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AOC-backed Dem connected to Twin Towers bombing terrorist faces congressional pressure after primary win
New Jersey Democratic House nominee tied to ‘Blind Sheikh’ terror trial
New Jersey Democratic congressional nominee Dr. Adam Hamawy is under scrutiny for his ties to convicted terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman, known as the ‘Blind Sheikh.’ Hamawy testified as a defense witness in Abdel-Rahman’s 1995 World Trade Center bombing trial. Critics are questioning his past associations as he prepares for the general election in a deep-blue district.
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FIRST ON FOX: A top Republican confirmed he will seek a «full investigation» of a likely Democratic colleague whose ties to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing mastermind roiled the 2026 midterm landscape after New Jersey’s Tuesday primaries.
Dr. Adam Hisham Hamawy is a veteran combat plastic surgeon who operates his own practice near Princeton but has been heavily criticized for his ties to and service as a defense witness for terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman — better known as the «Blind Sheikh» — who later died in a North Carolina federal prison.
Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East Subcommittee, expressed his concerns about Hamawy serving in Congress and later confirmed to Fox News Digital that he will indeed seek a probe of the controversial progressive.
Hamawy won a 12-way Democratic primary Tuesday for a Central Jersey seat that has not elected a Republican this century — and now faces perennial candidate Prof. Gregg Mele in November.
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Lawler told Fox News Digital that Hamawy’s resume is more than disqualifying for someone whose day job would give him access to the nation’s most sensitive national security information.
«Adam Hamawy was a defense witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the Blind Sheikh behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and a year earlier volunteered in Bosnia with an organization the U.S. Treasury designated a financier of terrorism and the 9/11 Commission tied to Osama bin Laden’s network,» Lawler said.
«He has never answered for any of it.»
Lawler questioned Hamawy’s «fit[ness] to serve» in Congress and to be privy to the same information he is on the Foreign Affairs panel.
«If he’s elected in November, I’ll push for a full investigation because the American people deserve the truth.»
Lawler notably represents Rockland County, N.Y. — an area just north of New York City with a sizable Orthodox Jewish population — and has been a steadfast defender of Israel and the Jewish people against threats from Iran and Hezbollah.
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Hamawy previously volunteered at a Gaza hospital amid the conflict.
Lawler’s district recently hosted President Donald Trump’s rally featuring New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart — and his visibility on counterterrorism and Israel issues was brought to the fore when Sen. Rand Paul’s, R-Ky., son drunkenly confronted Lawler at a Washington bar and «accused» him of being Jewish during a diatribe about Israel.
The «Trenton Makes» Bridge carries Old U.S. 1 into New Jersey and the 12th district. (Ron Antonelli/Getty Images)
Neighboring Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from North Jersey, didn’t directly call for a probe but told Jewish Insider that he has «serious questions and deep concerns» about Hamawy’s «associations with terrorist organization and leaders who have attacked America.»
Like Lawler, Gottheimer said Hamawy must answer for these connections to the people of the Garden State.
Abdel-Rahman’s team called Hamawy as a witness, where he described traveling to Detroit for a conference at which the extremist cleric would appear.
Hamawy testified Abdel-Rahman regularly spoke of «jihad» and that at one point the Sheikh questioned Emad Salem — who later became a government informant — as to why Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had not yet been assassinated.
Hamawy has blamed Islamophobia for some of the invective directed his way — and pushed back on similar characterizations, including from one of his own Democratic primary challengers, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp.
«Any Muslim is going to be called a terrorist at some point, and these tropes are outdated and worn,» he told the New Jersey Monitor in response to Mapp.
Hamawy’s campaign previously told Fox News Digital that he was in the military when the events covered Abdel-Rahman’s trial took place, and pointed to allies like Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who credited the surgeon with saving her life on the battlefield.
The prosecutor who led the U.S. government’s case against Abdel-Rahman, however, noted how Hamawy appeared voluntarily to defend the Blind Sheikh.
«He didn’t have to come unless he wanted to,» former U.S. Attorney Andrew McCarthy told «The Story» on Wednesday.
Dr. Adam Hisham Hamawy, left; Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., right. (Islam Dogru/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
«It wasn’t like I subpoenaed him. It wasn’t like the government brought him in as a hostile witness. He volunteered to testify for this guy. He knew exactly who he was. And in fact, on cross-examination, his testimony that he didn’t recall a conversation about Mubarak was not very persuasive,» McCarthy said, referring to the cleric’s trip to Detroit.
Hamawy also greeted Abdel-Rahman from the stand with the Muslim greeting of Salaam Alaykum, suggesting personal familiarity, according to several critics.
When pressed by reporters earlier in the primary, Hamawy argued that Abdel-Rahman was a spiritual leader in the state’s Muslim community and «wasn’t preaching death and destruction all the time» while adding that he himself abhors all violence.
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Hamawy and Abdel-Rahman first met at a middle school forum in Matawan, New Jersey, in 1991, according to the former’s testimony in court.
The candidate did not respond to Fox News’ latest request for comment.
middle east, investigations, counter terrorism, fox news investigates, terrorism, politics
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Bessent spars with Dem in fiery Trump tax showdown until claim crosses the line: ‘Slanderous’
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., traded barbs during a Thursday congressional hearing after she pressed him over a DOJ settlement requiring the IRS to end any existing tax audits of President Donald Trump, with Sánchez ultimately accusing him of overseeing the «most corrupt Treasury Department» in U.S. history.
«I hope that you’re proud of your performance today, Mr. Secretary,» Sánchez told Bessent as he testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.
«I hope you get some social media clips,» he shot back.
The tense exchange came as Sánchez cited a settlement reached between the Department of Justice and the Trump family in May that forced the IRS, which is overseen by the Treasury Department, to end any existing tax audits of Trump, his family and their business interests. By the end of the back and forth, both parties had become incensed, with the congresswoman accusing Bessent of running the «most corrupt Treasury Department.»
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to members of the media outside the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5, 2025. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg)
«Why are you allowing President Trump and his family to have complete immunity from being audited?» Sánchez asked Bessent as he testified before the House Ways and Means Committee.
«Again, since you are a lawyer, you will understand that the U.S. Treasury and the IRS are represented by the Justice Department and the acting attorney general,» Bessent responded.
The clash highlighted a broader fight over how far executive power should extend when it intersects with federal agencies, personal finances and politically charged investigations. It also provided a familiar dynamic: Democrats warning of special treatment for Trump, and the administration framing the issue as another example of combating institutional overreach against him.
It is unclear whether Trump is currently facing any audits, a detail pressed by Bessent, eliciting indignation from Sánchez.
«Do you have specific knowledge of an audit of President Trump?» he asked Sánchez.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies during the House Financial Services Committee hearing titled «The Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council» in the Rayburn Building on Feb. 4, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
«Excuse me? It’s my time. You’re not here to ask me questions. I’m here to ask you questions. And hopefully you’re here to try to answer some of them,» she responded. «I’m curious to know who counts as Trump’s family for the purposes of this immunity. Is it his children, his in-laws, his grandchildren, his second or third cousin? His great-great-grandchildren? Do you know the answer to that question, Mr. Secretary?»
«Again, I imagine you have the Justice Department phone number. I suggest you call them,» the secretary responded.
The exchange only heightened from that point.
«Safe to say that this is probably the most corrupt Treasury Department in our nation’s history,» Sánchez said as her time speaking expired.
«And I am going to have to take exception with that,» Bessent hit back, waving away her claim as «slanderous.»
«The congresswoman is slanderous,» Bessent continued. «She has nothing but … the unsubstantiated opinions. And I will not stand for that. There is nothing corrupt. We move at the highest levels.»
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent adjusts his glasses during a meeting with President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Oct. 14, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Critics have questioned whether the DOJ has authority to bind the IRS and accused Trump, who was in 2024 reportedly facing a tax investigation that could have cost him up to $100 million, of pressuring the government for personal gain. Supporters, meanwhile, argue that the immunity is an appropriate response to alleged government weaponization.
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The state of the Trump family’s immunity is currently uncertain, especially after a federal judge blocked the president’s proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund. Bessent has declined to comment on whether the immunity deal is still in place, citing pending litigation.
congress, donald trump, taxes, scott bessent, justice department
El Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo (INGUAT) saludó el anuncio de BermudAir sobre un nuevo servicio aéreo entre Boston (Estados Unidos) y Ciudad de Guatemala, con ruta vía Belice, para la temporada de invierno 2026-2027. Según el organismo, la incorporación de esta conexión apunta a ampliar y fortalecer la conectividad aérea internacional del país.
De acuerdo con INGUAT, el vuelo operará dos veces por semana, los miércoles y sábados, desde el 19 de diciembre de 2026 hasta el 1 de mayo de 2027, con escala en Belice. La institución señaló que este movimiento se enmarca en su estrategia para facilitar el acceso desde mercados prioritarios y apoyar el crecimiento del turismo receptivo.
INGUAT sostuvo que la conexión con Boston refuerza la relación turística con Estados Unidos, al que identificó como uno de los principales mercados emisores para Guatemala. “La conexión Boston fortalece la relación turística con Estados Unidos, uno de los principales mercados emisores para Guatemala, y amplía las posibilidades de atraer visitantes interesados en experiencias auténticas”, afirmó el instituto.
Según INGUAT, BermudAir es una aerolínea de Bermudas especializada en viajes de ocio premium y conectividad regional, con centro de operaciones en Hamilton, que conecta destinos de Norteamérica y el Caribe. El instituto indicó que seguirá trabajando con instituciones públicas, aerolíneas y el sector privado para consolidar nuevas rutas y ampliar frecuencias.
TagAirlines reanudó sus vuelos directos entre Ciudad de Guatemala y San Salvador desde el 4 de mayo de 2026 con 10 frecuencias semanales y tarifas desde USD 299 ida y vuelta, una decisión que refuerza la conectividad aérea en el principal corredor turístico de Centroamérica y responde a una demanda sostenida de movilidad entre Guatemala y El Salvador.
La ruta será operada con aviones ATR 72 con capacidad para 72 pasajeros, dentro del plan de modernización de flota de la compañía. Según Agexport Hoy, estos equipos fueron incorporados con foco en seguridad, sostenibilidad ambiental y eficiencia de combustible.
Según Agexport Hoy, los vuelos estarán disponibles todos los días, de lunes a domingo, con una distribución de 10 frecuencias semanales que apunta tanto al turismo como a los viajes corporativos. La operación también llega después de una reducción de frecuencias en la ruta directa por cambios en la oferta de otros operadores.
Según precisó Toriello a Agexport Hoy, el regreso del enlace entre Guatemala y El Salvador permitirá conexiones desde la capital guatemalteca hacia Belice, San Pedro Sula, Flores Tikal y Roatán. La compañía sostiene que esa red amplía las opciones de conexión para pasajeros de negocios y turistas que buscan traslados más ágiles entre capitales y destinos regionales.
La respuesta directa a la demanda del mercado es concreta: TagAirlines volverá a operar la ruta Guatemala-San Salvador a partir del 4 de mayo de 2026 con 10 frecuencias semanales, sin escalas y con boletos desde USD 299 en viaje redondo. Según Agexport Hoy, la reactivación busca captar nuevos usuarios y estimular los intercambios económicos y turísticos entre ambos países.
La empresa también presenta esta operación como una forma de fortalecer el vínculo económico regional y su estrategia de integración en el área centroamericana. En esa misma lógica, el uso de aeronaves ATR 72, diseñadas para trayectos cortos, apunta a reducir tiempos de traslado entre las dos capitales.
El regreso de la ruta de TagAirlines se inserta en una expansión más amplia de la conectividad internacional de Guatemala en 2026. Según Agexport Hoy, desde el 1 de junio Avianca inaugurará un vuelo directo entre Ciudad de Guatemala y San Francisco con varias frecuencias semanales.
El mismo medio informó además que Wingo abrirá una nueva ruta entre Ciudad de Guatemala y Medellín con tres frecuencias por semana. Esa conexión facilitará el intercambio turístico y comercial con Colombia.
De acuerdo con Agexport Hoy, la suma de estas rutas directas, junto con la reapertura del enlace entre Guatemala y San Salvador, mejora la integración regional y amplía las alternativas para viajar sin escalas. Esa expansión también posiciona a Guatemala como un nodo de tránsito de pasajeros en América Central y en el resto del continente.
INGUAT,BermudAir,Boston,Ciudad de Guatemala,vuelo,aviación,aeropuerto,inauguración,turismo,Guatemala
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Canada’s Carney pledges action on antisemitism amid backlash over new anti-hate council members
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Prime Minister Mark Carney warned this week that Jewish Canadians are being «brutally targeted,» while also announcing a new anti-racism council that reportedly includes two members with troubling views on the Jewish state.
Following Carney’s speech on antisemitism, critics reacted with anger at the makeup of the council and questioned how a body meant to fight hate and antisemitism includes two members who are reportedly hostile to the concerns of the Jewish community.
Omar Alghabra, a former Liberal party cabinet minister and Member of Parliament, has faced criticism for publicly mourning former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The former leader of the PLO was described by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as «the father of modern terrorism.» In the days following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, he declined a request to condemn them, when asked by Canada’s Rebel News.
Alghabra has also faced scrutiny over past comments regarding Israel. In 2005, he criticized Toronto’s police chief for participating in and leading a «Walk with Israel» event, according to The Jerusalem Post. He described the event as «a show of solidarity for a foreign state currently in the midst of an unresolved conflict» and referred to Israel as «a country that is conducting a brutal and the longest contemporary military occupation in the world.»
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a press conference after a Cabinet meeting to discuss both trade negotiations with the U.S. and the situation in the Middle East, at the National Press Theater in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2025. (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Canada’s opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, pointed to a separate encounter with him involving a terrorist organization. «I remember Mr. Alghabra lobbying me before he was in politics to keep Hezbollah legal, so I’m not sure that he’s the right guy to combat antisemitism,» he told reporters.
Howeer, the Jerusalem Post reported that Alghabra had described Hamas as a terrorist organization during a 2016 parliamentary debate.
The other controversial member of the council, Avnish Nanda, represented efforts to keep a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Alberta in place. Critics of the encampment argued it created a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.
The then Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks with the Toronto Star at an editorial board meeting at the Well building in Toronto. (Lance McMillan/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
In April, B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights released a report showing that 6,800 antisemitic incidents took place in the country in 2025, representing a 9.4% increase over 2024. On average, this represented 18.6 incidents a day and was the «highest volume» the group has recorded since it began tracking incidents.
«I’m a Canadian-born Jew serving as rabbi of the vibrant Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem community in Montreal, and I was truly shocked to learn that among the people chosen to sit on Prime Minister Carney’s newest council is Omar Alghabra, who publicly mourned the death of Yasser Arafat and remained silent when asked to condemn the attacks of October 7th,» Rabbi Zolly Claman of Montreal’s Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation told Fox News Digital.
The Talmud Torah Elementary School in Montreal was one of two schools hit with gunfire this week, according to Montreal police. (Google Maps)
«Canadian Jews are struggling to understand how our prime minister believed this would be a constructive appointment,» Claman said.
When announcing the new Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, Carney stated, «The council has a clear mission to combat racism and hate in all their forms and to guide the Government of Canada as part of our efforts to build a fairer, more just, more inclusive society,» He also said that, «The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it’s severe, and it demands a targeted response. And that is what our government is fully committed to,» Reuters reported.
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When asked about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement, B’nai Brith Canada, one of the country’s leading Jewish advocacy organizations said that while it welcomed the prime minister’s acknowledgment of rising antisemitism, it believes additional action is needed to address what it views as a growing crisis facing Canada’s Jewish community.
Anti-Israel protesters hold antisemitic posters in Edmonton, Alberta, on April 13, 2025. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via AP)
«B’nai Brith Canada acknowledges the Prime Minister’s solidarity with the Jewish community,» Simon Wolle, the organization’s chief executive officer, told Fox News Digital. «He was right to mandate that the Special Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion prioritize researching and combating antisemitism.»
At the same time, Wolle questioned whether the newly announced council has the authority and scope necessary to effectively address the problem.
«But we are concerned because the council does not have the power or scale to address this crisis in an appropriate and meaningful manner,» he said. «It is an important aspect of the government’s approach to combating antisemitism, but it is not sufficient.»
Anti-Israel demonstrators gathered outside Union Station in downtown Toronto during a rally on Jan. 4, 2024, demanding a ceasefire. (Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu)
Wolle added that B’nai Brith Canada will «continue to call on the government to establish a National Emergency Task Force on Antisemitism, among other initiatives, because the Jewish community needs immediate action, not just words during this time of violence, hate, and threats to our right to exist and participate in Canadian society,» he said. Wolle did not offer comment on either Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda appointments.
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Canadian Jewish activist Ariella Kimmel also questioned the effectiveness of the newly announced council.
«The Jewish community makes up just 1.2% of Canada’s population, yet is the target of 75% of hate crimes, which is astoundingly disproportionate. Canada does not have a hate problem; it has a Jew-hatred problem. There is a very specific virus spreading rapidly across this country, and our prime minister is administering a broad catch-all antibiotic that will not help.»
Temple Emanu-El in Toronto was shot at on March 3, 2026. No injuries were reported. (Nick Lachance/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Kimmel said his speech lacked concrete solutions and failed to address what she described as growing hostility toward Jewish communities.
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«There was nothing on the vile chants we hear on the streets, nothing about the mobs that target Jewish neighborhoods, nothing calling for police to enforce the laws that already exist,» she said.
«What Canada doesn’t need is another special council on racism. We need to address the real elephant in the room, the targeting of Jews using ‘Zionism’ as an excusable reason, led by radicalized progressives and Islamist fundamentalists.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Carney’s office and Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda for comment.
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anti semitism, hate crime, mark carney, hamas, canada
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