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A federal judge halted a Justice Department effort to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and several other Democratic officials, ruling that the investigation appeared to be an improper use of federal prosecutorial power amid a probe into alleged connections between Somali fraud schemes and Minnesota politics.

The decision came from U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz, whose June 17 ruling was unsealed Monday. According to reports, Schiltz concluded that the government had misused the grand jury process and warned against employing criminal investigations as a political weapon.

“Initiating a criminal investigation in order to harass political opponents or to coerce them into taking official action — particularly official action that the federal government cannot directly require those political opponents to take — is a blatantly unlawful and unethical use of the grand-jury process,” Schlitz said.

Schiltz further argued that President Donald Trump’s public criticisms of Walz and other Minnesota Democrats, along with what the judge described as promises of retaliation, strongly suggested that the subpoenas were tied to a broader political objective rather than a legitimate criminal inquiry.

According to Politico, the judge wrote that Trump’s repeated attacks and promises of “retribution” directed at Walz and other state officials “establishes beyond reasonable dispute” that the DOJ’s grand jury subpoenas were “part of a broader campaign to coerce state and local officials,” according to the outlet:

“The George W. Bush-appointed chief judge said Trump’s repeated attacks and promises of “retribution” against Walz, a Democrat, and other Minnesota officials “establishes beyond reasonable dispute” that the grand jury subpoenas — issued at the height of ICE’s Operation Metro Surge — “were a part of a broader campaign to coerce state and local officials in Minnesota to assist the Trump administration in its enforcement of immigration laws.””

The judge also emphasized that constitutional principles prohibit Washington from compelling states to carry out federal law enforcement responsibilities. He additionally asserted that the subpoenas fit into what he characterized as a pattern in which the Trump administration has used criminal investigations against political adversaries.

The ruling stemmed from subpoenas issued by the Justice Department in January to Walz and several other high-ranking Minnesota Democrats, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.

Earlier this year, Breitbart News reported comments from Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who alleged that “Somali-run taxpayer fraud is a core part” of the Minnesota Democrats’ machine.

The court’s decision effectively blocked the subpoenas and marked a significant setback for the Justice Department’s investigation as legal and political battles over the scope of federal authority continue to unfold.

{Matzav.com}

A company led by a supporter of President Donald Trump committed $1 million in funding and materials to restore the White House South Lawn after it sustained damage during the June 14 Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

The White House announced on June 16 that ScottsMiracle-Gro would partner with the National Park Service to rehabilitate the historic grounds.

“ScottsMiracle-Gro and the National Park Service will work to restore the South Lawn grass after UFC Freedom 250, making it stronger than ever before,” the White House announced on June 16.

The Marysville, Ohio-based lawn care company said it had developed a specialized grass mixture tailored specifically for the White House grounds. According to the company, the blend was designed to improve the lawn’s long-term appearance, strength, and overall health.

In addition to supplying products, ScottsMiracle-Gro said members of its research and development team would provide technical expertise throughout the restoration effort.

“The White House South Lawn is more than just a landscape. It is a living piece of U.S. history, a stage for global diplomacy and, truly, the backyard of the American people,” Jim Hagedorn, the company’s chair and CEO, said in the release. “As the market leader in consumer lawn and garden, there is no better company than ScottsMiracle-Gro to play a role in the restoration effort.”

The company said it would coordinate the project with the National Park Service, which is responsible for maintaining the White House grounds. White House officials told The Washington Post that ScottsMiracle-Gro had offered a private donation to support the restoration and emphasized that no taxpayer funds would be used.

According to the company, the repair project will involve laying new sod and overseeding the area with a proprietary turf blend intended to improve thickness, durability, color, and overall lawn quality.

ScottsMiracle-Gro said President Trump personally selected the final seed mixture from eight proposed options. The blend includes tall fescue grasses, prized for their ability to withstand heat and heavy use, along with Kentucky bluegrass varieties known for disease resistance and dense growth.

Not everyone welcomed the arrangement. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a government watchdog organization that has often challenged Trump administration policies, questioned the motives behind the donation.

“Major corporations generally don’t do things out of the goodness of their heart,” CREW Vice President Jordan Libowitz told the Post. “It’s generally — they do things for the government because they want something from the government.”

Libowitz also pointed to ScottsMiracle-Gro’s connection to the Roundup brand, noting that glyphosate-based versions of the weed killer have faced lawsuits alleging links to cancer.

Tom Matthews, a spokesperson for ScottsMiracle-Gro, disputed any suggestion of a conflict of interest. He told The Washington Post that the company sells only the consumer version of Roundup, which does not contain glyphosate.

“The special blend we’ve created for the White House is for the White House lawn regardless of who’s president,” he said, adding that it would not be available to consumers. “We’re not commercializing it. We don’t have commercial business with the federal government and we don’t plan to.”

Event planners had reportedly anticipated significant wear and tear to the South Lawn long before the UFC event took place. According to The Washington Post, UFC CEO Dana White acknowledged last year that funds had already been set aside to address the expected damage.

“We’re going to …. up the South Lawn,” White told the Sports Business Journal, explaining that organizers had budgeted $700,000 to replace the grass afterward.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Avishai Perlstein presents: “Can Tefillah Help Bring Moshiach Early, Beneficially, and Painlessly?”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

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LISTEN:

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

 

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Rav Rav Yigal Cohen delivered a sharp and emotional condemnation of police conduct during last week’s Peleg Yerushalmi protest on Highway 4, denouncing what he described as excessive force and brutality against demonstrators, including minors.

Speaking during his weekly shiur, Rav Cohen said he could not remain silent after viewing footage from the protest and felt compelled to address the incident publicly.

“I have to speak about it, about those beatings that took place there with the police,” Rav Cohen said. “I have to, so that no one can say that we are remaining silent.”

The rav stressed that, in his view, no circumstances justify such violent behavior by law enforcement officers, regardless of the conduct of protesters.

“What I saw there—they lost their human decency,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if that child wasn’t acting properly, if that young man wasn’t acting properly. Even if there is a need to remove people, this is not the way.”

Rav Cohen expressed particular concern over what he described as harsh treatment of bnei Torah participating in the demonstration.

“He is a ben Torah, and he is fighting for principles of Judaism and Torah,” Rav Cohen said. “What are they asking for? They are asking to learn Torah. They are not asking for anything else. But such cruelty, such brutality, such behavior…”

The rabbi was especially disturbed by reports and footage showing officers striking teenage protesters with batons.

“A 16-year-old child—you hit him with a baton? You break all his bones? For what?” he asked.

Addressing the officers directly, Rav Cohen argued that protesters could have been removed without violence.

“You don’t agree with him, you do agree with him, you want to move him? Lift him up respectfully, give him a kiss like a mezuzah, put him on the side. But why are you hitting him?” he said.

He then intensified his criticism, comparing the conduct he witnessed to behavior historically associated with anti-Semites.

“You lost your human decency,” Rav Cohen declared. “You became like one of the anti-Semites among the nations of the world. Is this how people are beaten?”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Cohen called on the officers involved to engage in serious self-reflection and change their behavior.

“I would like to suggest to those police officers who did this that they do teshuvah,” he said.

Rav Cohen also revealed the emotional impact the footage had on him personally.

“Hashem should have mercy. I literally cried,” he said. “I didn’t have an opportunity to respond earlier because I was on an airplane.”

He concluded by offering wishes for a speedy and complete recovery to all those injured during the clashes.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge on Monday struck down a key Trump administration initiative that sought to prevent food stamp recipients from using their benefits to purchase sugary beverages, candy, and certain dessert products.

The ruling overturned a series of waivers approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture since last year that allowed more than 20 states to restrict purchases made through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under those waivers, participants in the program could have been barred from using benefits to buy items such as soda, energy drinks, candy, and other prepared sweets.

The legal challenge was filed in March by SNAP recipients in five states, who argued that the restrictions were unlawful, created confusion for beneficiaries, and made it harder for some individuals to manage medical conditions such as diabetes.

In a 68-page opinion issued Monday, Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court in Washington sided with the plaintiffs, concluding that the Agriculture Department lacked the authority to authorize the waivers and had also failed to comply with required public notice procedures.

The decision represented a significant setback for a policy championed by supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement, who had touted the restrictions as a major public health victory.

Judge Jackson wrote that while federal law permits the department to authorize projects designed to improve the administration and efficiency of SNAP, the agency had gone far beyond that authority and effectively attempted to rewrite congressional definitions.

Judge Jackson stated that the department essentially “purports to waive not just a mere administrative or technical obstacle, but the very definition of ‘food’ as it was laid down by Congress.”

She further emphasized that policy goals, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot override statutory requirements.

“The federal defendants and the states may have a genuine desire to improve the health of SNAP households by encouraging healthy choices at the store, and they can take lawful steps to meet those goals,” she wrote. “But what they cannot do is violate the law and their own regulations along the way.”

The lawsuit was brought by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, an advocacy organization focused on low-income Americans, together with the antitrust law firm Shinder Cantor Lerner.

Following the ruling, Katharine Deabler-Meadows, a senior attorney with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, praised the court’s decision.

The ruling, she said, was “a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide.”

The Agriculture Department did not immediately comment on the decision. However, prior to the ruling, an agency spokesperson told The Associated Press that the department “will not be backing down from the fight to Make America Healthy Again.”

{Matzav.com}

Dr. Anthony Fauci is expected to appear before Congress next month after Sen. Rand Paul announced Monday that he had issued a subpoena compelling the longtime public health official to testify publicly before a Senate committee.

Paul revealed in a social media post that Fauci, who previously led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, had been formally subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Kentucky senator said the decision came after Fauci indicated that he would no longer testify voluntarily, despite having earlier agreed to do so.

“Today, I have issued a subpoena requiring him to testify before the Committee, in public, next month,” Paul said in the post.

Fauci became a central figure during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained a frequent target of criticism from conservatives, including Paul, who has repeatedly challenged his handling of the crisis.

Among Paul’s criticisms is his book, “Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up,” in which he argues that Fauci played a role in concealing information about the origins of the coronavirus. The book advances the claim that Fauci knew early on that the virus was connected to Wuhan and that research tied to the National Institutes of Health had helped fund related work.

The senator and Fauci have engaged in numerous heated exchanges over the years, particularly regarding the source of the virus and government vaccination policies.

Paul has also accused Fauci of offering conflicting accounts—both publicly and privately—about the origins of COVID-19, allegations that the senator contends amounted to misleading Congress.

{Matzav.com}

A recent halachic ruling by Rav Ben Zion HaKohen Kook has sparked growing interest throughout the chareidi world, with Judaica stores reporting increased demand for yarmulkes and talleisim katanim designated exclusively for Shabbos use.

The discussion originated during Rav Kook’s weekly halachah shiur and was later published in the widely distributed Shoalin V’Dorshin newsletter, produced by the General Rabbinical Court in Yerushalayim and circulated in tens of thousands of copies worldwide.

During a shiur delivered at Yeshivas Meor HaTalmud in Rechovot, Rav Kook addressed a well-known passage in the Mishnah Berurah regarding the honor of Shabbos, which states that it is preferable not to wear on Shabbos the same clothing worn during the week.

During the lecture, which is regularly attended by the rosh yeshivah and Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah member Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Kook, a student asked whether this guidance requires a person to designate every article of clothing specifically for Shabbos, or whether it is sufficient to wear a freshly laundered shirt that is also worn during the week.

Rav Kook responded that garments typically washed frequently, such as shirts, do not need to be reserved exclusively for Shabbos. Wearing a clean, freshly laundered shirt in honor of Shabbos is sufficient, even if the same shirt is used during the week.

However, he explained that items not normally laundered on a regular basis, such as a tallis katan and a yarmulke, should ideally be designated specifically for Shabbos.

Rav Kook added that he has personally followed this practice for many years after observing it in the home of his rebbi, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l.

According to Rav Kook, a clothing rack in Rav Elyashiv’s home held garments reserved for Shabbos, including special pants, a tallis katan, a vest, and even a yarmulke designated solely for Shabbos, despite appearing nearly identical to the weekday versions. Shirts, however, were not reserved specifically for Shabbos; rather, Rav Elyashiv would simply change into a freshly laundered shirt before the onset of Shabbos.

Following publication of the ruling, many people have reportedly begun adopting the practice and purchasing special Shabbos yarmulkes and talleisim katanim in an effort to fulfill the guidance of the Mishnah Berurah and emulate the practices of leading Torah authorities.

Rav Kook welcomed the development, stating that those who enhance the honor of Shabbos can expect spiritual benefit. He said that anyone who is meticulous in honoring Shabbos will merit the protection of Shabbos itself and receive its blessings, adding that the practice serves as a segulah for protection and shemirah.

{Matzav.com}

A man accused of playing a central role in one of the largest Medicare fraud schemes ever uncovered in the United States was returned to American soil after authorities located him in Turkey and arranged his transfer back to the U.S., the FBI announced Monday.

According to federal officials, Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi had fled the country in May 2025 and remained a fugitive until Turkish authorities recently apprehended him. The FBI said members of its Critical Incident Response Group traveled to Turkey and brought Hilmi back to the United States on Friday through an international custody transfer operation.

FBI Director Kash Patel praised the successful effort, describing it as a significant achievement in the bureau’s ongoing campaign against large-scale fraud and the theft of taxpayer funds.

“Ibrahim Khaldoon Hilmi is charged with one of the biggest Medicare scams in history — allegedly orchestrating a massive $3.7 billion scheme to defraud Medicare,” Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “He’s been on the run since May of 2025 — but we got him.”

Patel credited the coordinated work of FBI Miami, the Department of Justice, and Turkish law enforcement officials for helping secure Hilmi’s arrest and return.

The case marked the second major Medicare fraud suspect brought back to the United States in less than a week.

Just days earlier, on Thursday, the FBI announced the return of Herbert Kimble, who is accused of overseeing a separate Medicare fraud operation allegedly worth approximately $1.3 billion. Investigators said Kimble had been a fugitive since 2024.

Together, the two cases involved allegations of roughly $5 billion in fraud against government-funded healthcare programs.

Patel said the latest extradition sent a clear message that individuals accused of massive financial crimes cannot evade justice simply by fleeing overseas.

“This yet another massive win for this FBI’s war on fraudsters with the White House Task Force led by VP Vance,” Patel said, “and a monumental victory for the Trump administration, showing that any criminal actor who steals from the American taxpayer will be caught, no matter where they try to hide.”

The FBI director also expressed gratitude to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, saying Hilmi’s return would not have been possible without his “invaluable” and “tireless work.”

{Matzav.com}

After initial uncertainty regarding the identity of the civilian victim in today’s tragic Montreal shooting, community leaders later confirmed that the man killed in the incident was a member of the local Jewish community.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a leading Canadian Jewish advocacy organization, identified the victim as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, calling him “a beloved member of Montreal’s Jewish community.”

Montreal police also released the identity of the officer who was killed in the attack. The fallen officer was Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouan, 34, who had served with the police force since 2021.

The gunman was killed during the incident and died at the scene. Authorities had not yet publicly released his identity.

Investigators declined to comment on a possible motive for the attack, even as questions mounted over whether the shooter may have deliberately targeted Jews or Israelis in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood where the violence occurred.

However, Radio-Canada, the French-language public broadcaster, reported that the suspect appeared to have ties to the so-called “incel” movement, a misogynistic ideology that has been linked to previous acts of mass violence in Canada, including the 2018 Toronto vehicle attack that claimed 10 lives.

{Matzav.com}

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett sparked a political firestorm after declaring that unauthorized construction in Judea and Samaria should be removed, while outlining a vision that would see Area C incorporated into Israel and Areas A and B remain under Palestinian autonomy.

Bennett, who heads the Yachad party and previously served as director-general of the Yesha Council, made the remarks during an interview on Kan News’ podcast “Hamanagnon” with Shaul Amsterdamski.

During the interview, Amsterdamski presented Bennett with a map published by right-wing activist Elisha Yered showing more than 200 new hilltop communities and agricultural outposts established throughout Judea and Samaria during the current government’s term.

Asked for his view of the recent wave of construction, Bennett responded that legal building in Area C on state-owned land is positive and should be encouraged. However, he drew a clear distinction regarding unauthorized development.

“Construction that is illegal, or not in Area C, or on private land, is not legitimate,” Bennett said. “Anything that is illegal will not remain and will be evacuated.”

Bennett went on to describe his diplomatic vision, under which Area C would become part of the State of Israel, while Areas A and B would remain under Palestinian self-rule.

The comments prompted a sharp response from Finance Minister and Religious Zionism Party chairman Bezalel Smotrich, who argued that Bennett’s remarks confirmed warnings he has recently issued about the possibility of a future center-left government.

“Over the weekend and in recent days, I said that I know that if they, G-d forbid, come to power, an Eisenkot government will dismantle the new communities and farms we established in Judea and Samaria,” Smotrich said. “Now Bennett, who would serve as a minister in an Eisenkot government, is saying it in his own voice: he will evacuate the farms.”

Smotrich also attacked Bennett’s broader political proposal.

“Not only that, Bennett says a ‘Palestinian autonomy’ will be established, meaning a terrorist state in the heart of the country,” Smotrich said. “An Eisenkot government will establish a Palestinian terrorist state and destroy the new communities and agricultural farms. They must not be allowed to form the next government.”

Yered also joined the criticism, posting on X that Bennett’s remarks exposed what he described as the former prime minister’s true intentions.

“Naftali Bennett tonight confirms in his own voice what we have always warned about: preserving the Oslo division will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria,” Yered wrote.

He highlighted Bennett’s support for removing unauthorized construction while leaving Areas A and B under Palestinian autonomy, and concluded by calling for expanded Jewish settlement activity.

“There is only one thing that can stop this dangerous and reckless idea,” Yered wrote. “Widespread settlement throughout the Oslo areas, preferably with government backing, in the coming months. That is the order of the day.”

{Matzav.com}

A special l’chaim celebration was held Sunday evening at the home of the Satmar Rebbe in Kiryas Joel to mark a major $3.5 million contribution from philanthropist Mr. Chananya Yom Tov Lipa Shalom Friedman toward the expansion of Satmar’s educational institutions in the community.

The donation will help advance construction of the massive educational complex currently being built in Kiryas Yoel, known as the “Binyan Yoel Landau.” The project’s founding gift of $5 million was previously provided by philanthropist Mr. Yoily Landau, one of Satmar’s leading benefactors.

As part of the latest contribution, Mr. Lipa Friedman acquired the naming rights to the dining hall of the new building, which will be dedicated in memory of his father, the legendary longtime Satmar mashbak, Rav Moshe Friedman, affectionately known throughout the community as “Rav Moshe Gabbai.” The facility will be named “Heichal Moshe Friedman Mashbak.”

The donation also includes naming rights for the broader Satmar educational campus located on Larkin Drive, where more than 2,000 students currently study and where additional educational buildings are expected to be constructed in the future. The campus will now be known as “Shichun Moshe Friedman Mashbak – Moshe Gabba Drive,” honoring Rav Moshe Friedman’s decades of dedication and service to Satmar and to the development of Kiryas Yoel.

The entire $3.5 million donation was formally presented during the gathering at the Rebbe’s table and was designated for immediate use toward the continued growth, maintenance, and expansion of the Torah and educational institutions serving the community.

Among those in attendance were the Satmar Av Beis Din of Yerushalayim, the Sighet Av Beis Din, and Rav Moshe Friedman himself, who delivered emotional remarks. Also present was Yoily Landau.

Senior leaders of the Kiryas Yoel institutions participated as well, including philanthropist Mr. Mendel Shoymer, who serves as head of the community and its institutions. Other major supporters and benefactors joined the event alongside administrators responsible for overseeing the educational network.

During the gathering, Moshe Eliyahu Ostreicher, one of the senior institutional directors, addressed attendees and expressed the administration’s gratitude to Mr. Friedman for his substantial support.

Members of the Satmar community noted that the donation adds to a long list of educational and communal projects supported by Mr. Friedman over the years. In particular, he has played a significant role in strengthening Satmar institutions in Boro Park, where he is regarded as one of the key pillars of their continued development.

At the conclusion of the event, the Satmar Rebbe offered special blessings to Mr. Friedman and his family, wishing them continued success in their efforts on behalf of Torah, chinuch, and the growth of Satmar institutions, together with abundant blessing and nachas.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Monday over the troubled renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, arguing that the president bears responsibility for the project’s problems and suggesting that legal action should be taken over the costly restoration effort.

During ABC’s “The View,” Goldberg questioned Trump’s claims that vandals caused recent damage to the historic site and expressed skepticism about allegations that several individuals were responsible for the deterioration.

Trump has maintained that vandals damaged the recently renovated pool by introducing chemicals into the water and causing extensive destruction to the surrounding area. He has also said that five suspects were arrested and warned that those responsible could face lengthy prison terms.

Responding to those claims, Goldberg said, “He is claiming that vandals are to blame. He says they illegally placed chemicals in the water and left a 300-foot gash in the pool. Now, five people are said to have been arrested. He says a ten-year prison sentence will be strictly enforced. Well, if he says he’s going to jail for 10 years, I’m going to let him go. It seems to me, that had he not messed with the pool, it would still be a reflecting pool instead of a liquid jungle, which is what it looks like. But to accuse five people of doing this, but seemingly there’s no proof.”

Goldberg went on to argue that the situation resembles a failed construction project and said the public should demand accountability for the work performed at the site.

“I want somebody to sue because if a contractor did this at your house, this is what you would do. I think the country needs to say we’re suing you, suing you for doing this without our permission and we’re suing the people who did it because clearly they didn’t know what they were doing. Clearly. But, you know, it’s just a suggestion because, you know, a lot of money is going away.”

The remarks add to the growing political debate surrounding the $14.7 million restoration project, which has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over reports of algae growth, peeling paint, and other maintenance issues. Trump has defended the renovation and blamed many of the problems on vandalism, while critics have questioned both the quality of the work and the administration’s handling of the project.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

FBI Director Kash Patel touted a series of major law enforcement victories across the country in his latest weekly update, highlighting arrests, convictions, cybercrime takedowns, fraud prosecutions, and child-predator investigations carried out by FBI field offices nationwide.

Among the agency’s most significant recent efforts was Operation Riptide, an initiative aimed at dismantling the broader criminal infrastructure that supports cybercriminals, including their communications systems, financial networks, technological tools, and operational services.

Patel pointed to a major success by FBI Cleveland, which helped disrupt a China-based phishing operation responsible for stealing millions of credit card numbers and causing enormous financial damage around the globe.

According to Patel, the platform was “linked to the theft of millions of credit card numbers and nearly $1.9 billion dollars in losses worldwide.”

The director also highlighted a victory by FBI Charlotte, where two individuals were found guilty for orchestrating a business email compromise scheme that defrauded American companies of approximately $25 million.

Patel further noted a major international cybercrime takedown led by FBI Boston in cooperation with the FBI’s Cyber Division and foreign partners.

“Thanks to FBI Boston, our Cyber Division, and international partners, we helped dismantle a VPN service used by ransomware groups around the world,” Patel said, later adding, “This is exactly what Operation Riptide is about: targeting the cybercriminal ecosystem at every level. And we’re just getting started.”

Financial criminals were another major focus of recent FBI activity. In Southern California, authorities arrested an Orange County resident accused of orchestrating a massive bank fraud operation worth nearly $100 million.

Patel also outlined additional fraud cases brought by FBI offices around the country.

“Thanks to FBI Milwaukee, a Wisconsin man pleaded guilty to defrauding nearly 190 investors out of more than $14 million dollars. Out of New Orleans, a Texas man was indicted for running a $4-million-dollar investment fraud scam that victimized more than 20 people,” he said, noting that a Texas couple has also been indicted “for stealing more than $2.5 million dollars from vulnerable victims through a years-long psychic fraud scheme” thanks to the FBI Seattle.

The FBI director additionally spotlighted a major embezzlement case uncovered in Pennsylvania.

Patel added, “FBI Pittsburgh also announced charges against an Ohio woman accused of embezzling more than $460,000 dollars from a law firm while working as a paralegal.”

Federal investigators also continued pursuing pandemic-relief fraud. In Nevada, seven suspects were taken into custody for allegedly exploiting COVID-era assistance programs, while in Alaska another defendant received a prison sentence for similar offenses.

Patel said FBI field offices also made substantial progress targeting violent offenders and illegal firearms trafficking.

“In Birmingham, Operation Safer Communities resulted in 36 arrests and the seizure of 11 firearms as part of Summer Heat 2.0. And after a separate, seven-week enforcement effort, FBI Birmingham announced more than 170 arrests and confiscated 22 additional illegal firearms,” Patel revealed, also highlighting the efforts of FBI Little Rock resulting in “arresting 39 subjects and seizing 35 firearms, large quantities of fentanyl, other illegal drugs.”

In Oregon, a federal prison sentence was handed down to a man convicted of assaulting a federal officer during what authorities described as a violent attack at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

Patel also emphasized the bureau’s ongoing efforts to protect children from exploitation and abuse, noting that multiple offenders had recently been charged, convicted, or sentenced following investigations conducted by FBI offices in Tampa, Boston, Kansas City, and Baltimore.

“As of yesterday, for example, one member of 764 was sentenced to 30 years in prison,” he revealed.

Closing his update, Patel praised the work of FBI personnel and encouraged agents to continue their efforts against criminals across the country.

“As always, keep getting after it, and I’ll see you next week.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pushed back Monday against accusations of antisemitism, defending controversial comments he made last week targeting the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) after several prominent Jewish organizations sharply criticized his rhetoric.

Speaking at a City Hall press conference, Mamdani argued that his criticism was directed at the pro-Israel lobbying group’s political influence and support for Israeli policies, not at Jewish people.

“When I am speaking about AIPAC, I’m speaking about an organization that has been supportive of the status quo, that has fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people, not just in Palestine, but frankly, through much of the region, and it is a status quo for immorality,” Mamdani said during a press conference at City Hall, pointing to Israeli operations in Gaza. “And when it comes to the way in which they defend the status quo, oftentimes they defend it through direct contributions, as we are seeing right now in New York.”

The mayor, who has long been outspoken in his criticism of Israel’s leadership, came under fire after comments he made during a rally for progressive candidates he has endorsed in several New York races.

At that event on Thursday, Mamdani denounced what he called “monsters,” a reference he said included individuals and organizations funding political advertisements aimed at defeating the candidates he supports. He specifically pointed to AIPAC, which has poured millions of dollars into congressional primary contests across the country, often focusing its advertising on domestic political issues.

“They move millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal, to preserve their power, so that they can turn us against one another, instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary,” Mamdani said.

Federal Election Commission records show that AIPAC’s political action arm, United Democracy Project, contributed more than $600,000 last month to BOLD America, a group backing Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York’s 13th Congressional District. Espaillat is currently being challenged by Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has received Mamdani’s endorsement.

The mayor’s remarks quickly drew condemnation from major Jewish organizations, whose leaders argued that his language echoed longstanding antisemitic themes and was especially troubling coming from the leader of a city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel.

“Mayor Mamdani, referring to fellow New Yorkers as ‘monsters’ is outrageous and dangerous, and the impact of your words extends far beyond politics,” said Ted Deutch, the AJC’s CEO, in a post on X.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, a Jewish Democrat, voiced similar criticism over the weekend.

“Swap ‘AIPAC’ for ‘Jews’ and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books,” Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, said in a post on X. “That’s not criticizing a lobby. That’s laundering antisemitism from your podium as Mayor of a city with more than a million Jews. This …. is dangerous.”

Despite the backlash, Mamdani declined to retreat from his position, citing the continuing conflict in Gaza and the mounting casualty figures reported since the implementation of a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States. The Palestinian Ministry of Health says more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza since the ceasefire began in mid-October.

“I think that it is important that when we ask ourselves how such death and destruction is happening overseas, we also name those who allow it to take place,” he told reporters.

When questioned about his use of the word “monsters,” Mamdani insisted that he was invoking the writings of Antonio Gramsci, founder of the Italian Communist Party, and said the term was intended as a broader criticism of powerful political interests rather than a reference to AIPAC alone.

“I used the term to describe all those who are preventing the birth of a new world, not solely AIPAC, but frankly super PACs at large, who are spending millions of dollars in deceptive and misleading ads that are blanketing airwaves, not just in the case of Darializa Avila Chevalier, but also we see that kind of PAC spending when it comes to oppose Brad Lander, who’s running for Congress, as well as Claire Valdez, as well as a number of other races,” the mayor said.

Mamdani added that his criticism was also aimed at a political system that he believes has failed ordinary Americans.

“And I also use the term to describe a politics that, for far too long, has asked working people to lower their expectations,” he continued. “My use of the term is a broad use that speaks to the untenable nature of a status quo that is quite literally starving people in the city, all in the name of sustaining something that we simply cannot defend any longer.”

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{Matzav.com}

As debate intensifies over security policy in northern Israel and reports continue to swirl about a U.S.-backed memorandum of understanding with Iran, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu on Monday publicly endorsed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s call to dramatically increase pressure on Lebanon, arguing that only a fundamental shift in strategy can restore long-term security.

In remarks to Kol Chai Radio, Eliyahu defended Ben Gvir’s controversial demand to “set Lebanon on fire,” contending that Lebanon’s government must be held directly accountable for terrorist activity operating from its territory.

“We cannot continue playing by rules in which we do not decide the campaign,” Minister Eliyahu said in an interview with Kol Chai Radio.

According to Eliyahu, Hezbollah can no longer be viewed merely as an independent armed faction. Rather, he argued, the organization has become deeply integrated into Lebanon’s governmental and military structures, making the state itself responsible for confronting the threat.

“Hezbollah is no longer a local militia, but a military organization that has embedded itself within the institutions of the Lebanese state. In order to achieve quiet, we need to act according to the model of ‘Black September’ in 1970 – when the Jordanian kingdom was forced to take responsibility and clear the terrorist organizations from its territory by force. Beirut must understand that it will pay the full price.”

The minister also sharply criticized the diplomatic track currently being pursued between Washington and Tehran, warning that efforts to reach an accommodation with the Iranian regime could produce dangerous consequences.

Addressing the negotiations being conducted by US President Donald Trump with Iran, Eliyahu compared the emerging framework to failed diplomatic efforts that preceded World War II and accused Western leaders of pursuing short-term interests at the expense of long-term security.

“The United States is racing down a path toward a terrible mistake and surrendering to narrow interests. Making peace with an absolutely evil regime is a diplomatic disgrace, and whoever chooses it will ultimately receive a much harsher war.”

Despite his objections to the negotiations, Eliyahu stressed that his Otzma Yehudit party is not planning to threaten the coalition or attempt to topple the government over the issue. He said Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu remains committed to a strong position and deserves support rather than political pressure.

“There is no reason for threats. The Prime Minister is moving in the right direction, and we are strengthening him from within,” Eliyahu explained, crediting Otzma Yehudit for the offensive policy.

The minister further argued that many of Israel’s most significant military decisions during the current war would not have occurred without his party’s influence inside the government and the security cabinet.

“Without our presence in the government and the limited Cabinet, the system would have broken long ago. We would not have approved entering Rafah, we would not have maneuvered in Lebanon, and we would not have reached the eliminations of Sinwar and Nasrallah,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Conservative media personality Tucker Carlson announced that he is severing ties with the Republican Party, declaring that the GOP no longer represents his views and accusing party leaders of abandoning the interests of American voters.

Speaking on his “Can’t Be Censored” podcast, Carlson said he has reached a breaking point after years of supporting Republicans and can no longer align himself with the party.

“I’m out,” Carlson said. “And if I’m out, then I think a lot of other people are out.

“I would not support the Republican Party. There’s no chance I would support the Republican Party.”

Carlson has been one of the most vocal critics on the right of the conflict involving Iran and has repeatedly attacked the Trump administration’s support for Israel. He argued that Republican leaders have placed the priorities of a foreign ally ahead of those of American citizens.

Carlson stated that Republicans “betrayed” voters by prioritizing Israel’s needs over those of the U.S.

“How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States?” Carlson asked.

“That puts the interests of a foreign country above those of its own citizens? It’s not possible to vote for people like that, and I’m not going to,” he added.

The longtime commentator, who said he spent 35 years fiercely defending the Republican Party, made clear that his departure from the GOP does not signal support for Democrats. He said he remains uncertain about whom he will support politically in the future.

Carlson’s split with Republicans comes after months of increasingly public disagreements with President Donald Trump, particularly over Iran and American involvement in the Middle East.

In April, Trump sharply criticized Carlson after the commentator condemned military action against Iran.

“It’s easy! Tucker is a Low IQ person — Always easy to beat, and highly overrated!!!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

The president also accused Carlson and other anti-war commentators of effectively aiding Tehran by opposing efforts to confront the Iranian regime, dismissing them as attention-seekers using the issue to build their audiences.

“They think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote.

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{Matzav.com}

A popular Brooklyn coffee shop sparked controversy after asking pro-Israel Congressman Dan Goldman to leave the establishment and refunding the $9.82 he had spent on a cup of coffee, claiming that the business does not serve “supporters of genocide.”

The incident involved Poetikā, a Brooklyn café that later published a social media post featuring Goldman’s photograph. The post included a mocking caption suggesting that he was unable to distinguish the “taste of genocide juice,” and stated that the café does not serve racists or fascists. Management further claimed that had they recognized Goldman before he entered, they would not have allowed him inside.

The episode occurred on the eve of the Democratic primary election in New York’s 10th Congressional District, where Goldman is facing a challenge from former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

Responding to the incident, Goldman said he was saddened by what had occurred and emphasized that the barista working at the café had been kind to both him and his seven-year-old daughter. According to Goldman, the employee even allowed his daughter to use the restroom despite the family not having made a purchase.

Goldman said he later bought a coffee as a gesture of appreciation and hoped the employee would receive the tip he left. Café employees, however, maintained that they oppose what they described as genocide.

Goldman is widely known for serving as lead counsel for Democrats during the first impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. His primary opponent, Lander, is considered a political ally of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The congressional race has featured sharp disagreements over Israel. During the campaign, Lander has criticized Goldman’s positions regarding the Jewish state, while Goldman has argued that his support for Israel is rooted in his identity as both a Jew and a Zionist.

Following widespread publicity surrounding the incident, reports indicated that the café received threats. The business subsequently removed its Instagram account.

{Matzav.com}