INTERNACIONAL
After Minnesota killings, Capitol Hill representatives face stark reality about family safety
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Most members of the U.S. House and Senate were nowhere near Washington when a gunman went to the homes of two Minnesota state lawmakers, killing two people and wounding two others.
And that’s exactly what rattled U.S. representatives and senators. They, too, weren’t in Washington. They were home for the weekend.
Police accuse Vance Boelter of killing Democratic state Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Boelter is also accused of shooting Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
All at their homes.
And that’s exactly what rattled U.S. senators and representatives. They weren’t in Washington.
Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was fatally shot early Saturday. (Glen Stubb via Getty)
MINNESOTA LAWMAKER HAPPENED TO BE ON VACATION WHEN MASKED SUSPECT KNOCKED ON DOOR
«Minnesota was jarring because (the suspect) went after family,» said one House member who has faced threats and asked for anonymity. «We’re gone 50 percent of the time. There are no lines anymore.»
Congress lives in the era of doxxing. People sending pizzas to their houses – a not-so-subtle way of saying, «I know where you live.» Swatting.
It freaks the lawmakers out. But what shakes the members to the core is when a threat is directed at their families. Maybe a message is sent to the school where their children attend. Looming over the Minnesota massacre is the 2017 Congressional baseball practice shooting, which nearly killed House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Then there’s the 2011 near-assassination of former Reps. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and Ron Barber, D-Ariz.
«We need to be proactive on our own,» said one lawmaker to Fox who asked they not be identified. «Not reactive.»
Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., canceled a town hall meeting with constituents this week after what went down in Minnesota.
«After being made aware that my name was on a list connected to the recent tragic shooting in Minnesota, my office has made the difficult decision to postpone our planned town hall in Muskegon,» said Scholten. «Out of an abundance of caution and to not divert additional law enforcement resources away from protecting the broader public at this time, this is the responsible choice.»
Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., in the Longworth House Office Building on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Officials found the names of dozens of House and Senate members on a list written by the alleged assassin.
This begs the question: can congressional security officials keep lawmakers safe?
SUSPECTED MINNESOTA LAWMAKER ASSASSIN VANCE BOELTER CAPTURED
One Democrat applauded efforts by the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). But the lawmaker pointed out it was physically impossible for the USCP to protect all members and their families 24/7, both in Washington and in their home states or districts. USCP report more than 9,400 bona fide threats against lawmakers. USCP processed just a fraction of those threats a decade ago.
Moreover, there was zero information about the shooters at either the baseball practice or the Giffords rampage.
It’s one thing to track the «knowns.» The «unknowns» are even more scary.
So what are lawmakers to do?
Capitol security officials and the U.S. Capitol Police briefed all senators on the threats they faced early Tuesday morning.
«Sobering,» is how Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., described the conversation. «The threat to public officials and families is very real and very widespread.»
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about the «Members Representational Allowance» or «MRA.» That’s a fund the House allocates to each member to run their office. Jeffries and Morelle asked Johnson to «substantially increase» the MRA, so lawmakers could bolster security services.
There’s also discussion about scrubbing the personal information of lawmakers from the web or approving anti-doxxing legislation.
«The increase in violence, the threats of violence against members didn’t happen by accident. It happened because of the coarseness of the debate,» said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
That means you can have all the security you want. But you can’t change how people think. What they decide to post online. Or where they decide to go.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, removed two social media posts about the Minnesota shootings amid a barrage of criticism from the left and the right. Lee equated the shooting to «Marxists» and insinuated that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) was partly to blame for the murders.
Sen Mike Lee speaks during a campaign rally for U.S. Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump at Findlay Toyota Center on Oct. 13, 2024, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., tracked down Lee in the Mike Mansfield room of the Capitol Monday night to express her displeasure about the posts.
«Was he receptive to your concerns?» asked Ryan Schmelz of Fox News Radio.
«I would say he seemed surprised to be confronted,» replied Smith.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., also sought out Lee.
«I told him what I’ve said publicly. That this isn’t one bit funny for my state,» said Klobuchar. «Sen. Lee and I had a good discussion, and I’m very glad he took it down.»
«Did he seem remorseful?» asked yours truly.
«Contrite?» questioned Lisa Desjardins of the PBS NewsHour.
«I’m not going to go into our discussion, or I wouldn’t be able to get things done,» responded Klobuchar. «But I will just say he took it down.»
Lee later ignored a question about why he removed the posts from colleague Tyler Olson.
So lawmakers find themselves – again – trying to lower the temperature.
And find solutions.
MINNESOTA OFFICIALS FIND CAR, HAT BELONGING TO ASSASSIN SUSPECT VANCE BOELTER ON HIGHWAY IN ‘FLUID’ SEARCH
If there isn’t action, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., is tinkering with forcing the House into a «Secret Session» to debate the right approach for congressional security. Such a resolution to move the House into a Secret Session needs a vote. It is also privileged. That means Moskowitz could go over the heads of House leaders and deposit the issue on the floor. The House could potentially vote to table or kill the effort.
The House has not held a clandestine session since 2008 – and only six such conclaves in the history of the republic. If members vote nay, they are on the record as opposing a secret session to discuss security.
But a consensus on what Congress wants – or if the U.S. Capitol Police has the wherewithal to handle – is a staggering proposal. The USCP is charged with protecting 535 members. What about guarding lawmakers back in their districts? And that’s to say nothing of family members.
Hoffman/Boelter/Hortman split (AP Images; Minnesota Department of Public Safety )
Moreover, security officials tell Fox there was a lot of criticism by members about the current security posture – from those who don’t take advantage of current programs afforded them by the House and USCP.
«They like to complain a lot,» said one Republican source who said many lawmakers failed to utilize security options.
Consider again why the Minnesota murders resonated so much on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers are scared of stalkers and others who routinely threaten them. But it’s another level to target family members.
Some politicians run for office to attain power. Others for glory. And some, for good old public service.
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Their families didn’t run for anything. Their names don’t appear on the ballot. On the committee door. They aren’t on the wall in the Rayburn House Office Building.
But the names and addresses of family members are on the internet.
And that’s what freaks out lawmakers the most.
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The Trump administration’s battle with Democrat-controlled jurisdictions and their sanctuary polices suffered a blow on Friday when a federal judge in Chicago dismissed a case challenging their legality.
Judge Lindsay Jenkins of the Northern District of Illinois, a President Biden appointee, granted the defendants’ motion for dismissal, ruling that the city’s ordinances are lawful protections not subject to federal enforcement mandates.
The Trump Justice Department, in a February filing, accused the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago of unlawfully interfering with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration as it aims to carry out mass deportations.
U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins in Illinois has dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit that sought to block Chicago’s limits on cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. (Getty; U.S. Senate)
TRUMP DOJ SUES NEW YORK CITY OVER LONG-STANDING SANCTUARY IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Sanctuary cities or sanctuary policies limit co-operation between local officials and law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration has long railed against the measures, arguing they make such areas a haven for criminal illegal immigrants and contribute to increased crime.
The Justice Department alleges these laws violate the U.S. Constitution’s «Supremacy Clause» under the Tenth Amendment, which states that federal law preempts state and local laws that may conflict with it.
But Jenkins rejected the argument, ruling that states retain significant powers not explicitly granted to the federal government.
«Finding that these same Policy provisions constitute discrimination or impermissible regulation would provide an end-run around the Tenth Amendment,» the judge wrote. «It would allow the federal government to commandeer States under the guise of intergovernmental immunity — the exact type of direct regulation of states barred by the Tenth Amendment.»
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, along with other federal law enforcement agencies, attend a pre-enforcement meeting in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. ( Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
MAYOR JOHNSON WARNS TRUMP AGAINST DEPLOYING FEDERAL TROOPS FOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN CHICAGO
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance in 2012 that stops city agencies and employees from getting involved in civil immigration enforcement or helping federal authorities with such efforts. The Illinois legislature passed a similar state law, known as the TRUST Act, in 2017.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was pleased with the decision and that the city is safer when police focus on the needs of Chicagoans.
«This ruling affirms what we have long known: that Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance is lawful and supports public safety. The City cannot be compelled to cooperate with the Trump Administration’s reckless and inhumane immigration agenda,» he said in a statement.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, left, said he was pleased with the decision and that the city is safer when police focus on the needs of Chicagoans. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, left, and Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images, right.)
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The Trump administration has sued several jurisdictions over their sanctuary policies, including a filing this week against New York City. The administration has also sued several New Jersey cities, as well as Los Angeles.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the federal government was left with no choice but to protect New Yorkers by filing the suit.
«If New York’s leaders won’t step up to protect their citizens, we will,» she wrote on X.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it will resume airdrops of aid to Gaza Saturday night while disputing claims of deliberate starvation as the hunger crisis escalates amid its ongoing campaign against Hamas.
The IDF said in a statement Saturday the airdrop operation will be conducted in coordination with international aid organizations, Israel’s Coordination for Government Activities in the Territories and the Israeli Air Force.
«The airdrops will include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food to be provided by international organizations,» the IDF said in a statement.
Designated humanitarian corridors will also be established «to enable the safe movement of U.N. convoys delivering food and medicine to the population,» according to the IDF.
HAMAS LOSING IRON GRIP ON GAZA AS US-BACKED GROUP GETS AID TO PALESTINIANS IN NEED
Preparations for Saturday night’s aid drop in Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces)
«The IDF is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas and will continue to operate to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate terrorists in the areas of activity,» the IDF said. «This week alone, over 250 aid trucks were unloaded, joining hundreds of trucks waiting at the crossings to be collected by the U.N. and international organizations.»
Approximately 600 trucks of aid have also been distributed by the U.N. and other international organizations, Israel said.
Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen Friday. (Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
Israel has also connected its power line to Gaza’s desalination plant.
«This is expected to supply approximately 20,000 cubic meters of water per day, up from the 2,000 cubic meters supplied until now, to serve about 900,000 residents in the area,» according to the IDF.
NEWS OUTLETS ‘DESPERATELY CONCERNED’ FOR THEIR JOURNALISTS IN GAZA, URGE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES TO HELP
The IDF said the reports about starvation in Gaza were a false campaign promoted by Hamas, but hunger is spreading across the region after the United Nations and the IDF previously failed to reach an agreement about aid distribution, Fox News’ Trey Yingst reported.
Palestinians vie for food from a charity kitchen during a hunger crisis in Gaza City July 14, 2025. (Reuters/Mahmoud Issa/File Photo)
Price gouging and disagreements about how to get aid to citizens are making the crisis worse.
The U.N. is warning of increased malnutrition and starvation in the area.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation in Gaza a «horror show» this week «with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times.»
«Responsibility for food distribution to the population in Gaza lies with the U.N. and international aid organizations,» the IDF said. «Therefore, the U.N. and international organizations are expected to improve the effectiveness of aid distribution and to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas.»
Pallets of humanitarian aid ready to be dropped in Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces)
The U.S. State Department this week addressed expanding Israeli strikes in Gaza, saying the Trump administration is focused on negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
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«Our focus has been to stop that war, to stop the fighting, to have a ceasefire,» spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said this week. «It is at the top of our mind as we work still to stop this carnage.»
INTERNACIONAL
Israel reanudó los lanzamientos aéreos de ayuda a la Franja de Gaza y habilitará corredores humanitarios
El Ejército de Israel reanudó este sábado los lanzamientos aéreos de ayuda humanitaria hacia la Franja de Gaza durante la noche y anunció la creación de corredores humanitarios para facilitar el transporte seguro de convoyes de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) con alimentos y medicinas. Según el comunicado emitido por las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel (FDI), la primera tanda de entregas incluyó siete palés con harina, azúcar y alimentos enlatados provistos por organizaciones internacionales.
La institución militar publicó en Telegram que se “efectuó un lanzamiento de ayuda humanitaria con paracaídas como parte del esfuerzo por permitir y facilitar la entrada de ayuda a la Franja de Gaza”.
La medida tiene lugar en un contexto de creciente crisis humanitaria en Gaza debido a la aguda escasez de alimentos, medicamentos y productos básicos, una situación que según organizaciones internacionales ha generado graves riesgos de desnutrición infantil y mortalidad por hambre.
El ejército israelí informó que la decisión, adoptada tras una evaluación de la situación la tarde del sábado, forma parte “de sus esfuerzos para permitir y facilitar la entrada de ayuda a Gaza y refutar la falsa afirmación de hambruna deliberada en la Franja”. La operación de entrega aérea se desarrolla en coordinación con organismos internacionales y con el COGAT (organismo dependiente del Ministerio de Defensa de Israel encargado de la gestión civil en los territorios palestinos).
Las FDI notificaron que “la asistencia humanitaria designada permitirá el movimiento seguro de los convoyes de la ONU que entregan alimentos y medicamentos y cabe la posibilidad de declarar pausas humanitarias en zonas pobladas para facilitar la ayuda”.
Además de los lanzamientos aéreos, el ejército confirmó la reconexión de una línea eléctrica entre Israel y una planta de desalinización en Gaza, con lo que se ha incrementado la producción diaria de agua hasta los 20.000 metros cúbicos.
El comunicado detalla que las FDI “están preparadas para implementar pausas humanitarias en zonas densamente pobladas y continuarán operando para desmantelar la infraestructura terrorista y eliminar a los terroristas en las áreas de actividad”. A pesar de estas medidas, el ejército sostiene que “las operaciones de combate en el enclave no han cesado”.
Las FDI argumentan que “no hay hambruna en Gaza” y describen como “campaña falsa promovida por Hamas” las denuncias de las agencias de la ONU y organizaciones internacionales sobre la situación alimentaria. El ejército remacha que “la distribución de alimentos recae en la ONU y las organizaciones internacionales de ayuda”, y llama a estos organismos a mejorar la eficacia de la distribución y a evitar que la ayuda llegue a manos de organizaciones armadas.
Por su parte, el COGAT indicó que el sábado había 600 camiones a la espera de ser descargados por las organizaciones internacionales, mientras que el ejército israelí insiste en que “Israel no limita el número de camiones que entran a la Franja de Gaza”, y atribuye a las agencias humanitarias la responsabilidad de retirar la ayuda ya despachada en los cruces.
El jefe de la Agencia de la ONU para los Refugiados Palestinos (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, calificó este sábado como “ineficaz” la reanudación de los lanzamientos aéreos de ayuda humanitaria en Gaza frente a la magnitud de la catástrofe. Lazzarini señaló en su cuenta de X que “el lanzamiento aéreo no pondrá fin al hambre que se agrava. Es costoso, ineficaz y puede inclusive matar a civiles hambrientos”. Para el director de la agencia, el hambre en Gaza solo puede resolverse “por la voluntad política” y llamó a que la ONU intervenga “a gran escala y sin obstáculos”.
El viernes, un responsable israelí confirmó a la AFP que los lanzamientos de ayuda humanitaria por vía aérea serían coordinados por Emiratos Árabes Unidos y Jordania. El propio Reino Unido anunció que trabajará con Jordania para lanzar ayuda por vía aérea sobre Gaza y evacuar niños con necesidades médicas urgentes, de acuerdo a una declaración del primer ministro británico Keir Starmer.
La situación sobre el terreno en Gaza se ha deteriorado desde el endurecimiento del bloqueo impuesto por Israel a inicios de marzo, que ocasionó una escasez “grave” –según fuentes humanitarias– de alimentos, medicamentos y otros suministros esenciales. A finales de mayo, Israel alivió parcialmente las restricciones. Organizaciones internacionales denuncian desde hace meses obstáculos para responder a la crisis, afirmando que continúan enfrentando presiones y restricciones para acceder a la población necesitada y distribuir la ayuda.
El ejército israelí rechaza estas acusaciones, manteniendo que los organismos internacionales y la ONU deben hacerse cargo de la recolección y distribución eficaz de la ayuda, mientras el enclave palestino sigue enfrentando una emergencia humanitaria creciente.
(Con información de AFP, EFE y EP)
Middle East,Military Conflicts,ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER
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