FIRST ON FOX: Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, who says his office uncovered more than $75 million in stolen or misspent taxpayer funds over eight years, told Digital that he is launching a bid for governor to take on corruption and political insiders in the Magnolia State.

White, a veteran of Operation Epic Fury in Iran and supporter of President Donald Trump, pledged to restore accountability and transparency to the state government, vowing to use findings from his office’s audits to eliminate wasteful contracts, sweetheart deals and unnecessary spending.

«There might be two parties in Jackson, but there’s only one good ol’ boys’ club,» White, a captain in the state’s National Guard, told Digital. «They tried to ban my office from even looking for government waste. As governor, I’m shutting the whole rotten system down.»

MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT ATTORNEY JODY OWENS RESIGNS AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN FEDERAL BRIBERY CASE: REPORT

«The reason I’m running is because we absolutely have to cut down on the fraud and corruption plaguing Mississippi,» White continued. «People are hurting right now. What we unfortunately have here in Mississippi is a lack of political courage.»

White, who served overseas with the Mississippi National Guard in 2026, drew comparisons between the courage he witnessed among service members and what he described as a lack of political courage among Mississippi’s elected officials.

«What I saw overseas was courage. The people of Mississippi would be much better off if our politicians had one-tenth of the courage the members I served with overseas had,» White said.

Earlier this year, White’s office reported to The Daily Signal that it uncovered more than $10.5 million in Medicaid benefits provided to illegal immigrants in Mississippi.

According to his office, the auditor has uncovered and tracked massive public fraud, centering on over $77 million in misspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare funds as part of a broader enforcement record that includes $75 million recovered and $115 million in financial demands issued across multiple investigations.

RAMASWAMY: MEDICAID FRAUD RAISES HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR HARDWORKING OHIOANS

White pledged to continue cracking down on government waste and improper spending, and he outlined an economic agenda centered on reducing taxes and easing the financial burden on Mississippi families.

‘FIRE EVERY COMMISSIONER’: MINNESOTA GOP NOMINEE VOWS SWEEPING PURGE OVER FRAUD

«Mississippi families are getting squeezed at the grocery store, for their car tags, and every time the property tax bill shows up,» White said. «Meanwhile, the insiders are getting richer and richer. We’re going to take the money they’ve wasted and give it back to the people who earned it. We will cut your grocery tax, cut the car tax, and freeze your property taxes. Our families need relief, and when I’m governor, they’re going to get it.»

White enters a gubernatorial field that includes Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson, former state House Speaker Philip Gunn and former Democratic Senate primary candidate Priscilla W. Till.

The candidates are seeking to succeed Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, who took office in 2020 and is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term in 2027.

MEDICAID PROVIDER ALLEGEDLY BILLED $165K FOR DEAD PATIENT’S RIDES AMONG FRAUD EXPOSED IN EXPLOSIVE REPORT

White also pledged to prioritize the state’s military families and veterans, citing his own experience serving overseas.

«I know what veterans go through about how hard it is to leave your family, how difficult it is to fight for the benefits that you have been promised by the government. So as governor of Mississippi, I want to fight for the men and women every single day,» White told Digital.

White argued that his military experience would also give him a unique perspective as commander in chief of the Mississippi National Guard, a responsibility held by the state’s governor.

The Mississippi gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 2027.

politics, mississippi, gubernatorial, war with iran

La Fiscalía de Paraguay analiza una detonación controlada, el traslado de la esposa del ex presidente Santiago Peña o la consulta a otros familiares para abrir la bóveda hallada en la mansión del ex mandatario, preso por el colapso de Ueno Bank, informó este lunes ABC Color.

El fiscal Christian Benítez explicó que los investigadores solo lograron abrir la primera puerta que lleva a la bóveda, oculta tras una pared falsa, pero no pudieron superar la segunda barrera de seguridad. Aseguró que harán “todo lo posible” para ingresar y que pedirán ayuda de especialistas para definir el procedimiento más adecuado.

Las opciones

Benítez descartó, por ahora, llevar a Peña a su casa para que active los mecanismos de seguridad. “De momento, (llevar a Peña) todavía no es una de las opciones que estamos analizando”, dijo.

En cambio, la Fiscalía evalúa trasladar a la esposa de Peña, Leticia Ocampos, para comprobar si su iris está autorizado en el sistema de reconocimiento instalado en la bóveda. “Es una opción que estamos manejando. Creemos que es una posibilidad un poco más sencilla que un eventual traslado hasta el lugar del ex presidente”, afirmó.

También podría consultar a otros familiares, aunque Benítez aclaró que no están obligados a colaborar. “El único inconveniente que tenemos es que ellos no están obligados a colaborar con nosotros. Sin embargo, estamos en conversaciones para poder ver si esa es una posibilidad factible”, sostuvo.

La tercera alternativa es una explosión controlada. “Inclusive, nosotros estamos analizando la posibilidad de armar una detonación controlada, si es que no hay otra manera de abrir”, dijo.

Reconoció que podría dañar lo que haya dentro y la estructura: sobre la bóveda hay una piscina y la propiedad está en un terreno elevado. Aclaró que es “un análisis nada más” y que serán los expertos quienes “nos van a decir cuál es la mejor manera de poder abrir eso”.

Los investigadores manejan la hipótesis de que sea una habitación de seguridad. “Se sostiene que podría ser una habitación de pánico”, mencionó.

Qué se sabe de la bóveda

El allanamiento comenzó poco antes de las 19:00 del domingo en el barrio Ciervo Cuá, a unos 50 kilómetros de Asunción, y se reanudó este lunes a las 07:00

Durante el procedimiento de la víspera, los agentes comprobaron que detrás de una pared falsa había una bóveda con un sistema de seguridad que, según los medios locales, sería de procedencia israelí. De acuerdo a ABC, exige códigos de acceso y múltiples verificaciones, entre ellas el reconocimiento del iris del propietario, y la comitiva no pudo desbloquearlo. Otros medios paraguayos mencionaron además huella dactilar y llaves, y describieron un pasillo oculto que conduce hasta la puerta blindada.

La Fiscalía no informó qué hay dentro ni cómo pretende abrirla. El comunicado en el que confirmó el allanamiento no menciona la bóveda. Tampoco hubo comentarios de la defensa de Peña.

Un video difundido en redes sociales, cuya autenticidad no fue verificada, parece mostrar el recinto durante la construcción de la casa, cuando la obra estaba inconclusa. En las imágenes, un hombre con el rostro cubierto entra y muestra el espacio interior.

Por qué la casa es parte del caso

La Fiscalía sostiene que Peña financió la construcción, entre 2024 y 2025, con dos préstamos simultáneos de Ueno Bank por 3.548 millones de guaraníes (unos 600.000 dólares), que le dio cuando era presidente. La obra costó unos 7.700 millones de guaraníes y la propiedad está valuada en 2 millones de dólares. Las cuotas mensuales, de 239 millones, equivalían a seis veces su sueldo presidencial.

La vivienda ya había generado polémica. En enero de 2025, ante las críticas por la mansión, Peña dijo que “trabaja desde los 18 años” y se consideraba “una persona honesta, trabajadora”, según Última Hora.

Cómo se llegó hasta acá

Ueno Bank, banco digital privado, fue intervenido por el Banco Central el 3 de noviembre, y unos tres millones de clientes perdieron el acceso a sus cuentas. Los fondos de pensiones del Instituto de Previsión Social, que administra las jubilaciones de los trabajadores del sector privado, habían depositado allí unos 355 millones de dólares.

El Senado destituyó a Peña el viernes, con 44 de 45 votos, y la vicepresidenta Pedro Alliana asumió la presidencia hasta agosto de 2028. El sábado, el juez Humberto Otazú ordenó su prisión preventiva. Peña está en el Regimiento Escolta Presidencial, en Asunción. Fue imputado por lesión de confianza, como instigador, y administración en provecho propio, como autor. La Fiscalía calcula un perjuicio de unos 809 millones de dólares, la suma de los depósitos estatales en el banco, no una pérdida probada. Peña niega los cargos.

El domingo, fiscales requisaron un iPhone de Peña en el regimiento, después de que el comandante dijera que podía usar un celular. La abogada Carolina Berdoy, vecina de San Bernardino, presentará hoy un pedido de informes a la Municipalidad sobre posibles irregularidades urbanísticas, tributarias y ambientales, sin atribuir responsabilidades penales.

Santiago Peña,bóveda,puerta de seguridad,Paraguay,investigación policial

Lawmakers are back on Capitol Hill this week for the first time since the midterm elections, and Republicans have a slew of responsibilities in front of them before Democrats take over the reins of power in January.

«The lame duck is like that closet in your house where everybody’s throwing a bunch of s— into it,» Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, told Digital. «And the closet is full of s— now, and now we got to figure out how to get it all out of there.»

Current federal funding levels run out on Dec. 11, and without another deal in place, Congress risks plunging the government into another shutdown. Some Democrats signaled to POLITICO that they could use President Donald Trump’s war in Iran as leverage in spending talks — which could very well lead to a fiscal cliff that could paralyze federal agencies.

But one House Republican, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told Digital they expect another short-term extension of current funding levels, called a continuing resolution (CR), through February or March of next year. The current CR was passed to cover the end of the last fiscal year ending Sept. 30 through next month.

TRUMP SIGNS GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL, AVOIDING A SHUTDOWN AHEAD OF MIDTERMS

«No one wants a shutdown, I would think,» that House Republican said. «Not even Dems.»

HOUSE GOP VOTES TO PUNT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BATTLE TO AFTER NOVEMBER MIDTERMS

Other legislative priorities Congress will have to reckon with in the next few weeks include the farm bill, which is passed every five years and sets food and agriculture policy for the country. Republicans are also aiming to pass a bill to revitalize the country’s transportation infrastructure and a bipartisan tax package before the end of the year.

Then there is also the looming debt ceiling deadline coming in January, which Trump will likely call on Republicans to deal with before Congress changes hands.

GOP lawmakers shared varying levels of optimism when asked about how productive they would be.

«It can be. It should be,» Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., said. «But my faith in some of my Senate colleagues is not real high, because I feel like they have a personal vendetta towards the president, and it’s more about that than it is about passing legislation. We should do our business in Congress.»

Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, said, «I think it’s gonna be difficult to get a whole lot done. But we have done a lot of work leading up to the lame-duck session to prepare for passing a number of important bills, many of which are bipartisan.»

But first, both House and Senate Republicans will need to face their losses in person — and consider how to rebuild.

WHAT THE 2026 MIDTERM RESULTS MEAN FOR CAPITOL HILL

«It’s going to feel like a funeral,» Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., told Digital. «It’s depressing even for those of us who won, because we lost so many good, quality members.»

The first order of business this week will be choosing their new leaders for the next Congress.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., is running for the minority leader role unopposed for now.

And House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is vying for the minority leader role against House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

MIKE JOHNSON’S NO 2 LAUNCHES GOP TAKEOVER BID AS HOUSE FALLS TO DEMOCRATS

But Moran and Stutzman both said Republicans would unify quickly after that drama is resolved.

«It should be immediate,» Stutzman said. «If we’re not paying attention to the American people, and we’re focusing on leadership positions and personality fights, we’re gonna continue to lose.»

HOUSE GOP LAUNCHES DEFENSE PLAN TO SHIELD TRUMP FROM LOOMING DEMOCRAT INVESTIGATIONS

Moran said, «We understand now more than ever how important it is for us to come back together, coalesce and to regroup for the next election, and to prepare for the defense of democracy.»

On Democrats’ side, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is expected to glide into the speaker role after leading his party to a commanding victory.

Democrats’ leadership elections will take place the week after Republicans’ do.

And on the productivity front, Stutzman also called on the Senate to pass the election security-focused SAVE America Act, which Republicans are attempting to accomplish via the budget reconciliation process to sidestep the need for Democrat support. The House passed a blueprint for the bill in July.

Senate Budget Committee Chair Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has been working on the structure of that package for some time, but wasn’t so sure that if Republicans lost, it would be something the GOP had the political will to finish.

«It might turn to some people’s attitudes in terms of support for it,» Johnson said.

Then there’s permitting reform, which was on thin ice heading into Election Night until the White House and Senate Democrats struck a deal for a variety of wind projects to move forward. Whether Democrats support that now, and give Trump and the GOP a win on their way out, remains to be seen.

«First thing we need to do is make a motion to add a 13th month to the calendar, because we’ve got so much stacked up to do that’s really important for the country,» Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Digital.

politics, congress, government shutdown, midterm elections, house of representatives politics, senate