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USA Fencing transgender saga takes ironic twist as org defends banning trans athlete from women's event
Just one year after a women's fencer was disqualified and punished for refusing to face a transgender opponent, a transgender competitor was forbidden from competition at the very same event.
At this year's Cherry Blossom Open, a USA Fencing-sanctioned competition held at the University of Maryland, trans fencer Dinah Yukich, 43, was denied entry, according to The Daily Record.
A year ago, at the 2025 Cherry Blossom Open, female fencer Stephanie Turner went viral after kneeling in protest of a trans opponent and was black-carded and escorted out.
The incident prompted a federal hearing, and the U.S. Olympic team changed its policies in July to comply with President Donald Trump's "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order.
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Now, as USA Fencing has amended its policies to comply with the order, Yukich filed a civil rights complaint after reportedly being banned, per The Daily Record. The complaint reportedly includes one count of denial of public accommodations based on sex and gender identity, and one count of aiding and abetting a discriminatory policy.
USA Fencing has provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing the incident, and is standing by the current U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee policy that cites Trump's executive order.
"USA Fencing cannot comment on the specifics of potential litigation. But we can say more generally that, as the recognized Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body for fencing in the United States, we are required to comply with athlete-eligibility guidance issued by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)," the statement read.
A source within USA Fencing told Fox News Digital of Yukich's complaint, "We think it's important to note that we have not received notice of any litigation being filed against USA Fencing in the state of Maryland by this individual."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Yukich's attorney Susie Cirilli for a response.
US OLYMPIC TEAM TO COMPLY WITH TRUMP'S 'KEEPING MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS' EXECUTIVE ORDER
Cirilli told The Daily Record, "When you host an event where members of the public can participate, you have to follow state law."
Last year, Turner's viral protest kneel catapulted her into stardom within the "Save Women's Sports" movement. The moment brought immense awareness and scrutiny to USA Fencing's policies.
The organization was targeted by two lawsuits for its handling of trans inclusion policy, and the former chair of the organization was grilled by GOP lawmakers at the congressional hearing last May. In October, the chair of USA Fencing was replaced.
Then in late November, USA Fencing provided a statement to Fox News Digital stating it was committed to "earning" trust after a year of controversy.
"USA Fencing remains deeply committed to earning and maintaining the trust of our athletes, fans, and the wider fencing community. The election of Dr. Scott Rodgers as Board Chair reflects our dedication to athlete-centered governance and the continued growth of fencing at every level," the statement read.
"We recognize the challenges of the past several months and are focused on moving forward with integrity, transparency, and a clear vision for the future."
The organization is now taking steps to protect the women's category at competitions, but Yukich is giving USA Fencing a fight on the opposite front.
Yukich sued USA Fencing and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in October 2025 after being banned from competing in women's events. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey, alleges the ban violates state anti-discrimination laws and follows a policy change requiring transgender athletes to compete based on sex assigned at birth.
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NBA great Charles Barkley rips Pistons star's rebounding woes in Game 4: 'Two more than a dead person'
Charles Barkley had sharp criticism for Detroit Pistons forward Jalen Duren before the team took on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of their NBA Playoffs series on Wednesday night.
The "Inside the NBA" crew were going over key players for the game and who needed to step up. Barkley put the onus on Duren, who had eight points and two rebounds in Game 4.
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"His whole game is offensive rebounds and lob dunks from Cade (Cunningham). He’s not getting those," Barkley said. "So, that’s really hurting him. Listen, he should never have two rebounds, ever. That’s two more than a dead person.
"You can’t ever have two rebounds. But he’s a young kid. He’s gonna get in the gym, work on the 12–15-foot jumpers or something like that. But he’s too good a player. He’s an All-Star."
The Pistons blew a 15-point lead and allowed the Cavaliers back into Game 5 on Wednesday. Cleveland would outlast Detroit in overtime, 117-113, to take a 3-2 series lead. Cleveland was behind 2-0 in the series before going back home for Games 3 and 4.
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Duren slightly improved from Game 4. He had nine points, five rebounds and four assists. But the scoring wasn’t there from him. He only took five shots during the game.
Only three Pistons starters were in double figures. Cunningham led the team with 39 points. Daniss Jenkins added 19 and Tobias Harris had 13. Paul Reed provided 10 points in 17 minutes off the bench. But that was it from the Pistons.
Cleveland got a serious boost from James Harden. He scored 30 points with eight rebounds and six assists. Donovan Mitchell had 21 points. While starter Dean Wade didn’t score and didn’t attempt a single shot, Max Strus had 20 points, making six 3-pointers and nailing two free throws.
The Cavaliers could set themselves up with a date in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks should they take Game 6 on Friday.
Missed voicemails with no calls? It could be a scam
It starts quietly. Your phone buzzes. You see a voicemail notification. But your phone never rang. Then it happens again. And again. Before long, your voicemail inbox looks like it's under attack.
That's exactly what Mike from Westport, CT, is dealing with right now. He wrote to us saying,
What he is describing is something we're seeing more often. It may feel random, but there's a clear pattern behind this voicemail scam and here's what you need to know to stay safe.
RECEIVING UNEXPECTED INTERNATIONAL CALLS? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
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This tactic is often called a silent voicemail scam or ringless voicemail spam. Here's how it works in plain terms:
At first glance, it looks like a glitch. That confusion is the point.
This pattern almost always points to automated robocall systems using caller ID spoofing, not real people manually calling you.
Here's what's likely happening:
Once a number is confirmed as active, it can be shared across spam networks and used in future campaigns.
It seems pointless, but there's a strategy behind it.
Curiosity does the work for them. Many people return the call just to figure out what happened. When you call back, you may:
Even if you never call back, your voicemail confirms your number is in use. That makes it more valuable for future scams.
Because your phone never rings, traditional call filters may not catch it. That lets more of these messages slip through.
You block one number, and another appears minutes later. That's usually a sign of caller ID spoofing and number cycling. Scammers use software to falsify the number that shows up on your phone and rotate through large batches of numbers to stay ahead of blocks and spam filters. Some of those numbers may be completely fabricated, while others may belong to real people whose caller ID information is being misused. Many of those numbers are:
Blocking a single number can still be worth doing, but it usually will not stop the campaign by itself because the caller can keep switching numbers.
GOOGLE SEARCH LED TO A COSTLY SCAM CALL
This is one of the first things many people worry about. In most cases, no. These silent voicemails are more likely to be part of a scam call or robocall campaign than a sign that your phone has been hacked. Scammers can use tactics such as caller ID spoofing and ringless voicemail to reach you without making the call feel normal.
The bigger risk isn’t your phone itself. It's how the scam tries to get you to respond. Calling back, pressing prompts or engaging with the message can confirm that your number is active and may expose you to more scam attempts. The FTC specifically advises people to hang up or delete the voicemail and not call back unknown numbers.
You don't have to just put up with it. There are ways to reduce or stop these messages.
Even if it feels harmless, skip it. If it's important, the caller will leave a real message.
On iPhone and Android, turn on built-in call filtering and silence unknown callers. This helps reduce future attempts.
How to enable spam call filtering
On iPhone (latest iOS)
Apple now gives you two strong options: Silence Unknown Callers and Call Screening.
Option 1: Silence unknown callers
This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts straight to voicemail without ringing.
Option 2: Turn on Call Screening (recommended)
This feature prompts unknown callers to say who they are before your phone rings, which filters out many spam calls automatically.
Optional: Enable spam identification
This allows your iPhone to show verified business names and logos for legitimate callers when available.
On Samsung
Samsung combines spam protection with AI call screening.
Settings and feature names may vary depending on your Samsung model, carrier and software version.
Option 1: Turn on spam protection
This flags suspected spam calls before you answer.
Option 2: Block unknown callers
This stops hidden or unidentified numbers from ringing your phone.
Option 3: Enable Call Screen (best option)
This lets your phone answer unknown calls with AI and show you what the caller says in real time.
One important reality check: Even with these turned on, some calls may still go to voicemail. That's because voicemail is controlled by your carrier, not your phone.
HOW TO STOP SPAM MAIL, POLITICAL TEXTS AND EMAIL SPAM FOR GOOD
Apps can spot patterns faster than manual blocking and stop repeat offenders. Many of these apps can also identify known scam numbers and automatically block high-risk calls, helping reduce how often your phone gets hit.
Many carriers offer network-level spam blocking. Ask about tools that block ringless voicemail or robocalls.
If your number keeps getting hit, it may already be circulating on marketing lists or data broker sites. These data removal services scan for your personal information and help remove it from databases that scammers often tap into. Cutting down where your number appears can reduce how often you get targeted over time. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
You can report unwanted calls and voicemails to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). Reports help track and shut down large scam campaigns.
Avoid posting your phone number publicly. The less exposure it has, the harder it is for scammers to target you.
This can help reduce telemarketing calls from legitimate businesses, but it unfortunately won't stop scammers, illegal robocalls, or exempt organizations (like charities and political groups) from calling you. Scammers often ignore the registry and use tactics like number spoofing to bypass it. Want to know more about why your phone still won’t stop ringing and what you can do about it? Check out our article on the ‘Do Not Call’ list loophole.
Silent voicemails are designed to mess with your instincts. They rely on curiosity and confusion, not sophisticated hacking. The best move is simple. Don't engage. Let them hit a dead end. Over time, that tells the system your number isn’t worth the effort.
So here's the real question: If scammers are counting on curiosity to hook you, how often do you think that instinct is working on other people right now? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Sparks' Cameron Brink fires off explicit outburst after blocking Caitlin Clark's shot
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink got one over on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark during their matchup on Wednesday night.
Clark was driving to the lane and going up for a layup when the 6-foot-4 Sparks player swatted the ball away. She had an explicit outburst after the block.
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"Get that f---ing s--- outta here," Brink yelled.
The play occurred early in the game as the Fever held a two-point lead. Clark and Indiana would get the last laugh and later finished off the win, 87-78.
Brink, who played 19 minutes off the bench, had 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the loss.
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Clark had 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, and nine assists. She received a technical foul at halftime for arguing with a referee as she walked back to the locker room.
Kelsey Mitchell had 23 points for the Fever. Sophie Cunningham had 12 points and seven rebounds. Clark, Mitchell and Cunningham were the lone Indiana players in double figures.
Kelsey Plum led Los Angeles with 25 points and four assists. Dearica Hamby had 16 points and eight rebounds while Nneka Ogwumike and Rae Burrell each had 10 points.
The Fever’s win over the Sparks was their first of the season. The Sparks have yet to find their first win.
Burchett tells ‘Ruthless’ more UFO videos to come
In an exclusive interview with the Ruthless Podcast, Representative Tim Burchett says that more Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) videos will be released.
"There are 30 or 40 videos that we need to see that we know that they have that we have not seen that are much clearer," Burchett said in the interview released Thursday morning. "And we don’t know what we don’t know. I've been told by some pretty high-ranking people that there are some."
The East Tennessee congressman joined Ruthless days after the Department of War began releasing files on UFOs. In February, President Trump committed to releasing information on alien, extraterrestrial life, and UFOs.
Burchett noted that many of his colleagues in Congress and across the government are scared to discuss the matter publicly.
REP TIM BURCHETT CONVINCED THAT ALIENS EXIST, SAYS HE'S 'SEEN TOO MUCH' IN GOVERNMENT BRIEFINGS
"I’ve talked to Members of Congress [who said], ‘hey, man, I don’t want to come forward and talk about this,’" Burchett said. "I was in this branch of the service or whatever, I was on night watch and this thing, and he said it was just unbelievable, and I hear that over and over and again," he continued.
Podcast co-host Josh Holmes appreciated Burchett’s honesty and approach to politics, even if he was skeptical.
"We enjoy your sense of humor and your interest in just the idea of exploring things, regardless of where the politics lead," Holmes told Burchett.
Burchett appeared on Ruthless as a part of the Ruthless Midterm Interview Series, an ongoing initiative to interview major candidates across the country. The hosts have already interviewed candidates in 15 states, with more scheduled ahead of the November midterms.
Burchett, who told Fox News last summer that he would be interested in filling Senator Marsha Blackburn’s Senate seat should she win the gubernatorial race.
When asked by co-host John Ashbrook if that was still the case and if he was looking to give East Tennessee more of a voice in Washington, Burchett replied that he would be interested in serving in the Senate.
REPUBLICAN SEN. MARSHA BLACKBURN EYES GUBERNATORIAL BID: REPORT
"I will not be the guy that says, well, I’m going to form a study committee, and we’re going to talk about it down to Chamber of Commerce, and I’m going to have a round table: heck, no," Burchett responded. "I would love to fight it out in the United States Senate. I would do that. Yeah. And I would relish that fight."
Voters in Tennessee will head to the polls for the congressional primary election on August 6th.
Following a recent Supreme Court decision, Governor Bill Lee and Republicans in the state legislature have successfully passed a new congressional map, likely flipping Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen’s Memphis-area seat to the GOP. Should that seat change party control, Tennessee’s delegation would consist of nine Republicans and zero Democrats.
The general election will take place on November 3rd.
Trump pick Julia Letlow fires back at Cassidy by claiming her past DEI work was hijacked by left
Louisiana Republican Senate candidate Rep. Julia Letlow is striking back against an attack campaign from incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy highlighting her past involvement with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Letlow is challenging Cassidy in the upcoming U.S. Senate primary. She joined the "Fox News Rundown" podcast to defend her record, arguing that DEI programs she once oversaw were "hijack[ed]" by the political left and turned into "Marxism."
"DEI six years ago was introduced in higher education as something that could be a tool to encourage students, staff, faculty to work hard and go achieve the American dream," Letlow told Fox News Radio’s Jessica Rosenthal.
"I quickly witnessed the left completely hijack any of those efforts and turn it into indoctrination of our students, Marxism, holding people down instead of lifting them up," she added.
Ads supporting Cassidy highlight Letlow’s past comments from 2020 in which she advocated for diversity initiatives and described herself as a "progressive" leader. Letlow formerly worked in higher education, and her campaign website notes she is "committed to fighting for a brighter future for children and future generations."
In a 2020 video from Letlow's hiring process while she was interviewing to be the president of the University of Louisiana Monroe, Letlow called the school’s record on faculty gender diversity "shameful," praised DEI efforts around the country and said she wanted to open the school's first DEI division.
Letlow said the DEI issue is more complex than the ads suggest, arguing it was initially presented as a tool for student success but later was distorted into something she opposes.
"Once I witnessed that firsthand because I was in education, I spent the last five years in Congress fighting against it," she said.
TRUMP ENDORSEMENT ROCKS LOUISIANA SENATE RACE AS LETLOW POISED TO JUMP IN
"That's why I authored the Parents' Bill of Rights to root out DEI in our K-12 programs. That's why I supported the End Woke and Higher Education Act in Congress. And it's why I've voted continuously to get DEI out of our military and out of our academies, while Sen. Cassidy voted time and time again to entrench it even further," she added.
The primary race has drawn attention from President Donald Trump, who has criticized Cassidy since the senator’s 2021 vote to convict him in his Senate impeachment trial. Trump endorsed Letlow earlier this year.
DETRANSITIONER CHLOE COLE CANCELS UW SPEECH AFTER ALLEGED ANTIFA THREATS
Letlow, who won a 2021 special election following the death of her husband, says her Senate bid is aimed at protecting the "America First" agenda. Cassidy pushed back on her challenge, pointing to his conservative record.
"Congresswoman Letlow called me this morning to say she was running. She said she respected me and that I had done a good job," Cassidy said in a statement.
"I will continue to do a good job when I win re-election. I am a conservative who wakes up every morning thinking about how to make Louisiana and the United States a better place to live."
Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Food cravings at 3:45 pm aren't random, here's what your body may be warning you about
That mid-afternoon urge to reach for something salty or sweet isn't just a lack of willpower — it's something many Americans experience every day.
Surveys have found that people report an average of two cravings daily, with urges peaking at about 3:45 p.m.
There are a few reasons why, health experts told Fox News Digital.
6 HEALTHY FOODS THAT COULD SECRETLY SPIKE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR, AND WHAT TO EAT INSTEAD
"Most of us can relate to the afternoon crash or slump, and it's tied to a couple of key factors," North Carolina-based science communication consultant Megan Meyer, Ph.D., told Fox News Digital.
A light lunch, or skipping one altogether, can lead to a spike and drop in blood sugar, Meyer said, which "signals to the brain to seek out food — usually salty or sweet snacks — to stabilize blood sugar."
Add in a natural dip in circadian rhythm and widespread sleep deprivation — both linked to increased cravings for high-calorie foods — and the late-afternoon snack attack starts to make sense, she said.
But cravings aren't just about biology.
THE WORST FOODS TO BUY IN THE SUPERMARKET AND THE BETTER CHOICES INSTEAD
"Food is so inherently personal and tied to experiences and emotion," Meyer said.
Stress, routines and even what's within arm's reach can shape what — and how often — we crave.
"I've also noticed that my environment really shapes my eating patterns," she said. "If I am surrounded by less healthy food options, I often crave those foods. When I remove them, those cravings tend to go away."
Rather than viewing cravings as something to fight, they can be useful signals, South Carolina-based registered dietitian nutritionist Lauren Manaker told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
"Cravings are a natural part of how our bodies communicate with us, often signaling a need for energy, comfort or specific nutrients," Manaker said.
"Rather than resisting them entirely, it's helpful to approach cravings with balance and acknowledge them without judgment."
Instead, planning "satisfying, nutrient-dense meals and snacks throughout the day can help reduce the intensity of cravings, especially during that mid-afternoon slump," Manaker said.
Still, modern food culture can complicate things.
"There's a lot of unhealthy expectations around food," Meyer noted, pointing to the pressure of social media and so-called "influencer-worthy" meals.
A healthier approach is less about perfection and more about awareness.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
"Remember, honoring your hunger in a mindful way is an important part of maintaining a healthy relationship with food," Manaker said.
Trump pledges to raise detained pastor's case with Xi Jinping during Beijing visit as family pleads for help
Five weeks before the birth of her third child, Grace Drexel sat in Washington speaking about her father, the grandfather her children barely know, and the hope that President Donald Trump might help bring him home.
Her father, Pastor Ezra Jin, has spent the past seven months detained in China alongside dozens of other Christian leaders in what advocates describe as one of the largest crackdowns on an underground Protestant church in recent years.
Now, as Trump visits Beijing for meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Drexel says her family is clinging to a rare moment of hope after Trump publicly pledged to raise Pastor Jin’s imprisonment directly with Xi.
PRESIDENT TRUMP MUST PUT AMERICAN HOSTAGES FIRST IN HIGH-STAKES BEIJING SUMMIT
"I’ll bring it up," Trump told a reporter when asked whether he planned to discuss the detained pastor during the trip.
"It’s such a tremendous honor," Drexel told Fox News Digital. "To have one of the most powerful men in the world know my father by name and mention his case to General Secretary Xi Jinping."
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital, "There is no greater champion for religious freedom around the world than President Trump."
For Drexel, this could end years of suffering. Her family has been separated for almost a decade — her mother and younger brothers fled China in 2018 after authorities shut down Zion Church’s physical sanctuary in Beijing, fearing they could become collateral targets in the growing crackdown on Christians.
Pastor Jin chose to stay behind with his community.
"My father actually had many opportunities to apply for a green card," Drexel said. "He felt the calling for China."
Drexel herself has not seen her father in person since 2020.
CHINA FORMALLY ARRESTS 18 LEADERS OF UNDERGROUND ZION CHURCH AMID RELIGIOUS CRACKDOWN
Now pregnant with her third child, she says all she wants is for her father to finally reunite with his family.
"We would really, really love for our children to also experience and learn from their Grandpa," she said.
Drexel described her father not as a political dissident, but as a pastor whose only mission was to remain faithful to Christianity outside Communist Party control.
"My father is a pastor in China and like Christians everywhere, he believed that the church should only have one God and serve one God," she told Fox News Digital.
She described Zion Church as independent from government oversight and deeply rooted in Scripture and community service.
REPORT DETAILS RISING PRESSURE ON UNDERGROUND CATHOLICS AS CHINA DENIES CRACKDOWN
"We helped with the society and the community around us, love our neighbors, and to love God," she said.
But beyond the role of pastor, Drexel says she simply knew her father as a gentle man devoted to those around him.
"Ultimately, I know my father as just a very gentle and kind man," she said. "He is not very confrontational generally. He just loved everyone around him."
"He never even criticized anyone, including his children, much as we were growing up," she added.
Drexel tearfully said that relatives learned that her father had been handcuffed, his head shaved, and that he was struggling to receive medication while in detention.
"And this kind and gentle man is now in prison," she said. "All because he was just leading a church."
The crackdown against Zion Church began years before Pastor Jin’s arrest.
According to Drexel, the pressure intensified around 2016 and 2017 after Xi Jinping rewrote China’s religious regulations and formally advanced the policy known as the "Sinicization" of religion, an effort critics say forces religious groups to align with Communist Party ideology.
Around that time, Zion Church became one of many churches targeted by the authorities.
Initially, Drexel says government officials demanded the church install facial-recognition cameras inside the sanctuary to monitor worshipers.
"We told them all our services are public. You can come and view anytime," she said. "But we didn’t feel that we wanted to put an extra amount of surveillance or control on our congregation."
After the church refused, Drexel says authorities installed surveillance cameras in the building’s lobby instead and began systematically targeting church members.
"Each and every member who came on Sunday [was] being harassed," she said. Some worshipers lost jobs, others were forced out of apartments, while some families were threatened through their children’s education and even their parents’ retirement benefits.
"It was all possible under the Chinese Communist Party if they wanted you to stop doing something," she said.
Authorities eventually confiscated the church’s property and shut down its physical worship space. Pastor Jin then moved services online and into smaller home gatherings, which led authorities to later accuse church leaders of the "illegal use of information networks" because of those online and decentralized worship activities.
But she says her father’s case is only one piece of a much larger crackdown unfolding across China.
CRUZ LEADS SENATE PUSH TO HOLD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR BEIJING CHURCH CRACKDOWN
"There are so many pastors and church leaders and churches being persecuted in China actively today," she added. "We know that there are hundreds of pastors that are currently in prison or are in detention."
"This is a very critical period in China," Drexel said. "And it’s very disheartening and very scary for many Christians in China."
The broader persecution campaign against Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners is also documented in "China’s War on Faith," the recently released book by former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.
Brownback profiles believers imprisoned, tortured, and surveilled for practicing religion outside state-approved institutions and argues that the Chinese Communist Party increasingly sees independent faith itself as a threat to Party authority.
For Drexel, Trump’s decision to publicly mention her father’s name represents more than diplomacy.
"We hope that as the two leaders are meeting together that they will both have a softening of the hearts and will release my father and allow him to come to the U.S.," she said.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said the Chinese government protects "freedom of religious belief in accordance with the law" and argued that people of all ethnic groups in China enjoy religious freedom. Liu pointed to official figures showing nearly 200 million religious believers in China, along with more than 380,000 clerical personnel, approximately 5,500 religious groups and more than 140,000 registered places of worship.
Liu said Beijing regulates religious affairs involving "national interests and the public interest" while opposing what it describes as illegal or criminal activities carried out under the guise of religion. He also accused foreign countries and media outlets of interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of religious freedom and urged journalists to "respect the facts" and stop what he described as "attacking and smearing" China’s religious policies and religious freedom record.
Top 4 explosive moments from CIA whistleblower's testimony on alleged COVID-19 lab leak cover-up
CIA whistleblower James Erdman III testified that the Biden administration buried analysis concluding a lab leak was the most likely origin of the COVID-19 pandemic in an explosive hearing on Wednesday.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Erdman, a two-decade CIA veteran, chose to testify on the alleged cover-up at "great personal risk" because "government secrecy cannot become government impunity."
Paul’s oversight panel had subpoenaed Erdman’s testimony and previously interviewed him in a classified setting. Erdman worked in a joint role with the Director of National Intelligence’s Director’s Initiatives Group (DIG) to investigate COVID origins over the past year.
"According to his testimony, CIA scientific analysts concluded multiple times between 2021 and 2023 that a lab leak was the most likely origin of COVID-19," Paul said in his opening statement. "Yet those conclusions never shaped the official narrative, never made the intelligence report. Congress was never told."
WHO IS JAMES ERDMAN III? CIA WHISTLEBLOWER WHO WENT FROM COVID MANDATE FIGHTS TO SENATE SPOTLIGHT
"It was not until after the 2024 election that the outgoing Biden administration directed the CIA to issue an assessment, not because of new intelligence, but so officials could walk out of the door claiming there was nothing left to find," the Kentucky Republican added. "That is not analysis. That is a cleanup operation."
Erdman publicly testified before the panel despite fierce opposition from the CIA, which called the COVID origins hearing "political theater."
Paul’s committee, according to CIA spokeswoman Liz Lyons, "acted in bad faith by subpoenaing an agency officer for testimony today without notifying CIA, despite having already obtained closed-door testimony from the individual previously.
"The witness testifying today is not appearing as a whistleblower in pursuit of the truth, but instead in response to the subpoena issued by Chairman Paul," Lyons added in a statement.
Carol Thompson, Erdman’s attorney, told reporters Wednesday that her client was concerned about retaliation by the CIA, but declined to comment further.
Following Erdman’s testimony, several GOP lawmakers called for former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci to face criminal prosecution for allegedly seeking to suppress the origins of COVID-19.
"It was significantly influenced by Anthony Fauci, injecting himself into the IC [intelligence community]," Erdman said when asked by Paul whether the CIA downplayed the likelihood that COVID-19 emerged from a lab leak.
"We just heard testimony that he intervened behind the scenes to try and get our own intelligence agency, CIA, FBI to change their assessment of the lab leak," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News. "Why? Because he helped fund the Wuhan lab. He supported and funded gain-of-function research, and then he tried to cover it up, and then he worked to cover it up from the American people."
"I hope he’s indicted," Hawley added.
The hearing on Wednesday came after a statute of limitations deadline for Fauci to face criminal charges regarding that testimony passed earlier this week.
"Whether the DOJ decides to charge Fauci or not, I’m not letting up," Paul wrote on social media Monday.
'HELD ACCOUNTABLE': SEN. RAND PAUL AGAIN VOWS TO ISSUE A CRIMINAL REFERRAL FOR FAUCI
Paul has long called for Fauci to be indicted for allegedly lying to Congress about gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China, linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci has vigorously denied the allegations.
"I've sent several criminal referrals on Anthony Fauci to the Justice Department," Paul said Wednesday. "And I hope they will be pursued at this time."
Former President Joe Biden notably issued an unprecedented preemptive pardon to Fauci with just hours left in his term. President Donald Trump has declared that pardon null and void because it was signed via autopen, but his administration has yet to make that argument in court.
Dr. David Morens, a former senior advisor to Fauci, was indicted by a federal grand jury last month for allegedly concealing the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A handful of Republicans who have long pushed for answers on the pandemic’s origins excoriated the CIA for characterizing the hearing as politically motivated and aiming to undermine the president.
"This proceeding amounts to nothing more than dishonest political theater masquerading as a congressional hearing," CIA spokeswoman Lyons said in a statement preceding the hearing. "As the CIA has already assessed, COVID-19 most likely originated from a lab leak, and efforts to undermine that conclusion are disingenuous."
The agency’s scathing statement was a notable display of Republican infighting between the Trump administration and the GOP-controlled Senate.
"This is not political theater," Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said in a fiery response to CIA spokeswoman Lyons. "I have years and years and years of built-up frustration of agencies like the CIA, Department of Justice, the FBI, HHS snubbing our oversight, giving us the big middle finger."
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ACCUSE BIDEN'S FBI OF RETALIATING AGAINST WHISTLEBLOWER WHO EXPOSED MISCONDUCT
Paul also objected to the CIA’s objections to Erdman testifying in a public hearing, stating, "Closed-door testimony doesn't provide oversight. Public testimony provides oversight."
Senate Republicans on the influential committee blasted their Democratic colleagues for not taking the time to listen to Erdman’s testimony.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the panel’s top-ranking Democrat, and the six other Democratic lawmakers on the committee did not attend Wednesday’s hearing.
"Nothing shocks me anymore with our colleagues from the other side of the aisle, but I'm shocked that not one of them showed up here," Johnson told Erdman.
"This is serious oversight work," he added. "This is what the American people need to see. And I just wish our Democrat colleagues had any level of curiosity about what's happening inside the deep state."
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, argued that Democrats intentionally chose to skip the hearing so they would not have to reckon with policy mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This isn't about politics, but somehow it's become about politics because the Democrats don't even want to hear the conversation about what obviously was a grave error that this country made during COVID," he said during the hearing. "There's never been a situation, certainly not in my lifetime, where you had decisions made that affected generations of Americans, kids that were absolutely deprived of their childhood, businesses that were destroyed, families that were torn apart, memories that you'll never get back, trillions of dollars of economic loss."
Erdman also alleged the CIA intentionally put up roadblocks to stifle his group’s investigation into COVID origins while spying on and retaliating against whistleblowers.
"The CIA did not comply with lawful oversight during the DIG's investigation," Erdman told lawmakers. "The CIA refused to provide information necessary to understand why analytic standards at the CIA were violated."
Erdman claimed the CIA illegally spied on DIG personnel and their communications with whistleblowers.
"These were Americans being spied upon illegally while executing duties directed by the president and under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence," Erdman continued.
The alleged retribution led to the agency firing one contractor who cooperated with investigators, Erdman said Wednesday.
Thompson, Erdman’s attorney, said she hoped her client’s testimony would encourage more whistleblowers to come forward and shed light on the CIA allegedly obstructing investigators.
"There has been obstruction by those intelligence agencies, precluding those individuals from being able to conduct the investigation," Thompson, Erdman’s attorney, told reporters.
"We have basically a systematic effort to violate the laws of Congress, to lie to the American people, to mislead the American people. And it's still going on," Hawley told reporters on Wednesday. "If you've got people who will just not follow the laws of Congress and lie openly to the American people, I don't know how you can hope to preserve our country."
Feds could bring charges in Bahamas disappearance case without ever finding body, expert says
A maritime law expert says that federal authorities could bring charges in the Bahamas disappearance of Lynette Hooker even if they never find her body.
Images taken by Fox News Digital on Tuesday show crime tape around portions of Lynette and Brian Hooker's sailboat, Soulmate, as it's docked at the U.S. Coast Guard's station in Fort Pierce, Florida, after a source said it was seized over the weekend.
The source said investigators were processing evidence onboard the sailboat on Tuesday, which appears to have continued on Wednesday.
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Brian Hooker initially told Bahamian officials that his wife fell off a dinghy after leaving shore at Hope Town at around 7:30 p.m. on April 4, saying that Lynette fell off with the ignition key. Local authorities said that he arrived at a marina at Marsh Harbour at around 4 a.m. on April 5 after paddling to shore, roughly eight hours after his wife went overboard. Despite a weekslong search, authorities haven't been able to locate Lynette Hooker.
COAST GUARD SEIZES BRIAN HOOKER'S SAILBOAT AS IT LEAVES BAHAMAS AFTER WIFE’S DISAPPEARANCE: REPORT
Brian Hooker hasn't been charged with a crime. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is probing Lynette Hooker's disappearance.
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Kenneth Engerrand, an adjunct professor of maritime law at the University of Houston Law Center and shareholder in the Brown Sims law firm, told Fox News Digital that even if investigators aren't able to find Lynette Hooker's body, the Coast Guard's investigation could still result in criminal charges.
"They can't file charges without substantial evidence, but that's why they're on the boat. They're looking for evidence. And what will have to happen is the Coast Guard can develop the evidence that's necessary in conjunction with the U.S. attorney in Florida," he said. "Sometimes it takes more effort to develop evidence, and this is the case where that's the situation because you don't have the body."
"That's a much more difficult process without the body, but it's not impossible to do," Engerrand said.
Engerrand said that Coast Guard investigators didn't need a warrant to search Brian and Lynette Hooker's sailboat since it's American-flagged.
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"They have a specific federal statute for that, and the courts have upheld that, with just a few limitations and so the Coast Guard can conduct a complete investigation with respect to the boat and activity that occurred on the boat under that statute that's valid until they get to the point where they are doing a focused criminal investigation. They don't need a warrant for any of that and once they get to the point of focusing on him, all they need is reasonable suspicion," he said. "They don't even have to have a warrant then to do investigation in connection with activity on a vessel that is an American flagged vessel."
Brian Hooker was detained for five days by Bahamian police after his wife disappeared, but wasn't charged. His Michigan-based attorney previously asked Americans to give him the benefit of the doubt.
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"I would ask those watching to treat him the way you would want to be treated, to give him the benefit of the doubt, and to consider that not all of us, nor you, considering your own relationships, the way you speak to one another, we all handle things in different ways," Crystal Marie Hauser said.
Brian Hooker left the island for the U.S. to tend to his "very ill" mother, his Bahamian attorney previously said.
After Lynette Hooker went missing, Brian said in a Facebook post that he was "heartbroken."
"I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas," he wrote. "Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus."