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Blanche argues Trump can influence DOJ investigations, including those involving political foes
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump has a "right" and a "duty" to influence federal investigations, including those regarding the president's political enemies who probed him in the past.
Blanche, who was named acting attorney general last week, dismissed the notion that the Justice Department has been improperly going after Trump's opponents and defended the president's influence over federal investigations.
"We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now. It is true that some of them involve men, women and entities that the president in the past has had issues with and believes should be investigated," Blanche said at a press conference.
"That is his right and indeed it is his duty to do that, meaning to lead this country, and so I do not view this as pressure," he continued.
BLANCHE INVOKES 'LOVE' WHEN ASKED ABOUT STAYING ON AFTER BONDI
This comes after Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday after she failed to secure successful indictments against some of Trump's political rivals and amid bipartisan frustrations with her handling of the Epstein files.
The DOJ has opened several investigations into Trump's opponents, including U.S. officials who found that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to boost Trump, Democratic lawmakers who encouraged U.S. service members to ignore unlawful orders, former President Joe Biden's alleged use of an autopen to sign official documents without his direct authorization and liberal donors and fundraising groups.
Blanche shut down the idea that the Trump administration is weaponizing the DOJ, noting a few of the investigations into Trump that took place under the Biden administration.
"You had a president who, along with this department, had assistance, so this department helped two other local DA's go after the president. You had this department who stood idly by while states tried to keep President Trump off the ballot," Blanche said, adding that the Trump administration's "supposed weaponization" of the DOJ is "completely false."
Blanche, who represented Trump in three of the four criminal cases he faced while out of office, cited those cases as he argued that Trump "wants justice" for people he believes improperly weaponized the legal system against him.
PAM BONDI IS OUT AS AG — HERE ARE THE CONTENDERS WHO COULD REPLACE HER
The acting attorney general declined to say whether he wants to be nominated to the vacant attorney general post. He said he would be honored if Trump chose him for the role, but would still love him if he chose someone else.
"As to whether or not I want this job, I did not ask for this job. I love working for President Trump," Blanche said. "It's the greatest honor of a lifetime, and if President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, that's an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, 'Thank you very much. I love you, sir.'"
Officials can serve in an acting capacity for up to 210 days. Trump has not signaled a nominee to take the role permanently, but he could nominate Blanche. The president has also reportedly had discussions with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin about taking the job.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Terror suspects indicted after allegedly throwing bombs at NYC protest outside mayor's mansion
The two terror suspects accused of trying to bomb a protest outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence last month, in what authorities have described as an ISIS-inspired attack, were indicted on Tuesday, according to federal prosecutors.
Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, and Emir Balat, 18, are accused of throwing live explosive devices into a protest outside Mamdani's Gracie Mansion residence on March 7, after driving from Pennsylvania. The bombs failed to detonate and nobody was injured.
Both were charged with eight counts: conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, provision and attempted provision of material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, carrying of explosives during the commission of a federal felony, transportation of explosive materials, interstate transportation and receipt of explosives and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
"As alleged, just weeks ago, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi carried out a terrorist attack on the streets of New York," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said in a statement. "They sought to murder multiple innocent victims in the name of ISIS. The brave women and men of the NYPD responded immediately, and Balat and Kayumi were arrested on site."
"Since their attack, our partners at the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force have uncovered evidence revealing the alleged meticulous planning by the defendants in their attack, including a notebook with detailed attack plans and a storage unit containing explosive residue and bomb-making materials," he added.
When speaking to law enforcement, Balat allegedly said he wanted the planned attack to be "bigger than the Boston Marathon bombing."
After Kayumi was arrested and waiting to be placed inside an NYPD vehicle, someone from the surrounding crowd yelled at him and asked why he carried out the attack.
"ISIS," he allegedly responded.
The pair also made comments recorded on dashcam in which they discussed soon carrying out the attack as they traveled to New York, according to the indictment.
"What do you think? Are they going to remove the airplanes for us ... over New York? Are they going to stop them? If we do the attack and the bombs go off and everything?" Balat asked.
"Just can't wait for that bomb to go off and his freaking head, his body to get split in half bro, dead," he added.
Kayumi said, "All I know is I want to start terror, bro" and "I want to petrify these people."
A forensic analysis of two unexploded devices — one that Balat tossed into the crowd of protesters and another that Kayumi handed to Balat before Balat dropped it on the ground near NYPD officers — found that both contained explosives, according to the indictment.
Mamdani said after the attempted bombing last month that "violence at a protest is never acceptable."
"The attempt to use an explosive device and hurt others is not only criminal, it is reprehensible and the antithesis of who we are," the mayor said at the time.
A-10 Warthog given new maritime role targeting boats in Iran after efforts to retire aircraft
The A-10 Warthog has a new maritime role in targeting boats in the war in Iran that could extend the life of the aircraft, which the U.S. Air Force had been attempting to retire for years.
Despite the Air Force trying to phase out the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked attempts to reduce the number of these aircraft.
A-10s have been used in the U.S. military campaign against Iran, as the Pentagon sees a need for an aircraft that can loiter and deliver accurate fire against small boats and coastal threats.
TRUMP AGREES TO 2-WEEK CEASEFIRE IF IRAN OPENS STRAIT OF HORMUZ
During a Pentagon briefing last month, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that A-10 aircraft were "in the fight" and operating across the southern flank of the conflict, including targeting Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 mine layers, and the pressure will continue," Caine said in the March 19 briefing.
"The A-10 Warthog is now in the fight across the southern flank and is hunting and killing fast attack watercraft in the Straits of Hormuz. In addition, AH-64 Apaches have joined the fight on the southern flank, and they continue to work on the southern side. And that includes some of our allies who are using Apaches to handle one-way attack drones," he continued.
This comes as President Donald Trump has escalated threats against Iran, including its civilian infrastructure, over its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global energy shipments. However, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire on Tuesday, hours before Trump’s deadline to strike power plants and bridges unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
As of 2026, the Air Force has around 280 A-10 aircraft in service, and Congress required that the fleet not fall below 103 aircraft in Fiscal Year 2026 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
While the A-10 is slower and less stealthy than newer aircraft, making it vulnerable in heavily contested airspace against modern integrated air defense systems, it has a long loiter time over target areas and the ability to visually identify and engage targets.
Originally designed as a Cold War-era tank killer, the A-10 is now being used in a markedly different role — targeting small, fast-moving boats and coastal threats amid the conflict with Iran. The use of the aircraft is intensifying debate over the Air Force’s decade-long effort to retire the jet, as it continues to be utilized in new missions.
Abortion pill mifepristone stays available by mail for now as FDA faces 6-month review deadline
A federal judge allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to continue being distributed by mail nationwide for now, but warned the Biden-era policy could soon face major legal changes as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety review of the drug unfolds.
The legal challenge to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's January 2023 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) seeks to end the "certified pharmacies" regulation that allows for the drug to be mailed across state lines while the federal agency continues its review.
U.S. District Court Judge David C. Joseph, appointed by President Donald Trump, ruled against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on Tuesday, citing what he referred to as a "government by lawsuit."
"...It is the completion of FDA’s promised good faith, evidence-based, and expeditious review of the mifepristone REMS, not "government by lawsuit," that this Court finds to be in the public interest," Joseph wrote in his ruling.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ATTACKS HAWLEY EFFORT TO STRIP FDA APPROVAL OF MIFEPRISTONE
Joseph also cited a letter from both Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary asking their respective agencies to "conduct a comprehensive safety review" of the 2023 mifepristone REMS.
Murrill told Fox News Digital she plans on taking Joseph's ruling to the Fifth Circuit despite the ongoing mifepristone REMS review from both agencies.
"Judge Joseph concluded that Louisiana has standing to sue and is likely to succeed in showing that the 2023 REMS is unlawful," Murrill said to Fox News Digital in a statement.
"He also concluded that Louisiana suffers irreparable harm every day that the 2023 REMS remains in effect," she added. "Accordingly, under binding Fifth Circuit precedent, the only thing left to do is vacate the 2023 REMS pending the outcome of this litigation. We will ask the Fifth Circuit to do so."
The ruling sets up a high-stakes legal fight over abortion pills, with a federal appeals court showdown looming and the FDA under pressure to justify rules that dramatically expanded access in recent years.
In the past year, many red states nationwide have taken the 2023 REMS mail-order regulation to the courts.
In one notable incident last year, a Texas man who fathered an unborn child sued a California doctor who prescribed his ex-girlfriend mifepristone through the organization "Aid Access." His case, Rodriguez v. Coeytaux, is still ongoing.
HAWLEY INTRODUCES BILL TO STRIP FDA APPROVAL FROM 'INHERENTLY DANGEROUS' ABORTION PILL
In the State of Louisiana v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Murrill seeks a full rollback of the REMS policy regardless of the findings of the review.
Joseph denied injunction without prejudice in the suit that Louisiana brought to the court, but also granted stay of the case. His ruling orders the FDA to complete their safety review, which had been postponed through the November midterm elections, and to report back in six months.
"Should the agency fail to complete its review and make any necessary revisions to the REMS within a reasonable timeframe, the Court’s analysis – and the weight accorded to these factors – will inevitably change," Joseph wrote in his ruling.
Joseph did point to Louisiana's standing in the suit, claiming the state is suffering "ongoing harm" after the Dobbs decision in 2022 allowed the state to ban abortion.
"Thus, in that post-Dobbs regulatory environment, there is evidence that the 2023 REMS was approved without adequate consideration, at least in part, as part of an effort to circumvent anti-abortion states’ ability to regulate abortion," Joseph wrote. "Likewise, there is evidence that the consequences of this action were predictable – out-of-state providers and related entities would expand access to mifepristone in ways designed to reach into jurisdictions like Louisiana."
PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATION CALLS ON HHS AND FDA TO SUSPEND ABORTION PILL APPROVAL, TIGHTEN SAFETY RULES
However, Joseph pointed to the FDA as the ultimate decision maker on the issue, as a matter of "public health judgment."
Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 under strict guidelines, requiring a pregnancy at seven weeks' gestation or fewer, and only administered in-person after being seen by a prescribing physician.
The guidelines were first relaxed in 2016, where the gestational age of the proposed pregnancy was lengthened to 10 weeks, and required fewer in-person visits to obtain a prescription.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, where mifepristone was prescribed and sent via mail under unprecedented circumstances, the same rules were legalized under the FDA's REMS in 2023.
Reuters reported that mifepristone is the single-most popular method of abortion in the U.S., representing about 60% of all abortions.
HAWLEY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO ABORTION DRUG MANUFACTURERS OVER 'GRAVE RISKS' TO WOMEN
Joseph's ruling orders the FDA to finish their review, which may revise rules under the 2023 REMS guidelines. It also allows the court to act if the agency continues to delay its safety review more than six months.
"Should the agency fail… the Court’s analysis… will inevitably change," Joseph concluded.
Joseph maintained mifepristone access in Louisiana for now, but signaled the legal and scientific basis for those rules may not hold.
"This is one of the many reasons why the investigation into the FDA must be sped up so that states can begin to regulate abortions if the feds don’t," 40 Days for Life President Shawn Carney told Fox News Digital. "This was one of the great promises by RFK that they initiated last year, because we now know how dangerous these abortion drugs are."
"The investigation into the FDA must be sped up because every abortion pill sent through the mail is a huge, unregulated danger that has been a disaster since Biden deregulated it," Carney added.
The FDA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Pope Leo calls out Trump’s Iran rhetoric before last-minute ceasefire emerges
Hours before President Donald Trump announced a two-week delay in attacking Iran, Pope Leo issued a rare and pointed condemnation, denouncing Trump's Tuesday morning threat against the country as "truly unacceptable."
Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics spoke out against the escalating war and called for an immediate end to the conflict.
"Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable," the pope said. "There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more so a moral issue for the good of the whole entire population."
The comments were seemingly in reference to one of Trump's earlier Truth Social posts, where he wrote, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will... God Bless the Great People of Iran!"
TRUMP VOWS US WILL STRIKE IRAN’S POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES IF STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT REOPENED
Trump later said that, based on conversations with Pakistani leaders, he would delay the "bombing and attack of Iran" for two weeks.
The postponement is subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to "the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," the president wrote in a Truth Social post.
He added the administration received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and officials "believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."
Pope Leo had warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure are "against international law" and serve as a "sign of the hatred, the division [and] the destruction the human being is capable of."
The pontiff went on to describe the conflict as a war many are calling "unjust" that is "not resolving anything."
"In fact, we have a worldwide economic crisis, energy crisis situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world," he said. "So come back to the table. Let's talk let's look for solutions in a peaceful way."
The pope also took the unusual step of calling on everyday citizens to "contact the authorities — political leaders, congressmen — to ask them to work for peace and to reject war always."
A clash between the sovereign of the Vatican City State and world leaders is highly unusual, though the pope made his first direct appeal to Trump last week, urging him to find an "off-ramp" to end the war with Iran, according to a report from Reuters.
Pope Leo on Tuesday pleaded for the protection of the innocent, urging the world to remember "the children, the elderly, the sick," who he said "have already become, or will become, victims of this continued warfare."
Gary Woodland savors Masters return after brain surgery, PTSD battle nearly ended his career
Gary Woodland’s return to Augusta National Golf Club carries added significance this year after he pulled off a surprising win at the Houston Open in March.
Woodland embraced the moment at Augusta National this week, reflecting on the tradition and significance of the Masters.
"I love this place," Woodland said Tuesday. "I love the tradition. There’s nothing like driving down Magnolia Lane. I definitely drove down a little slower this year than I ever have, even the first time I was here in 2011. I’m definitely taking it all in this week for sure."
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However, Woodland also acknowledged that the crowds and close quarters at Augusta National could be triggering.
"It's a big week for me this week," he said. "The fans are very close on the tee boxes. There's a lot going on. There's probably not a safer golf tournament in the world, so I'm happy for that. But it's still a battle in my head if I'm safe or not. That's a tough pill to swallow."
PHIL MICKELSON WITHDRAWS FROM THE MASTERS, JOINS TIGER WOODS IN SITTING OUT SIGNATURE MAJOR
Woodland, who won the 2019 U.S. Open, recently revealed that he has battled post-traumatic stress disorder for roughly a year. In 2023, he underwent a procedure to remove a benign brain lesion that triggered seizures, anxiety and fear.
But even after the surgery, Woodland’s symptoms persisted, leading to a PTSD diagnosis.
Woodland, 41, spent part of his week at Augusta National meeting with security officials.
"The main deal is they were showing me where security is," Woodland said. "The whole deal for me is it's visual, right? If I can see somebody, then I can remind myself that I'm safe constantly. So, I have a good idea now where security is on every hole."
Woodland described a recent tense stretch at the Houston Open two weeks ago, when he was on high alert late in his second round.
"I battled the last 10 holes thinking people were trying to kill me," Woodland said. "I have security with me. But I talked to [PGA] Tour security that night, and I told them what I was going through. Every time I looked up on the weekend, my security team was behind me."
The victory at last month’s tournament secured Woodland the last spot in the highly competitive Masters field.
Months before undergoing surgery in 2023, Woodland finished tied for 14th at that year’s Masters. He missed the cut at Augusta National in 2024 and also fell short of qualifying for last year’s Masters.
"I'm emotional from the standpoint I know how close I probably was to never being back here, and I'm very proud of myself for earning my way back," Woodland noted. "People ask me, 'How was the win?' The one thing I know is having this brain tumor and having PTSD, it doesn't matter if I win or lose. It doesn't care."
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Tori Spelling speaks out after car crash that sent her and her kids to the hospital
Tori Spelling is speaking out after she and four of her children were taken to a hospital following a car crash ahead of Easter weekend.
The 52-year-old "Beverly Hill, 90210" star shared an update on how she and her children are doing following the car accident on Thursday, April 2, in a video she posted on Instagram.
"I just wanted to reach out to everyone, and, this took me a bit to post this because, as most of you know, four of my kids and I and three of their friends were in a car accident a few days before Easter in Temecula, and we're okay, but it's been really overwhelming," she said in the video.
The actress said they are all "so grateful and lucky because it could have been so much worse."
TORI SPELLING SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON 30 YEARS OF PLASTIC SURGERY RUMORS
"The driver that hit us was speeding. He was going crazy crazy fast. We believe he went through a light and I'm just really grateful," she added. "Guardian angels were definitely with us that day because in a split second I looked to my right and I saw he was coming full on. Full impact into the side of our car and I turned hard left as hard as I could as fast as I could to avoid as much impact on the children as possible. He spun us out."
She went on to say how thankful she is for all the "first responders on the scene," and to everyone in the emergency room who "took such great care of all the kids and myself."
Spelling then expressed her gratitude "to everyone who has reached out and repeatedly checked on us and offered to do whatever we needed to get us through this."
"And all the blessings that everyone has sent, so thank you everybody," she said, adding she feels "just so much gratitude for life and the bravery of all of the kids in the car."
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"Grateful to all the first responders, to everyone that has reached out and checked on us, to all of you and your prayers, and to our guardian angels," she wrote in the caption.
Deputies first responded to the scene just before 6 p.m. Thursday following reports of a two-vehicle collision, authorities told Fox News Digital.
They confirmed that she and her four children, as well as three of their friends, were transported to a hospital, "in three separate ambulances." No arrests were made on scene, and the collision remains under investigation.
"On April 2, 2026, at 5:44 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 28000 block of Rancho California Road regarding a vehicle collision," the Riverside Sheriff's Department said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
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"Upon arrival, deputies located two vehicles with collision damage. All occupants were medically evaluated at the scene."
The actress has five children with ex-husband Dean McDermott: Liam, Finn, Beau, Stella and Hattie, although it is unclear who was in the car with Spelling at the time.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel responds after photos with New York Times NFL reporter leak
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed recent photos that show him and New York Times and The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini in bathing suits by a pool.
The photos, originally published by the New York Post's Page Six, also show the coach and journalist holding hands and hugging on the roof of a resort bungalow in Sedona, Arizona.
"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the Post. "This doesn’t deserve any further response."
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Russini has also responded.
"The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues." Russini said.
The Athletic provided its own statement to the outlet.
"These photos are misleading and lack essential context," Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic, said. "These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic."
Vrabel is coming off a season in which he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl and won NFL Coach of the Year.
Vrabel won the award over his opponent on Sunday in Super Bowl LX, Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald, San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen and Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson.
It was the second time in Vrabel’s coaching career that he has won the award. He received 19 of the 50 first-place votes and had a total of 302 points.
Vrabel first won the award while leading the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
Vrabel is the seventh coach to ever win Coach of the Year for multiple franchises, joining Chuck Knox, Bill Parcells, Bruce Arians, Dan Reeves, Don Shula and George Allen.
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Liberals tighten grip on battleground state Supreme Court in low-key but high-stakes election
Liberals expanded their majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in an election Tuesday, strengthening control in a key battleground state, in a ballot box showdown that drew limited national attention but had plenty riding on the results.
Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a former democratic state representative, defeated Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar, a conservative, the Associated Press reports.
Taylor will succeed a retiring conservative justice and with the victory, liberals will expand their majority on the state Supreme Court to 5-2.
While officially a non-partisan contest, state Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin have become extremely partisan in recent election cycles.
PRIMARY PAUSE, POLITICAL FIRESTORM: HIGH-STAKES ELECTIONS THIS MONTH TAKE CENTER STAGE
With the court's majority on the line in last year's contest, outside money poured in and out-of-state door knockers blanketed Wisconsin. One of the biggest spenders was Trump ally Elon Musk, who headlined a rally days before the election and donned a cheesehead hat worn by fans of the Green Bay Packers. Musk also personally handed out $1 million checks to voters.
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The liberal candidate won that election by a larger-than-expected margin to capture a 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court.
Since the majority wasn't at stake in this year's showdown, the campaign battle wasn't showered with national resources, money, or attention.
"Tonight the people of Wisconsin stood up for our courts and freedoms, our democracy, our elections and a strong state Supreme Court that will protect the independence of our beloved state," Taylor told supporters at her victory celebration.
Lazar, in her concession speech, told supporters that "the fight is not over and we will keep fighting for our courts because they are that important."
With most votes tallied, Taylor held a larger than expected 19-point margin over Lazar. And national Democrats were quick to tout the over performance.
"Wisconsin voters showed up and sent another big message to Republicans, securing a liberal majority until 2030!" Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a social media post."
Liberals took control of the state Supreme Court in 2023, ending a decade and a half of conservative control. Since taking the majority, the liberals have reversed several election-related rulings by the prior conservative majority, including one that banned absentee ballot drop boxes.
This year's campaign focused on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and union rights cases that will likely come in front of the state Supreme Court.
The judicial ballot box showdown also came six months ahead of November's elections, when Democrats in Wisconsin aim to keep control of the governor's office and potentially flip the state legislature, which Republicans have controlled for 15 years.
American couple chasing retirement dream in Bahamas boating mystery were 'inexperienced': Friend
Tune in to Fox and Friends Wednesday morning to see more of Griff Jenkins' interview with Lynette Hooker's daughter.
HOPE TOWN, Bahamas —The American woman who went missing in the Bahamas after her husband said she fell off a small boat had been living out her retirement dream of sailing when tragedy struck, according to a friend. Along the way, the couple had been building a social media following and forging connections across the country.
Lynette Hooker, 55 and her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, left Hope Town's Abaco Inn at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, four minutes after the sunset that night on a small boat headed to their yacht in Elbow Cay, according to Bahamian officials.
Brian Hooker reportedly told officials that while the couple were on the smaller boat, known as a dinghy, Lynette fell into the water with the ignition key, causing the engine to shut off. The current carried her away, according to Brian, who paddled back to a marina at Marsh Harbor. He reported Lynette missing at around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.
John Waters, who is friends with the couple, told Fox News Digital he met Lynette and at an oyster bar in Panama City Beach, Florida in 2023. He said the couple was on a journey around the Gulf of America.
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"Their new lifestyle was this boat that they picked up in Texas. They spent a year working on it," Waters said.
He described the couple as both really nice and said they were going for their retirement dream of sailing. He said the couple "weren’t that experienced" in boating.
Three days into the search for Lynette, authorities have provided few answers.
Richard Cook, team leader with Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, told PEOPLE foul play isn't suspected.
"It was just a lot of bad decisions," Cook said. "Night time, very windy, no moon out yet so it was pitch dark and very rough conditions for the small boat they were in."
Karli Aylesworth, Lynette Hooker's daughter, who isn't related to Brian, told Fox News' Griff Jenkins that Brian Hooker has a history of being violent towards her mother. She did several interviews with media outlets on Tuesday, including with Fox News' Griff Jenkins.
"I do believe something might have happened to her," she said. "There's history of them choking her out and threatening to throw her overboard. So the fact that this is actually happening makes me believe there's more to the story."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Brian Hooker several times but has not received a response. He has not been charged with a crime.
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Aylesworth told Fox News Digital that Brian Hooker's behavior would shift when drinking alcohol.
"He starts to act more smart-a---y and more picking at you and like 'I know this will irritate you so I'm gonna do that'" type of attitude.
Aylesworth described her mother as a "very fit person" who wouldn't lose her balance on a boat.
"I'm confused why she has the keys because she never drove the dinghy. It was always Brian. So the story just doesn't add up right now," Aylesworth said.
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Geoff Fahringer, former dive team member for the Collier County Sheriff's Office in Florida, told Fox News Digital that he doesn't suspect foul play.
"Sadly, what I've seen in my experience is that this is unfortunately a somewhat common occurrence that seeing the circumstances of this entire accident, it's something I've seen before," Fahringer said.
Authorities haven't said if Lynette Hooker was wearing a life jacket at the time she fell off the small boat.
The couple is very active on social media, largely showcasing their yacht. Their most recent Instagram post on Friday afternoon showed Lynette on a boat with the caption, "Not going anywhere for a while?!"
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The Royal Bahamas Police Force is investigating the woman's disappearance along with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue.
The U.S. State Department currently says the Bahamas issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas, is under a level 2 travel advisory and urges Americans to "exercise increased caution" due to crime, beach safety, as well as jet skis and boating dangers.
A spokesperson for the State Department told Fox News Digital the agency is aware of reports regarding the missing American and is working with Bahamian authorities.
Boating in the Bahamas isn't well regulated, and the State Department has said that "injuries and deaths have occurred."