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Warren launches probe into major banks over Trump Venezuela oil sales

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, and other Democratic senators have spearheaded an investigation into the role major U.S. banks will play in assisting the Trump administration sell Venezuelan oil.
The inquiry comes after President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela’s interim government would hand over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S. and that the oil would be sold «immediately.»
While Trump has said that he would control the proceeds of the sale, the Department of Energy also announced Jan. 7 that this would require «key banks to execute and provide financial support for these sales» and that proceeds would remain housed at «U.S. controlled accounts at globally recognized banks.»
Cerro Negro heavy oil upgrader facility in the Orinoco Oil Belt near Cerro Negro, Venezuela, Dec. 4, 2004. (Ed Lallo/Getty Images)
Likewise, Trump signed an executive order Jan. 9 «declaring a national emergency to safeguard Venezuelan oil revenue held in U.S. Treasury accounts from attachment or judicial process, ensuring these funds are preserved to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives.»
As a result, the lawmakers have raised concerns because the Trump administration did not share any details regarding which financial institutions would be involved — prompting concerns from them about transparency regarding the destination of the funds.
TRUMP ADMIN TO CONTROL VENEZUELAN OIL SALES IN RADICAL SHIFT AIMED AT RESTARTING CRUDE FLOW
It «appears that at least a portion of the oil proceeds will be held in the U.S. Treasury despite being the sovereign property of another country,» the lawmakers wrote. «It is unclear whether and to what extent the Administration still plans to direct some proceeds of oil sales into accounts held at banks in the private sector.»
«Given that rapidly evolving situation and the Administration’s failure to provide clarity on its plans for Venezuela’s oil and the funds raised from oil sales, we write to you to seek answers to the following questions,» the lawmakers wrote.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, and other Democratic senators have spearheaded an investigation into the role major U.S. banks will play in assisting the Trump administration sell Venezuelan oil. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
As a result, the lawmakers requested that the banks provide details on whether the Trump administration contacted them about becoming involved in the sale of Venezuelan oil or handling the proceeds of such sales, if they were solicited to provide financial or other kinds of support for the oil sales, if they are holding or plan to hold proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales in U.S.-controlled accounts, and all communications between the banks and administration officials regarding Venezuelan oil and military operations there.
MARTIN GURRI: LET’S LOOK AT ALL THE GLOBAL BENEFITS TRUMP REAPED BY GRABBING MADURO
The letters were sent to financial institutions including the Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, UBS and others.
Bank of America and Goldman Sachs declined to provide comment to Fox News Digital, and UBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

This view shows the bulk carrier Ithaca Patience (R) and the crude oil tanker Nord Star, both from Panama, anchored on Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela on Jan. 7, 2026. (Maryorin Mendez/AFP via Getty Images)
The lawmakers are requesting answers from the bank by the end of January, and are also requesting the banks provide updates regarding their communication with the Trump administration on a monthly basis.
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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Trump announced on Jan. 3 that he had authorized strikes in Venezuela and that the U.S. had captured its dictator, Nicolás Maduro. He then said that the U.S. would «run» Venezuela until a peaceful transition could occur.
elizabeth warren,white house,donald trump,venezuelan political crisis,nicolas maduro
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Otro golpe para el ex príncipe Andrés: quieren eliminarlo de la línea de sucesión al trono británico por sus vínculos con Jeffrey Epstein

El ex príncipe Andrés será eliminado de la línea de sucesión al trono británico. Por ser el hijo de la reina Isabel ocupa el octavo lugar, tras haber sido segundo antes que nacieran los príncipes William, Harry y sus hijos. Downing St considerará introducir una ley para destituir al octavo en la sucesión al trono, una vez finalizada la investigación policial sobre el caso Epstein.
El primer ministro británico Sir Keir Starmer considerará aprobar una ley para destituir a Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor de la sucesión al trono. Cualquier cambio en la legislación se produciría una vez concluida la investigación policial sobre el ex príncipe caído en desgracia.
Esta histórica medida se produce tras el breve arresto de Mountbatten-Windsor el jueves, bajo sospecha de mala conducta en el ejercicio de un cargo público.
Mountbatten-Windsor ha sido despojado del título de príncipe, pero sigue siendo el octavo en la sucesión al trono, después de William, Harry y sus hijos.
El cambio requiere una ley del Parlamento. Downing Street consultará con los demás reinos de la Commonwealth antes de realizar cualquier cambio.
Todos los demás países donde Carlos III es rey, incluyendo Australia, Canadá y Nueva Zelanda, tendrían que aprobar la legislación para destituirlo.
El viernes, Andrew Bowie, secretario en la sombra para Escocia, declaró a GB News: «Creo que sería lo correcto. Por supuesto, si es declarado culpable de esto, creo que el Parlamento estaría en su derecho de actuar para eliminarlo de la línea de sucesión”.
«Pero, recordemos, todavía no ha sido declarado culpable de nada:aún no se le ha imputado ningún delito. Así que debemos dejar que la investigación policial siga su curso, y creo que todos deberíamos actuar en consecuencia», dijo.
Mountbatten-Windsor se convirtió en el primer miembro de la familia real en la historia moderna en ser arrestado el jueves, día que también coincidió con su 66° cumpleaños.
La policía allanó la residencia temporal del ex príncipe, Wood Farm, en Sandringham, a la hora del desayuno, antes de llevarlo a la comisaría de Aylsham, en Norfolk. Pasó casi 12 horas detenido antes de ser puesto en libertad bajo investigación.
Los correos electrónicos publicados como parte de los archivos de Epstein parecían demostrar que Mountbatten-Windsor filtró documentos confidenciales a Jeffrey Epstein mientras trabajaba como enviado comercial de Gran Bretaña, representando a la difunta reina Isabel II y al país en el extranjero.
Si el ex príncipe fuera declarado culpable de mala conducta en un cargo público, podría enfrentarse a la cárcel.
El viernes, la policía continuó registrando del Royal en Windsor, la antigua residencia del Sr. Mountbatten-Windsor, tras su liberación. Continuará investigando allí hasta el lunes.También ha comenzado a interrogar a los oficiales de la policía que lo custodiaran para ver si recuerdan hechos.
Por otra parte, la policía de West Yorkshire se convirtió en la décima fuerza policial en confirmar que estaba revisando material del tramo de archivos de Epstein, publicado por el Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos.
Un portavoz declaró que la fuerza policial estaba «evaluando los detalles de la información que se ha hecho pública para determinar cualquier posible vínculo con la zona de West Yorkshire».
El rey Eduardo VIII y sus descendientes fueron eliminados de la línea de sucesión cuando abdicó en 1936. El príncipe Michel de Kent también fue eliminado, en virtud de la Ley de Establecimiento de 1701, al contraer matrimonio con una católica en 1978. Sin embargo, fue restituido con la Ley de Sucesión a la Corona en 2013.
Este viernes, Sir Ed Davey, líder del Partido Liberal Demócrata, expresó su apoyo a la monarquía. Pero añadió: «Creo que deberíamos tener presentes a los sobrevivientes y víctimas de Epstein, que tienen que ver toda esta información y posiblemente revivir sus traumas. Es una situación bastante impactante. Dejemos que la policía haga su trabajo».
Se le preguntó a Sir Ed sobre las peticiones de los Demócratas Liberales en los últimos meses para que el ex príncipe comparezca ante el Parlamento para declarar ante los diputados y los pares.
Declaró a la BBC: «Creo que, en términos generales, de cara al futuro, necesitamos más transparencia. Y el Parlamento desempeña un papel fundamental».
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Omar calls GOP probe into husband’s $30M business surge a ‘political stunt’ as records deadline passes

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The office of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Friday called a GOP-led investigation into her family’s finances a «stunt,» one day after a House deadline for her husband to turn over records tied to his companies’ rapid growth.
The House Oversight Committee had set Feb. 19 as a deadline for Tim Mynett, Omar’s husband, to provide information about the sudden success of two of his companies to the House Oversight Committee.
«This is all a political stunt. These sham accusations were referred to the Ethics Committee, and our office has not received any follow-up because this is a baseless, headline-generating speculation and a politically targeted attack on the Congresswoman,» a spokesperson for Omar told Fox News Digital.
Omar’s office declined to say whether it had submitted the business records as requested by lawmakers.
CONGRESS OPENS ‘INDUSTRIAL-SCALE FRAUD’ PROBE IN MINNESOTA, WARNS WALZ DEMANDS ARE ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sits with husband Tim Mynett during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
eStCru LLC, a winery, and Rose Lake Capital LLC, a consulting firm, both owned partially by Mynett, increased sharply in reported value between 2023 and 2024, drawing questions from lawmakers about the source of the pair’s wealth.
In just one year, the two companies added roughly $30 million in combined value.
The Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., asked Mynett to produce communications regarding the companies’ latest audits and with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), correspondence with any other federal agencies, and travel records to or from the United Arab Emirates, Somalia or Kenya.
Omar’s office called the probe a GOP-led distraction from other hot-topic issues.
«If Republicans were interested in real oversight, they would be looking at Trump and his family enriching their net worth by billions of dollars, as well as their connections to their pedophile friend, Jeffrey Epstein,» Omar’s spokesperson said.
MINNESOTA GOV WALZ, AG ELLISON TO TESTIFY IN HOUSE INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED $9B WELFARE FRAUD

President Donald Trump pushed for a financial investigation into Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar in January. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
When asked if Omar and Mynett had turned in the requested documentation, a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital that the committee has referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee, the body tasked with investigating financial disclosure statements and member misconduct.
«Americans have concerns about Rep. Omar’s skyrocketing wealth while in public office. The House Oversight Committee initiated a probe into these concerns and has asked the House Ethics Committee to do its job and review this matter,» a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital.
In its letter to Mynett sent earlier this year, the Oversight Committee said it needed the business details to ensure Omar wasn’t being unduly influenced by her husband’s success.
MASSIVE MINNESOTA FRAUD CASE PUTS AG KEITH ELLISON UNDER MICROSCOPE AS CLIMATE TIES RESURFACE

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., left, pictured alongside Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., right. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
«Financial disclosure forms, filed by your wife, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, show eStCru LLC and Rose Lake Capital LLC, which you hold ownership stakes in, went from being worth as much as $51,000 in 2023 to as much as $30 million in 2024,» the committee wrote.
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«Given that these companies do not publicly list their investors or where their money comes from, this sudden jump in value raises concerns that unknown individuals may be investing to gain influence with your wife,» the Oversight Committee added.
The House Ethics Committee declined to comment on whether it would open a probe into Omar or her husband.
congress,ilhan omar,politics
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Trump gives Iran 10-day ultimatum, but experts signal talks may be buying time for strike

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President Trump said in June he would decide «within the next two weeks» whether to strike Iran. He made the decision two days later.
On Thursday, he gave Tehran another clock, saying the Islamic Republic has 10 to 15 days to come to the negotiating table or face consequences.
The compressed timeline now sits at the center of a new round of high-stakes nuclear diplomacy. But with Trump, deadlines can serve as both warning and weapon.
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told Fox News Digital, «The Iranian regime has been operating under a grand delusion that they can turn President Trump into President Obama and President Trump has made it clear that that’s not happening.»
TRUMP MEETS NETANYAHU, SAYS HE WANTS IRAN DEAL BUT REMINDS TEHRAN OF ‘MIDNIGHT HAMMER’ OPERATION
Map of US naval ships in the Middle East. (Fox News )
Brodsky said there is little expectation inside the administration that diplomacy will produce a breakthrough. «I think there’s deep skepticism in the Trump administration that this negotiation is going to produce any acceptable outcome.»
Instead, he said, the talks may be serving a dual purpose. «They’re using the diplomatic process to sharpen the choices of the Iranian leadership and to buy time to make sure that we have the appropriate military assets in the region.»
A Middle Eastern source with knowledge of the negotiations told Fox News Digital that Tehran understands how close the risk of war feels and is unlikely to deliberately provoke Trump at this stage.
However, the source said Iran cannot accept limitations on its short-range missile program, describing the issue as a firm red line set by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian negotiators are not authorized to cross that boundary, and conceding on missiles would be viewed internally as equivalent to losing a war.
The source indicated there may be more flexibility around uranium enrichment parameters if sanctions relief is part of the equation.
According to Brodsky, Iran’s core positions remain unchanged. «They’re trying to engage in a lot of distraction… shiny objects, to distract from the fact that they’re not prepared to make the concessions that President Trump is requiring of them,» he said. «The Iranian positions do not change and have not changed fundamentally. They refuse to accept President Trump’s position on zero enrichment. They refuse to dismantle their nuclear infrastructure. They refuse limitations on Iran’s missile program, and they refuse to end support for terror groups.»
VANCE WARNS IRAN THAT ‘ANOTHER OPTION ON THE TABLE’ IF NUCLEAR DEAL NOT REACHED

USS Gerald R. Ford pictured in the Mediterranean Sea. (U.S Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 6th Fleet / Handout via Reuters)
Behnam Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that Tehran may be preparing a different kind of proposal altogether.
«The first kind of deal that we have to be worried about… they may pitch an agreement that is based more on transposing the current reality onto paper… these kinds of agreements are more like understandings,» Taleblu said.
«You take the present reality, and you transpose that onto paper, and then you make the U.S. pay for something it already achieved.»
Taleblu outlined what he sees as Tehran’s strategic objectives. «The Iranians want three things, essentially. The first is they want to deter and prevent a strike.»
«The second is that they are actually using negotiations… to take the wind out of the wings of Iranian dissidents. And then the third is… they actually do want some kind of foreign financial stabilization and sanctions relief.»
«What the Iranians want is to play for time… an agreement like this doesn’t really require the Iranians to offer anything.»
RETIRED GENERAL ARGUES MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN IS ‘BEST OPTION’ AS TRUMP FACES ‘HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY’

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pictured sitting next to senior military official in Iran. (Getty Images)
At the same time, Taleblu said the administration’s intentions remain deliberately opaque. «It’s hard to read the tea leaves of the administration here. Obviously, they don’t want a nuclear Iran, but also obviously they don’t want a long war in the Middle East.»
«The military architecture they’re moving into the region is signaling that they’re prepared to engage in one anyway. The question that the administration has not resolved politically… is: What is the political end state of the strikes? That’s the cultivation of ambiguity that the president excels at.»
Jacob Olidort, Chief Research Officer and Director of American Security at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital, «The President has been clear that he wants to give diplomacy a chance. However, if, in his estimation, diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful, he will almost certainly turn to military options. What is rightfully unpredictable is the specific objective and scope of military action the President may take.»
«Specifically, will military action serve as a new layer of diplomatic pressure towards creating a new opportunity to make Iran agree to our demands — military force as coercive diplomacy — or simply achieve the intended objectives that diplomacy could not? Regardless, the President has a record of taking bold action to protect the American people from Iran’s threats.»
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Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on Jan. 9, 2026. (MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
Public sentiment inside Iran remains deeply divided, Iranian sources told Fox News Digital. Many view a foreign military invasion as unacceptable, while anger over the killing of young protesters continues to fuel domestic tensions and uncertainty.
With a 10 to 15-day window ticking, Trump’s deadline may function less as a calendar marker and more as leverage.
iran,donald trump,wars,military,world protests
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