A Senate Republican wants to crack down on childcare providers convicted of fraud with legislation that would, among a handful of tweaks to current law, require the fraudsters to pay back the misspent taxpayer money.

The bill from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, would amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to impose harsher penalties on childcare providers convicted of fraud, and one of several moves in the upper chamber to tackle the sprawling Minnesota fraud scandal.

Cornyn’s bill, the Stop Fraud by Strengthening Oversight and More Accountability for Lying and Illegal Activity (SOMALIA) Act, is narrowly tailored toward addressing fraudulent activity in childcare and daycare centers, but the breadth and scope of the unfurling scandal goes beyond that.

Federal prosecutors estimate that up to $9 billion was stolen through a network of fraudulent fronts posing as daycare centers, food programs and health clinics.

‘The Minnesota scandal has exposed a deep-rooted, morally bankrupt fraud empire, and it is clear more must be done to rid our nation of these heinous criminals,’ Cornyn said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The legislation would require mandatory permanent debarment from all federally funded child care assistance programs, repay misspent federal funds, require referral for federal criminal investigations, and require states to enforce the above bans and halt providers from evading debarment by restructuring the business or changing the business name.

There’s also an immigration component to the bill that would make non-citizens convicted of fraud deportable, bar them from asylum, adjustment of status, and subject them to mandatory detention and expedited removal.

Cornyn’s effort is one of many coming from the Senate GOP, where lawmakers are looking at several options to crack down on fraud, both in Minnesota and more broadly in the federal government.

Every Senate Republican joined in on a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz last week, and demanded that he provide a paper trail on the state’s role in the scandal. And Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., floated that budget reconciliation, the same procedure used to pass President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ could be used to deal with fraud.

And the Trump administration has moved to or threatened cancellation of federal funds to the state in the wake of the scandal.

‘I applaud President Trump for his efforts to end this corruption, and I’m proud to take it a step further with the Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act, which would ensure these consequences are enshrined into law before any more funds are misused or sent overseas to fund American-hating terrorist networks like we saw in now-disgraced Governor Walz’s state,’ Cornyn said.

France’s ambassador to the United Nations said Paris has strongly condemned Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests, as the French government weighs possible satellite communications support to help Iranians circumvent a near-total internet blackout.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Jerome Bonnafont described what he said was an escalation in repression by Iranian authorities and outlined France’s response, including sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

‘We have condemned very, very strongly, at the highest level, the repression against the popular movement in Iran,’ Bonnafont said. ‘This time it seems to me that the repression is even more violent than it used to be.’

His remarks come as France’s foreign minister confirmed Paris is studying the possible transfer of satellite terminals operated by Eutelsat to Iran, following a sweeping internet shutdown imposed by Iranian authorities during the unrest, and as the G7 issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. 

The foreign ministers of France, the United States and other G7 nations warned they were prepared to impose additional restrictive measures if Iran continues to violate international human rights obligations.

Earlier Tuesday, Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, urged France to support designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization at the EU level during a call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

Asked whether France would back such a move, Bonnafont did not address the IRGC designation directly, instead emphasizing existing sanctions and international pressure.

‘There are sanctions against the police of the regime. And there are sanctions also against several individuals, more than 200 people in Iran for these reasons,’ he said.

‘What we have to do is to condemn and to address the right message to the people in Iran and to the regime, so that the regime stops with this massive repression.’

NATO and Europe’s defense responsibility

Bonnafont also addressed repeated calls from President Donald Trump for European allies to shoulder more of NATO’s defense burden, arguing that Europe is already moving in that direction.

‘There is a will by the Europeans to take the full responsibility of the protection of its own continent,’ he said.

He stressed that the approach reflects a long-standing French position. ‘It is a very old theme for the French governments that there has to be within NATO an autonomous, self-capable entity for European defense,’ Bonnafont said, referring to France’s long-standing advocacy for European strategic autonomy, a position repeatedly emphasized by President Emmanuel Macron.

Ukraine as a test case

Bonnafont pointed to Europe’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine as evidence that European governments are prepared to act collectively when core security interests are threatened.

‘Ukraine has been attacked by Russia four years ago. Now it has been invaded by Russia, and it has decided to resist and to fight for its independence, its territorial integrity, its sovereignty,’ he said.

He described European backing for Kyiv as both unified and extensive. ‘And Europeans are going in support of Ukraine. And what we are doing in terms of financial support is massive. What we are doing in terms of political support is unanimous,’ Bonnafont said.

According to the ambassador, France and the United Kingdom are working to organize what he described as a ‘coalition of volunteers’ to provide Ukraine with long-term security guarantees once negotiations with Russia become possible.

‘When Ukraine enters into discussion with Russia, and when Russia accepts to enter into discussion with Ukraine, and when the elements of a peace, sustainable peace, are put on paper, Ukraine can have security guarantees,’ he said.

Bonnafont also pointed to France’s domestic budget decisions as evidence that Europe is backing rhetoric with resources. ‘There is presently the negotiation of the next budget for France for 2026,’ he said. ‘It includes a strong increase in our defense budget, and it is the only budget that is going to be increased in our whole budget this year.’

UN reform and budget cuts

Beyond NATO and Europe’s defense posture, Bonnafont said France is pushing for institutional reform at the United Nations, where member states recently approved significant budget reductions. ‘The institution has to reform. It always has to reform,’ he said.

‘We decided by consensus with the American government and all the others a budget which presents a reduction of 20% of manpower and a reduction of 15% of the funds allocated to the U.N.,’ Bonnafont added. ‘Give me another example of a public structure that is capable of such an effort in such a short time,’ he said.

Despite the cuts, he defended the U.N.’s relevance. ‘Yes, we are serious about reform. Yes, we want it to be streamlined,’ Bonnafont said. ‘But yes, we need the U.N. for the world.’

UNRWA dispute and U.S. funding cuts

Asked about the U.S. decision to halt funding for several U.N. agencies, including UNRWA, Bonnafont defended the agencies, saying, ‘Organizations are more efficient when they are universal,’ adding that participation remains a sovereign decision for the United States.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday afternoon from the Oval Office that he learned the killing in Iran has ended. 

‘We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and it’s stopped and stopping, and there’s no plan for executions or an execution,’ Trump said. ‘So, I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about.’

Trump made the announcement during a bill-signing ceremony in the Oval Office focused on ending an Obama-era policy barring public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program from offering whole and 2% milk to students.

Trump said he was informed by ‘very important sources on the other side, and they’ve said the killing is stopped. And the executions won’t take place.’ He did not divulge additional details. 

‘We’re going to watch and see what the process is. But we were given a very good, very good statement by people that are aware of what’s going on,’ Trump said when asked if military action was off the table considering the update. 

Iran’s citizens have taken to the streets in mass protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime in recent weeks, with reports claiming thousands of people have been killed as the regime cracks down on the protests. The protests come as the nation faces unrest over economic grievances and political repression. 

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency announced that 1,847 of the dead were protesters and 135 were members of Iran’s security forces. Other reports say the death toll is more than 3,000 people, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

Iran’s judiciary had signaled a rapid crackdown, The Associated Press reported, with top judicial officials talking about fast-tracking trials for those arrested, a move that has raised alarms among rights groups about the risk of harsh sentences, including executions.

‘But that’s just gotten to me, some information, that the killing has stopped,’ Trump said. ‘That the executions have stopped and not going to have an execution, which a lot of people were talking about for the last couple of days. Today was going to be the day of execution.’

Trump and the administration have offered support to the protesters, including Trump calling on them to ‘take over’ the country’s institutions on Tuesday while canceling all meetings with the regime. 

‘I have canceled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY,’ Trump posted to Truth Social Tuesday. 

The White House confirmed Monday that Trump was considering bombing Iran if the killings and unrest didn’t end, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy remains Trump’s first option.

Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations for additional comment but did not immediately receive a reply.

The protests are viewed as the most severe since 2022, when thousands took to the streets nationwide after the killing of a woman by the country’s morality police.

Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Gregory Norman-Diamon contributed to this report. 

Republican lawmakers are jumping on a social media trend to show their support for the anti-regime protesters in Iran.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., and Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., posted photos of themselves using burning photos of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to light up a cigarette and a cigar, respectively. Both lawmakers used the caption ‘Smoke ’em if you got ’em.’

The lawmaker’s images mirror a social media trend in which people are using burning photos of Khamenei to light cigarettes and cigars. The trend emerged as the people of Iran hold increasingly intense protests against the Islamic regime. The movement against the regime has seen increasing support from abroad as world leaders back the people of Iran.

Khamenei’s regime has started to crack down on protests and even instituted a sweeping internet blackout to try to quell the unrest. Some have posited that the internet blackout was also meant to impede the spreading of information about and visuals of abuses committed against protesters by regime-backed forces.

Recently, the exiled Iranian crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, has publicly urged President Donald Trump and the U.S. to back protesters in Iran as they fight the decades-old regime.

Sheehy told Fox News Digital he takes the issue personally, saying Iran has participated in the torturing, kidnapping and killing of Americans across the globe, ‘including friends of mine.’

‘The Iranian regime are a bunch of murderous b——- who have been chanting ‘death to America’ for the past 46 years. They have backed up this chant by kidnapping, torturing, and killing thousands of Americans all over the world, including friends of mine. For me, it’s personal; it’s time to take out the trash,’ Sheehy said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital via email.

The senator also expressed his solidarity with the people of Iran and encouraged them to keep fighting the regime.

‘To the Iranian people — we applaud your courage, keep fighting, and know we fully support your brave efforts to topple this evil regime,’ he added.

Tenney’s office also spoke with Fox News Digital about the congresswoman’s post, praising the bravery of the people of Iran for standing up to the regime. Additionally, Tenney’s office expressed the congresswoman’s solidarity with the Iranian people.

‘The bravery of the Iranian people in the face of decades of oppression by a brutal, extremist regime is extraordinary. Men and women across Iran are risking their lives to stand up to authoritarian mullahs who have denied them basic freedoms for generations,’ Tenney’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

‘The congresswoman stands firmly with the Iranian people and their demand for dignity and self-determination, and believes their courage must be recognized and amplified. Today, the Iranian people finally have an ally in the White House, President Trump, who has made clear that the United States stands with those fighting for freedom against tyranny,’ Tenney’s office added.

Trump has been vocal about his support for the people of Iran and has warned that the U.S. would be ready to step in if the regime used violence against protesters.

‘Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before,’ the president wrote in a Truth Social post on Jan. 10. ‘The USA stands ready to help!!!’

The Trump administration’s special envoy announced Wednesday the launch of phase two of a plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas, which is to establish a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza. 

‘The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences,’ Witkoff said in a post on X. 

The new phase will consist of ‘moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction,’ he said. 

Witkoff didn’t offer new details about a potential Palestinian administration that would govern Gaza, which has faced a humanitarian crisis since the start of the war, which began after Hamas attacked Israel. 

As part of the news phase, Witkoff said the Trump administration expects Hamas to immediately return the final deceased hostage as part of its obligations under the deal.

The terror group’s failure to do so would result in ‘serious consequences,’ he said. 

The United States has been in talks with mediators in Egypt and other regional partners to ensure that Hamas complies with its obligations under the peace plan. 

Part of that includes the group giving up its heavy weapons and the launch of a ‘buy-back’ program for lighter weapons, according to the US official and two Arab diplomats, The Times of Israel reported. 

Meanwhile, Israel has made it clear it will not allow Turkish armed forces to operate inside Gaza, viewing the country as a destabilizing actor despite efforts by Ankara to present itself as a reconstruction partner. 

Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter contributed to this report. 

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s press conference devolved into chaos Wednesday morning when an apparent activist repeatedly interrupted and confronted the Kentucky Republican about his plans to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons.

Comer addressed reporters after Hillary Clinton missed her scheduled deposition in the committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe. 

Minutes after he began talking, however, a man who identified himself as a ‘citizen reporter’ started heckling him and the other Republicans present.

‘No, I’m still talking. I’m still talking,’ Comer snapped at the man when he first began interrupting his comments.

The man can be heard shouting, ‘Congressman, did you enter their sworn statements into the record?’ in reference to the Clintons.

‘Hey, get him out of here. You’re not even a reporter,’ Comer said.

A few minutes later, when announcing the committee would depose Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the man began again, prompting Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to comment, ‘Hey, the Cartoon Network called, and they want you to take your job back.’

‘I’m trying to answer questions. We’ve got a paid disrupter here. So this is — I feel like the Clintons have initiated the war room,’ Comer said.

The protester shot back, ‘Sir, I’m not paid, you’re paid by the people.’

Comer called for security to come at one point as the protester appeared to shout he was ‘having a conversation.’

He ended the event by telling the press, ‘It’s unfortunate this disruptor was here. We’ll be happy to answer questions throughout the day about this.’

But the chaos did not end there, as the man approached Comer when he began walking away.

He walked close by Comer, even appearing to make physical contact at one point, which prompted Capitol Police officers to separate the man from the GOP lawmakers.

The man appeared to be let off with a warning after police took a photograph of his identification.