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Democrat takeover fears rise as GOP clings to slim House majority
Tense scenes played out in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night as a group of moderate Republicans took a stand against a trio of GOP-led labor rule bills.
One of those bills failed to pass, while the other two were quickly scuttled to avoid the same fate — an embarrassing blow to House Republican leadership and the majority of GOP lawmakers who supported them.
It's an example of a situation that has been growing increasingly common in Congress' lower chamber as Republicans wrestle with a party-line majority of anywhere between three and one vote, depending on attendance that day.
"We’ve got simple bills like this that should be a no-brainer, and we’ve got several moderate Rs that are going to kill the bill," Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital on the sidelines just before the first bill failed. "What I foresee, and you’re seeing it in appropriations bills, they don’t care about guys like me … they’re just working with the Democrats to pass them."
DAY-TO-DAY: A TRAGIC DEATH FURTHER STRETCHES THE GOP'S RAZOR-THIN HOUSE MAJORITY
Several Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital this week said there's growing concern about Democrats growing their number of legislative victories despite Republicans holding the gavel — or potentially using their numbers to take over the agenda.
As Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., put to reporters last week, "We are one flu season away from losing the majority."
Steube said he did not believe Democrats could actually take the speaker's gavel but conceded the situation was tenuous. He pointed to the recent sudden death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., as an example.
"You’re a heart attack and a car accident away from the majority. There’s people in our conference that are not young people. I mean, you saw what just happened with LaMalfa. In my opinion, he was young, 65. We have people who are much older in the conference," he said Tuesday night.
"Now, Democrats couldn’t take over the gavel, but like, what you’re seeing here, you’ve got attendance issues, you’ve got seven Republicans voting with the Democrats. You lose more than two, you’re toast."
Despite that, however, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., denied there was a fight for the agenda on Tuesday night.
"We're totally in control of the House," he told reporters.
He added, however, that leaders were watching attendance closely.
"They'd better be here," Johnson said of his members. "I told everybody, and not in jest, I said, no adventure sports, no risk-taking, take your vitamins. Stay healthy and be here."
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It comes after several recent incidents that have put their tenuous grasp on the House in perspective for Republicans.
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., abruptly resigned earlier this year after publicly falling out with President Donald Trump. Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., returned on Tuesday badly bruised from a car accident that he spent the week prior recovering from.
And just this week, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., said he is home recovering from major brain surgery. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., is in his district caring for his ill wife.
Beyond conversations about their own mortality, it's also spurred discussion among some Republicans about what unexpected life events could do to their majority.
"The margins are really, really close. A few of us were in a car the other day, driving … if that became an accident, that would have tipped the scale. So I think it’s a concern to be vigilant, prudent, and just understand that the consequences of an accident may have, you know, consequences outside of the norm," Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., told Fox News Digital.
He also warned his fellow Republicans, as a former Navy SEAL, to be mindful of unsafe situations.
"Say some evil mind wants to change the majority in the House — we don’t have the same protection that the president does. And that’s why I say just remain vigilant," Zinke said. "I have faith that we’ll continue, but I think it should be a concern, because it’s a big deal to change power outside of a normal election cycle."
One House Republican speaking to Fox News Digital anonymously pointed out that there appeared to be more Democrats than Republicans voting on a slate of bills — albeit, relatively uncontroversial ones — on Monday night.
"I’d guess they’re terrified," the lawmaker said of GOP leaders on Tuesday. "Sometimes life happens — look at Derrick Van Orden … car accidents, COVID, or flu. I mean, I don’t think we had the majority last night."
"They’re going to have to get smart about the calendar, probably break some arms," that GOP lawmaker said. "It’s kind of unprecedented. I don’t know how it would work. Say, unfortunately, someone else passed. You can’t fix that. You may have to wait a few months. You might have to strip committees. There’s a whole lot of uncharted waters to deal with."
There are also more than a dozen GOP lawmakers running for higher office — something that could also spur absences, as South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., pointed out.
She dismissed fears of Democrats taking over the agenda, however.
"Certainly there’s concern with the slim majority. There are many of us that are running for higher office as well, and as the debate season gets underway, there’s going to be members that miss votes to make debates and to be campaigning," Mace said.
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., told Fox News Digital he was not worried about Democrats taking over the floor but conceded there was tension over the slim margins for Republicans.
"I know they’re carefully watching attendance," Ogles said. "I think the joke is that no two members should travel together at this point."
But not all House Republicans are agonizing over how the politics of the situation are playing out.
One moderate GOP lawmaker who spoke with Fox News Digital anonymously said the thin majority could save Republicans in the middle from taking politically perilous votes.
"It gives folks in the center a little more juice on preventing bills from coming to the floor," they said.
An example they used is Thursday morning's expected vote on a bill dealing with the joint-employer labor rule, telling Fox News Digital, "There’s an active effort among pro-labor Republicans to block that from coming to the floor, and we can only really get that done in our majority."
Zelenskyy holding up Russia-Ukraine peace process, Trump says
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Ukraine, not Russia, is holding up a possible peace deal to end the nearly four-year-long war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
The president made the remarks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. The outlet reported that Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to end the war, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was noncommittal.
"I think he's ready to make a deal," Trump told Reuters, referencing Putin. "I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal."
TRUMP, ZELENSKYY SAY UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSE BUT ‘THORNY ISSUES’ REMAIN AFTER FLORIDA TALKS
When he was asked why U.S. intervention had not brought about an end to the war, Trump responded: "Zelenskyy," Reuters reported.
Trump refused to go into detail on why he believed Zelenskyy was holding back, saying that he believes the Ukrainian president was "having a hard time getting there," referring to a peace agreement. However, later in the interview, Trump said he would be willing to meet with Zelenskyy at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The president told Reuters that, contrary to reports, he was not aware of a possible trip to Moscow involving his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.
RUSSIA LOSING ‘MASSIVE’ 25,000 TROOPS MONTHLY IN UKRAINE AS WAR GRINDS ON, NATO CHIEF SAYS
Trump's comments stand in stark contrast to those of some European leaders, such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said on Jan. 11 that the onus was on Russia "to show that they are interested in peace." Von der Leyen told Reuters that the EU was working on plans to ensure Ukraine would see economic prosperity after the war ends.
Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy have brewed for some time with the two having a heated exchange in front of reporters and other VIPs in the Oval Office in late February 2025. Trump pushed back when Zelenskyy suggested that the U.S. would feel Russia's wrath, despite being an ocean away.
Zelenskyy seemed to express his openness to working with the Americans to end the war despite his sometimes tumultuous relationship with Trump.
"Work with America on security guarantees, on economic agreements, and on the political document, needs to be swift. On our end, we are being as productive as possible. We also expect energy from the American side in their work," Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Pam Bondi defends seizing reporter's devices over alleged classified leaks involving foreign adversary
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department has authorized the seizure of a Washington Post reporter’s devices in a classified leak probe, reopening a long-running debate over press protections and national security.
In a "Hannity" appearance Wednesday, Bondi said she rescinded prior Justice Department guidance shielding journalists from subpoenas and searches, arguing that classified material connected to U.S. military operations could put service members’ lives at risk.
"The First Amendment is a bedrock principle, but this isn’t about that. This is about classified material that could jeopardize lives," Bondi said.
The reporter, Hannah Natanson, was at home in Virginia at the time of the search, according to the Washington Post. Agents seized her Garmin watch, a work laptop, a personal laptop and her phone, the outlet reported.
EX-NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JOHN BOLTON INDICTED WITH IMPROPER HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
The Post reported that it also received a subpoena seeking information about communications between the contractor and other Post employees, prompting concern from the outlet's executive editor, Matt Murray.
In an email to the newsroom, Murray called the Justice Department’s actions "extraordinary, aggressive action," adding that it is "deeply concerning and raises profound questions and concern around the constitutional protections for our work."
The Washington Post previously told Fox News Digital that it is "reviewing and monitoring the situation."
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The search warrant executed at Natanson’s home came after authorities charged a Department of War system administrator, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, with leaking classified information, and as investigators sought to recover material and communications they believe passed between the contractor and journalists.
Perez-Lugones is accused of using databases and repositories to search for, access and view a classified intelligence report related to a foreign country. He is accused of taking a screenshot of the report and printing it.
"This IT [contractor] that worked for Department of War, who had classified information, is charged now with leaking classified information involving a foreign adversary. He could jeopardize the lives, the safety of our men and women in the military," Bondi said.
"Today, it's been reported that the great men and women of the FBI executed a search warrant at the direction of Kash Patel and my office on the reporter's home, seizing the devices that contained classified material regarding our foreign adversaries, and that's what we're looking into now," she added.
Bondi declined to discuss the facts of the case in depth but said if a reporter unknowingly possesses classified information, the Justice Department "[has] the right" to have that information returned.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
Iran appears to reopen airspace after Trump says killing is 'stopping'
Iran appeared to reopen its airspace on Thursday after a sudden overnight closure disrupted flights across the region, even as airlines largely continued to avoid the country amid heightened security warnings and ongoing regional tensions.
The overnight closure lasted around five hours after a Notice to Air Missions, or NOTAM, was issued, according to the aviation risk-monitoring site Safe Airspace.
Safe Airspace warns that the main danger for civil aircraft in Iranian airspace is misidentification by air defense systems during heightened tensions, rating the overall risk level currently as "One — Do Not Fly."
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he was informed the killing of protesters in Iran was "stopping."
"We have been notified and really strongly, but we'll find out what that all means. But, we've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., disagreed with Trump, writing on X that every indication he’s seen shows that the Iranian regime’s killing of anti-government protesters is "still very much in full swing."
"The death toll is mounting by the hour. Hoping that help is on the way," he wrote.
TRUMP ENVOY REPORTEDLY MEETS WITH EXILED IRANIAN PRINCE AS REGIME FACES PROTESTS
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which tracks human rights violations in Iran, said on Wednesday that nationwide protests continued into the 18th day as authorities maintained a near-total internet shutdown.
The group’s aggregated figures showed 617 protest gatherings in 187 cities across the country, the arrest of at least 18,470 people and the confirmed deaths of 2,615 individuals.
HRANA said 2,435 of those killed were protesters, including 13 children under the age of 18.
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Trump has threatened action against the regime, warning Tehran in multiple Truth Social posts to stop killing its people.
"We are locked and loaded and ready to go," he wrote on New Year’s Day.
The president said on Tuesday that he had canceled all meetings with Iranian officials and called on protesters to "TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!"
"Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price," Trump wrote, adding, "HELP IS ON ITS WAY."
Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Minnesota if agitators keep attacking federal officers
President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he would invoke the Insurrection Act if people in Minnesota don't obey the law and continue attacking federal agents there.
"If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president's warning comes after a second ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis in recent days.
An ICE agent shot an alleged illegal immigrant in the leg on Wednesday during an arrest attempt. The Department of Homeland Security claims the agent fired at the suspect because he was "fearing for his life and safety" after the individual resisted arrest and "violently assaulted the officer."
AGITATORS CLASH WITH FEDERAL OFFICERS AFTER ANOTHER ICE SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS
The Insurrection Act, an 1807 law, has not been invoked since the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
The order allows the president to deploy the military to suppress rebellions and enforce federal laws. If invoked, it would grant Trump the authority to federalize the National Guard and deploy active duty forces to restore order. It would temporarily override the Posse Comitatus Act, which normally restricts the use of the military for domestic law enforcement.
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The suspect in Wednesday's shooting was reported to be in stable condition and is now in custody, while the ICE agent is allegedly in the hospital.
This comes after an incident last week in Minneapolis, where Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, was fatally shot by an ICE agent after authorities alleged she tried to ram her vehicle into federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation.
Protests in Minnesota continued on Wednesday after the latest shooting, with demonstrators using horns and whistles and officers deploying tear gas and pepper balls.
Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
My father gave his life for Iran — today's protesters are living his dream
I was in my mother’s womb when the Islamic Revolution of 1979 shattered my family’s homeland, forcing us into exile. Like so many Iranians, my country was stolen from me before I could even take my first breath. But my connection to Iran is not just a matter of heritage; it is written in blood. My father, Gen. Gholam Ali Oveissi, the former commander in chief of the Imperial Army, was a patriot who loved his people and died defending them against the tyranny of Ayatollah Khomeini. In 1984, he was assassinated in Paris for his loyalty to the Shah and his refusal to bow to the new regime.
For decades, families like mine have carried the weight of displacement and loss, watching from afar as a nation that was once on a trajectory toward becoming a global superpower was hijacked by mismanagement and ideological rule. But today, the tide is turning. After 47 years of oppression, corruption and fiscal incompetence, the people of Iran — driven by a courageous younger generation — have had enough.
This uprising is about more than just the collapse of an economy, though the financial devastation is undeniable. The Iranian rial has plummeted to historic lows, and inflation now exceeds 40%. Food prices have skyrocketed by more than 70% in a single year, leaving more than a third of the population below the poverty line. While the regime diverts billions of dollars to fund terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian people suffer from negative GDP growth and crumbling infrastructure.
IRAN PROTESTS SPARK REGIME SURVIVAL QUESTION AS EXILED DISSIDENT SAYS IT FEELS LIKE A ‘REVOLUTION’
Unemployment has destroyed the hope of an entire generation, and the regime’s response has been to pillage natural resources, selling them at a discount to China and Russia while the people face water shortages and total systemic neglect.
However, the protests rocking Iran are not merely cries of hunger; they are cries for identity. The youth of Iran has reached an inflection point, realizing what the Pahlavi era truly represented: a time when Iran was a center of stability and prosperity in the region.
TRUMP TOLD IRAN HAS HALTED KILLINGS AMID MOUNTING PROTEST PRESSURE
They are not chanting religious slogans. Instead, they are chanting for Western values — freedom, prosperity and an end to oppression. They are rediscovering a pride in their Persian heritage, which dates back to 550 B.C. When asked where they are from, they proudly answer, "I am Persian," rejecting the identity imposed on them by the Islamic Republic.
At the heart of this movement is a longing for the return of the Pahlavi vision. Reza Pahlavi has emerged organically as the voice of these disenfranchised people. He is not a leader positioned by foreign actors; he is the name the people are chanting for in the streets. They remember — or have learned of — an era when women were treated with respect and reciprocity, when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in peace, and when the leadership invested in the future of its students.
Reza Pahlavi supports a nationally elected referendum for a constitutional monarchy, modeled after the United Kingdom, which would preserve our national identity while ensuring democratic governance.
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Crucially, the Iranian people look to the United States as a beacon of hope. Contrary to the regime’s propaganda, the majority of Iranians love, admire, and support America. They are particularly grateful to President Donald Trump, whose bold leadership has provided a roadmap for confronting tyranny.
His actions in Venezuela — specifically the pressure placed on the illegitimate Maduro regime — have given fuel to the protesters in Iran. President Trump’s willingness to hold rogue leaders accountable offers hope that the United States will not stand idly by while the Iranian regime slaughters its own citizens.
The role of the West is vital in this struggle. Media coverage from outlets like Fox News has been essential in breaking the silence, but more Western media must shine a light on this revolution. Technology has also become a lifeline; acts like Elon Musk’s provision of Starlink have been critical in bypassing censorship. The symbolic return of the original Sun and Lion flag on social media, promoted by figures like Musk, sends a powerful message that the spirit and glory of our rich culture is rising again.
I am eternally grateful to the United States for providing my family with political asylum and allowing me to become a citizen of the greatest country in the world. But as an Iranian American, I know that a free Iran could be one of America’s most important allies and a stabilizing force in the Middle East. Iran was once a close partner of Israel — and could be again.
The coming days are critical. The regime will likely respond with the same violence that killed my father and hundreds of thousands of others. The United States must make it clear that mass killings will not be tolerated and must hold this government accountable for its human rights abuses. The people of Iran are ready to reclaim their future. The question is whether the free world will stand with them.
Timothy Busfield’s lie detector offer is ‘public relations stunt’ as he faces child sex abuse charges: expert
Timothy Busfield was remanded Wednesday and held without bail in his first court appearance on multiple counts of child sex abuse.
Prior to Busfield's hearing, his lawyer claimed the "Thirtysomething" actor passed a voluntary independent polygraph test where he denied the claims.
The judge's decision to keep Busfield behind bars while he awaits pretrial hearing is common practice in a sex-crime case, according to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani. Busfield's decision to submit to a lie detector test, however, appeared to be a publicity stunt for "the court of public opinion," according to Rahmani.
TIMOTHY BUSFIELD HELD WITHOUT BAIL IN NEW MEXICO CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE
"Judges detain defendants without bail when they are a risk of flight or danger to the community," Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "They consider the strength of the evidence as it relates to the risk of the defendant fleeing or harming others, not whether they are likely to be convicted at trial.
"No bail detention is common in sex-crime cases, especially when there are multiple victims and they are minors or otherwise vulnerable. Practically, judges are more conservative and risk-averse in high-profile sex abuse cases. They don’t want the scrutiny and reputational harm if someone absconds or abuses others while out on bail."
Larry Stein, Busfield's lawyer, revealed Wednesday that "The West Wing" actor submitted to a polygraph test and passed.
"Tim Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false," Stein said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "As a voluntary step, he submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding those allegations and passed."
TIMOTHY BUSFIELD TURNS HIMSELF IN TO POLICE, PROMISES TO FIGHT CHILD SEX ABUSE ACCUSATIONS
Busfield, 68, surrendered Tuesday to local authorities on child sex abuse charges, days after an arrest warrant was issued for the actor. He was held without bail at the time of his arrest on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
Judge Felicia Blea-Rivera ordered Busfield held without bond pending his next hearing to be scheduled within five business days. The judge also set a Jan. 29 deadline for a preliminary hearing.
"The defense will likely argue for release at a later date, and argue there is no probable cause at the preliminary hearing," Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "This was just the first appearance, so they probably want to review the evidence and get their ducks in a row."
He added, "The offer to take a lie detector is a public relations stunt. They’re not admissible in court. The same goes for the video statement. That was for PR and the court of public opinion."
Fox News legal contributor Donna Rotunno said that it was "very common" for defendants to be held without bail in felony sex-crimes cases, but added that it's not often ordered with allegations that are old.
She added that the judge likely weighed his flight risk, if he was a danger to the community and whether there were safeguards a court could put in place to minimize risk if he were to be released.
Prior to his first hearing, prosecutors filed "a motion seeking to keep Mr. Busfield in custody while the case proceeds through the judicial process," Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement online.
In the state's expedited motion for pretrial detention, prosecutors argued that Busfield "poses an ongoing and serious danger to children and the community."
They noted that his conduct reflected a "calculated pattern of grooming, lack of boundaries, and exploitation of professional authority to gain access to minors."
"The defendant has demonstrated: willingness to exploit positions of trust; ability to offend in professional environments designed to appear safe, minimization and denial of conduct, access to children through his profession, a pattern of inappropriate conduct spanning decades," documents stated.
"Witnesses in this investigation expressed fear of retaliation and career harm for reporting the Defendant's conduct, further underscoring his ability to intimidate and silence others."
The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center released Busfield's mugshot Tuesday afternoon.
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On Jan. 9, an arrest warrant was issued for the director and Emmy Award-winning actor, and obtained by Fox News Digital.
The police investigation into the allegations against Busfield began on Nov. 1, 2024, after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital alerted officers about a case of alleged sexual abuse.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital, two 11-year-old twins allege that the director, whom they were told to call Uncle Tim on the set of "The Cleaning Lady," touched them inappropriately. One twin claimed an incident occurred while alone with Busfield in a bedroom on set, alleging he was touched over his clothes on his genitals and bottom. The warrant further states that hospital professionals later informed the parents that the children showed signs of being "groomed."
The boys also alleged that Busfield would "tickle them on the stomach and legs" while on set with them. One of the boys was diagnosed with moderate PTSD and anxiety following his claims of "inappropriate touching."
The boy said he had been "having nightmares about the director touching him and waking up scared," and alleged Busfield "had touched and rubbed his penis 3 or 4 times and appeared to be ashamed," the warrant stated.
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In an interview before his arrest, Busfield allegedly told police he had heard the parents wanted "revenge" against him because their boys had been replaced by someone younger for the final season of the show, which ran from 2022 until 2025.
When investigators asked Busfield if he had ever picked up the children, he allegedly admitted it was "highly likely that he would have." He defended the behavior by saying he wanted to foster a "playful" environment on set, adding that such interactions would have occurred in front of their parents.
"There would never be a weird moment about it," Busfield told police, according to the warrant. "I don't really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. I'd pick him up, and he'd be giggling, and that would sort of get him ready to act."
An independent outside investigation conducted by Warner Bros. to examine the allegations of on-set misconduct determined "no corroborating evidence" of inappropriate conduct.
"I conducted an independent and thorough investigation of all allegations known to the Studio at the time," Christina McGovern said. "Warner Bros. gave me full discretion as to my investigation. Based on what was alleged, and all evidence gathered, including multiple witness statements, I found no corroborating evidence that Mr. Busfield engaged in inappropriate conduct or that he was ever alone with the twins on set."
Warner Bros. Television said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "The health and safety of our cast and crew is always our top priority, especially the safety of minors on our productions. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and have systems in place to promptly and thoroughly investigate, and when needed, take appropriate action. We are aware of the current charges against Mr. Busfield and have been and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement."
In a motion filed by the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday and obtained by Fox News Digital, Busfield was hit with another sexual abuse allegation.
Colin Swift, the father of an alleged victim, reported to law enforcement on Jan. 13 that Busfield allegedly had sexually abused Swift's daughter "several years ago" in Sacramento, Calif., when she was 16 years old.
According to the motion, Busfield allegedly "begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy."
Busfield's wife, "Little House on the Prairie" actress Melissa Gilbert, reportedly deleted her Instagram account after the arrest warrant was issued.
Gilbert's representative told Fox News Digital that the actress will continue to support her husband and will address the public at the appropriate time.
"Melissa Gilbert is not making public statements at this time. Any purported ‘statements’ circulating online — including AI-generated deepfakes of her ‘breaking her silence’ — should not be treated as coming from her," her representative said.
"She is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds. During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected."
Fox News Digital's Larry Fink contributed to the report.
Arson destroys 'iconic' Scottish church, uncovering historic time capsule beneath the ruins
After a devastating fire reduced a Scottish church to rubble, an unexpected discovery was made beneath the ruins — uniting a grieving congregation.
St Mungo’s Church, a Church of Scotland congregation in Cumbernauld, suffered an arson attack on Aug. 2. Officials are still investigating the crime and described it as a "deliberate act of fire-raising."
Pictures from the site show the burned-out remains of the church, with its pyramid-shaped roof structure still visible.
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But as the community mourned the church, it became apparent the fire revealed a glimpse of the past. It shared a time capsule, which they later went on to open.
Built in the 1960s, St Mungo's Church is part of Trinity Parish Church, a congregation formed in 2024 through the union of other churches in Cumbernauld.
Morag Rusk, the session clerk of Cumbernauld Trinity Church (formerly St Mungo's), told Fox News Digital the capsule was recently opened this winter, three months after the fire.
When church officials opened up the capsule, they found newspaper clips, church notices, a congregation roll, coins and letters.
The congregation roll, Rusk said, was of particular interest to parishioners.
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"[Church members] were interested [in looking] for their friends and relatives, and for anyone who was still in the life of the church today," she said.
"A few members of the congregation were aware there had been a time capsule… [though] it was not in the forefront of [their] minds after the fire."
The newspapers included editions from the Cumbernauld News detailing information about the church when it was first built, including the minister's death.
"The Nov. 6th newspaper gave details of the Foundation Stone being laid for the new St Mungo’s church that weekend," said Rusk. "It was also interesting to see the church notices in the local newspapers, detailing the Sunday Services at that time in 1964."
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She described it as "interesting to read" about the church building's early beginnings, as the community now turns toward rebuilding.
The church hopes to eventually display the contents of the capsule, Rusk added.
The time capsule's discovery, she said, "has generated a huge interest across the U.K. and internationally now, more than we could ever imagine. It generated a lot of interest for the congregation to come and see it."
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She added, "We also did a livestream on the church's Facebook page due to the interest shown."
Unfortunately, the church official said there have been no updates shared about who committed the crime.
Rusk described the church's "large and iconic" design as a lasting part of the town's landscape — something that leaves big shoes to fill.
"The congregation and many people in the town and beyond have been part of the church for many years and have had baptisms, weddings and funerals there," she said.
"The church design enabled it to be a social space for both church and community activities, and this is greatly missed… The loss of St Mungo's has a huge impact, not just for the congregation, but also for the wider community across the town."
Man runs into Florida street to save two young children who wandered away from rental home
A quick-thinking Florida driver stopped and ran into a street to save two toddlers who had wandered into the middle of a busy roadway Sunday.
John Brittingham said he was driving southbound on A1A in Brevard County when he spotted two young girls standing in the middle of the busy roadway. He immediately stopped his vehicle and ran into the road to grab the children.
Video shows Brittingham sprinting toward the children as he holds up one hand to signal oncoming traffic to stop.
"I was terrified thinking of what could have happened to them. The rest of my life would have been ruined," Brittingham told WESH-TV.
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One child was already in the middle of the street by the time he reached them. He said he grabbed both girls and got them off the road in about six seconds.
Brittingham said the girls appeared to be about 2 years old or younger and were unable to speak clearly, only pointing and saying, "Ohh."
After pulling the toddlers to safety, Brittingham searched nearby homes and eventually located an Airbnb property. He said no one answered when he knocked, so he walked around the house calling out. He later noticed a back gate was open.
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Inside, he found an elderly couple and a young woman who appeared unaware the children had wandered off.
"There was an elderly couple and a young girl, and they immediately went into like, ‘Oh my God, we’re so sorry,’" Brittingham said. "And I was like, ‘Yeah, I know, I’m just glad I could get them back to you. They were out in the road, and your gate was open.’"
Brittingham, who has five children and grandchildren, said he did not call police as his focus was getting the children back to their parents.
Appeals judge seems skeptical of sentence for pro-Trump Colorado clerk Tina Peters
A Colorado appeals court appeared skeptical of a sentence for a pro-Trump elections official convicted of assisting in a breach of elections equipment in 2020 on Wednesday.
While judges on the panel expressed little sympathy for the arguments from lawyers for former county clerk Tina Peters, they also grilled state lawyers. Judges were particularly critical of claims that Peters should be held accountable for spreading election conspiracies in 2020.
"The court cannot punish her for her First Amendment rights," Appeals Judge Craig Welling said.
Peters used another person's security badge to allow a former surfer, Conan Hayes, to watch a software update of her county's election management system. Prosecutors said he made copies of the system's hard drive before and after the upgrade, and that partially redacted security passwords later turned up online. Hayes was not charged with any wrongdoing.
TRUMP ISSUES SWEEPING PARDONS FOR 2020 ELECTION ALLIES — WHAT THE MOVE REALLY MEANS
Peters, who was pardoned by President Donald Trump in December, spent her Christmas in a Colorado prison after being convicted in October 2024 as the state resists the pressure from Trump.
Her lawyers nevertheless argue that a state-level pardon from Gov. Jared Polis is on its way. Trump had threatened the state with a loss of federal funding if Polis doesn't issue a pardon. Polis, for his part, has described Peters' nine-year sentence as "harsh."
Trump has posted on social media about Peters' case multiple times, describing her as a "patriot."
NEW MOTION SEEKS COLORADO CLERK TINA PETERS' RELEASE, CHALLENGING STATE AFTER TRUMP PARDON
"Instead of protecting Americans and their Tax Dollars, Democrats chose instead to prosecute anyone they can find that wanted Safe and Secure Elections," Trump posted. "Democrats have been relentless in their targeting of TINA PETERS, a Patriot who simply wanted to make sure that our Elections were Fair and Honest."
"Tina is sitting in a Colorado prison for the ‘crime’ of demanding Honest Elections," Trump continued. "Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!"
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Peters' attorney, Peter Ticktin, said the pardon should be applicable to state charges.
"I have great confidence that the appeal will be determined in Tina's favor," Ticktin explained. "However, the pardon which was issued by the grace of President Trump and for which we are extremely grateful could have put us in a difficult position.
"Contrary to Colorado’s governor, we see the pardon as applicable to state charges," Peters’ attorney added. "Hence, the Colorado Court of Appeals may or may not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal, which has been pending."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.