The Department of Justice confirmed Monday that it has received Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s criminal referral related to her bombshell claims that Obama-era officials ‘manufactured and politicized intelligence’ to create the narrative that Russia was attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election, Fox News has confirmed. 

The Department of Justice declined further comment, but confirmed to Fox News that the department received the referral. 

Gabbard released unclassified documents Friday that reportedly show ‘overwhelming evidence’ that then-President Barack Obama and his national security team laid the groundwork for what would be the yearslong Trump–Russia collusion probe after Trump’s election win against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. 

‘Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people,’ Gabbard had posted to X of the criminal referral Friday. ‘No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it. We are turning over all documents to the DOJ for criminal referral.’ 

Gabbard joined Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo Sunday, where she detailed evidence uncovered in the case, which she said showcases ‘overwhelming’ proof that Obama-era officials laid the groundwork for what would be the yearslong Trump-Russia collusion probe after the 2016 election.

‘The implications of this are frankly nothing short of historic,’ Gabbard said Sunday. 

‘Over 100 documents that we released on Friday really detail and provide evidence of how this treasonous conspiracy was directed by President Obama just weeks before he was due to leave office after President Trump had already gotten elected. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is an issue that is so serious it should concern every single American because it has to do with the integrity of our democratic republic,’ she continued.

Following Gabbard’s revelations, Trump shared a video to his Truth Social account showing a handful of Democrats, including Obama, vowing that ‘no one is above the law.’ Later in the clip, an AI-generated video showed Trump and Obama sitting in the Oval Office before Obama is arrested while Trump’s the song ‘YMCA’ plays in the background. 

Additionally, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also will release declassified documents related to a 2018 DOJ Inspector General report on the Justice Department’s handling of the investigations related to the 2016 presidential election, Fox News confirmed Monday. Grassley will specifically declassify the report’s appendix, which Fox learned focuses specifically on the Clinton email investigation. 

Hillary Clinton was investigated by the FBI for holding classified information on her private email server at home when she served as secretary of state under the Obama administration. Then-FBI Director James Comey said publicly that Clinton mishandled classified information, but declined to recommend prosecution. 

Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report. 

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is referring Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal charges, accusing him of two specific instances of lying under oath.

Luna is accusing Powell of perjury on two occasions, according to a letter to the DOJ first obtained by Fox News Digital.

It comes as conservative Trump allies continue to demand that Powell, a Trump appointee himself, be fired before his term expires in mid-2026.

‘On June 25, 2025, Chairman Powell provided testimony under oath before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs regarding the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building. In his statements, he made several materially false claims,’ Luna’s letter said.

Specifically, she accused him of lying about lavish amenities at the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building and misrepresenting its state of maintenance.

‘Separately, in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, Chairman Powell characterized the changes that escalated the cost of the project from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion as minor. However, documents reviewed by congressional investigators indicate that the scope and cost overruns of this project were neither minor in nature nor in substance,’ Luna wrote.

She claimed his statement that the cost increase was to simplify construction and avoid further delays was false.

‘It is contradicted by the Federal Reserve’s final submission to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and by the assertions made in Director Vought’s own original letter to Chairman Powell,’ Luna wrote.

‘According to those records, the revised plan includes a VIP private dining room, premium marble finishes, modernized elevators, water features, and a roof terrace garden—features that Powell publicly denied existed. While Powell presented the changes as simplifications, the actual project plans suggest the opposite.’

She first announced she would be referring Powell last week on X.

Perjury can be punishable by up to five years in prison in addition to fines.

Trade outlet Mortgage Professional reported that Powell denied all accusations of perjury and has directed a formal watchdog probe into renovation project costs of the Eccles Building.

The Federal Reserve’s website also now includes a video tour of the renovation and notes on its proposed plans.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Federal Reserve for further comment but did not immediately hear back.

Luna previously wrote on X that she believed President Donald Trump would soon fire Powell, but that has not yet come to fruition.

Trump has been attacking Powell for not heeding his direction to drop interest rates. He told reporters it was ‘highly unlikely’ he would fire him, however.

More moderate Republicans and supporters of Powell’s, however, have argued that firing him would create even more market instability.

The diplomatic dispute triggered by a low-level clerk in Israel’s Interior Ministry over visa applications for Christian organizations was resolved on Monday through ‘fruitful cooperation,’ attorney Calev Myers told Fox News Digital.

‘The Evangelical Christian organizations active in Israel, which represent the vast majority of Zionists in the world today, will receive all of the visas they need through a streamlined and efficient application process,’ he said.

The issue burst into the news last week when U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicized a letter he wrote to Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, in which he expressed ‘great distress’ over a halt to the ‘routine granting of visas for Christian organizations and workers, as has been practiced for decades.’

According to Huckabee, beginning in early 2025, the Interior Ministry’s visa department stopped following the Ministry of Religious Affairs recommendations and began conducting its own investigations into each Christian organization to determine whether they should be recognized as ‘Religious Institutions’ and remain eligible for visas.

He cited as examples the Baptist Convention of Israel, Christian Missionary Alliance and Assemblies of God, noting that members of these groups have been denied renewals of their A3 clergy visas and are instead required to complete lengthy questionnaires about their religious beliefs. Huckabee said the status of their applications remains ‘under investigation.’

‘When support for Israel around the world – and in the U.S. – is under pressure, backing from our Christian friends is extremely important’

He also named the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem as another group whose visas were ‘being held up.’

He had threatened that unless changes were made, ‘I will have no choice than to instruct our Consular Section to review options for reciprocal treatment of Israeli citizens seeking visas to the United States.’

A source told Fox News Digital that the issue originated with a low-level clerk in Israel’s Interior Ministry who was ‘not particularly friendly’ toward Christian visa applicants. As a result, the visa process for clergy and volunteers had become ‘increasingly problematic’ and filled with ‘barriers for years.’

A second source told Fox News Digital that elements within the Israeli Interior Ministry ‘are not sympathetic, they don’t appreciate the relationship’ with the Christian world.

Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren told Fox News Digital that he has been involved with helping to get visas for Christian organizations that do ‘extraordinary and important work’ and there’s no reason for them to be given a hard time.

‘When support for Israel around the world – and in the U.S. – is under pressure, backing from our Christian friends is extremely important,’ Oren said. ‘They are there through thick and thin – including when bombs are falling on us – and they contribute in so many ways. Whether it’s picking grapes, attending to people in hospitals, or cooking meals for soldiers. We should do nothing but appreciate them and make them feel welcome.’

The Ministry of Interior, responsible for the Population and Immigration Authority, was led by the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, until it bolted from the government last week over the issue of conscription into the Israeli army of ultra-Orthodox men.

According to the first source, leadership turnover at the Population and Immigration Authority has exacerbated the issue. Amos Arbel, the former head of the authority and the uncle of outgoing Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, stepped down some five years ago. His replacements rotated through the position in quick succession, and the role is currently vacant.

‘The absence of stable leadership has allowed a lower-ranking official – the head of the visa section – to make unilateral decisions,’ the source explained. ‘She routinely disregards recommendations, including those from the ministry’s own religious affairs advisor.’

‘It’s a chronic problem, and it’s disheartening,’ the source said. ‘It shouldn’t take the intervention of someone like Ambassador Huckabee to resolve what should be a routine bureaucratic matter.’

In response, Moshe Arbel sent a letter to Huckabee, reaffirming his ‘commitment to reviewing such applications [for clergy visas] with the utmost efficiency.’ He wrote that ‘immediately following our meeting, I instructed all relevant professional bodies to act in accordance with the understandings we reached, and I assigned advisors from my office – headed by the chief of staff – to ensure a personal, continuous, and effective response to such requests.’

Arbel’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital: ‘There is no fear of diplomatic repercussions. The issue is being handled in a good and friendly manner.’

When contacted by Fox News Digital, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem declined to comment.

As of the end of 2024, Israel’s Christian population was estimated at 180,300 – roughly 1.8% of the total population – reflecting a 0.6% increase from 2023, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the local Christian population is growing.

David Parsons, vice president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital that he is ‘very grateful that the U.S. ambassador has intervened on behalf of all the Christian organizations.

‘It’s a shame that it takes this sort of action when the government and the minister of interior should have reined in the head of the visa section and corrected her wrong decisions,’ he said.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Fox News Digital that he had spoken to individuals on both sides of the issue and believed it ‘was a misunderstanding and the Christian groups will get what they need. This does not at all speak to the very important relationship that Israel has with the Christian community,’ he said.

A Senate Republican wants to slash federal funding to ‘anarchist jurisdictions’ that run afoul of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda in the wake of the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles.  

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., plans to introduce the Stop Anarchists from Endangering (SAFE) Cities Act, which would put cities that push back against the Trump administration’s immigration plan in danger of losing federal funding.

Sheehy’s bill would direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to identify and publish a list of anarchist jurisdictions. If a city is on the list, their funding would be put in jeopardy.

From there, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought Office would issue guidance to the heads of various federal agencies to restrict anarchist jurisdictions’ eligibility to receive federal grants, according to the bill text. 

‘It’s not too much for Americans to ask that their local governments put the safety of their people first, but too often, far-left public officials allow violent criminals to wreak havoc on families, communities, and businesses with no consequence,’ Sheehy said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

‘Ensuring taxpayer dollars go to communities who uphold the law and keep their citizens safe is America First common sense,’ he continued.  

The push comes on the heels of anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles, where Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass pushed back against the Trump administration’s deportation operations. In the aftermath of the riots the Trump administration earlier this month filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, where it alleged that the city’s policies interfere with federal immigration authorities from doing their jobs.

And last month, a companion to the bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Tony Wied, R-Wis.

‘I’m grateful to Sen. Sheehy for standing with me and declaring that we will no longer allow radical elected officials to be rewarded for putting violent extremists over law-abiding citizens,’ Wied said in a statement to Fox News Digital. ‘They must either restore the rule of law in their communities or lose their federal funding. They can’t have both.’

The bill seeks to codify a memo Trump authorized during his first term on the heels of unrest in major cities throughout the country following the death of George Floyd.

At the time, Trump argued that his ‘administration will not allow federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones.’

He ordered then-Attorney General William Barr in September 2020 to have the DOJ publish a list that identified state and local jurisdictions that have ‘permitted violence and the destruction of property to persist and have refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract these criminal activities.’

Anarchist jurisdictions would make the list if they forbid law enforcement from intervening to restore order, withdraw law enforcement from an area where they were lawfully entitled to be, defund the police or refuse law enforcement aid from the federal government, and would be subject to losing federal grant funding.

Russia attacked Ukraine overnight Monday and into the morning, killing two and injuring 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

‘Russian strikes are always an assault on humanity — in Kyiv, a kindergarten caught fire, along with residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. Ordinary apartment buildings were damaged in Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and the region. 15 people have been injured, the youngest is a 12-year-old boy. Everyone is receiving assistance. Two people were killed in the attack,’ Zelenskyy noted in the post on Monday.

‘Throughout the night, Russia launched more than 420 drones and over 20 missiles, including ballistic ones. The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning. In the morning, ‘shaheds’ once again targeted the Kharkiv region. During the shelling, mobile fire groups, army aviation, electronic warfare units, Air Force warriors, and interceptor drones were in action. Many targets were shot down — but unfortunately, not all. That is why we must continue scaling up our interceptor capabilities. This is the kind of solution that can protect us from massive attacks,’ he noted in another part of the lengthy post.

Last week while speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Donald Trump spoke about a plan involving other countries purchasing military equipment from the U.S. and supplying military equipment to Ukraine. 

Trump indicated that equipment will be swiftly delivered to the battlefield for Ukraine’s use.

A NATO press release indicated that Rutte was slated to participate in a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Monday.

‘Last week, President Trump announced a new plan for large scale NATO weapons transfers and committed to getting these ‘quickly distributed to the battlefield,” UK Defense Secretary John Healey MP was expected to say, in part, when opening the meeting, according to a UK government press release. ‘The UK government backs this policy, and we will play our full part in its success to bolster Ukraine’s immediate fight and to support our own and wider European security.’

Russia’s Defense Ministry indicated that its forces downed 74 Ukrainian drones overnight, The Associated Press reported.

Republican legal activists are filing a complaint in defense of U.S. Attorney Alina Habba after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for federal district judges to remove her from her position. 

Jeffries’ complaints about Habba stemmed from her decision to charge Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., with obstructing Homeland Security agents during an altercation at an immigration facility in Newark on May 9. 

McIver has pleaded not guilty. She is now headed for trial on Nov. 10.

‘The so-called U.S. Attorney in NJ maliciously indicted Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for doing her job,’ said Jeffries in a post on X. ‘Habba is a woefully unqualified political hack who must go.

‘She must be rejected by the Federal District Court Judges who are considering whether to retain her.’ 

The Article III Project filed a House Ethics complaint against Jeffries over the weekend for ‘improperly inserting himself into a criminal proceeding.’ 

‘This is clear corruption by House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries.’

Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Habba, a former Trump campaign legal spokesperson and White House counselor, to the position in March in an acting capacity. 

Habba’s confirmation has been held up in the Senate. But if a majority of U.S. district court judges in New Jersey decide to allow her to retain her position on Monday, she could stay on through the Trump presidency. 

Of the 17 sitting district court judges from New Jersey, 15 were nominated by Democratic presidents. 

‘A House member – particularly the House Democratic leader – who disagrees with the merits of a pending criminal case abuses his official position when he attempts to strong-arm federal judges to corruptly prejudice the ongoing criminal proceeding by firing the U.S. attorney for the purely political reason of protecting a partisan House colleague,’ the complaint said, asking the House Ethics Committee to hold Jeffries ‘accountable.’ 

McIver and two other members of Congress said they were conducting a congressional oversight visit that coincided with an immigration protest, when a clash ensued with federal agents. 

According to a DOJ press release, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was allowed into the Delaney Hall immigration facility’s secured area and then federal agents warned him to leave, but he refused to do so.

When officers tried to arrest Baraka, McIver allegedly blocked them, putting her arms around the mayor, and ‘slammed her forearm’ into one officer while grabbing another and using both of her forearms to forcibly strike the second officer.

Each of the first two counts carries a maximum eight-year prison sentence. The third carries up to one year.

The Campaign for Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, has filed a complaint against Habba for bringing charges against McIver and Baraka, alleging she politically targeted the pair in retaliation for participating in the protest and oversight visit because their views oppose those of President Donald Trump. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Jeffries’ office for comment. 

Fox News’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report. 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is getting broadsided from her left over her vote on an amendment aimed at blocking U.S. funding for Israel’s Iron Dome.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are criticizing the progressive firebrand for voting against an amendment by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to block $500 million in Congress’ annual defense spending bill that was aimed at helping fund Israeli missile defense systems.

‘An arms embargo means keeping all arms out of the hands of a genocidal military, no exceptions. This is why we oppose Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’[s] vote against an amendment that would have blocked $500 million in funding for the Israeli military’s Iron Dome program,’ the DSA said over the weekend.

The DSA noted she did vote against the defense funding bill itself, thereby ‘voting against funding for the imperialist military-industrial complex and the Israeli genocide.’

The group added, however, ‘We were further deeply disappointed by her clarifying statement on her position on the Iron Dome.’

‘Along with other US-funded interceptor systems, the Iron Dome has emboldened Israel to invade or bomb no less than five different countries in the past two years,’ the DSA said.

‘The fact that Representative Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges that Israel is carrying out this genocide makes her support for military aid all the more disappointing and incongruous. We urge the representative to continue voting against the Iron Dome, whether it is part of a larger defense spending bill or as a stand-alone bill.’

The DSA commended Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Summer Lee, D-Pa., and Al Green, D-Texas, for voting against the amendment.

Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign and congressional office for comment.

She posted on X after the vote, ‘Marjorie Taylor Greene’s amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it.’

‘What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue. I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end,’ she said.

‘That is a simple and clear difference of opinion that has long been established. I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.’

The clash exemplifies how Israel continues to drive an ideological wedge within the Democratic Party. 

It’s not the first time Ocasio-Cortez caught heat from the progressive base for failing to take a critical enough stance on Israel.

In 2021, the New York Democrat cried on the House floor after voting ‘present’ on funding Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

‘Yes, I wept,’ she wrote in an open letter to constituents after the incident. ‘I wept at the complete lack of care for the human beings that are impacted by these decisions. I wept at an institution choosing a path of maximum volatility and minimum consideration for its own political convenience.’

The overall bill that passed last week calls for $832 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2026.

That’s separate from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), another annual bill that sets defense and national security policy each fiscal year – essentially detailing how those funds will be spent.

Greene’s amendment to strip $500 billion going toward Israeli missile defense programs lost in a lopsided 6-422 vote.