INTERNACIONAL
Biden’s auto-pen pardons disturbed DOJ brass, docs show, raising questions whether they are legally binding
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
New documents and communications between Biden White House staff and career officials at the Justice Department prompted scrutiny of the legality of former President Joe Biden’s thousands of last-minute pardons.
The Oversight Project shared documents obtained from the Trump DOJ with Fox News Digital showing that a career prosecutor warned Biden’s inner circle that the administration’s pardon process was unorthodox and legally troubling.
In the most scrutinized e-mail, then-Assistant Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer wrote a group email to several executive office staff members on Jan. 18 asking questions about the more than 2,500 pardons.
«[T]he White House has described those who received commutations as people convicted of non-violent drug offenses. I think you should stop saying that because it is untrue or at least misleading,» Weinsheimer said.
‘SHOULD BE PROSECUTED’: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ZERO IN ON BIDEN AUTOPEN PARDONS AFTER BOMBSHELL REPORT
An autopen, left, and President Joe Biden (Getty Images; Fox News)
«As you know, even with the exceedingly limited review we were permitted to do of the individuals we believed you might be considering for commutation action, we initially identified 19 that were highly problematic,» he continued.
He cited convicts Terrence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne, who were included in the clemency grants, and noted the DOJ received «voluminous» objections from victims’ families and law enforcement as the men had been «sentenced to life imprisonment for drug trafficking offenses during which a police officer was killed.»
That, according to Oversight Project vice president Kyle Brosnan, shows DOJ was concerned about the «vague» construct of Biden’s pardons and how they appeared to be «illegally delegated» to staff. They also left the DOJ wondering at times which offenses, for people with multiple convictions, were specifically being expunged.
«Later in the email, he was like, ‘Look, I read the statement you put out in the president’s name, saying you’ve released a bunch of non-violent drug offenders. You’ve got murderers on your list today. So I’m trying to figure out what the president wants here for this funky warrant.’»
Discussing other documents received, Brosnan and attorney Sam Dewey cited a spreadsheet of convicts with «offenses described to the Department of Justice» for the second of several «collective» or catch-all warrants.
NEW FOIA ON MIGRANTS POTENTIALLY AVOIDING THE DRAFT COULD OPEN NEW DEPORTATION PREDICATE: ATTORNEYS
«I think it best that we receive a statement or direction from the President as to the meaning of the warrant language,» Weinsheimer wrote to White House staff. «That will allow us to give full effect to the commutation warrant in the manner intended by the president.»
There was ultimately no explanation for what the offenses or the proverbial descriptions were, according to the document tranche, Brosnan said, adding that the DOJ official suggested to Biden staff that «you should stop saying [pardonees were mostly ‘nonviolent drug offen[ders]’] because it is untrue or at least misleading.»
Brosnan explained that a spreadsheet of convicts, said to be attached to one of the e-mails, came from the U.S. Sentencing Commission – and only the president has the power to grant pardons. Treating it otherwise, he said, would amount to an illegal delegation of presidential authority.
BIDEN DEFENDS CONTROVERSIAL AUTOPEN USE FOR MASS CLEMENCY DECISIONS IN NYT INTERVIEW: ‘A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE’
To that end, Brosnan pointed to New York Times interviews with Biden in July, wherein the paper reported, «Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people, he and aides confirmed.»
«Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence.»
«High-profile» pardon recipients like retired Gen. Mark Milley were discussed directly with aides.
«Biden did not pardon individual people, but laid out categories of types of people to release and left it to the staff to figure out who meets that criteria,» Brosnan said, adding that many warrant documents were also found to be auto-penned.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Dewey told Fox News Digital the situation was «worse than that» – because «literally no one,» including DOJ officials, «understands what the [aforementioned pardon] criteria are.»
«You generally don’t see people write emails like this,» he said. «This isn’t a ‘CYA’ – this is an ‘I’m going to do a Pontius Pilate routine because this is a drug deal and I want to make very sure it doesn’t come back on me.»
The entire situation, Dewey said, also has a precedent for such pardons being considered «invalid» going back to «before we were even a country.»
«If the pardon is invalid, it falls, and then you proceed as if there was no pardon.»
Biden previously defended his pardons, saying that he wanted to undo «disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.»
«[This] clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,» Biden said in a statement.
«This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.»
Fox News Digital reached out to DOJ and a representative for Biden for further comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
justice department,joe biden,white house,crime world,police and law enforcement
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
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.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
«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
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
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)
US-RUSSIAN BALLERINA REFLECTS ON RELEASE FROM RUSSIAN PENAL COLONY AFTER YEAR-LONG ORDEAL
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)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
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
El presidente de Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, denunció este martes lo que calificó como una “decisión irresponsable” por parte del gobierno de Donald Trump tras la revocación de la visa estadounidense de su ministro de Justicia, Ricardo Lewandowski. Según medios brasileños presentes en una reunión de gabinete celebrada en Brasilia, el mandatario expresó su solidaridad tanto con Lewandowski como con otros magistrados brasileños afectados por restricciones similares.
“Estas actitudes son inaceptables, no sólo contra el ministro Lewandowski, sino también contra magistrados del Tribunal Supremo o cualquier autoridad brasileña”, declaró Lula durante el encuentro transmitido en directo, en referencia también a otras restricciones impuestas anteriormente por Washington a miembros clave del poder judicial brasileño.
Hasta la noche del martes, el Departamento de Estado estadounidense no emitió ninguna respuesta oficial a las consultas realizadas sobre la revocación de la visa del ministro de Justicia ni de otras autoridades brasileñas. Según las informaciones difundidas, la decisión de Estados Unidos se produce en el marco de una serie de sanciones y restricciones que la administración de Donald Trump ha implementado en los últimos meses, principalmente en respuesta al proceso judicial por intento de golpe de Estado contra el ex presidente Jair Bolsonaro, quien gobernó el país entre 2019 y 2022.
Durante la reunión ministerial, Lula expresó públicamente su respaldo a Lewandowski y calificó la revocación como “una vergüenza para ellos, no para” el ministro. “Debería estar orgulloso de lo que ha hecho, que ha llevado a estos tipos a odiar tanto a Brasil”, agregó el mandatario. El jefe de Estado también hizo referencia a la última política estadounidense de incremento de aranceles, asegurando que Brasil no admitirá “insultos de nadie” y exhortó a sus ministros a defender la soberanía nacional de manera firme.
“Estamos dispuestos a sentarnos a la mesa en igualdad de condiciones. Lo que no estamos dispuestos es a que nos traten como si fuéramos subordinados. No aceptaremos eso de nadie. Es importante saber que nuestro compromiso es con el pueblo brasileño”, enfatizó Lula.
En las últimas semanas, Washington retiró la visa y sancionó también al juez del Supremo, Alexandre de Moraes, quien está a cargo del proceso judicial por el intento de golpe contra Bolsonaro. Estas medidas incluyeron la aplicación de la denominada ley Magnitsky, que supone el bloqueo de activos en territorio estadounidense y la prohibición a ciudadanos o empresas de ese país de mantener relaciones comerciales con los funcionarios sancionados. Sin embargo, fuentes judiciales brasileñas aseguraron que Moraes no posee bienes en Estados Unidos.
El contexto de las sanciones estadounidenses incluye presiones ejercidas por figuras de la oposición brasileña radicadas en Estados Unidos, como Paulo Figueiredo y Eduardo Bolsonaro, hijo del ex presidente. Según destaca la información, ambos lideran esfuerzos de lobby ante el ejecutivo estadounidense para lograr acciones más contundentes contra las autoridades judiciales de Brasil. Lula denunció estos hechos: “Es probablemente una de las peores traiciones que ha sufrido la patria”, afirmó durante la misma reunión, y apuntó directamente contra quienes, según sus palabras, “infunden mentiras e hipocresía en otro estado contra Brasil”.
Además de la cancelación de visas, la administración Trump impuso recientemente aranceles punitivos de hasta el 50% a variados productos brasileños, argumentando la existencia de una “caza de brujas” contra el ex presidente Bolsonaro y sus aliados. Bolsonaro se encuentra actualmente bajo prisión domiciliaria preventiva, acusado de conspiración y obstrucción de la justicia en el caso relacionado con el fallido intento de golpe de Estado en 2022. El Supremo Tribunal Federal de Brasil tiene previsto anunciar su veredicto definitivo sobre Bolsonaro a partir del próximo 2 de septiembre.
La escalada de tensiones se da en un contexto de fuerte polarización política, donde el bolsonarismo mantiene apoyo de sectores de la comunidad brasileña en Estados Unidos. En el transcurso de la última semana, la Policía Federal brasileña recomendó la imputación de Jair Bolsonaro y su hijo Eduardo por supuesta obstrucción del proceso penal.
Durante la reunión referida, Lula y algunos de sus ministros lucieron gorras azules con el lema “Brasil es de los brasileños”, en lo que pareció ser un gesto simbólico de reafirmación nacionalista ante las presiones externas.
El retiro de los visados y la imposición de sanciones han puesto de manifiesto la compleja relación bilateral bajo la administración Trump, así como la defensa de la soberanía y la independencia judicial por parte del gobierno de Lula da Silva.
(Con información de AFP, EP y Reuters)
La justicia electoral castigó a un partido por hacer publicidad encubierta
Independiente-U de Chile: Conmebol ante una sanción sin precedentes
Democrats outraged that alleged gang member could be sent to Uganda
Russian software developer gets 15 years in prison for $500 donation to Ukraine defense fund
El Gobierno avanzará sobre las operaciones financieras del Cártel de los Soles en la Argentina
«zona liberada» de trolls, el impacto en redes, cómo le pega a Karina Milei y la única ventaja del Gobierno
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
