INTERNACIONAL
WATCH: Dems spar with whistleblower who exposed children’s hospital for performing trans surgeries on minors
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee grilled whistleblower Dr. Eithan Haim this week over his criticism of transgender medical treatments, months after the Biden Justice Department dropped criminal charges against him.
During a Wednesday hearing titled «Ending Lawfare Against Whistleblowers Who Protect Children,» Haim defended his decision to leak documents to the media, revealing that Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston performed transgender medical procedures on minors through May 2023.
«I wouldn’t want this to be done to anyone, not even liberals, even if they’re the craziest communists ever,» Haim said during the hearing. «There’s no one in this country who should be falsely accused and the entire power of the federal government be brought down on them.»
DOCTOR TARGETED BY BIDEN DOJ FOR EXPOSING TRANS MEDICINE FOR MINORS INVITED TO TRUMP CONGRESSIONAL ADDRESS
House Judiciary Democrats grill Dr. Eithan Haim during a hearing this week over his whistleblower account. (Fox News Digital/House Judiciary Committee)
At one point during the hearing, ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., questioned Haim’s lawyer, Mark Lytle, about the precedent behind Haim’s case, drawing a comparison to a hypothetical scenario involving vaccination records for measles.
«If I’m in Texas, and there’s a law requiring children to get measles vaccines, and I learn that another doctor’s patients aren’t vaccinated, does that give me the right to access their medical records and release them to the media or an ideological group?» Raskin asked.
«Dr. Haim didn’t break into any systems,» Lytle responded. «He was authorized to see these records by Texas Children’s Hospital, and the prosecutor knew that.»
«Was he authorized to release the information?» Raskin asked.
«He was because he was a whistleblower, and he was reporting wrongdoing,» Lytle said.
HOUSE JUDICIARY CALLS ON BIDEN DOJ PROSECUTOR TO TESTIFY IN DR ETHAN HAIM CASE
Dr. Eithan Haim, left, and his defense attorney, Ryan Patrick, speak to the media after appearing for an arraignment hearing in Houston on June 17, 2024. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Raskin asked Lytle to explain why Haim «did not follow Texas State law and go to the Department of Social Services or another medical authority or law enforcement authority» and instead «went to an ideological organization in the media.»
Lytle responded that Haim went to the Texas Attorney General’s office as well as the media, adding, «Congress favors going to the media for whistleblowers.»
Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., asked Haim whether the charges against him were «a case of the administration using weaponizing law enforcement to intimidate you and other dissenters.»
«There has to be a certain standard with our justice system, where people can’t just bring these charges and power through the courts and send these people to prison, because that’s what was going to happen to me,» Haim said.
Cline also asked Lytle whether the federal government treats whistleblowers differently depending on who’s in office.
TRUMP ADMIN WARNS STATES TO COMPLY WITH HOUSING PRISONERS BY THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX OR FACE FUNDING CUTOFF
A view of the outside of Texas Children’s Hospital, which performed transgender medical procedures on minors, according to whistleblower Dr. Eithan Haim. (Jill Karnicki/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
«This case is an example of that,» Lytle said. «It’s extremely rare for anyone to be charged with criminal HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act] violations, let alone the maximum 10-year charge. It’s really outrageous, and the fact that he was charged in this way shows that the prosecutor was out to get him. He was biased.»
Later in the hearing, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., further pressed Haim about releasing the medical records, asking whether children and their families should worry about their private information being released.
«When children are being mutilated and sterilized,» Haim said, adding that personal information, like the names of the patients, was not included.
Haim, a surgeon formerly affiliated with Texas Children’s Hospital, was indicted on federal charges last year for allegedly accessing and sharing private medical records of minors receiving transgender medical procedures.
Haim’s whistleblower report occurred during a transitional period in Texas’ policies regarding transgender treatments for minors. In March 2022, Texas Children’s Hospital announced it would stop such services to children following Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to investigate such treatments as potential child abuse. The hospital later resumed these services after determining compliance with existing laws. In June 2024, the Texas Supreme Court upheld Senate Bill 14, which prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state, with the law taking effect on Sept. 1, 2024.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
DOJ prosecutors claimed Haim obtained these records under false pretenses, violating the HIPAA and providing them to the media to harm the hospital’s reputation. Facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Haim pleaded not guilty, arguing that no personally identifiable information was disclosed and that he was blowing the whistle on «child abuse» in the hospital.
In January, the DOJ dismissed the case «with prejudice,» preventing future prosecution on the same grounds. Four days later, President Donald Trump signed the «Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation» executive order, suspending federal funds for gender-transition procedures for minors, including coverage under Medicaid.
Politics,House of Representatives Democrats,Woke Culture,Texas,House Of Representatives
Costos y beneficios
Regreso al punto de partida
El presidente Donald Trump, a la izquierda, junto al primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, en el Ala Oeste de la Casa Blanca, el 7 de abril pasado. Foto AP
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to build a paper trail of former President Joe Biden’s autopen usage with the end goal of calling more hearings, passing legislation or amending the Constitution to best address «a mentally incapacitated president.»
Sen. Eric Schmitt, chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, is requesting special access under the Presidential Records Act to a trove of Biden-era documents and memos that chronicle his usage of an autopen.
In a letter to Secretary of State and Acting National Archivist Marco Rubio exclusively obtained by Fox News, Schmitt argued that creating a paper trail of key directives made toward the end of his presidency would help in «deciding which legislative remedy is most appropriate.»
TOP BIDEN AIDE ADMITS TO CONGRESS SHE DIRECTED AUTOPEN SIGNATURES WITHOUT KNOWING WHO GAVE FINAL APPROVAL
Neera Tanden, the former director of Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, testified for more than five hours Tuesday behind closed doors as part of House Republicans’ investigation into the former president’s mental acuity and his use of an automatic signature tool. (Getty Images)
«In particular, the increased use of the autopen to sign pardons, executive orders, and other documents as his Presidency progressed became a poignant symbol of President Biden’s mental decline and has created questions about the validity of those orders and pardons if President Biden did not direct the use of the autopen,» he wrote.
Schmitt requested access to a slew of documents, including memos about procedures for usage of the autopen, who was granted authority to use the autopen and emails from staff authorizing or requesting authorization for autopen usage.
SENATE HEARING ON WHO WAS ‘REALLY RUNNING’ BIDEN WHITE HOUSE KICKS OFF WEDNESDAY
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., arrives for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Dirksen building Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Getty Images)
He also requested access to all White House records after Nov. 1, 2024, that refer or relate to presidential pardons; that prioritize briefing books, memos and decision memos for pardons; and, eventually, access to all White House records after Nov. 1.
«With that information, the subcommittee will be better positioned to ensure that any potential proposed amendment will be sufficiently comprehensive so as to address any plausible contingency concerning a mentally incapacitated President,» Schmitt wrote.
«It would be challenging enough to amend the Constitution once — much less more than once if it then subsequently turned out not all contingencies around presidential incapacity were adequately considered.»
Schmitt’s letter comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on Biden’s alleged mental decline while in office and how the autopen could have played a central role in his inner circle’s alleged attempt to skirt the Constitution while continuing to carry out the duties of the office.
EX-WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS TO TESTIFY ON WHO ‘REALLY RAN THE COUNTRY’ DURING BIDEN ERA
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while flying aboard Air Force One en route from Calgary, Canada, to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, late Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
It also explicitly mentions the closed-door, transcribed hearing with Biden’s former director of the Domestic Policy Council, Neera Tanden, conducted by the House Oversight Committee this week.
A source told Fox News Digital that during the transcribed interview, which lasted five hours, Tanden testified she had «minimal interaction with President Biden» in her role as staff secretary and that to obtain autopen signatures, she would send decision memos to members of Biden’s inner circle.
She said during the interview she was not aware of what actions or approvals happened between the time the memo was sent out and returned with approval.
However, Tanden’s opening statement, shared with Fox News Digital by her lawyer, Michael Bromwich, said that, as staff secretary, she was responsible for «handling the flow of documents to and from the President» and that she was authorized to direct that autopen signatures be «affixed to certain categories of documents.»
«We had a system for authorizing the use of the autopen that I inherited from prior Administrations,» Tanden said. «We employed that system throughout my tenure as Staff Secretary.»
She was later named director of Biden’s Domestic Policy Council and said she was no longer responsible for the flow of documents and was no longer involved in decisions related to the autopen.
«I would note that much of the public discussion on the subject matter of this hearing has conflated two very different issues: first, the president’s age and second, whether President Bident was in command as President,» she said. «I had no experience in the White House that would provide any reason to question his command as President. He was in charge.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Schmitt requested that access to the swathe of memos and communications be granted no later than July 16.
«It is important for this subcommittee to have a clear picture of President Biden’s decision-making capacity at the end of his presidency and to know the extent to which members of his inner circle possibly usurped the President’s decision-making authority,» he wrote.
Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
China confirmó el acuerdo sobre tierras raras y exportaciones con EEUU tras una nueva ronda de negociaciones en Londres
China y Estados Unidos alcanzaron un acuerdo definitivo sobre la exportación de bienes estratégicos, incluidas las tierras raras, tras concluir su última ronda de negociaciones en Londres. Así lo confirmó este viernes el Ministerio de Comercio chino mediante un comunicado oficial, en el que informó que ambos gobiernos “mantuvieron una comunicación cercana” tras el encuentro y que “con aprobación, ambas partes confirmaron los detalles del acuerdo”.
El documento aclara que, como parte del entendimiento, “China revisará y aprobará las solicitudes de exportación de bienes controlados que cumplan con las condiciones con arreglo a la ley”, en una clara referencia a las restricciones impuestas por Beijing a principios de abril sobre la venta de minerales críticos como las tierras raras. Estos recursos son fundamentales para industrias clave, como la defensa, la tecnología avanzada o el sector automotriz.
A cambio, Estados Unidos se compromete a eliminar “una serie de medidas restrictivas” adoptadas contra China, aunque el comunicado no detalla cuáles serán levantadas ni en qué plazos. Esta medida corresponde a lo pactado en la conversación del 5 de junio entre el presidente chino Xi Jinping y su homólogo estadounidense Donald Trump, que habilitó la reanudación de los contactos comerciales a nivel técnico.
“Se espera que EEUU y China encuentren un término medio y cumplan con los importantes consensos y requisitos alcanzados por los jefes de Estado”, señala el comunicado, refiriéndose al diálogo presidencial que facilitó la reactivación de las negociaciones formales en la capital británica.
La confirmación de este acuerdo por parte del gobierno chino se produce un día después de que Trump asegurara que “Estados Unidos firmó un acuerdo con China” en una declaración pública, aunque sin ofrecer precisiones. Según había adelantado el mandatario republicano a mediados de junio, el pacto incluye un arancel del 55 % impuesto por EEUU a productos chinos y un 10 % recíproco por parte de Beijing sobre bienes estadounidenses.
El acuerdo de Londres sella un marco de cooperación basado en el “consenso” alcanzado en la llamada presidencial, pero se mantenía pendiente de la ratificación final de ambos líderes. La firma llega tras una serie de tensiones renovadas, motivadas por acusaciones cruzadas de incumplimiento del pacto alcanzado en mayo en Ginebra, que dio origen a una tregua comercial de 90 días.
En el marco de ese entendimiento previo, China había reducido sus aranceles a productos estadounidenses del 125% al 10%, mientras que Washington rebajó los suyos del 145% al 30% sobre bienes chinos. Sin embargo, ambas partes se acusaron mutuamente de violar el acuerdo: Beijing denunció restricciones estadounidenses sobre la exportación de chips de inteligencia artificial y software de diseño de semiconductores, así como medidas migratorias contra estudiantes chinos. Washington, por su parte, criticó las limitaciones chinas sobre la exportación de tierras raras.
La disputa comercial entre ambos países se intensificó desde el regreso de Donald Trump a la Casa Blanca, con una renovada ofensiva arancelaria que reactivó la guerra comercial iniciada en 2018. Esta escalada ha derivado en una situación de embargo parcial, con efectos globales sobre cadenas de suministro y mercados estratégicos.
Con este nuevo acuerdo, China y Estados Unidos buscan desescalar las tensiones mediante compromisos mutuos en comercio y exportaciones clave. No obstante, aún queda por determinar cómo se implementarán las medidas anunciadas y si ambas partes cumplirán los plazos y condiciones fijados. Por ahora, el entendimiento representa un paso más en la volátil relación bilateral entre las dos principales economías del mundo.
(Con información de EFE y AFP)
Asia / Pacific,LIANYUNGANG
Javier Milei cerrará un congreso de La Libertad Avanza en La Plata
Javier Milei redobló las críticas contra Axel Kicillof y agitó la campaña bonaerense
Fin del antidumping a termos: cómo puede impactar en los precios de los productos Stanley
Elecciones en Formosa: las fuerzas que intentan quebrar el histórico mando de Gildo Insfrán
Guillermo Francos interrumpió su informe de gestión luego de que una senadora K lo acusó de “mentiroso”
Dua Lipa le “robó” el celular a una fan y se grabó bajo la lluvia en medio de un show: el video
La China Suárez padece la peor traición de parte de Benjamín Vicuña
En el kirchnerismo insisten en que CFK recupere la libertad con el próximo gobierno: “Incluso puede ser antes”
Estados Unidos bombardeó tres instalaciones nucleares en Irán y escala el conflicto en Medio Oriente
La CGT llega a su punto máximo de ebullición interna y surge el “modelo Ubaldini” para elegir a su futuro líder
La Justicia rechazó el pedido de Cristina Kirchner para recibir visitas sin solicitar autorización previa
Nueve días de ataques de Israel abrieron paso al bombardeo de EEUU sobre la central nuclear de Fordow
Javier Milei cerrará un congreso de La Libertad Avanza en La Plata
Javier Milei participará este jueves de un congreso de La Libertad Avanza (LLA) en la ciudad de La Plata. El...
Cómo consultar el padrón electoral de Formosa 2025
«,»type»:»raw_html»},{«content»:»¿Qué cargos se eligen en las elecciones de Santa Fe?»,»type»:»header»},{«content»:»En estas elecciones generales, los santafesinos elegirán:»,»type»:»text»},{«type»:»list»},{«type»:»custom_embed»},{«content»:»Es importante recordar que las...
A qué hora habla Javier Milei en el Congreso Libertario
La ciudad de La Plata se prepara para recibir este jueves a Javier Milei en el congreso organizado por La...
-
INTERNACIONAL3 días agoLa guerra en Oriente Medio: el Pentágono contradice a Donald Trump y asegura que el bombardeo a Irán solo retrasó su plan nuclear un par de meses
-
POLITICA2 días agoCon un desempate de Magario, el Senado bonaerense aprobó la reelección indefinida de los legisladores provinciales
-
POLITICA3 días agoRenunció la jueza Julieta Makintach en la antesala de un juicio político en su contra