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Larry Summers leaving Harvard job amid increased backlash over Epstein ties
Ex-Harvard President Larry Summers has stepped down from his teaching duties at Harvard University following growing outrage over messages between him and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The university confirmed the move Wednesday evening, marking a turn in Summers’ decades-long association with the Ivy League college.
The move also came after students at the college in Summers' economics class released a video Wednesday that showed the professor saying he felt shame over his ties with Epstein.
According to a statement released to The Harvard Crimson, Summers' co-teachers will finish the final three sessions of his current classes, and he is not slated to teach next semester.
In addition, he will go on immediate leave from his directorship of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, which he has led since 2011.
"Mr. Summers has decided it’s in the best interest of the Center for him to go on leave from his role as Director as Harvard undertakes its review," the spokesperson said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates
CMAs 2025 open with Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, and Keith Urban in a star-packed country celebration
The 2025 CMA Awards are here.
Luke Combs kicked off country music's biggest night with a performance of "Back in the Saddle."
Lainey Wilson is hosting the show on Wednesday night. The "Heart Like a Truck" singer took the stage after Combs' performance in a white and gold, bell-bottom look. She tied the look together with a white cowboy hat and a large CMA Awards belt buckle.
Wilson walked up to country music stars in the audience and got the icons to sing their songs along with her. Lainey approached Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley and Shaboozey, among others, before Keith Urban took the stage for a performance with her.
LAINEY WILSON SPILLS DETAILS OF INTIMATE PROPOSAL, EYES 'VERY SIMPLE' WEDDING
The 59th annual CMA Awards are being held on Nov. 19, 2025, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Billy Ray Cyrus took the stage with Elizabeth Hurley to present the single of the year award to Ella Langley and Riley Green for "You Look Like You Love Me."
Wednesday night's show marks the first time Lainey Wilson has hosted the CMA Awards solo. Last year, she was joined by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning. She is one of three women to host the CMA Awards alone.
Wilson joins Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire as she makes history on Wednesday night.
Dustin Lynch told Fox News Digital on the red carpet that Wilson is the "best one" to host the award show. "Lainey is such a natural and so fun. She's funny and confident and she's going to represent us well tonight," Lynch said.
WATCH: Brantley Gilbert calls CMA Awards ‘date night’
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Brantley Gilbert and his wife, Amber, celebrated a date night on the CMA red carpet. Brantley told Fox News Digital that their kids are usually "attached" to their hips, so he was very excited to get his wife to himself on Wednesday night.
"I'm kinda eating it up a little bit tonight. Daddy's trying to cuddle," Brantley said, which got a laugh out of his wife.
LeAnn Rimes spoke to Fox News Digital prior to the big show and called returning to CMAs a "full circle moment" after she first attended the awards show as a teenager in the late 1990s.
WATCH: LeAnn Rimes reflects on her first CMA Awards appearance
The award show will be honoring country music artists and will feature performances from Megan Moroney, Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Chris Stapleton, Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert.
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Country music star Vince Gill will be honored at the CMA Awards. He will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award from the Country Music Association, which recognizes his career and influence.
Gill spoke to Fox News Digital on the red carpet, ahead of his legendary honor. The country star hopes his legacy will be in his music.
"The songs seem to be what will live forever. The rest of us won't. Artists will come and go, but the songs are forever," Gill said.
Purple Heart recipient and veteran advocate Sgt. Michael Verardo laid to rest with honors at Arlington
Under a gray sky on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, family, friends and fellow service members gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to lay to rest U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Verardo, one of the most catastrophically wounded heroes of the post-9/11 generation.
The paratrooper who survived two IED blasts in Afghanistan and endured 120 surgeries over 15 years was remembered as a patriot, husband and father whose courage outlasted every injury he suffered.
Sgt. Verardo’s story united lawmakers, veterans and military families who witnessed not just how he fought, but how he lived, transforming his long recovery into a mission to serve others through the Independence Fund, which has restored mobility to more than 2,700 severely wounded veterans.
The ceremony opened with an invocation from Rev. Dr. Terry Moore, whose voice carried over the rows of white headstones. "Today is a sacred day, for we have joined together to honor a true hero — a hero to his country, his family, a husband, a father and a friend," he said.
TRUMP LAYS WREATH AT TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY ON VETERANS DAY
"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down his life for his friends. But most importantly, Michael Verardo was a child of God… His spirit rests in the arms of a loving God."
Soldiers in dress uniform with the U.S. Army Band, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, and the Caisson Detachment moved with precision as they carried his flag-draped casket to Section 57, Grave 2113. A rifle volley cracked through the air before a lone bugler played "Taps."
While "My Country, ’Tis of Thee" played softly over the field, the folded American flag which draped his casket was placed into the hands of Verardo’s widow, Mrs. Sarah Verardo, "as a symbol of appreciation" from a grateful nation.
The ceremony concluded with "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth offered one of the afternoon’s most emotional tributes.
"Sergeant Verardo was a soldier, a patriot, and a man who said, ‘Send me'," Hegseth told mourners. "Send me to the Army. Send me to the 82nd. Send me to Afghanistan. Even when wounded, he wanted to return to his men. That was the spirit of Sgt. Verardo, the warrior ethos through and through."
Hegseth continued: "Through 120 surgeries and countless complications, he fought with the same courage he showed in battle. His family fought with him, for him and alongside him. May we continue to produce such men and women — for they are the cost of freedom."
Lawmakers in attendance included Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Richard Hudson, who joined a lineup of veterans, military officials and family friends honoring Verardo’s life.
President Donald Trump honored Verardo when he passed back in August in a Truth Social post, writing of his "extraordinary life and service."
During the ceremony, Sarah Verardo sat flanked by the couple’s three daughters, Grace, Mary Scott and Elizabeth.
Born Feb. 16, 1985, in Providence, Rhode Island, Michael Verardo enlisted in the U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Bravo Company, 2-508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
In April 2010, he survived two separate IED attacks in the Arghandab River Valley. The second explosion caused catastrophic injuries: the loss of his left leg, extensive burns, a traumatic brain injury and severe internal damage. He flatlined multiple times before pulling through with sheer grit and celebrated his "Alive Day" each year after on April 24.
Verardo spent years in recovery at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Center, undergoing more than 120 surgeries and countless medical procedures. He married high school sweetheart Sarah Conklin in 2013, and together they raised three daughters while devoting their lives to improving care for severely wounded veterans.
Through their leadership of The Independence Fund, founded by Marine Corps veteran Steve Danyluk, the Verardos helped deliver more than 2,700 all-terrain Track Chairs to veterans across generations, providing newfound independence to troops injured in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. Verardo died Aug. 26, 2025, from complications related to his combat injuries. He was 40.
To those who knew him, Sgt. Verardo’s life was defined not only by the injuries he survived, but by the mission he chose afterward: advocacy and service. That mission continues through the Independence Fund, through every veteran who regained mobility through a Track Chair, and through every military family strengthened by the example he and Sarah set.
His headstone will face the Washington Monument as the nation he fought for still stands tall.
"Wearing our nation’s uniform was the honor of Michael’s lifetime," Sarah said in a previous interview. "Caring for him was the honor of mine."
Epstein files to go public as Trump says he signed law authorizing release of records
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday evening that he signed legislation greenlighting the Justice Department to release files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!" Trump wrote in a lengthy message on the Truth Social platform. "As everyone knows, I asked Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, to pass this Bill in the House and Senate, respectively. Because of this request, the votes were almost unanimous in favor of passage.
"At my direction, the Department of Justice has already turned over close to fifty thousand pages of documents to Congress. Do not forget — The Biden Administration did not turn over a SINGLE file or page related to Democrat Epstein, nor did they ever even speak about him."
WHITE HOUSE SLAMS DEMS' 'BAD-FAITH' EPSTEIN DOC RELEASE AS DEMAND FOR FILES INTENSIFIES
Trump’s ties to Epstein had faced increased attention after Trump’s Justice Department and FBI announced in July it would not unseal investigation materials related to Epstein, and that the agencies’ investigation into the case had closed.
But Sunday Trump announced that he backed releasing the documents, asserting that he had "nothing to hide."
"As I said on Friday night aboard Air Force One to the Fake News Media, House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat 'Shutdown,'" Trump wrote.
The House voted Tuesday to release the files by a 421–1 margin, following pressure for months from the measure’s ringleaders, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and other Democrats.
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., was the only House member to vote against the release, and said he didn’t back the measure because "this bill reveals and injures thousands of innocent people — witnesses, people who provided alibis, family members, etc."
Although Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., ultimately voted in favor of the measure, he also voiced similar concerns during a Tuesday press conference.
EPSTEIN REFERENCED TRUMP IN PRIVATE EMAILS TO GHISLAINE MAXWELL AND OTHERS, NEW RECORDS SHOW
"Who's going to want to come forward if they think Congress can take a political exercise and reveal their identities? Who's going to come talk to prosecutors? It's very dangerous. It would deter future whistleblowers and informants," he said. "The release of that could also publicly reveal the identity, by the way, of undercover law enforcement officers who are working in future operations."
After the House’s approval of the measure, the bill headed to the Senate and passed hours later Tuesday by unanimous consent.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act specifically directs the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and investigative materials related to Epstein and Ghislane Maxwell, as well as files related to individuals who were referenced in Epstein previous legal cases, details surrounding trafficking allegations, internal DOJ communications as they relate to Epstein and any details surrounding the investigation into his death.
Files that include victims' names, child sex abuse materials, classified materials or other materials that could threaten an active investigation may be withheld or redacted by the DOJ.
Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters Wednesday that she would comply with the law after it was signed, which directs the Justice Department to release the files online in a searchable format within 30 days.
The Epstein files received fanfare among supporters of the president in the early days of the administration as they rallied around the Trump DOJ to release details on Epstein's alleged "client list" and death.
The DOJ and FBI said in a joint memo obtained by Fox News in July that the two agencies had no further information to share with the public about Epstein's case and suicide in 2019, sparking outrage among some MAGA supporters as they demanded the DOJ release more documents.
Trump has since railed against the Epstein case as a "Democrat hoax," before calling for their release Sunday.
The push to release the files gained increased momentum after Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released three emails Wednesday that Epstein’s estate provided to them that mentioned Trump. In turn, Republicans released their own stash of 20,000 pages of Epstein documents that same day.
EPSTEIN ESTATE TO BEGIN HANDING FILES TO HOUSE INVESTIGATORS AFTER 'BIRTHDAY BOOK' SUBPOENA
Included in the tranche of documents are emails between Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and correspondence with author Michael Wolff, former President Barack Obama's White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, among others, where Epstein mentions Trump.
"i want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump.. (VICTIM) spent hours at my house with him ,, he has never once been mentioned. police chief. etc. im 75 % there," Epstein said in an email to Maxwell in April 2011, which was provided with other correspondence to the committee by Epstein’s estate in response to a subpoena request.
"I have been thinking about that…" Maxwell said in response.
Epstein told Wolff in a separate email in 2019 that "of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop" — a reference to Trump. Trump has said that he barred Epstein from his Florida Mar-a-Lago golf club because Epstein kept "taking people who worked for me."
While the documents themselves are authentic, Epstein’s statements in the emails remain unverified and uncorroborated. The documents do not claim that Trump committed any wrongdoing, and only portray Epstein mentioning the president.
Likewise, Trump has not faced formal accusations of misconduct tied to Epstein, and no law enforcement records connect Trump to Epstein’s crimes.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 as he was awaiting trial on federal charges. Maxwell was convicted on charges including sex trafficking of a minor and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and David Spunt contributed to this report.
Leavitt demands Senate GOP ‘get off their butts’ and abolish filibuster rule to advance Trump's agenda
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made waves on Wednesday by doubling down on demanding Senate Republicans abolish the filibuster to speed up President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Trump wants Senate Republicans to gut the Senate filibuster, the 60-vote threshold that applies to most bills in the upper chamber, and given the nature of the thin majorities that either party has commanded in recent years, that means legislation typically has to be bipartisan to advance. While some Republicans argue this rule holds back any unwanted, radical changes from being implemented by Democrats, others argue this rule prevents actual needed reforms their own party is trying to implement.
"Knowing the Democrats from past history, they'll try to stage another shutdown before the midterms to cause maximum damage. It worked for them really this time, they feel, because they did well in those elections, those special elections," Pod Force One podcast host Miranda Devine said. The host then said that getting rid of the filibuster seems to be the only way to avoid that scenario, asking if Trump is still determined to get Senate Republicans on board.
"Absolutely. He's in total agreement that we need to let go of the filibuster. It's not serving the purpose that it originally intended to serve anymore," Leavitt said. "It's really a moot point, and he wants to see it gone so that he can have the most productive three years of any president ever."
TOP DEMOCRAT CHANGES HIS TUNE ON ELIMINATING FILIBUSTER UNDER TRUMP COMPARED TO BIDEN
She proceeded to tout that while some of his policies have already passed, some of his biggest election promises can be fulfilled if the filibuster is abolished.
"He's already been so productive in his first term. He ushered through the largest middle class tax cut in just 6 months, which is amazing. There's so much more work to do. Election integrity, voter ID, getting rid of universal mail-in ballots. All of that can be done if Congress works together and gets rid of the filibuster," she said.
Rather than merely Democratic opposition, Leavitt argued that it Senate Republicans must fall in line and support the president’s agenda.
"So, the president is definitely talking a lot about that both publicly and privately. I know he's expressed his opinion on that to leaders in the Senate who may agree or disagree. We'll have to see how it shakes out, but there's so much that can be accomplished, and we must take advantage of having the most productive president in the Oval Office. You know, Republicans need to get off their butts and move and that's what the president wants to see them do and that's what the American people are expecting."
When asked how this would likely shake out, Leavitt offered an optimistic take.
"I'm not a betting woman. I'm not a gambler, but I would say, don't bet against President Trump." she said. "I mean, there's been many challenges he's faced where people think he couldn't get the votes on topics that he did in fact get the votes. Look at the one big, beautiful bill, right? Everybody in Washington doubted his ability to get that done by the 4th of July, and he did it. And he's unequivocally the leader of the Republican Party. Voters understand that and voters want to see the Trump agenda, the America first agenda implemented. And the best way to do that is to get rid of this nonsense rule that really has no impact on the Senate anymore."
A Senate GOP aide spoke about Leavitt's interview in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"As Thune and many others in the conference have repeatedly said, the votes to eliminate the filibuster do not exist in the Senate Republican Conference. They have also been clear that the filibuster provides an incredibly important firewall that protects the American people from all of the extreme, hyper-partisan policies Democrats would pursue, and Republicans don’t want to do their dirty work for them by eliminating this tool," a Senate GOP aide wrote. "Sinema and Manchin prevented Dems from eliminating it when they were in power, and it’s pretty common knowledge that there were others in the conference who voted the way they did because they knew it wouldn’t be abolished. So with that in mind, I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that Dems would have the votes to do it in a future majority, which is why they’d love for us to do it for them."
Illegal immigrant wanted for brutal bathtub murder arrested in Texas after crossing southern border again
U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Texas on Monday arrested a wanted Mexican national accused of viciously murdering a woman years after he was deported.
Hernan Perez Juarez, also known as "Patricio Perez," 41, is charged with murder in connection to the May 8, 2020, killing of a woman who was found dead in her Georgetown, Texas, bathtub with a deep cut in her lower abdomen.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Perez Juarez was deported in 2018 for an immigration violation and had no legal status in the U.S.
ICE NABS 3-TIME DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER: 'GOOD RIDDANCE'
He allegedly reentered the country before the crime, and authorities later found his vehicle abandoned in Laredo, near the international border of Mexico, according to the U.S. Marshals.
In March 2022, the Georgetown Police Department (GPD) obtained an arrest warrant for Perez Juarez, though the case stalled due to his unknown whereabouts.
VENEZUELAN MAN WANTED FOR RUSSIAN ROULETTE TORTURE ATTACK CAPTURED BY ICE AGENTS IN NORTH TEXAS
Earlier this month, an Austin-based task force learned Perez Juarez returned to the U.S. illegally, according to the U.S. Marshals.
He was arrested in Temple, Texas on Monday and taken to the Williamson County Jail awaiting further judicial proceedings.
ICE has filed an immigration detainer on Perez Juarez following the judicial process in Williamson County, according to the U.S. Marshals.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Country stars Lainey Wilson, LeAnn Rimes and Kelsea Ballerini dazzle on CMA Awards red carpet in Nashville
Country style met red carpet glamour at Wednesday night's CMA Awards in Nashville.
Lainey Wilson stunned on the carpet in a teal jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and flowing green cape. Kelsea Ballerini shined in a red dress with tulle fabric made to look like a rose.
Here is a look at the red carpet fashion from the CMA Awards.
Lainey Wilson turned heads when she walked the red carpet in a teal jumpsuit with glittering accents throughout and a plunging neckline, which she paired with a flowing green cape and a green cowboy hat. She accessorized with big statement rings and dangling earrings.
Kelsea Ballerini wore a strapless sheer red dress with tulle bunched together in the front to look like a rose. She wore her hair in a slicked back look with the front pieces pinned back, and accessorized with red lipstick to match the dress.
Country music superstar, LeAnn Rimes, shut down the carpet when she arrived in a strapless brown dress with a thigh-high slit and floral detailing along the bottom of the corested bodice. She accessorized the look with big rings and dangling earrings.
One of the night's most nominated artists, Megan Moroney, stunned when she posed for photos in a strapless black gown with a tight bodice and a thigh-high slit, which also featured silver-striped detailing. She paired the look with black opera gloves, a diamond bracelet and dangling earrings, choosing to wear her blonde hair in big curls.
Country music icon, Kenny Chesney, wore black dress pants and a suit jacket, left unbuttoned to showcase his white shirt. He paired the look with a black cowboy hat.
Mickey Guyton rocked a black two-piece set, featuring a cropped collared shirt left unbuttoned to reveal a bit of cleavage, and a fitted mermaid skirt, with both the skirt and the top featuring sparkling fringe. She accessorized with black shoes and wore her long hair down in a center part.
Colbie Caillat posed for photos on the red carpet in a form-fitting black mermaid dress, which features fuzzy embellishments on the neckline and on the skirt. She styled her hair in a low bun, with the front pieces left out to frame her face.
Dustin Lynch walked the red carpet in a light brown suit and white dress shirt, which he paired with a black cowboy hat and black shoes.
Country music singer-songwriter, Brett Young, looked dapper on the red carpet in an all-black outfit.
Brian Kelley walked the red carpet in a cream suit and white dress shirt, which he paired with a brown cowboy hat and shoes.
His wife, Brittney, posed alongside him in a dark brown long-sleeve mini dress with fringe and a plunging neckline.
The members of Old Dominion showed off their own personal style, while still managing to match in nearly all-black looks.
Geoff Sprung wore a textured black suit jacket with a sparkly lapel, while Matthew Ramsey wore a black suit with a white shirt. Trevor Rosen wore a traditional black suit and Brad Tursi wore a buttoned-up black jacket and dress pants.
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Members of the popular country band, Lady A, stunned on the red carpet. Dave Haywood wore an all white suit, while Charles Kelley wore a brown suit.
Hillary Scott stunned in a skin-tight black long-sleeve dress, which she paired with sheer black tights. She let her long brunette hair down and pulled it to one side.
Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, of War and Treaty, were all smiles as they walked the red carpet in all black looks. Michael wore a black jacket with white roses sewn on and a black cowboy hat, while Tanya wore a figure-hugging black dress which flared out at the bottom, and a cowboy hat.
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Zach Top looked dapper as he walked the red carpet in a dark navy blue suit, which he paired with a cowboy hat and a big belt buckle.
Tyler Hubbard looked effortlessly cool when he walked the carpet in a dark green suit with a light green dress shirt underneath.
Missing ‘at-risk’ girl Melodee Buzzard’s mom appears in court after alleged box-cutter standoff
The mother of a missing 9-year-old California girl described as "at-risk" appeared briefly in court Wednesday on a felony false-imprisonment charge unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance.
Authorities say Ashlee Buzzard, 35, faces the charge after an alleged incident at her Lompoc home on Nov. 6, weeks after her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, was last seen.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the child’s whereabouts.
Officials began investigating Melodee’s disappearance on Oct. 14, after a school official reported her prolonged absence. When questioned, deputies said Ashlee Buzzard failed to provide a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s location and has "remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s welfare."
Tyler Brewer, a court officer who has known Buzzard for years, told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him where Melodee was and who she was with, but he remains unsure whether the information was accurate, citing her unstable behavior at the time. He said he believes the child may be in Utah.
Brewer told ABC News that during a visit to Buzzard’s home, she appeared distressed after sharing information she "seemed to regret disclosing," then locked the doors and retrieved a box cutter, preventing him from leaving. He said she eventually let him go, and he immediately contacted authorities.
Brewer described Buzzard as paranoid and mentally deteriorating, saying she’s "a totally different person" from when he first met her.
MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM PLOTTED TO ‘CUT OFF’ MISSING 9-YEAR-OLD FROM ‘ENTIRE WORLD,’ GRANDMA SAYS
Wednesday’s hearing in Lompoc Superior Court lasted less than a minute, according to KSBY.
Buzzard appeared in court dressed in a long-knit cardigan and with her hair tied back in a ponytail, a noticeable change from her short curls during her Nov. 12 arraignment. The outlet noted she also avoided eye contact as she walked to the counsel table alongside her public defender.
Attorneys confirmed they are moving forward with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday, when both sides will present evidence. A judge will then decide if the felony case proceeds to trial.
MELODEE BUZZARD'S MOTHER ARRESTED ON CHARGE UNRELATED TO HER DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE
Buzzard was charged Nov. 7 in connection with the incident involving Brewer. She was later released under conditions that include wearing an ankle monitor and avoiding contact with him.
Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, told NewsNation she has not spoken with Ashlee since 2023. She described a difficult past marked by instability and domestic violence, including periods of homelessness when Ashlee was a child.
Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7, traveling in a rented Chevrolet Malibu with California plates that were later swapped for a New York tag believed to be false.
The pair reportedly drove through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada before the car was returned to the rental agency with its original plates reattached.
Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs at a Lompoc rental location. Authorities believe the disguise was intended to avoid recognition while traveling.
Melodee is described by officials as 4-feet to 4-feet, 6-inches tall, 60 to 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts to call (805) 681-4150.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Buzzard's lawyer for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Senators rail against 'cash grab' spending bill provision as House preps repeal vote
The Senate is once again finding a moment of bipartisan unity in its fury over a recently-passed law that would allow lawmakers to sue the federal government and reap hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money as a reward.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle continue to grapple with the inclusion of a provision in a package designed to reopen the government that would allow only senators directly targeted by the Biden-led Department of Justice (DOJ) and former special counsel Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation to sue the U.S. government for up to $500,000.
Both Senate Republicans’ and Democrats’ ire at the provision is multi-pronged: some are angry that it was tucked away into the Legislative branch spending bill without a heads-up, others see it as nothing more than a quick pay day for the relatively small group of senators targeted in Smith’s probe.
REPUBLICANS FEUD OVER 'ARCTIC FROST' ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE, BUT CRITICS OFFER NO CLEAR ALTERNATIVE
"I think it was outrageous that that was put in and air dropped in there," Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., told Fox News Digital. "It's outrageous. It's basically just a cash grab for senators to take money away from taxpayers. It's absolutely outrageous, and needs to be taken out."
The provision was included in the spending package by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on request from lawmakers in the GOP. And it was given the green light by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The provision is narrowly tailored to just include senators, and would require that they be notified if their information is requested by the DOJ, be it through the subpoena of phone records like in the Arctic Frost investigation or through other means. The idea is to prevent the abuse of the DOJ to go after sitting senators now and in the future.
Thune pushed back on the notion that lawmakers weren’t aware the provision was in the bill, given that the entire package was released roughly 24 hours before it was voted on, but acknowledged their frustration over how it was added was warranted.
"I think I take that as a legitimate criticism in terms of the process, but I think on the substance, I believe that you need to have some sort of accountability and consequence for that kind of weaponization against a co-equal branch of the government," Thune said.
Schumer, when asked about the anger brewing on both sides of the aisle, heaped the blame on Thune, but noted that it was an opportunity to get protection for Democrats, too.
GOP UNITY SHATTERED BY CONTROVERSIAL MEASURE IN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BILL
"Look, the bottom line is Thune wanted the provision, and we wanted to make sure that at least Democratic senators were protected from [Attorney General Pam] Bondi and others who might go after them," Schumer said. "So we made it go prospective, not just retroactive, but I'd be for repealing all the provision, all of it. And I hope that happens."
The House is expected to vote on legislation that would repeal the language, and many in the upper chamber want to get the chance to erase the provision should it pass through the House. Whether Thune will put it on the floor remains in the air though.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was one of the eight senators whose records were requested during Smith’s probe. He told Fox News Digital that he was neither asked about the provision, nor told about it, and like many other lawmakers, found out about it when he read the bill.
"I just think that, you know, giving them money –- I mean making a taxpayer pay for it, I don't understand why that's accountability," he said. "I mean, the people who need to be held accountable are the people who made the decisions to do this, and, frankly, also the telecom companies. So I just, I don't agree with that approach."
LINDSEY GRAHAM VOWS TO SUE OVER 'ARCTIC FROST' INVESTIGATION TARGETING GOP LAWMAKERS' PHONE RECORDS
He also took issue with the fact that the provision was narrowly tailored to only apply to the Senate, and argued that it could be reworked to only provide for declaratory judgement in court rather than a monetary one.
"I could see the value of having a court say this was illegal and ruling against the government," Hawley said. "I think it's the monetary provisions that most people, including me, really balk at. Like, why are the taxpayers on the hook for this, and why does it apply only to the Senate?"
The provision set a retroactive date of 2022 to allow for the group of senators targeted in Smith’s Arctic Frost probe to be able to sue. That element has also raised eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital that he supported repealing the provision, but wanted to fix it.
"The best way to be able to handle it, I think, is to be able to fix it, take away the retroactivity in it," he said. "The initial target of this whole thing was to make sure this never happened again."
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., told Fox News Digital that the provision was a "total mess," and raised concerns on a bipartisan basis.
Not every Senator was on board with ditching the provision, however.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., made clear that he intends to sue the DOJ and Verizon, his phone carrier, and argued that he didn’t believe that the provision was self-dealing but rather to deter future, similar actions. He also wants to take the provision, or the core idea of it, a step further.
Graham said that he wanted to open up the process to others, including dozens of groups, former lawmakers and others affected by the investigation.
"Is it wrong for any American to sue the government if they violated your rights, including me? Is it wrong if a Post Office truck hits you, what do you do with the money? You do whatever you want to do with the money," Graham said.
"If you've been wronged, this idea that our government can't be sued is a dangerous idea," he continued. "The government needs to be held accountable when it violates people's rights."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., was far more succinct. When asked if he would support a repeal of the provision, he told Fox News Digital, "No."
FBI targets dangerous online '764' network including alleged affiliate preying on 11-year-olds, teens
The FBI has intensified its effort across the U.S. to take down the online child-exploitation group, "764" network, with two recent examples highlighted by FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Bongino revealed how the dangerous network has infiltrated online spaces popular with minors and said how aggressively federal authorities are moving to shut it down.
"For those who may not know, the 764 Network is a heinous child-exploitation ring that often targets children online and coerces them into acts of violence, self-harm, animal abuse, suicide, and sexual abuse," Bongino warned.
"At the beginning of the year, our teams redoubled efforts to go after these networks and eliminate them. We have more than 300 investigations connected to this network nationwide, and that number is growing. It is a top priority for us," he added.
Among the latest cases, Bongino said agents from FBI Baltimore arrested an individual on charges of targeting five minors, including a 13-year-old.
He said the suspect is now in federal custody, and additional details are expected as the investigation develops.
SEXTORTION SCAMS AGAINST TEEN BOYS SKYROCKET AFTER COVID, WATCHDOG SAYS
Meanwhile, in Arizona, an indictment revealed an individual in federal custody had been found allegedly targeting kids as an affiliate of "764."
"The nine victims involved were between 11 and 15 years old," Bongino explained, "Some of the allegations include distributing child pornography, cyberstalking, animal crushing, and even conspiring to provide material support to terrorists," Bongino said.
The "764" network traces back to 2021, when it was founded by Bradley "Felix" Cadenhead, a Texas teenager who operated a group called CVLT.
Named after the ZIP code of Cadenhead’s hometown, "764" now exists within a broader ecosystem of violent online communities known as "The COM."
Members allegedly use popular online preteen and teen platforms such as Discord, Telegram and Roblox to recruit and manipulate minors.
"I cannot emphasize this enough, this is a major issue in America that not enough people know about," Bongino warned.
"We are asking all parents to please be on guard, check in with your kids and monitor their internet usage. Consider safeguards that limit what these networks can access."
In the meantime, Bongino said the FBI will "keep working day and night to destroy this network. It is a top priority. We are making progress, but the work isn’t done."