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FIRST ON FOX: Trump admin freezes out Minnesota of the Caribbean over alleged hurricane-aid abuses
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FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration suspended a U.S. territory’s housing-finance authority from receiving further federal funding after the Department of Housing and Urban Development cited years of alleged financial mismanagement, dire audit findings and the conviction of a former executive in a disaster-recovery contracting scheme.
The suspension over alleged waste and abuse at the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) comes as HUD Secretary Scott Turner, a member of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, ramps up the administration’s scrutiny of federal grant recipients following a series of high-profile investigations nationwide.
«The Trump administration is changing the game when it comes to who we entrust with taxpayer dollars. Organizations riddled with corruption, mismanagement, and crime will no longer be allowed to squander billions,» Turner, also a former NFL cornerback, told Fox News Digital.
TIM WALZ BECOMES GOP PUNCHLINE IN SWEEPING NEW WAR ON WELFARE FRAUD
«[VIHFA] officials cannot be allowed to prioritize kickbacks over helping families recover from disasters. I promised that HUD would be a faithful steward of the American people’s hard-earned money, and we are keeping that promise.»
Turner said the suspension is «effective immediately,» as the HUD chief’s deputy Andrew Hughes fired off a 13-page letter to VIHFA official Dayna Clendinen laying out HUD’s findings and alerting that they are barred from future federal procurement while an investigation takes place.
When approached for comment, a representative who picked up the phone at VIHFA on Monday directed Fox News Digital to a full voicemail box. Fox News Digital then reached out via VIHFA’s contact page for comment.
Fox News Digital also reached out to Del. Stacey Plaskett, D-VI, and Democratic Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan’s office for additional comment.
VANCE REFERS TIM WALZ, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DOJ FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OVER STATE’S ALLEGED FRAUD
A destroyed home is seen from a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey surveying damage from Hurricane Maria in St. Croix, , U.S. Virgin Islands, September 21, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY – RC1AA78A7300 ( )
In the letter, HUD claimed the nearly-$2 billion appropriation to VIHFA was intended for recovery after Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the American archipelago in 2017 – calculated to about $20,000 per USVI resident.
«Nine years later, because of VIHFA’s blatant mismanagement of these critical disaster funds, USVI citizens still do not have the housing and electrical power they were promised nearly a decade ago,» the agency said, citing the prevalence of blue-tarped roofs and shoddy infrastructure including a teetering power grid in the time since.
HUD said audits found disaster recovery spending lagged badly while administrative spending consumed a disproportionate share of available funds. The agency also cited the former COO’s criminal kickback scheme as evidence of weak internal controls.
JACOB FREY PRAISES SOMALI COMMUNITY AS MINNESOTA FACES RENEWED SCRUTINY OVER FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS
This image shows Trunk Beach on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Getty Images)
VIHFA’s former chief operating officer, Darin Richardson, was sentenced in March to 36 months in prison after being convicted of bank fraud, money laundering, making false statements and criminal conflict of interest. Prosecutors said Richardson received $107,000 from a contractor in connection with the scheme. HUD said the misconduct occurred «during execution of his duties» at VIHFA.
That contract was later inflated by 50% from $3 million to $4.5 million, HUD said in its letter, adding that much of the lumber then was allowed to rot in the tropical sun.
HUD said Richardson’s conduct, standing alone, was sufficient to call into question VIHFA’s responsibility to receive additional federal funds.
HUD informed VIHFA it has «substantial evidence» of failure-to-comply with aid obligations, a lack of internal controls over financial matters, fraud risks and conflict-of-interest situations.
«[VIHFA] has failed to implement effective fraud controls despite the indictment and conviction of its former COO in a federal contracting fraud scheme. It has repeatedly made false certifications to HUD that it has proficient financial controls, has safeguards to prohibit conflicts of interest, has not obtained duplicate federal benefits, and complies with applicable laws and regulations,» HUD alleged in their suspension notice.
Blue tarp stamped with the FEMA logo covers the roof of a home more than a week after Hurricane Irma made landfall, on September 18, 2017 in the hills above Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
HUD cited multiple audits spanning a decade that raised «significant concerns» about funding-related activities – which collectively questioned millions in costs and uncovered weak financial controls, inadequate project oversight, poor fraud-risk management and inaccurate reporting. A 2026 audit concluded VIHFA had failed to implement a structured fraud prevention framework despite overseeing $1.9 billion in disaster recovery funding.
Further condemning the «glacial» pace of storm recovery, HUD found that only 2% of planned single-family rental, 16% of single-family homeowner and 19% of multi-family rental projects had been completed since the storms struck nearly a decade ago.
None of 329 housing-work mitigation projects had been finished, while HUD found a «yawning gap» between high expenditures by VIHFA on administrative concerns and low expenditures on residents and their homes.
«Whether poor management or something worse, the consequences are unacceptable– the residents of the USVI who were devastated by disaster are not getting what they need from VIHFA,» HUD wrote to the authority. VIHFA spent $52.6 million on administrative costs alone, according to its report.
HUD also found VIHFA’s divisions unwisely «operate in silos,» hindering communication and fraud-risk management.
The agency told VIHFA that the HUD inspector general’s office also found that employees had personal knowledge of fraud or suspected fraudulent activity – but then VIHFA failed to conduct further investigations or alert its senior management.
The auditing apparatus of VIHFA only notified then-directors of the divisions involved, who allegedly «sat on the findings» according to HUD’s recounting of a 2023 IG probe.
That along with the material facts behind Richardson’s convictions bolster Turner’s decision to cut off VIHFA, the agency wrote.
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«An officer corruptly awarding disaster clean up contracts violates, at minimum, HUD rules on oversight of contractors,» HUD said, citing Richardson’s kickbacks of at least $107,000 in one case.
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Dec. 11 that it was opening an investigation into the city of Boston, alleging the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion housing practices violate federal anti-discrimination laws. (Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
VIHFA will have 30 days to request a hearing on the matter or HUD’s funding suspension will be final, Hughes said.
The suspension marks the latest front in the feds’ anti-fraud campaign, which has now stretched from the massive Feeding Our Future prosecution in the cold northern reaches of Minnesota now to the southern, sunny confines of Charlotte Amalie.
investigations, corruption, state and local, u s virgin islands, aid, donald trump, cabinet, minnesota fraud exposed
INTERNACIONAL
La economía de República Dominicana creció 4.2% entre enero y mayo de 2026, según Hacienda
El ministro de Hacienda y Economía, Magín Díaz, afirmó que la economía de República Dominicana creció 4.2% en los primeros cinco meses de 2026, el doble que un año antes, en un contexto de incertidumbre internacional y alza del petróleo.
La Presidencia de República difundió la declaración tras su exposición en un almuerzo de la Cámara Americana de Comercio de República Dominicana.
Entre los datos que presentó, el ministro señaló que el gasto de capital del primer semestre de 2026 aumentó 29.7% frente al mismo período de 2025, por encima del alza del gasto corriente, que fue de 6,9%. Para Díaz, ese comportamiento muestra que la inversión pública encabezó la respuesta oficial.
El funcionario resumió esa lectura con una frase: “La economía está respondiendo”. También describió los datos oficiales como “lo que el termómetro económico dice y la calle no repite”.
Díaz explicó que, ante el alza prolongada de los precios internacionales del petróleo por el conflicto bélico reciente, el Gobierno definió tres objetivos. El primero, dijo, es preservar la estabilidad macroeconómica, fiscal y social.
El segundo consiste en amortiguar de manera razonable el impacto local del encarecimiento internacional, para evitar que el ajuste externo llegue por completo y de forma abrupta al consumidor. El tercero es impedir, en la medida de lo posible, una caída de la inversión pública y sostener una política fiscal que continúe impulsando el crecimiento.
Según los datos expuestos por Díaz, la inflación general se ubica en 5.67%, mientras la inflación subyacente está en 4,96%, dentro del rango meta del Banco Central. Las reservas internacionales alcanzan USD 15,800 millones y el peso dominicano se ha apreciado en el período reciente.
El ministro añadió que la tasa de desempleo se mantiene en 5% y que en el primer trimestre se crearon 118,631 empleos netos. También indicó que la pobreza monetaria bajó a 15.4%, lo que representa una reducción de 2,6 puntos porcentuales respecto de 2025.
En su repaso del sistema financiero, sostuvo que la cartera de crédito bancario creció 9%, con una morosidad de 1.89% y un índice de solvencia de 18.56%, casi el doble del mínimo regulatorio exigido.
La presidenta de la Cámara Americana de Comercio de la República Dominicana (AMCHAMDR), Francesca Rainieri sostuvo que el país cuenta con una economía reconocida por su estabilidad y dinamismo, pero planteó que el reto ya no es solo crecer, sino hacerlo mejor. Según la dirigente empresarial, ese objetivo exige mayor productividad, instituciones más sólidas, capital humano competitivo y una visión de largo plazo.
Rainieri lo resumió así: “Al Estado le corresponde ofrecer estabilidad, transparencia, eficiencia y seguridad jurídica. Al sector privado, seguir invirtiendo, innovando, generando empleos y aportando conocimiento para fortalecer las políticas públicas”.
Añadió que los ocho comités de trabajo de la cámara seguirán poniendo a disposición del país y del Gobierno su experiencia, capacidad técnica y la visión de sus empresas socias para contribuir a políticas que fortalezcan la competitividad y el desarrollo.
El vicepresidente ejecutivo de la Cámara, William Malamud, señaló al abrir el almuerzo que semanas atrás, en el evento Visión de Negocios, la entidad había analizado el riesgo de que los conflictos geopolíticos afectaran de forma significativa los mercados energéticos globales.
En ese marco, dijo: “Hoy, ante una realidad internacional aún más compleja, resulta fundamental comprender cómo estos acontecimientos pueden impactar nuestra economía y qué estrategias se están implementando para preservar la estabilidad y la competitividad del país”.
República Dominicana,pesos dominicanos,billetes,monedas,bandera dominicana
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Prosecutor ousted after alleged romance with illegal immigrant sex-crime suspect: ‘Pattern of misconduct’
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A Missouri county prosecutor has been stripped of her authority after the state attorney general accused her of carrying on a series of improper relationships with people tied to criminal cases in her county, including an illegal immigrant defendant facing sex crime charges.
A petition for quo warranto filed by the state’s Attorney General accuses Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston of failing to recuse herself from the investigation involving the illegal immigrant, Juan David Gutierrez, failing to disclose his whereabouts to law enforcement and transferring him the title to her vehicle to help him abscond. The filing also alleges Johnston had other improper relationships that posed conflicts of interest, including with a criminal defense attorney and a man charged in a domestic-violence case in Ray County.
Meanwhile, the AG’s petition against Johnston, which prompted a judge to grant a preliminary order barring her from exercising authority as prosecutor until the case is resolved, alleged Johnston retaliated against an employee who discovered one relationship and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation inside her office.
«When an elected official treats public office like their personal playground, betraying the public trust, ignoring legal obligations, and putting self-interest first, removal isn’t a suggestion, it’s a necessity,» Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway told Fox News Digital in a statement. «Johnston’s record reflects a sustained pattern of misconduct and willful neglect that has undermined the integrity of the prosecutor’s office and poses a serious threat to public safety. In Missouri, public office is public trust, not a personal entitlement, and no one is above accountability.»
UTAH JUSTICE ALLEGEDLY SENT ‘INAPPROPRIATE’ TEXTS TO LAWYER IN KEY REDISTRICTING CASE, OFFICIALS LAUNCH PROBE
Missouri’s Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a petition to strip Ray County Prosecuting Attorney Camille Johnston (right) of her position. (Facebook/Camille Johnston for Ray County Prosecuting Attorney!)
Hanaway’s office told Fox News Digital that Johnston is «not allowed to take any actions in any official capacity» and, while she can fight for reinstatement as the proceedings continue, «at this time, she is no longer Ray County Prosecuting Attorney.» The AG’s office also confirmed that the sexual-violence suspect identified as «J.G.» in the petition is Juan David Gutierrez, whose case is currently charged but on hold pending an appeal in another matter.
Johnston «failed to recuse during the investigation» of the underlying sexual assault case involving Gutierrez, Hanaway’s office said, noting a local court later appointed the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to prosecute the case.
ICE DETAINS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING MINOR AFTER HOSPITAL PARKING LOT BIRTH
According to the petition, Johnston and Gutierrez had lived together and had been involved in a romantic and intimate relationship before she took office as Ray County prosecutor on Jan. 1, 2023. The filing says Johnston was informed as early as Sept. 15, 2020, that Gutierrez was a suspect in a Ray County sexual assault, adding he is currently awaiting trial for felony sexual offenses.
Local outlet KSHB reported that Missouri highway patrol said authorities had not found Gutierrez when Missouri State Highway Patrol turned over its findings to the Attorney General’s office in 2020, and that the Attorney General’s office later declined prosecution and closed the case in 2022. However, according to KSHB, the case was revived after a private investigator doing volunteer cold-case work later flagged the case to then-Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers, who emailed the Attorney General’s office in 2023 about information that could help locate Gutierrez.
Then-U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway (left) speaks to reporters after Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (right) announced her appointment as the state’s next attorney general on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at the governor’s Capitol office in Jefferson City, Missouri. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)
The AG’s office separately told Fox News Digital that Johnston admitted she knew Gutierrez’s immigration status for several years. The petition alleges Gutierrez is a citizen of Mexico who had been illegally present in the U.S. since 2019.
UTAH SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RESIGNS AMID PROBE INTO ALLEGED RELATIONSHIP WITH REDISTRICTING ATTORNEY
The petition also alleges Johnston knew Gutierrez’s whereabouts after he left Missouri, failed to disclose that information to law enforcement, visited him in Mississippi and vacationed with him in Florida. It accuses Johnston of transferring the title to her vehicle to Gutierrez in 2023 as well, and claims she «assisted» him in absconding from Ray County while knowing he had been accused of a sexual offense and was under criminal investigation.
Johnston’s attorney, Chad Gardner, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Local reporting previously identified Gardner as Johnston’s attorney.
Federal agents arrest an illegal immigrant from Somalia. (Courtesy of ICE)
In addition to Johnston’s relationship with Gutierrez, the petition also accuses Johnston of maintaining a romantic relationship with a Ray County defense attorney who represented criminal defendants in cases prosecuted by her office, while allegedly failing to disclose the relationship or seek a special prosecutor in those cases.
The petition separately alleges Johnston had another romantic relationship with a man charged in a domestic-violence case, and was later disqualified from prosecuting that case after local law enforcement learned of the alleged relationship and sought a special prosecutor.
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Meanwhile, besides the improper relationships, Johnston allegedly «knowingly created» an atmosphere of fear and intimidation inside the Ray County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office by verbally berating staff and employees. The filing further alleges that a former employee learned Johnston was in a romantic relationship that could pose a conflict of interest, and that Johnston retaliated by firing the employee after learning they were aware of the relationship.
In each of the alleged relationships, the petition says Johnston recognized the impropriety but continued the conduct, withheld information about the relationships and «falsely denied the existence» of the allegedly compromising relationships when questioned.
Hanaway’s office said it stands by the allegations in the petition but could not comment on the possibility of criminal charges involving Johnston.
corruption crime, missouri, corruption, illegal immigrants, crime, politics, investigations, sex crimes, law
INTERNACIONAL
El régimen de Irán lanzó nuevos ataques contra instalaciones militares de EEUU en Jordania, Kuwait y Bahréin
Irán atacó este martes instalaciones militares estadounidenses en Jordania, Kuwait y Bahréin y advirtió que lanzará ofensivas “más decisivas y potentes” contra Estados Unidos, en una nueva escalada del conflicto en Medio Oriente que también amenaza con extenderse al Mar Rojo tras el anuncio de los rebeldes hutíes de Yemen de bloquear los puertos de Arabia Saudita.
El ejército iraní informó que sus fuerzas alcanzaron sistemas de defensa aérea, instalaciones de radar y edificios administrativos utilizados por Estados Unidos en Kuwait y Bahréin, horas después de una nueva ronda de bombardeos estadounidenses contra objetivos iraníes.
La Guardia Revolucionaria sostuvo además que atacó e interceptó dos petroleros que, según su versión, “no cumplían con las normas” cuando intentaban atravesar el estrecho de Ormuz, uno de los principales corredores energéticos del mundo.
En un comunicado difundido por la agencia estatal IRNA, la fuerza militar iraní lanzó una nueva advertencia a Washington. “Con este barrido de radar, el enemigo debería prepararse para oleadas aún más decisivas y potentes de ataques con drones y misiles”, señaló.
La nueva ofensiva iraní llegó después de que Estados Unidos ejecutara el lunes por la noche ataques contra territorio iraní. Washington aseguró que esas operaciones estaban “diseñadas para degradar aún más las capacidades militares iraníes utilizadas para atacar el transporte marítimo comercial” en el estrecho de Ormuz.
La escalada militar se produce tras la muerte de al menos tres soldados estadounidenses en los últimos días. El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, advirtió el lunes que Irán pagará “mucho más” por cada militar estadounidense fallecido.
Por su parte, el presidente iraní, Masoud Pezeshkian, afirmó que el conflicto ya se convirtió en “una guerra a gran escala”.
El Pentágono informó el lunes que cerca de 100 militares estadounidenses resultaron heridos desde el 7 de julio, la mayoría con conmociones cerebrales leves.
La situación también elevó la tensión en el estrecho de Ormuz. La Guardia Revolucionaria informó que dos buques cisterna que intentaban atravesar el paso marítimo “fueron alcanzados por explosiones, lo que provocó incendios masivos que los paralizaron”.
Previamente, la agencia británica de Operaciones de Comercio Marítimo (UKMTO) comunicó que un “proyectil desconocido” impactó contra un buque cisterna frente a las costas de Omán. Horas después, la organización reportó que otro petrolero en la misma zona también recibió el impacto de un proyectil.
El estrecho de Ormuz constituye una ruta estratégica para el comercio energético mundial, ya que en tiempos de paz transita por allí cerca de una quinta parte del petróleo comercializado en el planeta.
La guerra volvió a intensificarse después del fracaso del alto el fuego alcanzado en abril y del acuerdo marco negociado en junio. Tras ese colapso, Teherán restableció el bloqueo del estrecho de Ormuz y Washington respondió con un nuevo bloqueo sobre los puertos iraníes.
En paralelo, el conflicto amenaza con expandirse al Mar Rojo. Los rebeldes hutíes de Yemen, aliados de Irán, anunciaron que bloquearán los puertos saudíes, una decisión que podría afectar las exportaciones de petróleo de Arabia Saudita hacia Asia y alterar el suministro mundial de crudo.
Arabia Saudita condenó la amenaza de la organización yemení y calificó al grupo como la “milicia terrorista hutí”. Además, afirmó que “sigue apoyando al hermano pueblo yemení y a su gobierno legítimo”.
La semana pasada, fuerzas saudíes y combatientes hutíes intercambiaron disparos por primera vez en varios años, un episodio que puso bajo presión la tregua vigente desde 2022. Hasta entonces, los rebeldes se habían mantenido en gran medida al margen del conflicto abierto entre Irán, Israel y Estados Unidos desde finales de febrero.
Aunque Arabia Saudita continúa exportando millones de barriles diarios a través del puerto de Yanbu, sobre el Mar Rojo, los mercados energéticos mantienen la atención sobre una eventual interrupción de esa ruta. Los precios internacionales del petróleo subieron el lunes hasta su nivel más alto en un mes antes de moderarse durante las primeras horas del martes.
Durante los últimos meses, operadores y analistas siguieron de cerca la posibilidad de que los hutíes retomaran los ataques contra buques comerciales en el Mar Rojo y el golfo de Adén, como ocurrió durante la guerra de Gaza. El grupo, sin embargo, no precisó de qué manera aplicará el bloqueo anunciado contra los puertos saudíes.
Mientras continúan los enfrentamientos militares, permanecen abiertos algunos canales diplomáticos. El portavoz del Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Irán, Esmaeil Baqaei, aseguró que los contactos con Washington por medio de mediadores siguen en marcha.
En ese contexto, el Ministerio del Interior de Pakistán informó que el ministro del Interior iraní, Eskandar Momeni, inició una visita de dos días a Islamabad, donde tiene previsto reunirse con el primer ministro Shehbaz Sharif y con el jefe del Ejército paquistaní, Asim Munir.
También este martes, el presidente del Líbano, Joseph Aoun, tiene previsto reunirse con Donald Trump en Washington en medio de la presión internacional para que Beirut avance en el desarme de Hezbolá, una de las principales condiciones planteadas por Israel para retirar sus tropas del sur del Líbano.
(Con información de AFP)
Domestic Politics,War,Middle East,Government / Politics,Military Conflicts
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