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'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud's cause of death revealed
Angus Cloud's death was accidental, Fox News Digital can confirm.
The "Euphoria" star's cause of death was acute intoxication from a combination of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and benzodiazepines, according to the Alameda County Coroner's office.
Angus Cloud, also known as Conor Hickey, died on July 31 at 25 years old.
"It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today," the actor's family previously told Fox News Digital in a statement. "As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This new smartphone poses a problem for Apple in China
Imagine you are a giant in the smartphone industry, with millions of loyal customers and cutting-edge technology. You are on the verge of becoming the world leader, surpassing rivals in innovation and quality. Then, everything changes.
That’s what happened to Huawei in 2019, when the U.S. government decided to ban it from doing business with American companies, citing national security concerns. The ban was not only limited to U.S. firms, but It also extended to foreign chipmakers that used U.S.-based tech.
This meant that Huawei could no longer access the vital components and software that powered its devices. The impact was devastating to Huawei’s Western world sales.
Its global market share plummeted, its revenue dropped, and its future became uncertain. Once poised to lead the global smartphone market, Huawei suddenly found its ambitions crushed.
The reasons for these stringent measures are layered. For over a decade, there have been rumblings in international corridors about the potential threats Chinese tech giants pose.
The primary fear is espionage. The U.S. and allies like the U.K., Canada and Japan voiced concerns that companies like Huawei could become conduits, allowing the Chinese government a backdoor to spy on global consumers.
China’s largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier of Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), has also faced U.S. sanctions since 2020.
The U.S. accuses SMIC of having ties to the Chinese military and violating the export restrictions on Huawei. As a result, SMIC has been cut off from accessing advanced chipmaking equipment and technology from the U.S. and its allies.
BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR DEVICES FROM GETTING HACKED: SEE THE 2023 BEST ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION WINNERS
Fast-forward to the present day. Against a backdrop of stifling sanctions and naysayers, Huawei unveiled the Mate 60 Pro, which as a smartphone technology is nothing short of remarkable and the biggest threat to Apple iPhone sales in China. At its heart, the 5G Kirin 9000s processor isn't just a technological marvel, but also a symbol of resilience and adaptability.
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Early indications suggest this impressive chip, a 7-nanometer piece of engineering, might be the brainchild of SMIC. This revelation isn't without its share of intrigue, given SMIC's prior run-ins with U.S. restrictions.
Beyond just Huawei's tale of revival, there's a larger narrative unfolding. China, recognizing the strategic importance of semiconductor technology, is pumping billions into fostering domestic chipmaking talent.
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The aim is crystal clear, to transition from dependency on foreign tech to fostering indigenous innovation.
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The Mate 60 Pro is powered by what's called a 7-nanometer chip. Think of a nanometer as a tiny unit that measures the size of transistors on a chip. The smaller the number, the more advanced and densely packed the chip is. So, when Western devices use a 3-nanometer chip, they're technically more advanced, packing more power and efficiency into a smaller space.
While the Mate 60 Pro's chip might not match the advanced 3-nanometer versions, its existence is significant. It demonstrates Huawei's ability to innovate and compete. It also reflects China's broader goal to be a formidable player in the global tech industry.
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While the unfolding developments capture global attention, the U.S. remains steadfast with bipartisan support in its approach. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan put it this way, the United States is about a "small yard, high fence" approach.
What does that mean? Well, it's about zeroing in on the most crucial tech areas and putting up strong barriers, all in the name of national security. And Sullivan's message is loud and clear; this approach should stay, no matter how things pan out with Huawei and SMIC.
As the tech world keeps buzzing with these new developments, it raises a rather personal question for all of us. Would you ever consider using a phone like the Mate 60 Pro, made in China?
Does this affect or influence your choice or use of such a device? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Illinois quadruple murder suspect dead after police chase, fiery explosion — 600 miles away
Authorities said the suspect believed to be responsible for murdering a couple, their two children and their three dogs in their home in Romeoville, Illinois, over the weekend was killed in a fiery car crash Wednesday in Oklahoma.
Nathaniel Huey Jr., 32, of Streamwood, Illinois, was identified Wednesday as the sole suspect in the deaths of Alberto Rolon, 38, Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, and their two sons, ages 7 and 9. Romeoville Police Deputy Chief Chris Burne told reporters at a news conference Wednesday that as police searched for Huey, he was detected in Catoosa, Oklahoma — more than 600 miles from the Chicago suburb.
"The Catoosa, Oklahoma Police Department was alerted to the presence of the suspect's vehicle in their jurisdiction," Burne said. "Acting on this alert, local authorities located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop."
A digital license plate scanner spotted Huey’s vehicle, and authorities pursued him. When he attempted to evade them on I-44, he struck another car and crashed his own vehicle into a center barrier, causing it to burst into flames, KJRH reported.
Burne said a pair of sounds believed to be gunshots were heard from the vehicle.
When reached, Huey was found with a gunshot wound in the driver's seat and pronounced dead at the scene.
A female, who also had a gunshot wound, was located and removed from the passenger side of the vehicle in critical condition, according to Burne. She was transported to the hospital, where she died.
The Daily Mail identified the woman as Huey's domestic partner, 50-year-old Ermalinda Palomo.
Burne told reporters at a news conference that there had been a relationship between the Romeoville victims and Huey, but did not specify any further. Streamwood, where Huey was from, is located about 35 miles from Romeoville.
The Catoosa Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation assisted in the police chase.
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Hunter McKee, spokesman for OSBI, said authorities had received two alerts: one for an armed and dangerous suspect and another for a female person of interest in the shootings – later identified as Palomo – who also had been reported missing by a family member.
Catoosa officers initially spotted the suspect’s vehicle, but no one was inside, McKee said. As they were watching the vehicle, two people eventually got in and drove away, which was when police initiated the pursuit.
Following the chase, the suspect’s vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier and caught fire.
"We’re still investigating the relationship between the two, and how the man died and how the woman was injured," McKee said.
"Nothing in our investigation to this point leads us to believe that there are any other suspects," Burne added.
He clarified that Huey's death "does not conclude" the "active and evolving investigation."
The deputy police chief also said that investigators had developed a possible motive for the weekend shootings, but did not provide specifics pending the ongoing investigation.
Burne said Wednesday that Huey was identified as a person of interest in the case "within hours of discovering the victims" on September 17.
According to the Daily Mail, Huey owned a private security firm called Black Bear Security, where he would have had access to "a host of weapons."
Photos of Huey on his Facebook page show him wearing tactical gear with various weapons, including rifles and sidearms.
He was described as "irrational and erratic" in a notice circulated by Romeoville police.
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Cristiana Espinoza, 25, who said she was associated with both Huey and Palomo, told The Associated Press that she had filed a missing person's report Tuesday afternoon for Palomo, as she had been concerned for her safety.
"I know she left with him willingly about 4 p.m. Tuesday," Espinoza said, describing him as a "very dangerous man." "When I saw her, she was scared. She was crying. I was in contact with her. We knew where she was. I was begging for her to come home. I honestly feel she left to protect her family."
CBS News reported that Espinoza's mother was the woman found wounded in the car with Huey in Oklahoma, and the three had lived together while Huey and Palmo were in a years-long relationship.
Rolon, Bartolomei, and their two boys were found dead in their home in Romeoville on Sunday evening as police were conducting a well-being check, initiated by a concerned family member. The victims were believed to have been shot between Saturday night and early Sunday.
Bartolomei’s family members released a statement expressing their gratitude for the support they have received thus far.
"We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of solidarity and support following the tragic loss. At this moment, our primary focus is on channeling support, assistance and love for our family and loved ones," the family said via KJRH. "We appreciate the understanding, and we take this opportunity to once again express our profound gratitude for the solidarity and support extended by people during this period."
A fundraiser in support of the family had raised over $33,000 by Thursday morning.
"These were hardworking people that had just bought their first home. Their kids were the sweetest most innocent angels who could hug your worries away," the description of the fundraiser reads. "In just a few hours their lives, their family’s lives completely changed. The world is going to be a much dimmer place without them."
It adds: "Please keep this family in your prayers. Hug your loved ones tight."
Romeoville is located about 30 miles southwest of Chicago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Once-in-a-decade census detailing America’s race, ethnicity data finally released
The United States had 3.5 million residents who identify as Middle Eastern or North African, Venezuelans were the fastest-growing Hispanic group last decade and Chinese and Asian Indians were the two largest Asian groups, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The most detailed race and ethnicity data to date from the 2020 census was released Thursday more than three years after the once-a-decade head count, which determines political power, the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual federal funding and holds up a mirror to how the U.S. has changed in a decade. The delay was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of a new method to protect the confidentiality of participants.
The Census Bureau says the 2020 census provided more details on the nation's racial and ethnic groups than ever before, offering counts for about 1,550 racial, ethnic and tribal groups, although some tables aren't available at smaller geographies for some groups because of the new confidentiality methods.
Middle Eastern Or North African Population
The 2020 census was the first to allow respondents to identify themselves as coming from a Middle Eastern or North African country, otherwise known as MENA. While there was no separate MENA category in the 2020 census, respondents were encouraged to write-in their backgrounds, and if they wrote Jordanian or Moroccan, for instance, they could be classified as MENA. The data showed that more than 3.5 million people did so or in combination with another group.
The results come as the Biden administration contemplates updating the nation’s racial and ethnic categories for the first time since 1997. Right now, MENA residents are classified as white, but they would have their own category under the proposed changes. The process also would combine the race and ethnic origin questions into a single query, because some advocates say the current method of asking about race and separately about ethnic origin often confuses Hispanic respondents.
The bureau's American Community Survey previously has asked a question about ancestry, from which MENA figures could be inferred, but the survey collects data only from 3.5 million households while census forms go to every U.S. household.
"This is a monumental change," said Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, a Washington-based advocacy group. "For us, it’s a wonderful indication of what is to come when we secure a MENA category."
According to the 2020 census, the two largest groups of people who identified as MENA, either alone or in combination with another group, were Lebanese, with more than 685,000 people, and Iranian with more than 568,000 people. The states with the largest MENA populations were California, Michigan and New York.
Hispanic Population
Venezuelans were the fastest-growing Hispanic group. They nearly tripled their numbers, from more than 215,000 people to more than 605,000 people from 2010 to 2020, as they fled a political, economic and humanitarian crisis that has lasted the entirety of President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The Biden administration last year extended Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans who were in the U.S. at or before March 2021. The status allows them to stay through at least March 2024.
"This shows, really, what is going on in Venezuela," said Ernesto Ackerman, president of Independent Venezuelan American Citizens, an advocacy group in Miami. "There is nothing there and it’s getting worse."
Mexicans were, far and away, the largest Hispanic group in the U.S. with a population of 35.9 million people, followed by Puerto Ricans with 5.6 million people and Salvadorans at 2.3 million people.
White Population
Among the census respondents who identified as white, English was the most common detailed group written down on the form where people were asked to elaborate on their backgrounds, with 46.6 million people saying they were English alone or in any combination. They were followed by those identifying as German, with 45 million people, and Irish, with 38.6 million people.
Black Or African American Population
Among the 46.9 million Black respondents, African American was the most common answer, either alone or combined with another group, at 24.5 million people, when asked about their backgrounds. That answer was followed in more or less a tie between Jamaican and Haitian at more than 1 million people each. Nigerians had the next highest responses, with more than 604,000 people, followed by Ethiopians at more than 325,000 people.
Asian Population
More than 5.2 million people identified as Chinese, the largest group among respondents who were Asian alone or in combination with another group. They were followed by Asian Indians with 4.7 million people, Filipinos with 4.4 million people and the Vietnamese population at 2.2 million people. The Nepalese population was the fastest growing Asian group, growing from almost 52,000 people in 2010 to almost 206,000 people in 2020. California was home to the largest share of the six most common Asian groups in the U.S. New York had the second-largest share of Chinese residents, while Texas had the second-largest share of Asian Indian residents.
Some Other Race
Almost 94% of the almost 28 million respondents who answered "some other race" for the race question were Hispanic, supporting previous research that showed Hispanics often are unsure how to answer the question with the current race categories. Some 1.9 million respondents who picked "some other race" identified as multiracial or multi-ethnic, and more than a half million said they were Brazilian.
Israeli ambassador lambasts United Nations 'red carpet' treatment of Iran president
Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan joined "Fox & Friends" on Thursday and argued that the United Nations was giving "red carpet treatment" to a "mass murderer" in Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Erdan was asked about what led up to his decision to hold up a picture of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman who was brutally murdered last year by the country’s so-called morality police for not properly wearing her hijab.
"The U.N., that was founded in order to prevent atrocities and give voice to all of these people who are oppressed, is giving the red carpet treatment to a mass murderer, President Raisi, the butcher of Tehran, who is responsibile not only for the nuclear race of Iran but for the human rights violations within his country, so I thought many ambassadors would join me. Unfortunately I was the only one holding the sign, to draw the attention to this murderer. He came on the podium, getting so much respect," he said.
Erdan added that he was suddenly being "forcefully" dragged outside of the general assembly and was detained for a few minutes.
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Fox News' Steve Doocy said he was not given any reason for being "carted off."
The ambassador said Israel was facing a "strong bias" from the U.N.
Erdan, who was with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his meeting with President Biden, said he was frustrated because he believed the meeting should have been held a long time ago.
"We didn't understand why, we are your closest allies," Erdan said. "For sure the issues that were discussed were very important, first of all how to prevent a nuclear Iran, how to blow up Iran's malign activities in our region."
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Host Lawrence Jones asked if the relationship between Israel and the U.S. was still strong with the Biden administration's leadership.
"Look obviously we have some disagreement, I'm not going to say that we don't. I mean they wanted to rejoin the old deal with Iran, the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], we still think it's a grave mistake," he said.
He also said they still respect the administration and are working closely with it.
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Free COVID tests will again be available from US government starting next week
The U.S. government is reactivating the program that mails free COVID-19 tests to Americans' homes upon request.
Effective Sept. 25, households will be able to order four free tests online through COVIDTests.gov.
These tests, which can detect the new COVID variants currently circulating, are intended for use through the end of the year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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The announcement was posted on the HHS website on Wednesday.
The Biden administration will invest $600 million into efforts to manufacture and deliver COVID tests, the release stated.
"These critical investments in U.S. manufacturing will improve preparedness for COVID-19 and other pandemic threats of the future, strengthen the nation’s capacity to manufacture tests, and secure approximately 200 million new over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for future federal government use," the release said.
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"Manufacturing COVID-19 tests in the United States strengthens our preparedness for the upcoming fall and winter seasons, reduces our reliance on other countries and provides good jobs to hardworking Americans," said Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, in the release.
"ASPR’s investments in these domestic manufacturers will increase availability of tests in the future."
Free tests were previously available during the public health emergency until it expired this past spring.
The relaunch of the program comes as COVID cases and hospitalizations have risen in recent weeks.
COVID-related hospitalizations reached 20,538 for the week of Sept. 3 to Sept. 9, an increase of 7.7%.
This is still far lower than the previous high of 44,414 the week of Jan. 7, 2023.
The program has previously distributed more than 755 million tests to more than two-thirds of American households, according to the test-ordering website.
"The U.S. government will continue to make COVID-19 tests available to uninsured individuals and underserved communities through existing outreach programs," the website stated.
Last month, federal officials mentioned there was a large number of stockpiled tests, noting that they had been sending them to health centers, assisted living facilities and other locations with vulnerable populations.
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he thinks it’s "a good idea" to resume distribution of the free tests because many can’t afford to buy them.
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"There is a treatment strategy where the earlier I diagnose COVID, the earlier I can begin Paxlovid in high-risk groups — those with chronic diseases and the elderly," he told Fox News Digital.
Paxlovid decreases the risk of a severe course of the disease, and there is little resistance among the strains, the doctor noted.
"Increased availability of rapid tests also can help people know to isolate when they have it or to test and be cautious if they come in close contact with COVID," Siegel added.
"We need more rapid test availability to manage the increasing number of cases."
Vance, 28 other lawmakers say Biden Ukraine funding ask 'makes a mockery' of Congress
Ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, D.C., a group of 29 Republican lawmakers has vowed to oppose further funding for Ukraine.
In a scathing letter to the White House, six senators and 23 House members said they reject President Biden's request for $24 billion in additional security, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The lawmakers railed against the Biden administration for a lack of clarity over how the more than $100 billion in funding Congress has already approved has been spent. And they said Biden's demand for an increase in defense spending on the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative 15 times greater than what Congress authorized "makes a mockery" of the legislative process.
"The vast majority of Congress remains unaware of how much the United States has spent to date in total on this conflict, information which is necessary for Congress to prudently exercise its appropriations power," the letter states. "It is difficult to envision a benign explanation for this lack of clarity."
The letter was spearheaded by Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. It was addressed to Shalanda Young, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
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Though these lawmakers are a small minority of Congress – which has supported Biden's multiple requests for Ukraine funding with bipartisan majorities – there are enough dissenters to create procedural obstacles to further aid packages in the Senate.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Biden and lawmakers from both parties at the Capitol on Thursday after speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this week. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters he expects Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine's plan for victory, where things stand on the battlefield and take questions to address accountability concerns from lawmakers.
The visit comes as Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Hard line conservatives have pressured McCarthy to put forward a government funding bill that reduces spending to pre-COVID pandemic levels. A proposal the speaker released Wednesday slashes spending by $130 billion to $1.471 trillion, without cuts to defense, the Department of Homeland Security or Veterans Affairs.
It would also include House Republicans’ border security bill minus its eVerify provisions and commit to establishing a commission to study the national debt crisis. In addition, it would commit the House to capping its 12 appropriations bills at $1.526 trillion total.
One of the letter's signatories, House Small Business Committee Chairman Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital that Congress should not consider additional funding for Ukraine while these domestic issues remain unresolved.
"In the midst of a historic border crisis and looming government shutdown, the United States is in no position to fund the endless war in Ukraine," Williams said.
"Biden has sent billions of taxpayer dollars overseas, yet we still have no idea what that funding is actually being used for," Williams said. "It is past time to rein in spending and put the safety and well-being of America first. I am firm that any funding resolutions must not include any additional taxpayer dollars for the war in Ukraine."
Zelenskyy is expected to request additional funding from Congress for his war effort against Russia, but the letter's signatories say Ukraine needs to explain how the war will end before Congress funds the effort.
"Your request cites President Biden’s pledge that 'we will stand with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty for as long as it takes'... These statements imply an open-ended commitment to supporting the war in Ukraine of an indeterminate nature, based on a strategy that is unclear, to achieve a goal yet to be articulated to the public or the Congress," the Republicans wrote to Young.
"The American people deserve to know what their money has gone to," the letter continues. "How is the counteroffensive going? Are the Ukrainians any closer to victory than they were 6 months ago? What is our strategy, and what is the president’s exit plan? What does the administration define as victory in Ukraine? What assistance has the United States provided Ukraine under Title 10? It would be an absurd abdication of congressional responsibility to grant this request without knowing the answers to these questions."
A Fox News survey in August found that 36% of registered voters think the U.S. should be doing less when it comes to helping Ukraine. Even so, a majority said the U.S. level of support is either about right (40%) or should be greater (21%).
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who supports additional funding for Ukraine, told The Wall Street Journal he and other pro-Ukraine lawmakers aren't worried about the dissenters holding up additional aid.
"Blumenthal said his fear is that the aid will get caught up in the dysfunction that is plaguing the House – where insurgent Republicans have blocked multiple procedural votes, preventing Hosue Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, Calif.) from bringing even conservative spending bills to the floor unless he gives in to a wide-ranging list of demands," the Journal reported.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has meanwhile called for the Senate to pass both additional funding for Ukraine and a disaster relief package by September's end.
Fox News' Victoria Balara and Brianna O'Neil contributed to this report.
Husband of Virginia woman insists she, their 3 children last seen weeks ago are ‘not missing’
The husband of a Virginia woman has insisted that she and their three children are safe after a missing persons report was filed following two missed court dates earlier this month.
Jordan Cook told WSET-TV in a statement on Monday that he had heard from his wife, 30-year-old Lauren Cook, and that she and their children, 7-year-old Benjamin Cook, 5-year-old Hannah Cook and 2-year-old Elijah Cook, were not missing.
"Contrary to what has been reported, my wife and children are not 'missing,'" Jordan Cook said in the statement. "I have no reason to be concerned about their safety or well-being. I have heard from my wife, and I'm sure she and my children are doing well. We ask that our family's privacy be respected at this time."
The following day, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office shared an update to the missing persons case, saying that there had been no reported contact from Lauren Cook and her children since Sept. 5 or 6.
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"To clear Lauren and her children from being ‘missing persons,’ a law enforcement agency must make in-person contact with them in order to confirm that they are okay and not under duress. Until then, they will remain in local and national databases as ‘missing,’" the sheriff’s office said.
A missing persons investigation began on Sept. 13 after Lauren did not appear for a rescheduled court appearance in Franklin County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, authorities said. This was a rescheduled court appearance from a Sept. 5 date in which she did not appear.
Investigators followed up with family members who said they had lost contact with Lauren Cook and the children several days prior to the rescheduled court appearance. She and her children were all entered as missing persons.
On Sept. 14, investigators confirmed that the mother and her three children were in Litchfield, Illinois, and learned that the family has connections in various other states.
Authorities asked anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lauren Cook and her children to call the sheriff’s office at 540-483-3000 or to contact their local law enforcement agency.
Feds probing if Dem Sen Menendez or wife accepted gold bars worth hundreds of thousands from felon: report
Federal investigators are probing whether Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez or his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars from a felon in a trade for help, according to a report.
NBC News 4 reported Monday that the FBI and IRS criminal investigators are attempting to determine if Menendez or his wife had taken up to $400,000 worth of gold bars from Fred Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former bank chairman, or his associates in a swap for Menendez reaching out to the Justice Department to aid the "admitted felon" accused of banking crimes.
Daibes starred down federal bank fraud charges at the time of the alleged handoff that could have netted him up to a decade in prison, the report says.
Witnesses are currently testifying before a Manhattan federal grand jury weighing whether to bring corruption charges against Menendez, the publication reported.
"For purposes of the Federal Extortion Act, it makes no difference if the senator took an official act so long as he accepted the money and there was knowledge the money was in exchange for that official influence, even if he never carried out what he had promised he would do," NBC Legal Analyst Danny Cevallos said of the ordeal.
Menendez disclosed that his family had accepted gold bars in 2020. Daibes encountered bank fraud charges that could have netted him up to a decade in prison for lying about a nearly $2 million loan from Mariner's Bank, where Daibes served as chairman.
Last year, however, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney's Office agreed to let Daibes plead guilty to one count and serve probation. They said Daibes had repaid the loan.
NBC News 4's sources have said there is no sign Menendez had contacted U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger or his office, but the publication noted that the two were close. Menendez had supported Sellinger for his position. Sellinger also previously acted as a fundraiser for Menendez's campaign.
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"U.S. Attorney Sellinger was recused from the Daibes matter and all activity by the office related to that matter was handled appropriately, according to the principles of federal prosecution," a U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson told the publication.
Additionally, officials are examining whether Menendez or his wife had improperly received gifts from a New Jersey food producer who obtained an exclusive contract with the Egyptian government to certify halal food exports across the globe.
Egyptian officials and the New Jersey businessman who received the contract were hosted by Menendez in his office in 2018, according to the Wall Street Journal. A year later, the businessman became the "sole certifier of halal meat exported from the U.S. to Egypt," the outlet noted.
NBC News 4 said the gifts included the usage of a Mercedez and a luxury Washington, D.C., apartment. Investigators are attempting to resolve if Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, used his standing to help the man secure the contract.
In April, Menendez established a legal defense fund to help pay for tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees relating to the federal criminal probe.
If charged, Menendez could continue serving in the upper chamber. He is up for re-election in 2024.
Menendez was previously indicted on federal bribery charges in 2016. That case related to a wealthy Florida eye doctor and longtime friend who gave generous donations to Menedez and allegedly received benefits in return.
However, the Department of Justice dropped those charges in 2018, and the new probe is unrelated to that case.
Menendez's office did not respond to a request for comment. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation unit also did not immediately respond.
Sophie Turner sues Joe Jonas, demands he return their kids to England
Sophie Turner has sued estranged husband Joe Jonas for the immediate return of their children to England.
In bombshell court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Turner alleges that Jonas has held "the wrongful retention" of their two daughters since on or about Sept. 20.
Jonas filed for divorce on Sept. 5 in Miami-Dade County, a decision that Turner claims she only learned through the media. Per the filing, the dissolution of the couple's marriage "happened very suddenly."
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The documents state that the couple met around Sept. 17 to discuss their split, but since then, Jonas has retained the possession of both his daughters' passports and will not allow them to leave the country.
The filing states that his attorney, Tom Sasser, who also represented Tiger Woods in his own infamous divorce proceeding, confirmed he would not give over the passports nor "consent for the children to return home to England."
Representatives for the couple did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.
This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates.