INTERNACIONAL
DC murder rate sees astonishing turnaround as Trump team credits federal crackdown
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Washington, D.C.’s homicide count has dropped sharply this year, falling by roughly half compared to the same period in 2025, as the Trump administration points to an aggressive federal crackdown in the nation’s capital.
The administration has credited the appointment of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a surge of federal agents and the deployment of National Guard troops with driving the decline. But criminologists say similar drops are playing out nationwide and caution that it is difficult to tie the improvement to any single policy, setting up a debate over what is actually behind the shift.
There have been 20 murders at this point in 2026, compared to 42 in the same timeframe in 2025, alongside Pirro’s tough enforcement posture and an increased visible law enforcement presence. The nation’s murder rate overall is at its lowest since 1900, which President Donald Trump has credited to his border policies.
As for D.C., the White House said that Trump’s crime task force has yielded «tremendous results for the community.»
SCOOP: WHITE HOUSE TOUTS GUNS AND DRUG HAUL REMOVED FROM DC STREETS AS TRUMP’S CRIME BLITZ NETS 550 ARRESTS
National Guardsmen patrol the District of Columbia in 2026. (Mandel Ngan/Getty Images)
«Crime has dropped across the board, dangerous criminals have been removed from the streets, missing children have been recovered, illegal weapons have been confiscated, and more,» said spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, crediting the president’s «bold actions in D.C.» for reduced crime and saying «residents are thankful.»
But Thaddeus Johnson, a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice and a criminology professor at Georgia State University, said it is difficult to attribute the decline to any single factor.
«Crackdowns can have an effect,» Johnson said in an interview, though he noted that Washington, D.C., has struggled with court backlogs and delayed cases in recent years, which may have contributed to higher crime rates. He said recent progress in clearing the backlog has allowed prosecutions to move forward and taken offenders off the streets.
‘RESISTANCE’ LEFT BLASTED BY WASHINGTON POST AS MAYOR BOWSER BACKS TRUMP’S DC CRIME PLAN
Johnson acknowledged that aggressive prosecutions by Pirro and others have likely deterred some crime.
«If you’re prosecuting cases, you know that the deterrence is not only the severity of punishment, but it’s the celerity or the swiftness of punishment and the certainty of it — the certainty of punishment is more important than the severity.»
He emphasized that he is not discounting Pirro or the National Guard deployment, but said it is difficult to identify any single action as a «magic bullet,» particularly as other cities across the country are also seeing declines.
Johnson added that Washington was still grappling with elevated robbery rates as recently as 2024, including incidents occurring outside traditionally high-crime areas in Southeast and shifting into neighborhoods such as the Wharf and Navy Yard, a revitalized nightlife corridor across the Anacostia River.
«I haven’t seen anything per se, evidence directly, where I can say, ‘well, yeah, it’s due to the prosecutions and the judges’ as to why these crimes are going down when we started seeing that many of the crimes had started going down already,» he said.
«It’s hard to say that it didn’t play a part … particularly when we see similar patterns across the nation.»
TRUMP’S DC PUBLIC SAFETY SWEEP RESULTS IN 23 ARRESTS INCLUDING MURDER SUSPECT ON OPENING DAY
The White House’s claims of success in reducing crime in Washington contrast with earlier warnings from critics that the National Guard deployment would backfire.
District of Columbia at-large councilmember Robert White Jr. warned at the outset that it is abnormal to see armed guardsmen in an American city:
«It’s hard to explain to my kids, who are 6 and 9, what’s happening here. It’s an occupation because it’s both unwelcome and unwarranted. It’s also unhelpful. But I don’t think it’s meant to be helpful in any way,» White told Governing News in September.
The Democrat added local officials «have an obligation to be clear that this is going to make crime worse in the coming years.»
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from adjacent Takoma Park, Maryland, similarly predicted the surge was a bad idea:
«No one in Washington is asking Trump to deploy the National Guard or take over the MPD. This is a phony, manufactured crisis if I’ve ever seen one,» Raskin said in August. «Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly undermined public safety in our nation’s capital.»
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also said last fall that Trump was acting like a «wannabe king» whose «unleash[ing of] the national guard on the city’s youth and homeless population has no basis in law and will put the safety of the people of our nation’s capital in danger.»
Fox News’ Elise Oggioni contributed to this report.
washington dc, blue city crime, white house, washington, homicide, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Bolivia descarta el pago retroactivo de la renta vitalicia para la expresidenta Jeanine Añez
El Gobierno de Bolivia descartó realizar el pago retroactivo por cinco años de renta para expresidentes a la expresidenta Jeanine Añez (2019-2020). A través de un comunicado público, el Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas Públicas explicó que no existe un respaldo legal para realizar el desembolso.
En la nota, esa cartera explica que el trámite para solicitar el pago vitalicio consiste en presentar una solicitud acompañada de una certificación emitida por el Ministerio de la Presidencia que acredite el periodo de ejercicio de sus funciones.
Añez habría realizado solicitudes de certificación durante la gestión del expresidente Luis Arce (2020-2025), sin lograr obtenerlas y, por lo tanto, no pudo presentar la solicitud del pago.
Recién el 12 de diciembre de 2026, cuando el presidente Rodrigo Paz llevaba un mes en funciones, lo hizo cumpliendo con los requisitos establecidos por ley. En ese sentido, el Gobierno emitió una resolución ministerial mediante la cual se autorizó el pago de la renta vitalicia.
Posteriormente, el 6 de enero, la expresidenta solicitó desembolsos retroactivos. “Corresponde aclarar que el Ministerio de Economía no puede autorizar pagos retroactivos que no estén expresamente respaldados por la normativa vigente”, señala la nota en la que remarca que la Ley 376, que regula el beneficio, no contempla pagos por periodos anteriores a su reconocimiento.
“Este Gobierno reconoció y autorizó el beneficio que no fue otorgado durante la anterior administración, pero no existe respaldo legal para efectuar pagos por periodos que no fueron reconocidos ni habilitados conforme a ley”, señala el comunicado.
En respuesta, la expresidenta manifestó que no está pidiendo un privilegio sino el cumplimiento de un derecho que le fue negado. “¿Debe una persona perder años de un derecho que le corresponde porque el Estado le impidió ejercerlo? Yo sostengo que no”, escribió en su cuenta de X en referencia a la imposibilidad de obtener antes los requisitos para el pago.
“No pido privilegios. Pido que se respete la ley y que se reconozcan plenamente los derechos que me corresponden como expresidenta constitucional de Bolivia”, escribió.
Añez asumió la presidencia de Bolivia tras la renuncia del expresidente Evo Morales (2006-2019) durante los convulsos días de noviembre de 2019. Morales, que intentaba asumir ilegalmente un cuarto mandato, huyó del país en medio de protestas sociales que exigían su renuncia y lo acusaban de haber cometido fraude electoral.
Con su dimisión cayeron también quienes lo seguían en la línea de sucesión constitucional: el vicepresidente, la presidenta del Senado y el presidente de la Cámara de Diputados.
Añez, que hasta entonces había sido una senadora de bajo perfil por el departamento amazónico, ocupaba la segunda vicepresidencia de la Cámara de Senadores. El 12 de noviembre, en una sesión sin quórum y cuestionada por el incumplimiento del reglamento interno, asumió la presidencia del Senado primero y la del Estado después.
Su mandato transitorio, que debía durar tres meses y solo convocar a elecciones, duró casi un año, debido a que la elección sufrió postergaciones por la pandemia de Covid-19.
Cuando el Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) de Evo Morales retornó al poder con la candidatura de su sucesor, el expresidente Luis Arce, se abrieron múltiples procesos judiciales contra Añez por la forma en la que asumió el Gobierno y por denuncias de corrupción. La exmandataria estuvo encarcelada cuatro años y recuperó su libertad en noviembre de 2025, cuando la Justicia resolvió anular una sentencia de diez años en su contra.
Politics,Latin America
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Members of Congress are calling for increased oversight and reform after a Haitian national in Florida was convicted in a healthcare fraud conspiracy that prosecutors said involved more than $58 million in false claims targeting Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers using a federal drug discount program.
Prosecutors accused Jean Jethro Alexandre and his co-conspirators in 2025 of recruiting fake patients and offering them financial kickbacks if they accepted fraudulent prescriptions — primarily for HIV and AIDS medication — written by nurse practitioners involved in the operation, according to court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital. Alexandre would then cash in on the scheme through insurance reimbursements for filling the fake prescriptions.
He used the proceeds from his scheme to bankroll a life of luxury, including a fleet of top-end cars, a mansion near Miami and a slate of investment properties.
The case is drawing renewed scrutiny to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a decades-old federal initiative designed to help safety-net providers serve low-income patients that is increasingly being criticized by lawmakers and industry groups who say weak oversight has allowed bad actors to exploit the system. Advocates for reform may point to Alexandre’s case as evidence that the program is in need of tweaks to reduce the risk of fraud.
MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR HEALTHCARE FRAUD SCHEME INCLUDED GIVING PEOPLE ‘UNNECESSARY’ SKIN GRAFTS: DOJ
Alexandre’s South Florida Mansion (Google)
«The 340B program was created with good intentions to help vulnerable and underserved patients access care, but unfortunately, it has evolved into a massive, poorly supervised program with weak transparency and accountability safeguards,» Rep. Diana Harshbarger, herself a pharmacist, told Fox News Digital. «Cases like this demonstrate how the current structure can create opportunities for bad actors to exploit deeply discounted drugs, questionable contract pharmacy arrangements and opaque reimbursement practices for personal profit.»
«When there is limited federal oversight, little transparency into how 340B revenues are used, and enormous financial spreads between discounted acquisition costs and insurer reimbursements, it should not surprise anyone that fraudsters see the program as a target,» she said.
Alexandre used a nonprofit health clinic that he secretly co-owned to purchase drugs at a discounted rate using the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and had the prescriptions filled by pharmacies, who provided Alexandre’s clinic with reimbursements paid by insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid. The arrangement allowed Alexandre and his colleagues to pocket the difference between what he was paid in reimbursements and what the drugs cost him through the discount program.
While this is a legitimate way for healthcare providers to generate revenue generally, according to the Government Accountability Office, Alexandre’s conduct was illegal because the underlying prescriptions were fake. Prosecutors allege, for instance, that in some cases the drugs were simply destroyed after being dispensed to fraudulent patients.
WOODSTOCK, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: A Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid is displayed during the Salon Prive 2023 at Blenheim Palace on September 01, 2023 in Woodstock, England. (Getty Images)
«Alexandre’s blatantly setting up a fraudulent medical clinic and disregarding important safety net programs, as well as finite taxpayer dollars, shows the need for the Committee to continue its important work in cracking down on harmful schemes like this one,» Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., who sits on the health subcommittee of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, told Fox News Digital.
«Although I am supportive of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, this instance of fraud is yet another example of how the program has strayed far from its initial intent and is something my Health Subcommittee will continue to monitor closely,» the congressman added.
FBI LAUNCHES ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AS DOJ CHARGES OHIO DEFENDANTS IN $30M MEDICAID SCHEME FOR KIDS
Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., speaks during the Republican Study Committee news conference to introduce a «Women’s Bill of Rights» outside the Capitol on May 19, 2022.
Prosecutors said Alexandre used proceeds from the healthcare fraud conspiracy for personal benefit and traced assets from the scheme to a luxury-car collection that included a 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a 2023 Bentley Flying Spur, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG and a six-passenger golf cart-style vehicle.
Additionally, he purchased a $2.5 million 4,452-square-foot mansion on the southern coast of Florida equipped with a custom pool and spa.
The Trump administration has mounted a series of fraud investigations across federal programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, framing them as part of a broader push to root out waste, abuse and improper payments. That effort intensified in December 2025, shortly after Alexandre was initially indicted, signaling a more aggressive enforcement posture.
Alexandre, a native and citizen of Haiti, is to be handed over to ICE and processed for removal after serving his sentence of just under 10 years in prison. He will be barred from reentering the United States without written permission from the relevant authorities.
DR. OZ SAYS TAXPAYERS FOOTING $14 BILLION BILL FOR MEDICAID FRAUD WHILE ELIGIBLE PATIENTS STRUGGLE FOR CARE
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., listens during a House Rules Committee meeting on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2025. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
«Anyone who comes to the United States to steal from American taxpayers should be denaturalized and deported, which is why I introduced the Fraud Accountability Act earlier this year,» Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Fox News Digital. «We’re grateful President Trump is laser-focused on rooting out fraud across the federal government, including in the 340B Program. The Trump DOJ and HHS are working hand in hand to eliminate health care fraud and hold every fraudster accountable.»
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In addition to prison time, Alexandre is on the hook for paying roughly $14.3 million in restitution, per the terms of his plea agreement. Alexandre’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
«Every dollar stolen from these programs is a dollar taken from families who need it most,» Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told Fox News Digital. «The 340B Program was created to help patients access affordable health care, not enrich criminals and fraudsters. I am working to strengthen transparency and accountability in 340B to ensure the program lowers costs and improves care for American families.»
health care healthy living, corruption crime, hiv aids, illegal immigrants, drugs
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
TEL AVIV, Israel: Reactions in Israel to the Memorandum of Understanding reached by President Donald Trump and Iran on Sunday have been a mix of wait-and-see-the details and outright criticism.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed on Sunday that Tehran and Washington had finalized a memorandum of understanding ending the war after months of negotiations. In a statement, the council said all military operations across multiple fronts, including in Lebanon, would cease «immediately and permanently.»
Talks on a comprehensive final agreement will reportedly begin only after both sides have implemented their obligations under the framework and are expected to continue for up to 60 days.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES PEACE DEAL WITH IRAN, DECLARES STRAIT OF HORMUZ WILL REOPEN: ‘LET THE OIL FLOW!’
President Donald Trump listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addresses the Knesset in Jerusalem on Oct. 13, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment, on Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz, held back from directly criticizing the deal but said that the IDF would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, warning that if Iran attacks Israel in response to the fighting against Hezbollah, «we will strike it with full force.»
He said, «The IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, without any time limit, to protect the border and Israeli communities against jihadist elements.»
Katz described the security zones as «among the IDF’s greatest achievements» in the multi-front war since the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, adding that Israel therefore opposes an IDF withdrawal from Lebanon despite all the pressures that will still come.
Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had conveyed these positions to U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior American officials, including U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
«We will not compromise on Israel’s security interests and the protection of our citizens,» he concluded.
IRAN’S REGIME SPINS NUCLEAR AND STRAIT OF HORMUZ DEAL WITH TRUMP AS VICTORY OVER US, ISRAEL
President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Iran following an Israeli strike in Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026. (@WhiteHouse/X)
Yossi Kuperwasser, head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and former chief of the research division in the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Intelligence Directorate, told Fox News Digital that the details of the agreement remain sketchy.
«There was a debate within the Iranian leadership over whether to accept the deal,» he said. «It appears that the information we are hearing is coming from those who opposed it. Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong, but it raises major concerns in Israel. If this is the deal, it is a disaster. If one listens to President Trump, the deal is probably something different.»
Kuperwasser defined a «good deal» as one in which Iran gives up all components of its nuclear program, grants access to enriched uranium and establishes a robust monitoring system capable of reaching anywhere at any time, including military facilities likely being used for atomic purposes. He added that such an agreement should also prohibit production of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
A fireball rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike targeting an area in Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight on March 10 to 11, 2026. (Fadel itani / AFP via Getty Images)
«Lebanon’s fate is a matter to be discussed between Washington, Jerusalem, and Beirut,» Kuperwasser said. «Iran is not a party to those talks and should not be according to the Lebanese government. If Lebanon is to be part of a deal with Iran, it means Tehran has a say in Lebanese matters.»
Kuperwasser noted that Israel has lived under the shadow of Iran’s nuclear program since 1998, while noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is uniquely positioned to assess the issue given his decades of involvement. He said it remains unclear whether Netanyahu is satisfied with the outcome or what his final assessment will be.
ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY WARN IRAN’S BALLISTIC MISSILES COULD TRIGGER SOLO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TEHRAN
Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, now leader of the opposition, referred Fox News Digital to his comments on X.
«The emerging agreement achieves none of Israel’s war goals. The regime survives, the missile program exists, and Iran can rebuild its nuclear program. This is a complete failure by Netanyahu, and in the process, he is turning us into a client state that takes orders about its national security,» he wrote.
A motorist rides past a banner featuring images of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei along a street in Tehran on April 15, 2026. (AFP/Getty Images)
On March 19, Prime Minister Netanyahu outlined three war objectives for the U.S.-Israel joint operation against Iran: «One, removing the nuclear threat. Second, removing the ballistic missile threat and removing both of these threats before they’re buried deep underground and become immune from aerial attack. And third, this means creating the conditions for the Iranian people to grasp their freedom, to control their destiny,» the premier stated at the time.
Dr Meir Javedanfar, Iran lecturer at Reichman University, told Fox News Digital that Israel’s most immediate concern regarding the deal is the clause dealing with Lebanon.
«There is genuine concern that this could tie Israel’s hands,» he said. «An additional concern is that Hezbollah could use this clause to regroup and strengthen its armed forces and positions along the border with Israel.»
LETHAL ELITE ‘BLACK-CLAD’ KILL SQUAD GUARDS IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER MOJTABA KHAMENEI
Javedanfar said it is too early to assess whether the deal would leave Israel in a significantly stronger position than the 2015 Obama-era nuclear agreement, citing the fate of Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium and its atomic infrastructure.
«Will Iran be allowed to continue enriching uranium on its soil? If yes, at what percentage? And how will the international community oversee Iran’s nuclear program? What kind of inspection program will they have? How intrusive will they be?» he added.
The Israel Defense Forces said its troops located and destroyed a Hezbollah underground command center with infrastructure about 8 meters below ground in South Lebanon. (IDF Spokesman’s Unit)
Israel’s controversial National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday insisted that the MOU does not bind the Jewish state. «Israel is not subject to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign nation,» he tweeted, adding that Jerusalem’s duty is to its citizens, its soldiers and the Jewish people.»
He stated, «My position is clear: we are not partners to this agreement that does not ensure our security, and it does not bind us in any way,» he said, adding that while Israelis «love» the United States and «are grateful» to Trump, «the State of Israel is not a banana republic.»
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
On Friday, Netanyahu’s office stated that «Even though Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for President Trump’s commitment that the final agreement at the conclusion of negotiations will include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran’s support for its terrorist proxies in the region.»
President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 29, 2025, to discuss Iran tensions and the Gaza peace plan. (Israel Government Press Office)
Quoting the prime minister, the statement added that «As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel – Iran will not have nuclear weapons. President Trump and I are in full agreement on this issue. For over 30 years, I have been at the forefront of the international struggle against Iran’s nuclear program. Were it not for this struggle, Iran would have long ago possessed atomic bombs to destroy Israel. Iran is working to destroy the Jewish state, and I am dedicating my life to preventing them from doing so. As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, this will not happen.»
Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment and referred Fox News Digital to his statement on Friday.
war with iran, benjamin netanyahu, donald trump, lebanon, israel, nuclear proliferation, terrorism
Tras la quiebra, la histórica láctea SanCor ya tiene precio de venta y hay seis interesados en quedársela
Pulso millonario entre los ultras y el Lazio de Claudio Lotito
El Gobierno suspende las reuniones de gabinete y mesa política por el caso Adorni
Los psicólogos explican que las personas que desean el mal a otro no son malas, sino que lo hacen como mecanismo de defensa y como una forma de procesar ciertas emociones incómodas
Qué es la moción de censura y qué necesita la oposición para remover al jefe de Gabinete Manuel Adorni
El truco casero para que las toallas no queden ásperas después del lavado
Se viralizó un tuit en el que Adorni contaba que en 2018 le habían cortado la luz por falta de pago
Jan De Nul defendió el proceso de licitación de la Hidrovía con una carta a las principales entidades vinculadas a la vía navegable
Diputados de la Coalición Cívica denunciaron penalmente a Manuel Adorni por presuntas irregularidades en sus declaraciones juradas
La polémica por las criptomonedas de Adorni: cómo funciona la trazabilidad y qué puede revelar una billetera
ECONOMIA3 días agoJan De Nul defendió el proceso de licitación de la Hidrovía con una carta a las principales entidades vinculadas a la vía navegable
- POLITICA3 días ago
Diputados de la Coalición Cívica denunciaron penalmente a Manuel Adorni por presuntas irregularidades en sus declaraciones juradas
- POLITICA2 días ago
La polémica por las criptomonedas de Adorni: cómo funciona la trazabilidad y qué puede revelar una billetera
