INTERNACIONAL
Inside the Biden cover-up probe: 8 aides questioned, more on the way
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House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is investigating whether former President Joe Biden’s closest aides worked to conceal evidence of mental decline in the octogenarian Democrat during his White House term, and whether an autopen was used for executive decisions without his knowledge.
Biden himself asserted to the New York Times that he «made every decision» regarding autopen pardons specifically, and his allies have dismissed the GOP-led probe as a partisan show.
Several ex-senior White House officials are due in the coming weeks, including former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and ex-White House chief of staff Jeff Zeints.
But Comer’s staff have also met with a number of people so far – some who have said very little, while others have given no information at all.
COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’
Former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity while in office is the subject of a probe by the GOP-run House Oversight Committee. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Below are the eight people who have sat down with House investigators so far:
Neera Tanden
Former White House staff secretary Neera Tanden appeared for a voluntary interview on June 24.
A source familiar with Tanden’s interview said she described having «minimal interaction» with Biden during her sit-down with investigators.
Former Biden aide Neera Tanden was the first to appear in Comer’s probe. (Getty Images)
Tanden also said she would submit requests for autopen signatures to members of Biden’s team, but was not aware of what actions or approvals occurred between the time she sent the memo and the time she received it back with the president’s approval, the source said.
Tanden’s lawyer told Fox News at the time that she «consistently followed a protocol» that was used by both Republican and Democratic administrations in the past.
«That same protocol existed in the Clinton and Obama administrations, which Ms. Tanden learned in discussions with previous staff secretaries from those administrations. She further understood and believed that the same process was followed in the Trump 1 and Bush administrations,» the lawyer said.
Tanden had been tapped to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) early in Biden’s term, but she withdrew after bipartisan pushback in the Senate.
Kevin O’Connor
Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor was the second ex-Biden administration official to appear when he came in on July 9, and the first to appear under subpoena.
Before serving as White House doctor, however, O’Connor was known to be a close associate of the Biden family for years.
Investigators were hoping to learn whether O’Connor knowingly obscured signs of advanced aging or loss of mental acuity in Biden. He notably met with a Parkinson’s Disease expert at the White House at one point, according to the New York Times – though the revelations were downplayed by the White House at the time.
O’Connor’s lawyers had attempted to delay his scheduled deposition date over concerns that the scope of the committee’s investigation would violate doctor-patient confidentiality.
He ultimately did appear when Comer rejected his delay request, but O’Connor was in and out of the committee room in less than an hour after pleading the Fifth Amendment to all questions, save for his name.
FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP
Ashley Williams
Ashley Williams is a longtime Biden advisor who still works for the former president, according to her LinkedIn. She appeared for a voluntary transcribed interview on July 11.
The close Biden ally’s time with him goes back to assisting then-second lady Jill Biden during the Obama administration, according to a 2019 profile of Biden staffers.
Ashley Williams, former deputy director of White House Oval Office operations, said she did not «recall» to multiple questions. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
She served as his trip director for the 2020 campaign before being hired to the White House as deputy director of Oval Office Operations and a special assistant to the president.
Williams repeatedly told committee staff during her sit-down that she did not «recall» various things «an untold number of times,» but that she believed Biden was fit to be president today, a source told Fox News Digital.
«Examples include she could not recall if she spoke with President Biden in the last week, if teleprompters were used for Cabinet meetings, if there were discussions about President Biden using a wheelchair, if there were discussions about a cognitive test, if she discussed a mental or physical decline of President Biden, if she ever had to wake President Biden up and how she got involved with his 2020 campaign,» the source said.
Anthony Bernal
Anthony Bernal, who was nicknamed Jill Biden’s «work husband» for their close relationship, was the second person subpoenaed to appear.
Like O’Connor, Bernal’s July 16 deposition lasted less than an hour after he pleaded the Fifth Amendment to investigators.
Bernal served as former Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the First Lady. He also still appears to work for the Bidens, according to LinkedIn, which says he works for Jill Biden specifically.
«During his deposition today, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when asked if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his health,» Comer said in a statement after Bernal’s deposition.
RON KLAIN DODGES REPORTERS AFTER MARATHON GRILLING IN BIDEN COVER-UP PROBE
Annie Tomasini
Former Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations Annie Tomasini had been scheduled to appear for a transcribed interview, before her counsel requested a subpoena from Comer shortly before her July 18 appearance.
Tomasini followed O’Connor and Bernal’s lead in pleading the Fifth Amendment, which people coming in voluntarily cannot do.
«During her deposition today, Ms. Tomasini pleaded the Fifth when asked if Joe Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time,» Comer said in a statement after her deposition.
«She also pleaded the Fifth when asked if she ever advised President Biden on the handling of classified documents found in his garage, if President Biden or anyone in the White House instructed her to conceal or destroy classified material found at President Biden’s home or office, and if she ever conspired with anyone in the White House to hide information regarding the Biden family’s ‘business’ dealings.»
She first worked for Biden as a press secretary when he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as a U.S. senator from Delaware.
Ron Klain
Ron Klain served as Biden’s chief of staff for the first two years of his White House term and played a key role in preparing him for his disastrous 2024 presidential debate against former President Donald Trump.
Klain told investigators that he believed Biden’s memory got worse over time, but he still had the ability to govern, a source familiar with his interview told Fox News Digital.
The source said Klain also claimed to have heard concerns about Biden’s political viability from both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Biden’s own national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, by 2024, though it’s not clear if those concerns are tied to his mental acuity nor that they spoke to Klain together.
A spokesperson for Sullivan vehemently denied the account.
Klain also told investigators that Biden appeared tired and ill before the 2024 debate, the source said.
In a letter requesting his appearance, Comer quoted Klain as cutting Biden’s debate prep short last year, «due to the president’s fatigue and lack of familiarity with the subject matter,» adding that Biden «didn’t really understand what his argument was on inflation,» citing a POLITICO report from earlier this year.
LONGTIME BIDEN AIDE SAYS HE STOOD TO EARN UP TO $8M HAD PRESIDENT WON RE-ELECTION
Steve Ricchetti
Former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti sat down with House investigators earlier this week on voluntary terms.
Unlike the vast majority of others before him, who did not acknowledge media gathered outside the committee room, Ricchetti told Fox News’ Chad Pergram that «of course» Biden was up to the job of president.
Ricchetti’s interview was also the longest by far – running roughly eight hours on Wednesday.
Former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti met with House investigators on Wednesday for what was described as a «combative» interview. (Getty Images)
A source familiar with Ricchetti’s sitdown described him as «combative and defensive» during exchanges with House Oversight staff.
Ricchetti asserted he had personal relationships with Jill Biden and Hunter Biden in addition to the former president, the source said.
His own family had relationships with the Biden administration as well – three of his four children worked in the Treasury, State Department and in the White House.
The longtime Democratic operative and lobbyist was one of two longtime trusted aides reportedly with Biden in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, when he drafted his bombshell letter announcing he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Mike Donilon
Former senior advisor to the president Mike Donilon is the latest member of Biden’s inner circle to appear before House investigators, sitting down with them voluntarily on Thursday for roughly five hours.
Longtime Biden advisor Mike Donilon told House Oversight Committee investigators he could’ve gotten up to $8 million had Biden won re-election. (Getty Images)
Donilon first began working for Biden in 1981 as a pollster when Biden was the junior U.S. senator from Delaware.
Alongside Ricchetti, he was one of two Biden aides who were present when he drafted his announcement dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Donilon told investigators he received $4 million to work for Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign and would have gotten $4 million more if Biden had won, a source told Fox News Digital.
He staunchly defended Biden during his interview, the source said, accusing Democrats of overreacting in the wake of Biden’s debate.
Six other ex-Biden administration aides are still set to appear in the coming weeks. (Fox News )
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Donilon told investigators Biden is «a leader who was deeply engaged and in command on critical issues,» according to his opening statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
«Every president ages over the four years of a presidency and President Biden did as well, but he also continued to grow stronger and wiser as a leader as a result of being tested by some of the most difficult challenges any president has ever faced,» Donilon said.
Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
house of representatives politics,republicans,joe biden,politics
INTERNACIONAL
Cuadro robado por los nazis: la justicia de Mar del Plata investiga a las hijas de un exmiembro de las SS
El cuadro robado por los nazis y detectado en Mar del Plata sigue desaparecido. No fue encontrado por personal de la Policía Federal que allanó este martes la casa donde fue encontrado por periodistas de un diario neerlandés.
El fiscal Carlos Martínez, que lleva la causa, afirmó que la pintura no estaba en la vivienda. “No está el cuadro, solo se secuestró una carabina y un revólver calibre 32”, dijo.
Leé también: Las 3 horas de Hitler en París: un paseo triunfal, una venganza y la orden que no fue obedecida
El diario local La Capital dijo que los agentes que llevaron adelante el allanamiento advirtieron un cambio en la decoración de la casa en relación a las imágenes que se habían publicado en el aviso de venta activo hasta el domingo y en el que se veía la pintura colgada en una sala de estar.
La investigación la lleva adelante la Unidad Federal Fiscal marplatense. En forma paralela, Interpol emitió alertas nacionales e internacionales para evitar que la pintura “Retrato de una Dama”, del artista italiano Giuseppe Ghislandi, salga del país.
La casa había sido puesta a la venta por una de las hijas del exoficial de la SS Friedrich Kadgien, que escapó a la Argentina en los años 50 y donde murió en 1978. Según supo TN, la mujer estuvo presente en el allanamiento.
La agencia de Patrimonio Cultural de los Países Bajos afirma que el ex alto funcionario nazi le robó la pintura al galerista judío Jacques Goudstikker, cuya colección de obras de arte fue expoliada por los nazis.
Cómo fue hallada en Mar del Plata la pintura robada por los nazis
El caso fue destapado el lunes por una investigación del diario Algemeen Dagblad, de Rotterdam.
La pista era seguida desde hace años, pero las hijas de Kadgien, cuyos nombres se reservan, siempre se negaron a hablar del tema, contó a TN el corresponsal del periódico, Peter Schouten. El “Retrato de una dama”, del pintor italiano Giuseppe Ghislandi. (Foto: Cortesía/Algemmen Dagblad).
Sin embargo, un descuido reveló el misterio. Una de las hermanas puso a la venta su casa y entre las fotos publicadas por la inmobiliaria se ve lo que parece ser el cuadro de Ghislandi colgado sobre un sillón de la sala de estar.
TN intentó comunicarse vía WhatsApp con la dueña de la casa, pero no recibió respuesta. El último mensaje ni siquiera llegó a la destinataria.
El aviso de venta fue retirado el lunes por la Inmobiliaria Robles Casas & Campos después que se revelara el caso. Incluso, TN supo que una de las hijas de Kadgien cambió su apellido en su cuenta de Instagram por el de su exmarido.
Leé también: El fallido golpe de Estado que catapultó a Adolf Hitler a la fama para someter al mundo a un sufrimiento atroz
Otro cuadro del reconocido pintor holandés Abraham Mignon también estaría en manos de la misma familia, aunque se desconoce quiénes podrían ser sus dueños originales.
Esa obra fue ubicada por expertos de la Agencia de Patrimonio neerlandés en una foto publicada por una de las hijas de Kadgien en sus redes sociales, según reveló el diario neerlandés. Esta pintura figura como desaparecida en los archivos oficiales.
De quién era la pintura hallada en Mar del Plata
La pintura de Ghislandi pertenecía a la colección del marchante judío neerlandés Jacques Goudstikker.
El galerista escapó de Ámsterdam tras la invasión alemana de 1940, pero murió durante el viaje en barco cuando huía a Nueva York con su esposa e hijo. En su local quedaron 1113 obras de arte de su propia colección, todas documentadas. Kadgien llegó a la Argentina tras pasar por Brasil. (Foto: gentileza AD).
Durante la ocupación nazi, el banquero alemán Alois Mield compró la galería y todos sus obras, pero esta operación jamás fue reconocida por los herederos de Goudstikker. El mariscal del Reich Herman Göring y otros funcionarios nazis, como Kadgien según sospechan en los Países Bajos, adquirieron los cuadros por un valor de remate.
Tras el fin de la guerra, Kadgien escapó primero a Suiza. Desde allí viajó a Brasil y finalmente a la Argentina, donde fundó una empresa, formó una familia y vivió sin ser molestado hasta su muerte en 1978.
Como mano derecha de Göring, fue uno de los expertos financieros más importantes del régimen nazi. Se cree que manejó fondos millonarios del Tercer Reich que nunca aparecieron. De hecho, muchos lo conocían como “el mago de las finanzas” del nazismo.
Ahora, los herederos de Goudstikker reclaman la revolución de la pintura hallada en Mar del Plata.
nazis
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Democrats are expressing outrage that alleged gang member and illegal immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia may be deported to Uganda.
In the latest turn in Abrego Garcia’s high-profile immigration case, the alleged MS-13 gang member was arrested by ICE at an immigration check-in at a Baltimore facility on Monday and is now facing possible deportation to Uganda.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, an Obama appointee, ruled on Monday to temporarily block Abrego Garcia’s deportation, ordering he stay detained in the U.S. pending a hearing. Xinis ordered Abrego Garcia be kept at the same facility he was moved to in Virginia.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who has been leading the charge of Democrats advocating for Abrego Garcia, expressed outrage over his arrest and possible deportation on Monday, saying, «ICE is holding Kilmar Ábrego García and refusing to answer questions from his lawyers — while the Trump Admin continues to spread lies about his case.»
NOEM TORCHES ‘ACTIVIST LIBERAL JUDGES’ AFTER ABREGO GARCIA’S RELEASE FROM JAIL: ‘NEW LOW’
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, right, and his brother Cesar Abrego Garcia, center, arrive at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
«Instead of spewing unproven allegations on social media, they need to put up or shut up IN COURT,» he went on, adding, «Mr. Ábrego García must be allowed to defend himself.»
This follows Salvadoran Abrego Garcia being released from federal custody on Friday in Tennessee, where he was being held pending his trial for charges of human smuggling of illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Earlier this year, Abrego Garcia was deported by the Trump administration to his home country of El Salvador, but after Democratic uproar over an alleged lack of due process and a Supreme Court ruling ordering his return, he was eventually returned to the U.S. to stand trial.
According to an earlier X post by Van Hollen, the senator met with Abrego Garcia virtually on Sunday to discuss his «long and torturous nightmare» of being deported and standing trial for human smuggling.
‘MARYLAND MAN’ KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA EXPOSED IN POLICE RECORDS AS ‘VIOLENT’ REPEAT WIFE BEATER
In this handout provided by Sen. Van Hollen’s Office, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., meets with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia (left) at an undisclosed location on April 17, 2025, in San Salvador, El Salvador. (Sen. Van Hollen’s Office via Getty Images)
Van Hollen wrote that «during our conversation, I shared with him that I and many others have been fighting for months to ensure that his constitutional due process rights were respected despite Trump’s efforts to deny them at every turn.»
«The courts & public outcry forced Trump to return him to MD, but Trump’s cronies keep lying about his case & are engaged in a malicious abuse of power to try to deport him to Uganda,» wrote Van Hollen, adding, «As I told Kilmar, I won’t stop fighting for justice & due process for all.»
Van Hollen was not the only Democrat to express outrage over the Van Hollen’s arrest.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also took to X to denounce the Trump administration, which she said, «wrongly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a horrific El Salvadoran prison.»
«Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda. Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself,» wrote Warren.
FLORIDA AG ANNOUNCES PROBE OF SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS THAT GIVE TRUCKING LICENSES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has been an aggressive critic of President Trump during her time in Congress. (Julia Beverly/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, a prominent Democratic voice and vocal Trump critic, also drilled into the administration, saying, «Let’s be clear: deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda makes no sense—it’s not his home country.»
«Nothing about this process has been fair,» she wrote. «ICE is targeting him with cruelty. This is the weaponization of government, not justice.»
Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., who joined a rally advocating for Abrego Garcia earlier on Monday, wrote that «Mr. Abrego Garcia must not be sent to some third party country like Uganda.»
Ivey wrote that «the people united will continue to seek justice for Kilmar!»
DNC CHAIR DEMANDS DEMS STOP ‘BRINGING A PENCIL TO A KNIFE FIGHT’ AT FIERY SUMMER MEETING
DHS said that President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem «are not going to allow this illegal alien—who is an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator—to terrorize American citizens any longer.» (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
In response, the Department of Homeland Security posted on its official X account, «Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not and will never be a Maryland Man—he is a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador and public safety threat.»
DHS called it «insane» that «sanctuary politicians chose to glorify and stand with an MS-13 gang member over the safety of American citizens.»
The agency said that Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem «are not going to allow this illegal alien—who is an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator—to terrorize American citizens any longer.»
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital that, «Democrats have proven that they care more about a criminal illegal alien MS-13 member who beat his wife than they do about the safety and security of the American people.»
SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER DNC SPEAKER SAYS MIGRANT CRIME, CARJACKINGS ‘DON’T MATTER’ TO MANY AMERICANS
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
«The Trump Administration will never apologize for fulfilling our promise to deport criminal illegal aliens,» said Jackson.
Chris Newman, an attorney for Abrego Garcia’s family, categorically denied DHS’ allegations, telling Fox News Digital, «None of those things are true, full stop.»
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«The problem here is that the administration is trying its hardest to litigate this case through the media, as opposed to through courts of law,» said Newman.
He said that «in essence» what the Trump administration has done «is to use the highest office in the land to blackmail an innocent man into sacrificing his constitutional rights.»
«And we’ve been fighting against that both and winning in court even as the Trump administration insists on polluting the public debate with lies.»
In an emailed statement sent to Fox News Digital, Ivey accused Trump of ignoring the law.
«When I prosecuted, MS 13 cases, we indicted, tried the case, won the convictions, sentence them to jail time, and did not support them until after they had served jail their sentence,» said Ivey. «That way, we followed the constitution and the law. The Trump administration is ignoring both. They want to deport them without giving them the day in court that the Supreme Court has required. And they want to jail them indefinitely even though they haven’t been convicted of a crime. That’s wrong and I’ll continue to fight against it.»
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
democratic party,immigration,migrant crime,illegal immigrants,maryland
INTERNACIONAL
Russian software developer gets 15 years in prison for $500 donation to Ukraine defense fund
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A Russian software developer in Moscow on Tuesday was sentenced to 15 years hard prison time for donating roughly $500 to a Ukrainian defense fund, reporting by East2West confirmed.
Sergei Irin, 45, who at one point worked for Russian tech giant Yandex, apparently refused to stand in court as he was issued his sentence, but held up a sign that read, «Putin is a «s—head.»
Former software developer with Russian tech giant Yandex, Sergei Irin, 45, held up a sign reading ‘Putin is a s—head’ as he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for treason in Moscow court on Aug. 26, 2025. (East2West)
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Irin, according to footage given to Fox News Digital, was arrested on the suspicion of treason, and was handed a 15-year sentence in a maximum-security prison for his «act of defiance,» according to the report.
Though it is unclear if either his prison placement or the amount of time he was handed was affected by the sign he held while in court, or merely for donating to a Ukrainian defense fund.
In the video, a man who is allegedly Irin those whose face is blurred out, is seen being tackled and handcuffed by masked police officers.
Irin was apparently visiting his mother after having fled Russia sometime prior.
Former software developer with Russian tech giant Yandex, Sergei Irin, 45, is tackled by Russian police forces during his arrest ahead of his sentencing in a Moscow court on Aug. 26, 2025. (East2West)
RUSSIA CLAIMS NAVALNY DIED FROM ARRHYTHMIA, COMBINATION OF DISEASES AS WIDOW ALLEGES ‘PATHETIC’ COVER UP
He is then questioned in a van by the men, at which point he admits that within days of Russian President Vladimir Putin launching his illegal and deadly invasion of Ukraine, Irin donated funds to Ukraine’s Come Back Alive charity, which supports Kyiv’s defense forces.
The donation was made on Feb. 27, 2022, according to Irin.
The 45-year-old also said he feels «negatively» towards the Putin regime and admitted to having participated in opposition rallies.
Former software developer with Russian tech giant Yandex, Sergei Irin, 45, was sentenced in a Moscow court on Aug. 26, 2025. (East2West)
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The report by East2West said he was later «interrogated with a stun gun and sent by plane to Moscow, to the Lefortovo [notorious pretrial detention center].»
Irin was also issued a roughly $62,000 fine by the Russian court on Tuesday.
It is unclear which maximum-security prison he will be sent to, to carry out his sentence.
russia,ukraine,vladimir putin
Tras 16 años de trámite, la Corte rechazó una demanda colectiva por jubilaciones y exhortó al Congreso a que nombre Defensor del Pueblo
La nueva pelea por las jubilaciones: el gobierno dice que el proyecto de López Murphy duplicaría el precio de la nafta
Kicillof reconoció que analizó ser candidato testimonial en las elecciones bonaerenses: “La dirigencia tiene que poner el cuerpo”
La angustia de Dalma Maradona tras el grave accidente de Claudia Villafañe: “Se abrió la cabeza y los estudios dieron bien por suerte»
Cuadro robado por los nazis: la justicia de Mar del Plata investiga a las hijas de un exmiembro de las SS
La justicia electoral castigó a un partido por hacer publicidad encubierta
Chile organizó una colecta para que la familia del hincha que fue operado por fractura de cráneo pueda viajar a la Argentina
Confirmado: Susana Giménez vuelve con un programa de los más esperados
El fuerte cruce entre Victoria Villarruel y Mayra Mendoza por el caso de los audios
