. So why change?” he said.
Asked why he left the candidate forum early, Gimenez said: “I’m a big fan of movies, but I don’t see them over and over again. And I’ve seen this movie, so I didn’t feel like looking at it again.”
He said he still intends to attend the Wednesday vote and will again stand behind McCarthy.
Gimenez also said he believes others will follow suit.
If enough people do, it could pose a math problem for the GOP — House Republicans have a razor-thin majority. A candidate for speaker can only afford to lose four votes to still clinch a majority needed to be elected for the top job.
House Republicans are still debating whether to raise the threshold needed to pick a candidate for speaker from simple majority of the conference to a 217-House-wide majority.
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Scalise, Jordan make final pitch to House Republicans ahead of GOP speaker vote
House Republicans met behind closed doors for over two hours on Tuesday night to hear from Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as they made their final pitches to be elected the next speaker.
The caucus will gather again Wednesday morning for a closed-door vote to pick their candidate before nominating them on the House floor.
Some GOP lawmakers appeared optimistic in getting a new speaker by the end of the week, while others suggested it would be a drawn-out process.
“I don’t know that there’s going to be a speaker tomorrow morning. We’re gonna find out. I think it’s 50/50 odds right now,” Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., told reporters after the meeting.
Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital it will be “very difficult” for the conference to reach a consensus on Wednesday morning.
‘UNMITIGATED S—SHOW’: HOUSE REPUBLICANS FUME OVER SPEAKER VACANCY AMID ISRAEL CRISIS
“I think it’s going to take more than one day to get this done. I kind of wish we had started this process earlier today and done a couple rounds of votes,” Murphy said. “It was a good evening. I mean, a lot of people ask some good, pointed questions. Good discussion. We’ll see. I think, honestly, I think it’d be pretty split almost even.”
Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., similarly doubted a speaker would be selected this week. She said she asked the candidates about whether any “back room deals” were being made in exchange for support in an allusion to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s rocky election in January.
45 REPUBLICANS CALL FOR HOUSE RULES OVERHAUL AFTER MCCARTHY OUSTER: ‘ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED’
“The number one question that I posed to the candidates today was, for 10 months, we have been hearing of nothing but backroom deals and promises that have been made and then supposedly broken,” she said.
“So my question to the candidates, has someone come to you with a request in exchange for a vote? And if so, what was it? And only one candidate came out point-blank and said that they have told people, come with requests, that they will not honor requests… I think that’s very telling.”
She said that candidate was Jordan.
‘SHELL SHOCKED’ KEVIN MCCARTHY WILL NOT RUN FOR HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN FOLLOWING REMOVAL
But others were more optimistic. House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital that “the mood in the room” was “very cordial” when asked why he believed the GOP will select a speaker on Wednesday.
“Both of them did a great job. Of course, I’m for Jordan. But it’s very encouraging,” Norman said, adding that he would vote for Scalise if the majority fell that way.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., who is supporting Jordan, said she would also vote for whichever of the two candidates was chosen.
“I will support whoever is the majority vote-getter tomorrow. I’m supporting Jim Jordan; if it turns out to be Scalise, I will probably go cast my vote for him on the floor,” Malliotakis told Fox News Digital. “I hope others are going to make that same commitment.”
Ahead of their 10am election tomorrow, House Republicans are expected to consider a rule about whether to raise the threshold for nominating a speaker candidate from a simple majority of the conference to 217 members — a full House majority.
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Black Lives Matter Organization Shows Support for Hamas Amid Terror Attack on Israel
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