INTERNACIONAL
Vulnerable House Dem’s ‘reckless spending’ on office furniture emerges as midterms heat up
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A vulnerable House Democrat in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District is facing scrutiny over expenses eclipsing over $40,000 in payments to a furniture and interior design company for refurbishing a district office.
In the second quarter of 2023, Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., reported $27,300 in taxpayer-funded «habitation expenses» and another $13,030 for «office supplies and furniture,» according to congressional disclosure records — second overall among the 435 members in the House of Representatives.
When pressed by Fox News Digital about the expenses, Davis blamed redistricting and «rising costs,» which would have been during the Biden administration.
«Upon my first election to Congress, we immediately set to work establishing our congressional office within the new district, starting from scratch with no furniture and limited supplies. After subsequent redistricting, we expanded our offices to serve our constituents better,» Davis told Fox News Digital. «These expenses underscore not only the rising costs we are facing nationwide but also the financial impact of redistricting.»
AOC SPENT OVER $53K IN CAMPAIGN FUNDS ON LUXURY HOTELS IN 2025: ‘CARPETBAGGER’
Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., speaks at a rally on October 13th, 2024. (Cornell Watson for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Only one other member, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., appeared to have higher habitation expenses than Davis in 2023.
Taff Office, which currently operates as «Young Office» after a merger in 2025, is an interior design company designing «spaces that inspire, motivate and engage.»
When asked about the expenses, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) argued the expenses fall under the appropriate parameters of Davis’ duties.
«One of the most basic functions of a Congress in maintaining an office to serve the people in their district. Congressman Davis has some of the best constituent services in the country. Maybe if Republicans followed his example they wouldn’t feel the need to once again redistrict the state in an effort to save their flailing House majority,» Madison Andrus, a spokesperson for the DCCC said.
However, during the 2022 election cycle, the DCCC used habitation expenses as an attack against then-Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, who spent a small fraction of the $40,000+ that Davis did. A Fox News Digital review of an oppo research book that the DCCC compiled against Chabot, shows that he spent less than $7,000 between 2011 and 2022.
A spokesperson for the GOP-run Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) called Davis’ expenses out of touch with the challenges faced by state residents and framed them as a part of a larger pattern of spending.
«North Carolina families struggle every day to make ends meet while Congressman Don Davis is wasting their hard-earned money on $2,300 Ubers and $40,000 office renovations. This isn’t just reckless spending—it’s a pattern of abusing the taxpayer dollars Davis was entrusted to protect. North Carolinians have had enough and will boot Don Davis from office come November,» Torunn Sinclair, a spokesperson for CLF, said.
DEM RISING STAR WHO CALLED TRUMP ‘CON MAN’ SPENT OVER $120K ON LUXURY HOTELS, TRANSPORTATION AND SECURITY
Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., speaks at a campaign event on Oct. 13, 2024. (David Yeazell/Unknown)
While not the highest habitation expense among lawmakers, Davis’ 2023 record comes amid reports of other high costs expensed to taxpayers during his years of public service. In comparison, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, another North Carolina Democrat who was sworn into office in 2023, appears to have spent under $3,000 in habitation expenses that same year.
Reporting from The Center Square in March uncovered that Davis took $4,500 in per diems over the course of 19 days where he did not participate in any votes, accepting the allowances granted to cover lodging and travel costs for the lawmakers’ trips to the state capitol.
Since his election to Congress, Davis has also received criticism for spending nearly $10,000 on a trip to the U.S. southern border in 2024, racking up almost $7,000 in airfare costs.
Members of Congress are required to report expenses covered by the government, like costs for running an office.
Among the categories of items covered, a habitation expense covers «minor, minimal expenses incurred for decorating offices.»
FEDERAL ELECTION COMPLAINT ALLEGES AOC MISUSED CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR PSYCHIATRIST SERVICES
Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., pictured in 2024 (Getty Images)
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«This category includes furniture items such as chairs, tables, etc., which cost less than $500. Furniture that costs more than $500 and less than $25,000 should appear under the expense category or budget object code for furniture and fixtures less than $25,000,» the House website reads.
The use of habitation expenses has varied widely depending on lawmakers’ needs, but has also landed some lawmakers in hot water for overly flamboyant expenses.
Former Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., famously received criticism in 2015 for spending and then repaying $40,000 in taxpayer funds to refurbish a district office in the style of Downtown Abby, according to the Associated Press.
Davis will be facing Laurie Buckhout, a «retired Army Colonel and decorated combat commander» in November’s general election.
interior decorating, congress, democrats, housing, house of representatives politics
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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is continuing to deny looming questions over an Ethics Committee investigation into her financial filings, showing a significant drop in her net worth.
Scrutiny of Omar’s finances intensified after financial disclosure filings appeared to show her estimated net worth falling from a range of roughly $6 million to $30 million in one filing period to between about $18,000 and $95,000 in a later disclosure.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has publicly voiced his interest in the House Ethics Committee opening an investigation into both Omar’s personal finances and her connection to the ‘Feeding Our Future’ fraud scheme, a scandal that federal prosecutors say cost taxpayers roughly $250 million.
JAMES COMER RAISES FELONY QUESTIONS OVER ILHAN OMAR’S FINANCES AFTER DISCLOSURE DISCREPANCY
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has asked Vice President JD Vance to scrutinize fraud prevention deficiencies in Minnesota’s social services programs after the release Monday of his committee’s 205-page final staff report. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Omar dismissed suggestions that she is facing an Ethics Committee investigation.
«No,» Omar told Fox News Digital, laughing, when asked if she is under an Ethics Committee investigation. «No. We go over this all the time.»
She was pressed about continued reporting surrounding the discrepancy — the possibility of the roughly $29 million drop in her financial disclosure.
«There’s also the possibility that it might rain on this sunny day,» Omar replied.
Along with Comer’s efforts to launch an investigation into Omar, Vice President JD Vance said just last month that the U.S. Department of Justice will be opening a probe into the Minnesota Democrat’s alleged fraud as part of the administration’s new anti-fraud taskforce.
OMAR CAMP BREAKS SILENCE ON FRAUD PROBE, BLAMES WALZ, TRUMP AS NEW CLAIMS CLASH WITH EARLIER STATEMENTS
Rep. Ilhan Omar dismissed Vice President JD Vance’s claims that the Justice Department is investigating her for alleged immigration and fraud violations, referring to House Republicans attention to the matter as politically motivated. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Omar has declined ever being aware of the scheme happening behind doors with the organization, which claimed to be helping supply children in need of meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Justice Department described the scheme as the «single largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country,» The Associated Press reported. The orchestrator of the non-profit, Aimee Bock, was sentenced to 42 years in prison for her involvement in spearheading the fraud scheme.
Republicans have pointed to Omar’s MEALS Act, part of a federal pandemic relief measure which she sponsored, as a factor they say contributed to conditions that allowed the fraud to occur. They argue her bill was a mass contributor to the fraud occurring as it broadened USDA waiver authority at meal sites. It has also been claimed that this same act helped to dismantle anti-fraud safeguards that verified the people actually being serviced in federal nutrition programs.
ILHAN OMAR’S OFFICE SAYS SHE’S ‘NOT A MILLIONAIRE’ AFTER $30M FILING REVISED DOWN TO UNDER $100K: REPORT
Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks at Karmel Mall in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 28, 2026. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In a previous statement to Fox News Digital from Omar, she claimed that President Donald Trump’s USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins, imposed the regulations for the framework of the program.
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While Omar continues to reject suggestions time-after-time that she is facing an Ethics Committee investigation, Republicans have shown little sign of backing away from their demands for a proper investigation into Omar’s finances and fraud allegations.
corruption crime, congress, ilhan omar, minnesota fraud exposed, investigations
INTERNACIONAL
Israel descartó el fin de la guerra contra Irán y advirtió sobre una respuesta “severa” ante nuevos ataques
El ministro de Defensa israelí, Israel Katz, afirmó este miércoles que la confrontación militar con Irán está lejos de haber concluido y sostuvo que las fuerzas de su país mantienen plena capacidad para lanzar nuevas operaciones contra objetivos iraníes en caso de que se registren ataques contra el Estado hebreo.
Durante una ceremonia oficial de reconocimiento organizada por el Ministerio de Defensa, Katz se refirió a la reciente escalada regional y envió un mensaje de advertencia a Teherán.
“No debemos pensar que el trabajo está terminado. La campaña contra Irán está lejos de haber terminado”, declaró el funcionario ante los asistentes.
Sus palabras llegan después de varios días de tensión en Medio Oriente marcados por intercambios de ataques, amenazas cruzadas y movimientos militares en distintos frentes de la región. Aunque en las últimas horas no se registraron enfrentamientos de gran magnitud entre ambos países, las autoridades israelíes insisten en que la situación sigue siendo inestable.
Katz señaló que Israel responderá con dureza ante cualquier nueva acción militar iraní.
“Si Irán ataca a Israel, sufrirá un golpe severo, como el que le infligimos hace unos días”, afirmó. También aseguró que las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel “están preparadas para atacar con gran fuerza en Irán” si las circunstancias lo requieren.
Las declaraciones reflejan la postura del gobierno israelí de mantener la presión sobre la República Islámica tras la reciente crisis entre ambos países. Si bien existieron versiones sobre la posible cancelación de una operación militar de gran escala contra territorio iraní, Katz dejó en claro que las capacidades ofensivas israelíes continúan disponibles y que la conducción política no considera cerrado el episodio.
El ministro también dedicó parte de su discurso a la situación en el Líbano, donde Israel mantiene operaciones contra Hezbollah. Según explicó, las fuerzas israelíes llevaron a cabo acciones contra integrantes de la organización terrorista en la ciudad costera de Tiro, en el sur libanés.
Katz aseguró que las operaciones permitieron actuar contra miembros de Hezbollah que operaban en un barrio de mayoría cristiana. De acuerdo con su versión, los residentes de esa zona comenzaron a regresar a sus viviendas después de que las fuerzas israelíes atacaran objetivos vinculados al grupo armado.
El funcionario aprovechó además para elogiar el desempeño de los militares israelíes en distintos escenarios de combate. Sostuvo que las tropas han infligido “golpes duros” a Hezbollah durante los últimos enfrentamientos y destacó la actuación de las unidades desplegadas tanto en territorio israelí como fuera de sus fronteras.
Las declaraciones del ministro se producen en un contexto de alta sensibilidad regional. El pasado fin de semana, Irán lanzó varias andanadas de misiles contra Israel como respuesta a bombardeos israelíes en Beirut. Teherán justificó esas acciones argumentando que los ataques contra la capital libanesa afectaban uno de los principales límites que había fijado para evitar una expansión del conflicto.
En respuesta, Israel llevó a cabo ataques contra objetivos iraníes y rechazó públicamente cualquier intento de vincular los acontecimientos del frente libanés con las decisiones militares adoptadas por Jerusalén. Katz ya había expresado esa posición el lunes, cuando aseguró que su país continuaría actuando en el Líbano pese a las advertencias formuladas por la República Islámica.
Desde entonces, ambos gobiernos han mantenido un intercambio de amenazas mientras observan de cerca la evolución de los acontecimientos en el norte de Israel y el sur del Líbano. Aunque Irán anunció la suspensión de sus ataques, las autoridades israelíes no han declarado el final de sus operaciones ni consideran cerrada la confrontación. Las palabras de Katz refuerzan esa postura y muestran que, para el gobierno israelí, la posibilidad de nuevas acciones militares contra Irán sigue sobre la mesa.
International,Relations,Diplomacy / Foreign Policy,Europe
INTERNACIONAL
Colombian lawmakers seek suspension of Trump foe Gustavo Petro over alleged meddling in upcoming election
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Colombian lawmakers are considering a proposal that would temporarily suspend President Gustavo Petro from office amid an investigation into allegations that he improperly intervened in the country’s presidential election.
Gloria Arizabaleta, president of Colombia’s Commission of Investigation and Accusation, filed a motion Wednesday seeking to suspend Petro from his duties through June 21, according to a document published by the commission.
The proposal stems from an ongoing probe into allegations that Petro engaged in political meddling during the campaign and cites conduct described as «extremely serious or serious.»
Petro, whose four-year term is set to expire in August, has been accused of involvement in the presidential campaign of leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda, who represents Petro’s Pacto Historico coalition.
US SANCTIONS COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT AND FAMILY OVER DRUG TRAFFICKING ALLEGATIONS
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech during a troop recognition ceremony at the Jose Maria Cordova Military Cadet School in Bogota on March 11, 2025. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)
Cepeda is scheduled to face conservative attorney Abelardo De La Espriella in a June 21 runoff election.
The race is being closely watched in Washington because Colombia remains one of the United States’ closest security partners in Latin America and a key ally in counternarcotics efforts. The country has long been central to U.S.-backed efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime throughout the region.
The suspension proposal faces significant hurdles before it can take effect. Lawmakers and legal experts said the measure would first need approval from all 16 members of the Commission of Investigation and Accusation before advancing to Colombia’s Senate for further consideration.
ANTI-CARTEL HARDLINER CHANNELS TRUMP IN BID TO END COLOMBIA’S LEFTIST ERA IN PIVOTAL ELECTION
Colombia’s Congress in Bogota. Lawmakers are considering a proposal that would temporarily suspend President Gustavo Petro amid an investigation into alleged election interference. (Rodrigo BUENDIA / AFP via Getty Images)
«President Gustavo Petro has not been suspended; he remains in office,» commission member Miguel Silvera Padilla said in a video statement, according to Reuters.
The Commission of Investigation and Accusation, which operates within Colombia’s lower house of Congress, is responsible for reviewing complaints and potential criminal or disciplinary charges against high-ranking government officials.
Petro has repeatedly faced scrutiny from political opponents during his presidency, though the latest proposal comes less than two weeks before Colombians head to the polls to choose his successor.
Ivan Cepeda speaks during a campaign rally in Cali, Colombia, on June 6, 2026. The leftist candidate is set to face conservative attorney Abelardo De La Espriella in Colombia’s June 21 presidential runoff election. (AFP via Getty Images)
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The runoff election between Cepeda and De La Espriella is expected to help determine whether voters continue Petro’s leftist political project or shift toward a more conservative approach to security and governance.
Representatives for Petro did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
colombia, corruption, investigations, elections
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