INTERNACIONAL
Top Biden officials questioned and criticized how his team issued pardons, used autopen: report
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Top Biden administration officials questioned and criticized the way the former president’s team handled pardons and made use of an autopen in the waning days of his White House term, a report said, citing internal emails.
A person familiar with the clemency process told Axios that after President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter on Dec. 1, 2024, «there was a mad dash to find groups of people that he could then pardon — and then they largely didn’t run it by the Justice Department to vet them.»
The news agency reported Saturday that several senior Justice Department officials raised concerns with the White House counsel’s office regarding the process to pardon individuals.
Three days before Biden left office, the president announced he was «commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy and practice.»
BIDEN’S AUTO-PEN PARDONS DISTURBED DOJ BRASS, DOCS SHOW, RAISING QUESTIONS WHETHER THEY ARE LEGALLY BINDING
Former President Joe Biden speaks during a conference of the Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) at the Sofitel Hotel in Chicago April 15, 2025. (Tannen Maury/AFP via Getty Images)
«With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history,» Biden said in a statement Jan. 17.
However, Axios reported that the following day, senior Justice Department ethics attorney Bradley Weinsheimer argued in a memo that describing those who were pardoned as nonviolent was «untrue, or at least misleading.»
«Unfortunately and despite repeated requests and warnings, we were not afforded a reasonable opportunity to vet and provide input on those you were considering,» Weinsheimer wrote, according to Axios.
The news agency said Weinsheimer mentioned a man who pleaded guilty to murder-related charges.
Weinsheimer described how the Justice Department labeled the man as «problematic,» yet Biden commuted his sentence, Axios reported.
«I have no idea if the president was aware of these backgrounds when making clemency decisions,» Weinsheimer reportedly added.
Ed Siskel, the former head of the White House counsel’s office, and representatives for Biden did not immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
‘SHOULD BE PROSECUTED’: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ZERO IN ON BIDEN AUTOPEN PARDONS AFTER BOMBSHELL REPORT
Former President Joe Biden, left, and his son, Hunter Biden, stand side by side. The former president pardoned Hunter Biden in December 2024. (Getty Images)
Senior Biden White House officials also pushed back internally on requests to use the autopen, according to Axios, which cited emails it obtained.
It said Biden White House staff secretary Stef Feldman repeatedly asked for more information and confirmation of Biden’s intentions with the autopen.
«When did we get [Biden’s] approval of this?» Feldman reportedly wrote in a Jan. 7 email regarding the use of autopen to sign an executive order.
«I’m going to need email from … original chain confirming [Biden] signs off on the specific documents when they are ready,» she was cited by Axios as writing in a Jan. 16 email about using autopen to commute cases linked to crack cocaine sentences.
The developments come as President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into Biden’s administration, alleging that top officials used autopen signatures to cover up the former president’s cognitive decline.
«I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false,» Biden said in a statement in June.
Former President Joe Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump to the White House ahead of his inauguration Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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«This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs like Medicaid and raise costs on American families, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.»
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
joe biden,white house,executive,justice department,politics
INTERNACIONAL
El soporte del gobierno de México a dictaduras de crimen organizado no puede continuar impune
El gobierno de México ha pasado de la narrativa ideológica a la humanitaria para tratar de justificar el sostenido soporte, encubrimiento y defensa de las organizaciones delictivas que bajo mando de La Habana someten con terrorismo de Estado a los pueblos de Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua y Bolivia. Desde operar su política exterior, el rescate de prófugos con cobertura diplomática, hasta la contratación de personal esclavo y entregas de petróleo, el apoyo y complicidad del gobierno de México a la dictadura de Cuba y sus satélites son violaciones al derecho interno e internacional que no pueden continuar impunes.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, AMLO, convirtió a México en un gobierno “paradictatorial”, esto es un “gobierno elegido en democracia que sirve a las dictaduras de crimen organizado, las sostiene, busca legitimarlas e incumple obligaciones internacionales, traicionando y perjudicando sus intereses nacionales”.
La presidencia de Sheinbaum es solo la continuación de este sometimiento porque los gobiernos paradictatoriales se originan cuando el socialismo del siglo XXI -sigla política de la dictadura cubana y su expansión- promueve, financia y hace llegar al poder a los que una vez al mando ponen el país al servicio de sus comandantes.
El iter criminis de México bajo los gobiernos de AMLO y Sheinbaum para sostener al crimen organizado en las Américas es notorio y notable. Apoyo incondicional y sostenido a la dictadura de Cuba con contratación de médicos esclavos, compra de piedras, envío de petróleo y discursos humanitarios para cubrir el sostenimiento de un grupo criminal que mata de hambre y tortura a su pueblo desde hace más de 66 años. No se trata de apoyo, es servidumbre, vergüenza para un país como México que tuvo una política exterior proclamando respeto a la no intervención y a los derechos humanos.
En 2025, el Centro Mexicanos contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad ha documentado “55 envíos de crudo y derivados entre mayo y agosto a la dictadura de Cuba” y los “cargamentos han sido valorados en tres mil millones de dólares” pese a la escasez de gasolina en el propio México. Este monto ¿cómo se registra en el manejo estatal mexicano? Cuanto menos se trata de malversación de recursos públicos, de desfalco o de una cadena de falsificaciones que disfrazan el sostenimiento del crimen organizado con la denominada “Gasolina Bienestar” y que la democracia de México tiene la necesidad y la obligación de aclarar.
En México, al año 2024, se reportaban 678 médicos cubanos contratados para el sector público y el Director del Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social después de reunirse con el dictador cubano Díaz-Canel realizó la contratación de 1.200 médicos esclavos más. La esclavitud consiste en el pago al régimen cubano por el trabajo de personas cuyas familias permanecen como rehenes, como ha reportado el informe de las Naciones Unidas y los precedentes en Brasil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador y decenas de países más.
El apoyo a la dictadura de Cuba es soporte al grupo de crimen organizado más antiguo de las Américas, al primer narcoestado de la región, al punto más importante de violación a los derechos humanos por medio de terrorismo de Estado y al centro de conspiración y desestabilización que agrede sostenidamente a las democracias. Lo demuestra el servilismo mexicano en el sostenimiento del grupo delictivo que somete al pueblo de Venezuela cuando AMLO recibió con honores presidenciales a Nicolás Maduro e ignoró la orden internacional con 25 millones de dólares -que hoy son 50 millones- por su captura. Lo ratifica la decisión de apoyar la usurpación de la soberanía popular falsificando el resultado de las elecciones de 2024 y el actual sostenimiento al cartel de los soles.
El gobierno mexicano se ha convertido en el operador títere de la dictadura de Cuba extrayendo de Bolivia a Evo Morales en 2019 cuando renunció por fraude y crímenes infraganti, librándolo de ser procesado, con igual protección a los miembros de su grupo criminal en su embajada en La Paz. Repitió la maniobra en Ecuador protegiendo al condenado Jorge Glas, promoviendo el incidente diplomático que llevó al gobierno ecuatoriano a retirar al prófugo de la embajada mexicana. Intentó cobijar al golpista Pedro Castillo de Perú y da a su esposa Lilia Paredes “10.000 dólares mensuales, guardaespaldas y choferes particulares” como lo reportó Infobae en 2 Mayo 2024.
La abierta participación en la “migración forzada” contra Estados Unidos y el “narcotráfico de cocaína y fentanilo” no es un dato menor, cuando alegando cuestiones de soberanía se puso el territorio mexicano como plataforma de agresión contra el socio del tratado de libre comercio que le ha dado crecimiento y desarrollo legal. El gobierno de México ha permitido y tolera hasta ahora la existencia de narcoestados en estados de su país a los que ha fortalecido con la elección de jueces.
Este apretado resumen prueba que el gobierno mexicano viola la Convención de las Naciones Unidas contra la delincuencia organizada trasnacional o Convención de Palermo, el tratado de libre Comercio con EEUU y Canadá, la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos o Pacto de San José, la Carta de la OEA, la Carta Democrática Interamericana, y más.
*El autor de este artículo es abogado, politólogo y Director del Interamerican Institute for Democracy.
Anniversaries,South America / Central America,Government / Politics,CARACAS
INTERNACIONAL
Two IDF soldiers killed amid ‘severe’ ceasefire violation, ‘it’s not the last,’ analyst says
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Two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed by terror operatives in Rafah, southern Gaza, threatening the ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli military sources confirmed to Fox News Digital on Sunday.
The soldiers, Major Yaniv Kula, 26, a company commander in the 932nd Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21, a combat soldier in the same battalion, were both based in Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut.
According to the initial IDF investigation, a militant cell had emerged from a tunnel and fired at an excavation vehicle, killing the two soldiers. A reserve soldier was also severely wounded and evacuated to a hospital, per The Times of Israel.
According to Professor Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute, the attack showed the fragility of the ceasefire deal.
ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS VIOLATED CEASEFIRE WITH ‘MULTIPLE ATTACKS’ LEADING TO IDF RESPONSE
Major Yaniv Kula was killed by Palestinian terror operatives in IDF-controlled southern Gaza’s Rafah city on Oct. 19 (IDF)
«Today’s violation of the agreement was severe,» Michael said. «I assume that this is not going to be the last one,» he told Fox News Digital.
«Israel complies [with President Trump’s] plan and wants to continue with the realization of the plan,» he said.
«This agreement was violated since the first day by Hamas,» Michael added. «And it continued with their behavior with regard to the hostages, the dead hostages.»
«All the manipulation that they are doing plays on the nerves of Israeli society,» he continued, saying the terror group is «making themselves as if they are not able… to find the bodies where everybody knows that they can.»
STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS HAMAS MAY VIOLATE CEASEFIRE WITH ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS
Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz was killed by Palestinian terror operatives in IDF-controlled southern Gaza’s Rafah city on Oct. 19. (IDF)
Michael detailed how the first violation came immediately after the redeployment of the IDF along the so-called Yellow Line, «when Hamas first sent [civilian] children in order to provoke the IDF, in order to check if the IDF is aware enough and ready enough.»
«And then they sent militants of Hamas, and some of them were even killed along the yellow line,» he said.
«They continue reconstituting themselves and attacking the IDF by using the tunnels, using the shafts going out, because they now feel much freer, because the IDF left the populated area,» he explained.
Michael also cited Hamas’ «butchering» of civilians «because they suspect that they collaborated with Israel, or because they are afraid that these hamulas or clans might oppose them in the future… and weaken them.»
ISRAELI TROOPS ‘OPEN FIRE’ ON SUSPECTS WHO APPROACHED SOLDIERS IN NORTHERN GAZA
Terrorists in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah celebrate the ceasefire on Jan. 19, 2025. (TPS-IL)
In response to Sunday’s attack, the IDF launched air and ground strikes across southern Gaza.
«The IDF also struck and dismantled six kilometers of underground terrorist infrastructure, using over 120 munitions. The underground site was used by the terrorist organization to advance attacks against the State of Israel,» it said in a statement.
«The IDF will continue to respond firmly and will operate to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel,» it said.
Israel simultaneously announced a suspension of all humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Michael warned that Hamas has no intention of dismantling itself and cooperating with the plan when it comes to demilitarizing the Gaza Strip and establishing a mechanism of alternative governance.
«Hamas is still using the tunnels, and intends to reconstruct the tunnels that were destroyed by Israel, because they intend to continue the war against Israel,» he said.
STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS HAMAS MAY VIOLATE CEASEFIRE WITH ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS
Suspected terrorists in Gaza come out of hiding as ceasefire for hostages deal gets underway in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah area. (Majdi Fathi/TPS-IL)
He said that the militant organization has been rebuilding its ranks and reasserting control in the Strip.
«They immediately recruited [thousands] of people and deployed them and are butchering their own people,» Michael said.
«They do not intend to give up on their position and influence in the Gaza Strip. They do not accept the idea of dismantling themselves. And they do not accept the idea that a foreign force or board will govern the Gaza Strip,» he concluded.
The incident comes just days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which took effect Oct. 10, temporarily halted the two-year war between Israel and Hamas.
Under the deal, hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and a ceasefire was declared.
Later on Sunday, the IDF announced the resumption of the ceasefire, following retaliatory strikes.
ISRAEL’S COVERT CAMPAIGN TARGETS HAMAS TERRORISTS BEHIND OCT 7 MASSACRE
IDF soldiers salute during a memorial ceremony marking two years since the Oct. 7 attack on Nahal Oz base. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
«In accordance with the directive of the political echelon and following a series of significant strikes in response to Hamas’ violations, the IDF has begun the renewed enforcement of the ceasefire,» a statement read.
«The IDF will continue to uphold the ceasefire agreement and will respond firmly to any violation of it,» the military added.
In a statement, Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon said: «Earlier today, two IDF soldiers, Maj. Yaniv Kula and Staff Sgt. Itay Yavetz, were killed by Hamas terrorists in Rafah in what was a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement.»
«We mourn their loss and send our condolences to their families. Israel has abided by the terms of the ceasefire agreement, but we will make it clear to Hamas terrorists that the IDF will do whatever it takes to protect Israel’s security,» Danon added.
Michael, meanwhile, predicted delays in reopening the Rafah Crossing, a critical entry point for aid and movement.
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«I don’t think Rafah Crossing will open tomorrow,» he said. «It will take several days until it is opened,» he said.
israel,middle east,wars,conflicts
Los ataques
Trump dice que Ucrania podría tener que ceder territorio para la paz
Residentes cerca de su edificio de apartamentos, alcanzado por un ataque con drones rusos, en medio del ataque de Rusia contra Ucrania, en la ciudad de Shakhtarske, en la región de Dnipropetrovsk, Ucrania. Foto Reuters
Antimileísmo o antikirchnerismo, una contradicción que puede ser vieja
Javier Milei felicitó a Rodrigo Paz tras ser electo presidente de Bolivia: “Van a ingresar al mundo libre”
La foto de Jimena Barón de hace 28 años que sorprendió a todos: «Es igual a Momo»
Donald Trump dijo que Estados Unidos comprará más carne argentina para bajar los precios en EEUU
De Arrascaeta: gol y víctima de un intento de asalto con dos armas
Patricia Bullrich habló sobre una supuesta desaparición de Lázaro Báez: “Fue trasladado en regla de un penal a otro”
Laura Ubfal mostró una escandalosa foto de Mauro Icardi con la hija de Benjamín Vicuña
Fabiola Yañez regresó al país, le restituyeron la custodia policial y busca colegio para su hijo
Se confirmó de qué murió la famosa actriz Diane Keaton a los 79 años: «Murió a causa de una neumonía»
Javier Milei: “Al menos hasta 2027 tenemos el apoyo de Estados Unidos asegurado”
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