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Newsom says Trump is one of the 'most destructive' president of his lifetime: 'This guy is reckless'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, argued that President Donald Trump is one of the "most destructive" presidents in his lifetime and that the country is becoming "unrecognizable."
The governor made the comments on Wednesday during an appearance on New York Times columnist Ezra Klein’s podcast.
"I think Trump is one of the most destructive presidents and human beings in my lifetime," Newsom said. "I think this republic is at real risk, this country being unrecognizable. And I have no patience for people that want to indulge it."
GAVIN NEWSOM WINNING EARLY ENTHUSIASM FROM LIBERAL HOLLYWOOD DONORS AHEAD OF 2028: REPORT
Newsom also criticized financial, educational and political entities for "bending the knee to this president."
"I can’t stand the crony capitalism," the California Democrat continued. "I can’t stand the universities have done that, the law firms that have done that, individual corporate leaders that have done that, other governors, maybe Democrats and Republicans, that have been complicit at this moment."
Several elite universities, banking companies and law firms amended policies this year in the face of threats from the Trump administration, including potential loss of federal funding for the educational institutions.
Newsom, who has been floated as a potential top Democrat candidate for the 2028 presidential election, has been a vocal critic of Trump dating back to his first term in the White House. He said he had "softened" on the threat of Trump ignoring constitutional restrictions and attempting to run for a third term.
"This guy is reckless," Newsom said. "We’ll not have a fair and free election if we don’t continue to fight. I’m the future ex-governor. Who the hell knows what happens the rest of my life? Except one thing I know that matters in the rest of my life is I have to look at my kids in the goddamn eye. I mean that seriously."
The governor's critique of Trump this year has included social media rants mimicking the president's writing style, such as using all capital letters and nicknames.
Newsom has also mocked Trump with AI-generated videos, including one depicting the president, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller in handcuffs crying.
NEWSOM HAS STRONG FEAR THAT ‘SON OF A B----’ TRUMP WILL SUSPEND 2028 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The jabs at Trump are just one side of the back and forth between the two politicians, as the president has also repeatedly attacked Newsom, including blaming him for the wildfires that swept through Southern California in January and supporting White House border czar Toman Homan's threat to arrest the governor amid federal immigration raids in Los Angeles over the summer.
Fired Michigan coach Sherrone Moore accused of stalking victim 'for months' in police dispatch audio
Details of the detention of former University of Michigan Football coach Sherrone Moore surfaced Wednesday and included allegations of stalking and a possible mental health crisis.
Audio of a 911 dispatch call obtained by Fox News Digital details allegations of an alleged "domestic" assault in which police said the victim claimed "there's a male at the location and the house attacking her" and noted that the suspect had been "stalking her for months."
The audio goes on to say that the suspect, "did put a knife to his throat and ran out."
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According to TMZ Sports, additional audio from dispatch included the suspect's wife saying he is suicidal due to "losing his job today."
Moore’s name was not mentioned in the audio, but TMZ Sports reported that the call came from a Michigan football employee's address in Ann Arbor at the time Moore was arrested on Wednesday.
Moore, 39, was booked into Washtenaw County Jail in Michigan, Fox News Digital confirmed. No charges were listed.
Pittsfield police said they responded to a home as part of an assault investigation. Police said a suspect was taken into custody and that the incident does not appear to be random in nature. Police said the suspect was lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County prosecutor.
WHO IS SHERRONE MOORE? NATIONAL CHAMPION COACH'S STUNNING DOWNFALL FROM MICHIGAN ENDS IN JAILING
Moore’s arrest came after the Wolverines head coach was fired after it was revealed that he had an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement that "credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member."
University of Michigan interim President Domenico Grasso also sent an email message to students Thursday addressing the situation, saying that Moore’s actions were a "breach of trust," and he encouraged students to come forward with information as their investigation continues.
"Students, Earlier this week, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics dismissed head football coach Sherrone Moore with cause for violating University policy by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member," a copy of the message obtained by Fox News Digital said.
"There is absolutely no tolerance for this conduct at the University of Michigan. None. I have been in close communication with the Board of Regents and we are united in committing to doing what is right. This breach of trust by Coach Moore is painful for many in our community, first and foremost, the individuals directly involved in this situation."
Moore is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.
Fox News Digital’s Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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Pickleball player plunges to his death in 3-story fall after climbing over safety rail to retrieve ball
Video shows the horrifying moment a pickleball player fell to his death after climbing over a safety rail to retrieve a ball at a sports center in Malaysia.
CCTV footage acquired by Newsflare shows the 32-year-old player leaping over a safety rail at a Kuala Lumpur pickleball facility on Dec. 2.
The video then shows him jumping onto mesh netting that covered an open gap, but it tore under his weight and he plunged three stories.
Other players rushed to the railing before heading to the first floor. When they reached him, they learned he had died, according to Newsflare.
DAD FINDS 13-YEAR-OLD SON DEAD AFTER 200-FOOT FALL FROM BLUFF INSIDE POPULAR NATIONAL PARK SITE
"The deceased was playing pickleball on the third floor and he had climbed over the court’s fence to retrieve a ball and fell to the lower floor," Wangsa Maju district police chief Mohamad Lazim Ismail said in a statement obtained by Newsflare. "The case has been classified as sudden death."
Officials at the Playa Racquet Club, where the incident occurred, expressed their condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.
WEALTHY CALIFORNIA TOWN BANS PICKLEBALL OVER NOISE COMPLAINTS FROM PADDLES HITTING BALLS
"We are deeply saddened by a tragic incident that occurred at our TREC facility, which resulted in the loss of a life," the officials said. "At this time, we ask for understanding and compassion as we respect the privacy of the family and loved ones affected.
"We kindly urge the public to refrain from speculation while the appropriate authorities carry out their investigation," club officials said.
WHAT IS PICKLEBALL? HOW TO PLAY, WHAT YOU NEED AND HOW TO FIND A COURT NEAR YOU
Pickleball is a sport that blends tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It was invented in 1965 by three dads looking for a fun family activity.
Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum gathered on Bainbridge Island, near Seattlenear Seattle, where they had access to an abandoned badminton court. They began using ping-pong paddles to volley with a perforated plastic ball over the net.
They ended up with some random equipment, which led to the birth of pickleball.
Fox News’ Ashlyn Messier contributed to this report.
John Stamos cast in 'Hunting Wives' drama as wife questions potential nude scenes
John Stamos is joining the next season of Netflix's risqué "Hunting Wives" show, and his wife is already considering the possibility of nude scenes.
In a recent appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," Stamos admitted that Caitlin McHugh, his wife of seven years, asked him about potential nudity in the season.
"I told my wife, the first thing she said to me was, ‘Are you going to show your penis?'" Stamos said.
"Are you?" Fallon asked. "Maybe," Stamos joked.
THE HUNTING WIVES PUSHES ENVELOPE FOR NETFLIX WITH MALIN AKERMAN AS STEAMY SEDUCTRESS
On Tuesday, Stamos took to Instagram to share the news.
"Bless your heart," he wrote, tagging the official Instagram account for the "Hunting Wives."
According to Variety, Stamos will star as Chase Brylan. A description of Stamos's character has not yet been shared.
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Cam Gigandet and Dale Dickey are also set to join the series for season two. The Netflix show is already packed with stars such as Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman and Dermot Mulroney.
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Variety reported that the second season will pick up with Snow and Akerman's characters "on the outs, but soon enough, old secrets and new foes force them back together. As they play their dangerous games, the question arises. Are they the hunters or the hunted?"
JOHN STAMOS AND JERRY O'CONNELL BURY THE HATCHET AFTER YEARSLONG RIFT OVER REBECCA ROMIJN
A release date for the second season of the Netflix show has not been released yet.
Black Lives Matter OKC leader charged with wire fraud, money laundering in alleged $3.15M embezzlement scheme
The executive director of Black Lives Matter (BLM) Oklahoma City (OKC) has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering after federal prosecutors say she diverted more than $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal bank accounts over a five-year period, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.
Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, 52, of Oklahoma City, is accused of routing money intended for the group’s bail fund and social-justice programs into accounts she controlled between June 2020 and October 2025.
The indictment says Dickerson used the money "for her personal benefit," including travel to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, "tens of thousands of dollars in retail shopping," more than $50,000 in food deliveries, a vehicle and six real properties.
According to a DOJ press release covering the indictment, BLM OKC raised more than $5.6 million beginning in 2020, including major grants from the Community Justice Exchange, the Massachusetts Bail Fund and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
BLACK LIVES MATTER'S $6M CALIFORNIA HOUSE DRAWS SCRUTINY
Those organizations routed most of the money through the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), which served as BLM OKC’s fiscal sponsor and required that all funds be used for tax-exempt purposes permitted under Section 501(c)(3). AFGJ also prohibited real-estate purchases without its approval and required BLM OKC to fully account for expenditures upon request.
Prosecutors say Dickerson instead deposited at least $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal accounts "rather than into BLMOKC’s accounts," and used interstate wires to submit two annual reports to AFGJ that "did not disclose" her personal use of funds. Those reports said the organization’s money had been used only for tax-exempt purposes.
Dickerson served as the group’s executive director beginning in at least 2016 and had access to BLM OKC’s bank, PayPal and CashApp accounts, according to the indictment.
FLORIDA DESIGNATES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND CAIR AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, DESANTIS SAYS
Prosecutors allege the misconduct began during the period when national bail funds allowed BLM OKC to retain portions of returned bail money to build a revolving bail fund or support its stated mission.
In 2022, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, a separate national organization not affiliated with BLM OKC, came under scrutiny after New York Magazine reported that it had purchased a $6 million California property using donor funds.
Internal memos showed senior leaders discussing how to manage questions about the house, which the group said was intended to serve as creative and community space. The reporting ignited debate at the time over financial transparency and oversight within national BLM-associated organizations.
A federal grand jury returned a 25-count indictment on Dec. 3, charging Dickerson with 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire-fraud count and up to 10 years for each money-laundering count, along with potential fines of up to $250,000 per charge.
All charges are merely allegations and Dickerson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Black Lives Matter OKC and the Alliance for Global Justice for comment.
Fox News Digital's Ronn Blitzer contributed to this report.
Viral footage shows DoorDash driver allegedly pepper-spraying customer's food order during delivery
Viral footage has captured the moment a DoorDash delivery driver may have pepper-sprayed a customer’s order during a delivery in Evansville, Indiana, according to local authorities and the company.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning and appeared to be a random attack that reportedly caused a couple excruciating pain.
Doorbell camera footage shows a woman with purple hair dropping off an Arby’s order, seemingly taking a photo, then discreetly spraying the bag with an irritant before slipping the spray back into her jacket pocket and leaving.
Local officials told Fox News Digital Wednesday that authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
DRUG-LACED CANDY DISGUISED AS KIDS’ TREATS FUELS NEW HALLOWEEN SAFETY WARNING FOR PARENTS: POLICE
"The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a reported incident in which a food delivery driver allegedly sprayed an irritant substance onto a customer’s order before leaving the residence," Sheriff Noah Robinson said.
"During the early morning hours of (Dec. 7), deputies responded to a local home after the occupants became ill shortly after consuming their delivered meal. The individuals reported experiencing burning sensations in their stomachs, throat, mouth, and nose and later discovered video footage showing the delivery driver spraying a substance onto the food bag prior to departure."
Resident Mark Cardin told local media WFIE that he and his wife did not realize the food had been tampered with until they began eating.
"I noticed my wife had started eating, and she started choking and gasping," Cardin said. "After she had a couple bites of her food, she actually threw up.
"I had a look at the bag and seen that there was some kind of spray or something. The bag had been tampered with. So, I pulled up my doorbell camera and seen that the lady who dropped the food off had actually tampered with it on purpose for some reason."
In several posts on Facebook, Cardin added that he did not know the driver, suggesting that the attack was random, adding she had already blocked him on the DoorDash app after the delivery.
He described the incident to WFIE as terrifying, noting they could have unknowingly ingested something far more dangerous.
"It’s horrific," Cardin said. "We assume it’s pepper spray. That’s more than likely what it is, but now, in this day and age, it could’ve been anything. It could’ve been rat poison. It could’ve been fentanyl. I mean, my wife could’ve been dead."
FAMILY OF 6-YEAR-OLD STABBED TO DEATH ‘SICKENED’ BY SUSPECT'S EARLY PRISON RELEASE
Carbin told WFIE that DoorDash has since refunded his order.
DoorDash told Fox News Digital Wednesday it has terminated the employee.
"We have zero tolerance for this type of appalling behavior," a DoorDash spokesperson said. "The Dasher in question has been permanently removed from the platform, and our team is standing by to support law enforcement with any investigation."
The identity of the delivery driver has not been confirmed, and no arrests have been made, officials said.
The sheriff’s office also said it is coordinating with DoorDash as the investigation moves forward.
Anyone with information relevant to this case is asked to contact the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.
Mark Cardin declined a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Arby's did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
OnlyFans model says fired Michigan coach Sherrone Moore 'slid into' her DMs: 'Wasn't surprised'
The Sherrone Moore saga continues, and an OnlyFans model claimed the fired Michigan head football coach "slid into" her direct messages after it was revealed Thursday he followed many other OnlyFans and Instagram models.
Moore even once attended a party thrown by convicted music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to a post of Moore's on X.
Moore was booked into jail Wednesday night after he was dismissed for allegedly having an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer.
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"I wasn’t surprised he was all in my DMs trying to risk it all with an OF model," "fitness influencer" and OnlyFans model Mia Sorety said X.
After the bombshell news Wednesday night, many went digging into Moore’s social media presence, and users on X started to find he was following many OnlyFans, Instagram models and college women.
"Look at Cherrone [sic] Moore’s following list on Instagram," one X user tweeted. "The dude follows hundreds of college girls, only fans models, & female reporters/anchors. It’s crazy & obvious the dude is a cheater."
Sorety replied, "He absolutely was."
Sports podcast host Justin Spiro also found a photo of Sorety at Michigan Stadium for a football game "a couple years ago" supporting the Wolverines.
As Moore’s social media history was dissected, it was found he attended a Kentucky Derby party thrown by Combs at the Louisville Palace hotel.
"What a great week in Paris! Such a blessing to be apart of the Michigan family! Off to the Ville for the weekend to enjoy the #KentuckyDerby Festivities! @trifectagala hosted by @Diddy tonight to start it off! #BonjourBlue #CantStopWontStop
This 2018 party came before Diddy’s infamous "white parties," which involved alleged sex abuse.
Moore has been married since 2015 and has three daughters with his wife.
Moore was locked up in the Washtenaw County Jail in Michigan Wednesday, Fox News Digital confirmed. No charges have been listed yet for the coach.
Pittsfield police said they responded to a home as part of an assault investigation. Police said a suspect was taken into custody and that the incident does not appear to be random. Police said the suspect was being held in the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County prosecutor.
Moore was dismissed by athletic director Warde Manuel Wednesday.
Michigan President Domenico Grasso sent a mass email message to students Thursday addressing the Moore controversy.
"Students, Earlier this week, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics dismissed head football coach Sherrone Moore with cause for violating University policy by engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. When the findings of a University investigation into Coach Moore’s behavior were presented on Wednesday, we immediately terminated his employment," a copy of the message obtained by Fox News Digital said.
"There is absolutely no tolerance for this conduct at the University of Michigan. None. I have been in close communication with the Board of Regents and we are united in committing to doing what is right. This breach of trust by Coach Moore is painful for many in our community, first and foremost, the individuals directly involved in this situation.
"Yet our swift and decisive action reflects the University’s staunch commitment to a campus culture of respect, integrity and accountability. All of the facts here must be known, so the University’s investigation will continue. Our community has worked diligently in recent years to strengthen a safe and respectful environment for all. We must remain steadfast with those efforts."
Potential charges for Moore are not expected to be announced until at least Friday.
"As this remains an active investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time, but our office will provide an update once a decision on charges is made," the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office said.
Fox News Digital's Ryan Gaydos, Alexandra Koch and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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Trump announces pardon for Colorado clerk: 'Simply wanted to make sure that our elections were fair'
A former Colorado clerk convicted of attempting to breach voting systems in hopes of proving President Donald Trump’s claims of election malfeasance in 2020 will receive a pardon.
Trump announced his pardon for Tina Peters on Truth Social, saying she has been sitting in prison for the "crime" of demanding honest elections.
"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," he wrote. "Today I am granting Tina a full pardon for her attempts to expose voter fraud in the rigged 2020 presidential election!"
TRUMP ISSUES SWEEPING PARDONS FOR 2020 ELECTION ALLIES — WHAT THE MOVE REALLY MEANS
Earlier this week, a federal judge refused to release Peters, 70, from prison.
She has been serving a nine-year sentence after a state jury convicted her of participating in a scheme to breach the Mesa County voting systems. She filed a lawsuit seeking her release earlier this year, arguing that her free speech rights had been violated, but Judge Scott Varholak rejected the motion Monday.
"Ms. Peters raises important constitutional questions concerning whether the trial court improperly punished her more severely because of her protected First Amendment speech," Varholak wrote. "But because this question remains pending before Colorado courts, this Court must abstain from answering that question until after the Colorado courts have decided the issue."
Peter Ticktin, Peters' attorney, said he was formally notified of the pardon Thursday.
"Tina Peters deserves justice," he wrote on X. "I have formally notified President Trump urging a presidential pardon and outlining why Tina is a necessary witness in exposing election misconduct. What happened to her was a travesty, and it’s time to set it right."
In a Dec. 7 letter to Trump, Ticktin said Peters' trial was a "travesty" where she was not permitted to raise her defense.
Trump said Peters was languishing in prison despite Democrats pushing soft-on-crime policies that allowed criminals to walk free, saying they had been "relentless" in targeting her.
"For years, Democrats ignored violent and vicious crime of all shapes, sizes, colors, and types. Violent criminals who should have been locked up were allowed to attack again," he wrote. "Democrats were also far too happy to let in the worst from the worst countries so they could rip off American taxpayers. Democrats only think there is one crime – not voting for them!
"Instead of protecting Americans and their tax dollars, Democrats chose instead to prosecute anyone they can find who wanted safe and secure elections."
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis previously vowed not to pardon Peters as part of any deal with Trump, saying she needed to be held accountable.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold later released a statement, saying:
"Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers for state crimes in a state Court. Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her. His assault is not just on our democracy, but on states' rights and the American constitution."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Colorado's Democratic and Republican parties and the governor’s office.
Trump administration offers $5M reward for capture of fugitive Los Choneros gang leader
The Trump administration is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the leader of Los Choneros, a gang the State Department designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in September.
The State Department’s Narcotics Reward Program announced the reward Thursday for Ecuadorian fugitive Francisco Manuel Bermúdez Cagua, also known as "Churron," because the gang he belongs to is allegedly responsible for trafficking drugs and guns into the U.S. and carrying out extreme acts of violence.
The 29-year-old was charged with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution and using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, according to a superseding indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York brought the charges, and the superseding indictment was unsealed in June.
"As alleged, Bermúdez Cagua is a top lieutenant within the leadership of Los Choneros, an extremely violent foreign terrorist organization responsible for pumping drugs into the United States, causing harm to our communities and wreaking havoc in his homeland of Ecuador," U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. of the Eastern District of New York said.
"The significant reward being offered by the State Department underscores our resolve to bring Los Choneros’ leadership to justice in a U.S. courthouse and eradicate such organizations."
Alleged co-conspirator José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as "Fito," 46, was extradited to New York in July 2025. The Department of Justice said he is an Ecuadorian citizen who also faces international drug trafficking and firearms charges.
Darío Javier Peñafiel Nieto, also known as "Topo," 35, is an alleged co-conspirator in the superseding indictment and is in custody in Ecuador.
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"We will use every tool in our arsenal to stop the brutal criminals who are trafficking deadly drugs into our country," Chris Landberg of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs said.
"We are offering a reward of up to $5 million under the Narcotics Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Bermúdez Cagua."
The indictment alleges that Los Choneros was one of the most violent transnational criminal organizations operating out of Ecuador.
The group’s network moved multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America, funneling shipments through Central America, Mexico and the U.S., among other locations, the indictment alleges.
MODEL, DJ LINKED TO VIOLENT TREN DE ARAGUA GANG LEADER SANCTIONED BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
The alleged co-conspirators are accused of directing and ordering acts of violence to advance the organization’s goals.
The State Department designated Los Choneros as an FTO in September 2025.
"Bermúdez Cagua is a high-ranking narco-terrorist whose actions have fueled the flow of cocaine into the United States and sown chaos in Ecuador," U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance Cole said. "The DEA is resolute in its mission to turn up the pressure and bring this dangerous individual to justice."
The DEA encourages anyone with information about Bermúdez Cagua’s whereabouts to contact the agency at Ecuadortips@dea.gov or +593-988-292-235. All information will be kept confidential.
Minnesota investigation: The shadowy money system Somalis rely on — and terrorists can exploit
The massive and sprawling $1 billion welfare-fraud schemes engulfing Minnesota are now casting fresh scrutiny on an old, opaque money-transfer network used by Somali Americans to send remittances back to their loved ones and friends — a system U.S. officials have warned can be siphoned or taxed by the terrorist group al-Shabaab.
Known as hawala, the centuries-old system moves money without banks, wiring infrastructure or standard documentation, yet it remains a lifeline for families in Somalia, where a national banking system barely exists. The system works by having a sender give money to an agent in the United States, who then instructs a partner in Somalia to pay the recipient directly, with no money ever physically crossing borders.
Hawala functions as an alternative remittance system, relying on trusted agents rather than banks. It is fast, inexpensive and reaches remote regions of Somalia where no formal banking system exists. For many Somali Minnesotans, hawala-linked payouts are the only practical way to support relatives overseas.
MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS VOW NEW CRACKDOWN AFTER $1B FRAUD MELTDOWN THEY SAY WALZ LET SPIRAL
But U.S. officials are sounding the alarm on the system, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing last month that the Treasury Department has opened a formal investigation into whether Minnesota taxpayer dollars doled out in the various schemes were diverted into financial channels that may benefit al-Shabaab which imposes taxes, extorts businesses or controls trade routes.
The House Oversight Committee has also launched its own inquiry into the fraud and the potential terror-finance risks, while Minnesota State Sen. Jordan Rasmusson said the concern is serious.
"Because there’s more than a billion dollars that’s been stolen and a significant portion of those dollars have been directed overseas, there are concerns this money could be either directly or indirectly funding terrorist organizations like al-Shabaab," Rasmusson told Fox News Digital.
Remittances are essential for survival in Somalia, where millions rely on money from relatives abroad to meet basic needs in a country where corruption and extremist taxation shape everyday economic life.
Each year, according to the global poverty-fighting organization Oxfam, Somalis living in the United States send about $215 million home each year. Globally, the Somali diaspora sends approximately $1.3 billion, equivalent to 15 to 20 percent of Somalia’s total economic output, according to recent World Bank estimates.
Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Minnesota chapter (CAIR-MN), told Fox News Digital previously that for many Somali Minnesotans, these payments are part of their monthly budgets.
"Most families like my family, we still send between 10 to 15, or even 30 percent of our income to loved ones back home," he said.
‘HE HAD YEARS TO STOP THIS’: GOP LAWMAKERS BLAST WALZ OVER MASSIVE MINNESOTA FRAUD SCHEME
Somali Americans are among the poorest demographics in the United States, yet many face intense pressure to send large parts of their income abroad, even while struggling themselves. The result is a community financially stretched at both ends with hundreds of millions of dollars flowing through a system that becomes vulnerable once funds reach Somalia.
The warnings revive long-standing fears in Minnesota, where roughly 20 young Somali Americans left in the late 2000s to join al-Shabaab — including Shirwa Ahmed, who became the first known American Islamist suicide bomber in 2008. Last year, Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS after twice trying to travel to Somalia.
In Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, known as "Little Mogadishu" due to its dense Somali population, Fox News Digital observed at least three wire-transfer storefronts in the area on Wednesday, while the only brick-and-mortar bank was an Associated Bank branch. Inside the wire-transfer storefronts, workers declined to speak on the record.
Those money wire stores operate legally in the United States and are licensed money-service providers. They have never been accused of wrongdoing and are not hawala shops and their role is to initiate the U.S. side of the transfer. They function similarly to Western Union counters, collecting cash from customers and sending the transaction data overseas.
The hawala system typically begins only after the money reaches Somalia, where limited banking options mean local agents pay out remittances from their own cash reserves and settle accounts privately. Experts say this Somalia-side leg of the process is where transfers often shift into hawala networks, becoming vulnerable to corruption or extremist taxation in regions controlled by al-Shabaab.
Anna Mahjar-Barducci, a Middle East analyst with the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), explained why hawala dominates Somalia’s economy.
"Hawala reaches places Western Union cannot. Much of Somalia, especially rural areas, has no formal banks or Western Union locations, but hawala agents exist almost everywhere," she told Fox News Digital.
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In practical terms, she said, money never crosses borders. A hawaladar in the sending country collects the funds and a counterpart in Somalia immediately pays out the equivalent amount from their own cash reserves, she said.
Behind the scenes, operators later settle debts privately through offsetting transactions, trade arrangements or bulk cash shipments — mechanisms regulators cannot monitor, she said.
Mahjar-Barducci said al-Shabaab’s taxation system is concentrated in south-central Somalia, where the group maintains control or co-governance over rural districts, key transport routes and local markets. Its influence is far weaker in northern Somalia and is largely absent in the autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland, with only a limited presence in pockets on the outskirts of major cities like Mogadishu.
However, she noted that even mobile-money systems are vulnerable and that al-Shabaab can compel local shopkeepers to pay a monthly "license" fee and a percentage of every transaction they process.
"In general, in Somalia, corruption affects daily life. Many people need connections or small payments to get services or jobs," she said.
"The diaspora sender typically is unaware of the exact tax," she added, noting that even legitimate remittances can lose value through hidden fees, coercion or extremist-controlled toll points.
When it comes to Minnesota’s fraud, she said the risk is real.
"In theory, once money from fraud is converted into cash, it can move through the same informal channels as ordinary remittances, like hawala."