INTERNACIONAL
Former Trump lawyer Halligan defends US prosecutor status in wake of Comey, James dismissals
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FIRST ON FOX: Former Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan argued in a new court filing Tuesday that a judge’s November ruling dismissing two criminal cases does not undermine her authority to serve as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia or to represent the federal government in ongoing cases.
The new filing, previewed exclusively to Fox News Digital, comes amid a swirl of leadership questions within the U.S. prosecutor’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia, dubbed the «rocket docket» due to the court’s swift handling of federal cases, including many high-profile national security cases, and just hours after the news that Halligan’s deputy, Robert McBride, longtime federal prosecutor and second-highest-ranking U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, was dismissed from his role amid broader disagreements with DOJ.
U.S. District Judge James Currie in November ruled Halligan was unlawfully appointed to her role as interim U.S. attorney for the district, and ordered dismissed without prejudice the criminal cases she brought against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. (The Justice Department has appealed both dismissals to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.)
The back-and-forth over Halligan’s status came under fresh scrutiny last week, after U.S. District Judge David Novak issued an unprompted court order for Halligan to explain to the court, in writing, her continued representation as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and why that «does not constitute a false or misleading statement,» which Novak suggested could be grounds for disciplinary proceedings.
Novak further asserted that Currie’s determination on the unlawful nature of Halligan’s appointment represents «binding precedent in this district» and should not be ignored.
COMEY SEEKS TO TOSS CRIMINAL CASE CALLING TRUMP PROSECUTOR ‘UNLAWFUL’ APPOINTEE
Lindsey Halligan, special assistant to the president, speaks with a reporter outside the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
The response filed Tuesday by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Halligan, vehemently disputes those claims.
«To answer the Court’s inquisition directly: ‘the basis for Ms. Halligan’s identification of herself as the United States Attorney, notwithstanding Judge Currie’s contrary ruling’ is that, in the government’s view, Ms. Halligan is the United States Attorney, and Judge Currie’s ruling did not and could not require the United States to acquiesce to her contrary (and erroneous) legal reasoning outside of those cases,» the Justice Department told Novak on Tuesday.
They stated further that Halligan’s identification «is correct and consistent with the Department of Justice’s internal guidance, and at minimum reflects a contested legal position that the United States is entitled to maintain notwithstanding a single district judge’s contrary view.»
MAURENE COMEY SUES DOJ FOR ‘UNLAWFUL’ FIRING, DEMANDS REINSTATEMENT
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is seen in Alexandria, Va. (Photo by Bonnie Cash/Getty Images) ((Bonnie Cash/Getty Images))
In addition, they said, Currie’s determination on the validity of Halligan’s appointment as it relates to Comey’s and James’s criminal cases is not binding – nor does it preclude the Justice Department from challenging that determination, or Halligan from legitimately heading up the U.S. attorney’s office on other cases and matters.
«A contested legal position does not become a factual misrepresentation simply because one district judge has rejected it,» the Justice Department said Tuesday. «In any event, this Court has no authority to strike Ms. Halligan’s title from the Government’s signature block.»
The new filing comes after months of back-and-forth over the decision to install Halligan, Trump’s former personal lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, as the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia last fall.
The Justice Department, for its part, has doubled down on its defense of Halligan, and senior Trump officials have blasted the judges in question for engaging in what they described as a «campaign of bias and hostility» against Halligan.
LETITIA JAMES TO BE ARAIGNED IN VIRGINIA ON FEDERAL BANK FRAUD CHARGES TIED TO 2020 HOME PURCHASE
Attorney General Pam Bondi is pictured. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
«As Attorney General Bondi and President Trump know well, Lindsey Halligan is an effective U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting violent crime at the hands of illegal aliens, prosecuting the alleged distribution by a Democrat operative of child sexual abuse material, and even prosecuting alleged money laundering by a Venezuelan national, which is exactly why her opponents want to stop her,» a spokesperson for the Justice Department told Fox News Digital.
The Justice Department also confirmed news of McBride’s dismissal from EDVA, which they attributed to a refusal to take on significant litigation of importance to EDVA, specifically in regard to immigration-related cases, including as cases involving sanctuary city policies and drug enforcement cases, which have long been priorities of the Trump administration.
Currie ruled in November that Halligan was unlawfully appointed to the role. Because Halligan was the sole prosecutor who secured the criminal indictments against Comey and James, Currie ruled that the indictments were invalid, dismissed Comey’s case and James’ case «without prejudice.»
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That detail leaves the door open for the government to secure new indictments, should it choose to do so.
This is a developing news story. Check back soon for updates.
politics,donald trump,federal courts,james comey,pam bondi,fbi
INTERNACIONAL
ICE head says agents facing ‘constant impediments’ after migrant seen ramming cars while trying to flee
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Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons argued on Tuesday that federal immigration agents are facing «constant impediments» and «constant attacks» after video showed a suspected illegal migrant in San Antonio ramming cars in an attempt to flee.
The video shows the migrant in a car ramming into vehicles that were blocking them in from the front and the back, as the individual attempted to evade arrest.
During an appearance on Fox News’ «Hannity,» Lyons was asked if rhetoric from Democrats criticizing ICE can be tied to incidents like these.
REP RO KHANNA DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF ICE AGENT IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons argued that federal immigration agents are facing «constant impediments» and «constant attacks.» (Reuters/Leah Millis)
«When we hear elected officials calling upon individuals to impede or obstruct ICE law enforcement operations nationwide, you’re going to see incidents like this,» Lyons responded. «You saw the officers and agents attempting to apprehend a criminally illegal alien, and there they are using their car as a weapon.»
Lyons said one of the agents went to a hospital with neck injuries after their vehicle was struck in the incident.
«Every day, this is what the men and women of ICE are facing,» he claimed. «It’s constant impediments, constant attacks like this. And it’s not safe for my folks, it’s not safe for the public. It really needs to stop.»
He also purported that «criminal gangs» are organizing groups to impede or obstruct immigration enforcement operations.
New video shows a migrant in a car ramming into vehicles that were blocking them in from the front and the back, as the individual attempted to evade arrest. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
«It’s a constitutional right to go out there and protest. But when you have organized criminal gangs, which these are, that are organizing these groups to, again, impede or obstruct law enforcement operations … that’s a criminal act. I will tell you that Homeland Security investigations, my folks, the FBI, we’re investigating these and people can be held accountable because you can’t organize groups to go out and impede law enforcement. It’s a criminal act, and we have to act swiftly to prevent this from spreading,» he said.
Lyons was also asked about recent comments from Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who vowed to prosecute any ICE agent who commits unlawful acts during operations in the city while stressing that his threat does not apply to «honest, decent, moral» agents.
«The men and women of ICE, the men and women of HSI, they’re not committing any crimes,» Lyons argued. «So he doesn’t have to worry about arresting any of my folks because what we’re doing is we’re enforcing the law. We are out there every day making this nation and his city safe again. So he shouldn’t worry about the men and women of ICE. What he should worry about is the sanctuary policies that have these criminal aliens go back to his neighborhoods and commit heinous crimes like fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking, rape of a child. He should focus on those and let law enforcement do law enforcement work.»
PHOTOS RELEASED OF RENEE NICOLE GOOD, THE US CITIZEN KILLED BY ICE IN MINNESOTA
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said one of the agents went to a hospital with neck injuries after their vehicle was struck in the incident. (Christopher Dilts/Getty Images)
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This comes on the heels of a recent incident in Minnesota, where Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by masked ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who fired into the driver’s open window from the side of the vehicle and subsequently exclaimed «f–king b—h» as the car crashed into another parked vehicle.
Democrats and local residents have condemned the shooting as a murder and called for Ross’ prosecution, while the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have defended the incident by arguing that it was a justified shooting.
immigration,illegal immigrants,enforcement,texas,us,politics
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At least 22 people were killed and 64 injured in Thailand Wednesday after a construction crane fell on a passenger train, officials said.
The crane struck a moving train in Nakhon Ratchasima province as it traveled from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani, causing the train to derail and catch fire, according to the province’s Public Relations Department.
The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and that officials were searching for people believed to be trapped inside the train.
LOCALS CALL OUT ‘EXCESSIVE TOURISM’ AFTER TRAM CRASH LEAVES AT LEAST 15 DEAD AND 18 INJURED
A construction crane fell into a passenger train in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, on Wednesday, Jan. 14. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
Transport Minister Piphat Ratchakitprakan said there were nearly 200 people on board the train and that an investigation was underway.
SEVERAL ELEPHANTS KILLED IN TRAIN COLLISION AS IMPACT CAUSES MULTIPLE COACHES TO DERAIL
The aftermath of a deadly crane collapse that struck a passenger train in Thailand. (State Railway of Thailand via AP)
«Nineteen bodies have been recovered, but there are still some inside the train carriages that cannot be removed yet because the crane started shifting, so the team pulled back for fear of danger,» said Police Col. Thatchapon Chinnawong, according to Reuters.
Chinnawong added that those who were killed were in two of the three carriages struck by the crane.
A train traveling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani derailed after a construction crane fell onto one of its carriages. (Ministry of Transport/Handout via Reuters)
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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
disasters,thailand,transportation,fires disasters
INTERNACIONAL
El primer mensaje en la cuenta de Nicolás Maduro tras el final del bloqueo a X en Venezuela
Tras más de un año de bloqueo, Venezuela levantó este martes la prohibición a la red social X, antes conocida como Twitter, que es propiedad del magnate estadounidense Elon Musk. Hubo mensajes de los principales dirigentes del chavismo. Y se destacó una imagen en la cuenta del propio Nicolás Maduro, detenido en una cárcel de Nueva York.
En el perfil del líder chavista publicaron un afiche que lo muestra con su esposa Cilia Flores, también capturada por Estados Unidos; y con la actual presidenta encargada de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez.
Sobre impreso hay un contador que reza: «Han transcurrido 11 días de su secuestro».
Más abajo se encuentra la consigna con la que el gobierno venezolano busca impulsar una tendencia en la red social X: «#LosQueremosDeVuelta». Y al pie van los nombres completos de Maduro y Flores, junto con sus funciones. «Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela» y «Primera Combatiente», respectivamente.
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) January 14, 2026
Venezuela restableció el acceso a X en la noche del martes. El bloqueo había sido ordenado hace más de un año por el depuesto presidente Nicolás Maduro luego de su controvertida reelección en julio de 2024.
La suspensión entró en vigencia el 9 de agosto de 2024, poco después de ser proclamado vencedor de las presidenciales entre denuncias de fraude.
Ministros, parlamentarios e instituciones del gobierno pararon el uso de esta red que era el primer canal de información del país. Desde entonces su acceso dentro de Venezuela era solo posible mediante el uso de una red privada, también denominada VPN.
Usuarios de la operadora telefónica Digitel podían acceder a X, constató la AFP. En otras compañías como Movistar y la estatal Cantv el acceso a la plataforma era aún parcial.
El mensaje anterior de Maduro databa del 8 de agosto de 2024.
«Fuera X por #10Días de Venezuela! En nuestro país hay Constitución, Ley, Instituciones y Estado. 10 días para que presente sus recaudos. Qué se acaben los planes en redes para sembrar violencia, odio y de atacar a #Venezuela desde el exterior. El #PuebloVenezolano merece respeto», afirmó en ese tuit.
Iba acompañada de una «nota de la comunidad» en la que desmentían la acusación del líder chavista.
«La aplicación X no es la que genera odio o violencia, como trata de relatarlo Nicolás Maduro, permite la libertad de expresión y en el contexto sociopolítico venezolano actual, la transparencia es una desventaja para el régimen, por lo que decide restringirla», señalaba esa nota.
Los primeros tuits de Delcy Rodríguez y Diosdado Cabello, pero sin cuentas verificadas
Altos dirigentes del chavismo como la presidenta interina, Delcy Rodríguez, y el ministro de Interior, Diosdado Cabello, publicaron mensajes más temprano para informar que retomaban el uso de X.
«Retomamos contacto por esta vía. Venezuela sigue de pie, con fortaleza y conciencia histórica. íSigamos unidos, avanzando por la tranquilidad económica, la justicia social y el Estado de bienestar en el que merecemos encontrarnos!», publicó Rodríguez.
La presidenta interina asumió el poder tras la captura de Maduro el 3 de enero durante ataques de fuerzas estadounidenses que dejaron más de 100 muertos en Venezuela, según cifras oficiales.
Retomamos contacto por esta vía. Venezuela sigue de pie, con fortaleza y conciencia histórica. 🇻🇪
¡Sigamos unidos, avanzando por la tranquilidad económica, la justicia social y el Estado de bienestar en el que merecemos encontrarnos!
— Delcy Rodríguez (@delcyrodriguezv) January 14, 2026
Por su parte, Cabello confirmó que va a «retomar» la vía de X para comunicarse con sus seguidores.
«Paso por aquí a darle un gran abrazo a los hermanos y hermanas de Venezuela y el mundo que han estado pendientes del tema de nuestro país, vamos a retomar esta vía para comunicarnos, pendientes. Nosotros Venceremos!!», escribió el número dos del partido.
Paso por aquí a darle un gran abrazo a los hermanos y hermanas de Venezuela y el mundo que han estado pendientes del tema de nuestro país, vamos a retomar esta vía para comunicarnos, pendientes. Nosotros Venceremos!!
— Diosdado Cabello R (@dcabellor) January 13, 2026
Un detalle: en las primeras horas ninguno de los dos tenía cuenta verificada, ni la azul, de usuario pago, ni la gris, atribuida la «cuenta de una organización gubernamental o multilateral».
Maduro sí tiene tilde azul, por una verificación realizada en abril de 2013.
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