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Virginia parents crush fundraising goal for trans locker room fight after judge ordered massive bond
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FIRST ON FOX: Parents from Northern Virginia late Wednesday night surpassed the massive $125,000 bond that a judge ordered them to pay in order to stay in court and defend their sons, who were suspended and found responsible for sexual harassment after objecting to a transgender classmate using their male-only locker room.
The parents, who are suing the Loudoun County Public Schools district, raised over $125,000 ahead of the Friday deadline and even met the original Wednesday deadline before it was granted an extension.
They were originally ordered by a federal judge last Friday to come up with the funds by the end of the day on Wednesday if they wanted to keep fighting for their sons in court. The $125,000 «bond» was ordered by the judge in the case, Leonie Brinkema, who said the money is meant to ensure that the parents would be able to pay for the school district’s attorney fees if they end up losing.
«We have serious doubts that such a bond can be legally required, and this requirement that the plaintiffs put up the money to pay the government’s attorneys fees is certainly very unusual and unexpected, especially when the government acknowledged in court that its insurance policy is covering legal costs,» Josh Hetzler, co-counsel for the parents, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
PARENTS: VIRGINIA BOYS SUSPENDED AFTER QUESTIONING TRANSGENDER LOCKER ROOM POLICY WERE IGNORED BY SCHOOL
Fox News Digital interviewed two Virginia parents whose kids have been accused of sexual harassment for complaining about a girl using their locker room. (Fox News/istock)
Before taking the case to federal court, Hetzler, Wolfe and Smith sought other avenues to ensure the two boys were not suspended or marked as sexual harassers on their permanent record. They sought to appeal the Loudoun County Public Schools Title IX sexual harassment investigation finding, which came after the boys were videotaped by a biological female who identified as transgender inside the boys’ locker room. The video caught them outwardly complaining to each other about the fact that there was a girl using their facilities, which resulted in the boys’ suspension and the district’s harassment finding against them.
However, the appeal was ultimately denied by the district, so the decision was made to take the matter to federal court with the help of Trump-aligned law group America First Legal (AFL).
Meanwhile, on Friday, Judge Brinkema, for the Eastern District of Virginia, extended a temporary halt to the boys’ suspension so that they could continue attending class as the case is adjudicated. But, simultaneously, Brinkema also expressed «significant weaknesses in aspects of the plaintiffs’ allegations» in another ruling that same day, which ultimately required Wolfe and Smith to drum up $125,000 over the next three business days if they wanted to keep fighting the matter in court.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING SCOTUS CASE OVER TRANS ATHLETES TO PROCEED AFTER ATTEMPT TO DISMISS
«Fortunately, we have an extension until Friday,» Ian Prior, AFL’s attorney assisting on the case, said as the Wednesday bond deadline approached, and it appeared they would not have the funds.
According to Prior, it is not entirely «atypical» for the prevailing party in a preliminary injunction to have to put up a bond. However, Prior noted, in public interest cases such as this one, bond requirements are often set very low, sometimes even at $0. Prior also said he was not aware of bonds being required to cover attorneys’ fees.
A transgender flag waves at an undisclosed location on an undisclosed date (left). A judge uses his gavel (right). Parents face a $125K bond deadline in Loudoun County, Va. on October 15. (Getty Images/iStock)
«In most cases, it is done where a company is enjoined from doing something, like selling a certain kind of widget for example, and the injunction will cost them something,» Prior told Fox News Digital. «The bond helps assure that if the prevailing party does not ultimately succeed, the other party is made whole from the impact the injunction had. We are not aware of bonds being required to cover attorneys’ fees however.»
In Brinkema’s order, she explicitly indicated the bond was to ensure «that if the defendant prevails on dispositive pre-trial motions, it can recover from that bond its attorney’s fees.»
Wolfe and Smith, following the bond order, set up an online fundraiser to help them raise the funds. As of Wednesday morning, the online fundraiser had collected around $50,000, but before the end of the day, a single donation of $50,000, from Michael Dearing, who appears to be an angel investor, pushed the parents within $25,000 of their $125,000 goal.
Video from a locker room in Stone Bridge High School where a trans male was in a male bathroom. (Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office)
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When asked about what their plans would be if they were unable to raise the full amount, Prior indicated that there were «a multitude of options» that could be taken.
«The more that the students raise, the easier it will be to post bond, even if they do not get to the full $125k,» Prior told Fox News Digital. «To be clear, the case does not get dismissed without posting the bond – rather, we would lose the preliminary injunction and the suspensions would take place immediately and the findings would be put into the students’ records at a time when they would likely be applying for higher education.»
federal courts,virginia,law,controversies state and local,education
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished, blasting the federal agency as «rogue» and «reckless» as questions mount over the city’s handling of illegal immigration following the fatal subway killing of an elderly veteran.
During a news conference announcing new street safety efforts, the mayor said he has spoken to President Donald Trump about immigration enforcement operations in the city, claiming ICE a «rogue agency.»
«We’re making clear that no one is above the law in this city, that everyone has to follow the rule of law,» Mamdani said. «I have made clear to the president, both in our private conversations and our public conversations, about the fact that I believe that ICE is a rogue agency.»
Mamdani added that he believes ICE is «reckless» and «delivers nothing toward the furthering of the cause of public safety.»
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday that ICE should be abolished. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
«I’ve also been public about my belief that ICE is an entity that should be abolished, and that is critically important in our city, where we’ve seen too many New Yorkers living in fear of even going to what would otherwise be routine immigration check ins,» he said. «… What we’ve had in the interim is a federal entity that has been operating with a level of impunity, and that has to come to an end.»
The mayor went on to support protests against the Trump administration, endorsing the «No Kings NYC» protest planned for Saturday in Manhattan.
«I think that rallies are an incredibly effective way for New Yorkers to both organize together and make it clear what their vision is for the city, for the state, for this country,» Mamdani said. «I think that what we’ve seen is that there’s an attempt to make many in our city feel as if they are alone, when they believe that ICE has no place in our city, when they believe that every single New Yorker who lives in this city belongs in this city, and should be made to feel as if such.
DHS EXPOSES BACKGROUND OF NYC CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEE AFTER MAMDANI FUMED OVER ARREST
Agitators waving flags at a «No Kings» rally in Los Angeles. (SIPA USA)
«What these rallies are — are also an opportunity to realize that you are not in the minority when you have those beliefs. You are, in fact, one of a growing coalition of people who want to see a shred of decency, dignity and humanity come back to our city and our country’s politics.»
Reporters did not question Mamdani about the recent murder of 83-year-old Air Force veteran Richard Williams, who died after he was allegedly shoved onto New York City subway tracks by an illegal immigrant from Honduras. Mamdani has yet to publicly comment on the killing.
When asked if Honduran national Bairon Posada-Hernandez, 34, would be turned over to ICE, the mayor’s office referred Fox News to the Department of Corrections (DOC).
HOMAN SAYS NYC MAYOR MAMDANI ‘MADE IT CLEAR HE’S NOT GOING TO WORK WITH ICE’ ON IMMIGRATION
Bairon Posada-Herandez, an illegal immigrant, is charged with murder after allegedly shoving Richard Williams, 83, and another man, onto Manhattan subway tracks. Williams died from his injuries days later. (Getty Images/Department of Homeland Security)
A DOC spokesperson said the agency processes ICE detainers «consistent with local law,» which limits cooperation.
Under city law, ICE is only notified if there is a detainer backed by a judicial warrant (I-200 or I-205), and the person has a qualifying recent conviction for a violent or serious crime.
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It is unclear if ICE will be notified or take custody of Posada-Hernandez, who has been deported from the U.S. four times, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS officials have asked New York City to cooperate, saying, «Posada-Hernandez is a serial criminal and four-time deported illegal alien who NEVER should have been able to walk our streets and harm innocent Americans. He is now facing murder charges. We are calling on New York sanctuary politicians to not release this murderer. Please join us in praying for Mr. Williams’ family, friends, and loved ones.»
zohran mamdani, new york city, us protests, homeland security, illegal immigrants, donald trump, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Estados Unidos afirma que dos veleros que partieron de México a Cuba con ayuda llegaron «sanos y salvos»
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The race against time to destroy Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program heats up amid fresh strikes
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The Iranian regime’s retention of key nuclear weapons facilities and its material for building atomic bombs — highly enriched uranium — has led to new efforts by the U.S. and Israeli militaries to take out the last vestiges of the regime’s program.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that, that it’s «Air Force Struck the Arak Heavy Water Plant—A Key Plutonium Production Site for Nuclear Weapons.» The Arak plant is located in central Iran.
Prior to Friday’s attack, an IDF spokesperson told Fox News Digital concerning Arak, that there is a «high estimation» that attacks on «uranium enrichment sites are part of the plan.» The IDF declined to answer more specific questions about its target list and if any ground operations to retrieve the nuclear weapons-grade uranium were being considered.
NEXT MOVE ON IRAN: SEIZE KHARG ISLAND, SECURE URANIUM OR RISK GROUND WAR ESCALATION
An IDF infographic shows Iran’s Arak heavy water plant, described as a key infrastructure for plutonium production. (IDF)
Reuters, quoting regime media outlet Fars, reported that joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Friday hit the Khondab heavy water research reactor.
A statement released by the IDF said, «Heavy water is a unique material used to operate nuclear reactors, such as the inactive Arak reactor, which was originally designed to have weapons-grade plutonium production capabilities. These materials can also be used as a neutron source for nuclear weapons.»
The IDF statement added that «The plant was a significant economic asset for the terror regime and served as a source of income for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, generating tens of millions of dollars for the regime each year.»
The regime’s foreign minister posted a condemnation of Israel and warned the Jewish state, «Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes.»
According to an article published by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), «The IR-40 Arak, aka Khondab, Heavy Water Reactor and Heavy Water Production Plant date to the early 2000s… The reactor core design was ideal for making substantial amounts of weapon-grade plutonium for nuclear weapons.»
STRIKES MAY SET IRAN BACK — BUT LIKELY WON’T END NUCLEAR PROGRAM, UN WATCHDOG CHIEF SAYS
Jason Brodsky, the policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital, «The one nuclear site which hasn’t been hit to date has been Pickaxe Mountain, so striking that site as part of Operation Epic Fury will be important to further degrade the Iranian nuclear program.»
A White House spokesperson referred Fox News Digital to President Trump’s cabinet meeting comments about Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Trump said on Thursday, «We’re free to roam over their cities and towns and destroy all of their crazy nuclear weapons and missiles and drones that they’re building.»
A map shows damage to Iran’s Fordow nuclear site after being struck by the United States in Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025. (Fox News)
David Albright, a physicist, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security told Fox News Digital that with respect to key nuclear weapons facilities that remain, «The elephants in the tent are Natanz and Isfahan. There was an attack on Natanz that the Iranians revealed, but the Israelis said we are not aware of an attack. So it must have been the U.S.,» he claimed.
TRUMP SAYS US, ISRAEL SHATTERED IRANIAN MILITARY CAPABILITIES, PRESSES LEADERS TO SURRENDER: ‘CRY UNCLE’
He said that Natanz has enriched uranium. «The Iranians were doing recovery operations in the underground fuel enrichment plant there and continuing to build this pickaxe mountain tunnel complex, which could hold enriched uranium. Right next to it is another tunnel complex that was built much earlier, around 2007… And the Iranians sealed it up, fortified it. There is something obviously important there.»
Albright said U.S. and Israeli airstrikes «have not attacked the underground Isfahan site. We know, according to the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency], highly enriched uranium is in that site.» He continued that, «There may be an enrichment plant under construction in that underground complex. We would like that site to be attacked.»
Iranian worshippers hold up their hands as signs of unity with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during an anti-Israeli rally to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iran, in downtown Tehran, Iran, on June 20, 2025. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Albright warned that the war should not end like the previous U.S.-Israel war with Iran in 2025 with Tehran retaining the «crown jewels» of its atomic weapons program: highly enriched uranium and a number of centrifuges.
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He warned, «You don’t want it to come out of this war with the same kind of nuclear weapons capabilities that it had at the end of June war with a higher incentive to build a bomb.» He added, that is why it’s so important ‘to finish the job,» in Iran.
war with iran, israel, nuclear proliferation, conflicts
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