INTERNACIONAL
House Republicans subpoena USA fencing chairman with history of supporting trans competitors in women’s sports
House Republicans have subpoenaed USA Fencing (USFA) board chair Damien Lehfeldt in an effort to compel him to testify in front of Congress during a hearing examining the participation of transgender women in biologically women’s sports.
The subpoena comes after USA Fencing’s Chief Executive Officer Phil Andrews told the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, which intends to hold the hearing on May 7, that Lehfeldt would be unavailable to testify for unspecified reasons, according to a letter sent in tandem with the subpoena. Lehfeldt’s apparent refusal to cooperate comes after he allegedly made public statements online indicating he had intended to be present at the hearing.
«Under the Ted Stevens Act, an [National Governing Body]—such as USFA—is required to provide equal opportunities to athletes regardless of sex when engaged in developing interest and participation in the sport it governs throughout the United States,» the letter accompanying the subpoena stated, signed by GOP House Oversight Chairman James Comer.
FEMALE FENCER DEFENDS PROTEST AGAINST TRANSGENDER OPPONENT
«The Subcommittee is concerned that the policies of USFA may not uphold these obligations and that the underlying law is not accomplishing its intended purpose. Therefore, the Subcommittee is investigating whether additional legislation regarding requirements of NGBs of amateur sports, like USFA, is necessary to address these issues.»
Lehfeldt and Andrews have both publicly expressed their support for allowing transgender women to compete on biological women’s sports teams. House Republicans’ decision to subpoena Lehfeldt follows an incident when a female fencer named Stephanie Turner was punished by USA Fencing for refusing to compete against a transgender competitor earlier this year.
Turner, during a regional meet in March, refused to compete against a transgender competitor who had previously competed in the men’s division. A video of her taking a symbolic knee at the start of the match, eventually earning her a «black card,» fencing’s most severe penalty, went viral following the incident. Turner was ultimately disqualified from the event and escorted out of the venue immediately following her act of civil disobedience.
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«In fencing, personally, I see it quite often,» Turner said following the incident. «I have witnessed transgender fencers in women’s tournaments and girls’ tournaments in different age categories, specifically Y-14 (the youngest age group).»
Fencer Stephanie Turner kneels in front of a USA Fencing official (Courtesy of ICONS)
The letter accompanying Lehfeldt’s subpoena said the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency requested multiple times that Lehfeldt provide an explanation for why he would not be in attendance to testify during the May 7 hearing. The letter said it exhausted several options to accommodate the USA Fencing board chair, including considering moving the date of the hearing and providing Lehfeldt extra time to obtain legal representation.
USA Fencing’s counsel subsequently asked the subcommittee whether it would be open to considering alternative witnesses, to which the committee said it would if they were made available on May 7. However, no reason for Lehfeldt’s unwillingness to testify was provided, according to House Republicans.
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Several days later USA Fencing indicated Andrews would be willing to participate in Lehfeldt’s place, if the hearing could be moved two days later to May 9, according to House Republicans. A day later, they said, Lehfeldt indicated to the subcommittee that he was formally declining to testify.
Sadie Schreiner puts a transgender flag in her hair before heading to the awards stand after finishing 3rd in the finals of the 200m race at the 2024 NCAA DIII outdoor track and field championships at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium on May 25, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, SC. Sadie, a transgender woman who competes on the Rochester Institute of Technology track team, is in the process of transitioning from a man to a woman. Her success as a sprinter on the women’s track team at RIT has thrust her into the fiercest political battle in American sports. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
«While counsel for USFA did explain why they believed Mr. Andrews would be better suited to appear on behalf of the organization, their rationale for why Mr. Lehfeldt would not be a helpful witness was unpersuasive,» the subpoena letter stated. «To date, neither Mr. Lehfeldt nor anyone speaking on his behalf has provided any legitimate rationale for his refusal to testify.»
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«Mr. Lehfeldt is best positioned to discuss the current, past, and future policies of USFA––especially those policies related to transgender women competing in women’s sports,» the letter continued. «Information about the policies, strategic plan, and mission of USFA is necessary to advance the Subcommittee’s oversight and legislative purposes.»
In a statement to Fox News Digital USA Fencing’s Director of Communications Bryan Wendell confirmed receipt of the House GOP subpoena, adding that they will «of course comply with it.»
«Board Chair Damien Lehfeldt looks forward to appearing on May 7 to answer the DOGE Subcommittee’s questions,» Wendell concluded. «We will have no further comment until after the hearing.»
Politics,House Of Representatives,Republicans,Sports
La aventura trágica de Hitler y la alianza que lo hundió
Soldados estadounidenses llegan a la costa en Normandía, Francia, en el histórico Día D de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, en junio de 1944. Foto: AP INTERNACIONAL
Texas congressional candidate dragged out, arrested after explosive redistricting hearing: ‘It is a shame!’
Texas redistricting hearing descends into chaos
Isaiah Martin, a Democrat running in the 18th Congressional District in Houston, had to be restrained and removed from Thursday’s House committee hearing on redistricting after exceeding his time to testify. (Isaiah Martin via Storyful)
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Tensions boiled over at the Texas Capitol Thursday night, when a Democratic congressional candidate was forcibly removed and arrested during a volatile redistricting hearing.
Isaiah Martin, running for Houston’s 18th Congressional District, defied repeated warnings to stop speaking after testimony accusing Republicans of rigging the redistricting process to appease President Donald Trump.
Footage from the hearing shows Martin collapsing as he was pulled from the room by authorities.
«History will NOT remember you for what you have DONE! It is a shame!» he yelled, prompting audible gasps from the crowd. He was charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespass and disrupting a public meeting.
RED STATE MAP BATTLE HEATS UP AS TRUMP PUSHES TEXAS PLAN TO RESHAPE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Isaiah Martin, center, a Democratic candidate for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, is confronted by sergeants during a redistricting hearing at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Thursday, after refusing to yield during a heated exchange with Republican lawmakers. (Texas House)
Martin was released from the Travis County Jail Friday, and all charges were dropped. He later posted a video on X thanking supporters and pledging to continue speaking out.
Martin began his testimony Thursday by challenging the legitimacy of the hearing.
«It just seems as if many are just sitting here going with their motions, and it makes sense because the game is rigged,» he said.
He then accused Texas Republicans of gerrymandering at Trump’s request.
«You gotta get Trump’s endorsement. That’s the name of the game to be a Republican nowadays,» Martin said. «Trump told every single one of you that he needs five seats. … But the real conversation we should be having … is that there will be a retaliation for that.»
Martin cited blue states he claimed are redrawing maps in response.
«Gov. Kathy Hochul said that she will be gerrymanding Republicans out,» he said. «The same thing is gonna happen in New Jersey.»
Martin also attacked Texas’ leadership over economic issues.
«We live in a state that is unaffordable … property taxes going up … despite the fact that you Republicans have been in office for nearly 30 straight years,» he said.
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Isaiah Martin, a Democratic candidate for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, is forcibly removed by sergeants during a redistricting hearing in Austin July 24, 2025, after refusing to yield following heated testimony criticizing Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump. (Isaiah Martin via Storyful)
Criticizing the timing of the redistricting process, he added, «After one of the worst mass casualty events in our state’s history, you choose to go and gerrymander people out of their seats.»
Rep. Cody Vasut, the House Redistricting Committee chair, attempted to regain order, but Martin refused to yield.
«No, I’m not going to finish. Because I’m … I’m NOT finished!»
Martin then turned his ire toward Trump.
«You can thank your failed, senile, dilapidated, Epstein-partying with president for all of the work that we’re about to do to every single one of you,» he said. «You did this, you caused this and this is the result of you and your work.»
Vasut instructed state House sergeants to remove Martin. As Martin was dragged from the room, audience members shouted, «Get off of him!»
Martin continued shouting, «America will rise up against you!»
The committee resumed without commenting on the disruption.
The Texas State Capitol in Austin, where Isaiah Martin was arrested for refusing to yield during testimony Thursday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Neither Martin’s campaign nor Gov. Greg Abbott’s office responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Abbott has previously described the redistricting effort as a compliance move following court rulings against coalition districts.
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In a July 7 letter cited by The Dallas Examiner, the Department of Justice flagged TX‑18 as one of four congressional districts in Texas that may involve unconstitutional racial gerrymandering through «coalition district» configurations.
Trump has publicly called on state lawmakers to secure five additional Republican House seats through redistricting.
The map remains unfinished, with hearings continuing Saturday in Houston and Monday in Arlington.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
El papa León XIV recibió al enviado del patriarca Cirilo en el Vaticano en un gesto de acercamiento con la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa
El Vaticano fue escenario este sábado del primer encuentro entre el papa León XIV y el metropolita Antoni, jefe de relaciones exteriores de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa y emisario del patriarca Cirilo, según comunicó el patriarcado de Moscú. El encuentro se produce en un contexto de relaciones distantes entre ambas Iglesias, marcadas por la postura del patriarca ortodoxo frente a la guerra en Ucrania.
Durante la reunión, Antoni transmitió a León XIV “los saludos en nombre de Cirilo y las felicitaciones por su elección como Primado de la Iglesia Católica Romana”, informó el comunicado del patriarcado ruso. El papa, en respuesta, expresó su gratitud a Cirilo “por sus buenos deseos y destacó la importancia de desarrollar las relaciones con la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa”. Según la nota, el diálogo incluyó cuestiones sobre el estado de las relaciones ortodoxo-católicas y los conflictos internacionales, con especial foco en Ucrania y Medio Oriente.
En el curso de la conversación, Antoni denunció ante el pontífice la situación de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Ucraniana, aludiendo a una persecución sufrida en el actual contexto de conflicto armado. En declaraciones previas al diario La Repubblica, el metropolita manifestó su expectativa de debatir las “perspectivas de desarrollo de las relaciones entre la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa y la Iglesia Católica”, subrayando la necesidad de fortalecer la cooperación cristiana en un “mundo en rápida secularización”.
El papa León XIV, primer estadounidense —nacionalizado peruano— en asumir el cargo, accedió al pontificado en mayo y desde entonces ha promovido esfuerzos diplomáticos en favor de la paz. Hace semanas recibió en el Vaticano al presidente ucraniano Volodimir Zelensky y mantuvo conversaciones telefónicas con el presidente ruso Vladimir Putin. León XIV ha apelado al Kremlin para que realice un “gesto” a favor de la paz y propuso, a mediados de mayo, la mediación del Vaticano en las negociaciones entre las partes en conflicto. Sin embargo, el Kremlin descartó la Santa Sede como punto neutral para un diálogo, por lo que las conversaciones continuaron en la ciudad turca de Estambul.
El papa y el patriarca Cirilo mantuvieron en 2016 un histórico encuentro en Cuba, aunque desde el inicio de la guerra en Ucrania sus relaciones se enfriaron. Cirilo apoya abiertamente la invasión rusa, que califica de “guerra santa”, postura que motivó un cruce de declaraciones con el predecesor de León XIV, el papa Francisco. No obstante, el metropolita Antoni, nombrado jefe de relaciones exteriores en 2022, continuó los contactos con el Vaticano y estuvo presente en representación de Cirilo durante el funeral de Francisco.
En la entrevista concedida a La Repubblica días antes del encuentro, Antoni consideró que el anterior pontífice mantenía un “enfoque equilibrado” respecto a Ucrania, aunque señaló que desconocía de momento la posición de León XIV sobre el conflicto.
En un mensaje enviado este sábado a la asamblea nacional del movimiento católico Pax Christi en Estados Unidos, León XIV reiteró su llamado a la no violencia y recordó la importancia de que los católicos “se conviertan en creadores de paz en su vida cotidiana”. En el texto subrayó: “Entre los numerosos desafíos que nuestro mundo enfrenta actualmente, incluyendo los conflictos armados generalizados, las divisiones entre los pueblos y los desafíos de la migración forzada, los esfuerzos por promover la no violencia son más necesarios que nunca”.
León XIV también recordó el llamado que realizó al asumir el pontificado, afirmando que en la actualidad se necesita “una paz desarmada, humilde y perseverante”. Instó a los miembros de la Iglesia a que estén presentes “especialmente en las periferias”, y a que las comunidades locales sean “casas de paz” donde se practique la justicia y el perdón, reforzando así el papel reconciliador de la institución.
El metropolita Antoni ha ocupado la jefatura de relaciones exteriores del patriarcado de Moscú desde 2022, año de la invasión rusa a Ucrania. Anteriormente, desempeñó el cargo de enviado de la Iglesia ortodoxa en Italia, participando activamente en la interlocución entre Moscú y la Santa Sede en medio de un escenario internacional tenso.
(Con información de AFP y EFE)
Europe,Religion / Belief,VATICAN CITY
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