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‘Bachelorette’ star Taylor Frankie Paul won’t face new domestic violence charges
Utah reality star Taylor Frankie Paul will not face new domestic violence charges, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office.
According to People, prosecutors claimed on Tuesday that they will not be pressing additional charges against Paul. In February, two Utah police departments opened separate domestic violence investigations involving Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
Per the outlet, the press release stated that the incident happened more than two years ago, placing them outside the statute of limitations.
Mortensen had also reported to police that Paul had scratched him during an explosive fight in February, while Paul claimed she was not the aggressor during that incident. The District Attorney's office noted that any additional domestic violence claims lacked "sufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges."
Paul previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Mortensen in 2023, which meant any new charges would have violated her parole.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Paul and Mortensen for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
On March 25, authorities in West Jordan, Utah, told Fox News Digital that they were investigating allegations of domestic violence against Paul stemming from an incident in 2024, brought by her ex-boyfriend.
"The West Jordan Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen. The allegations were reported at the end of February 2026, and detectives have reviewed video believed to have been recorded in early to mid-2024," authorities confirmed.
Police were reviewing multiple videos tied to the alleged altercation to determine details and timelines.
"Investigators are actively working to gather and verify information and are in the process of interviewing those involved. At this time, no charges have been filed, as the investigation remains ongoing."
Police in Draper, Utah, confirmed with Fox News Digital that a separate domestic violence investigation involving both Paul and Mortensen had been opened, with allegations on both sides having been reported on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25.
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Due to the domestic violence incident resurfacing, Paul's season of "The Bachelorette" was canceled.
A spokesperson for Paul previously told Fox News Digital, following the cancellation of her season of "The Bachelorette," "Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm."
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"There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives," the spokesperson continued. "Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story."
The first domestic violence incident resulted in charges against Paul, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in August 2023. Video of the incident was shared earlier this month by TMZ, and soon after, ABC announced that it would not be airing Paul's season of "The Bachelorette."
Production on Season 5 of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" has also reportedly been halted following the resurfaced incident.
Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
Colorado highway descends into chaos after massive 75-vehicle pileup, amid hazardous winter weather
At least 75 vehicles were ensnared in a massive, chain-reaction pileup on a Colorado highway Tuesday, authorities said.
The crashes unfolded in the Rocky Mountains west of Denver, specifically near Loveland Ski Area, and followed a chaotic morning that saw six separate wrecks, mostly along the same highway, according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office.
Officials said the latest crash forced a two-way lane shutdown on Interstate 70, as photos released by the authorities showed emergency crews assisting drivers at the scene.
"The closure is due to a severe multi-vehicle crash on the east side of Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel that took place this afternoon," the Colorado Department of Transportation (CODOT) said. "There is currently no estimated time for reopening."
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According to the photos, the crashes appeared to have occurred on a snow-blanketed roadway, as winter weather may have created hazardous driving conditions in the mountain corridor.
The area near Loveland Ski Area has also long been known as a major bottleneck on I-70, particularly as ski traffic converges with Denver-area commuters during the spring season.
Officials have not yet reported any injuries.
Earlier in the day, officials reported six crashes during the morning hours, with some involving single vehicles and others multi-vehicle collisions. Five of the crashes occurred on I-70 westbound near mile marker 221, with another reported on U.S. Highway 40.
The sheriff’s office indicated that all of those earlier incidents had been cleared before the major 75-vehicle pileup unfolded nearby on I-70 eastbound near mile marker 216.
An hour later, the authorities shut down both lanes of the highway.
"Due to the severity of the crash, drivers approaching the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel should expect to be turned around for the next several hours," CODOT said.
"Bottom line, we need folks to slow down, increase following distance, and make it to their destination safely," the sheriff’s office said.
Colorado State Patrol is leading the crash investigation.
Former UCLA gynecologist sentenced after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting patients at school
A former doctor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), was sentenced to 11 years in prison Tuesday, after he was accused of sexually assaulting his patients as an obstetrician-gynecologist at the school.
James Heaps, 69, pleaded guilty to 13 counts, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced in a news release, including six felony counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person, five felony counts of sexual battery by fraud, and two felony counts of sexual exploitation of a patient.
Throughout his 35-year career at UCLA, the university spent nearly $700 million to settle civil claims made against him.
He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
APPEALS COURT OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF UCLA GYNECOLOGIST OVER ISSUE AT TRIAL
Heaps's plea comes after an appeals court in California determined he was denied a fair trial in 2023 due to concerns that one juror did not speak enough English to adequately carry out their responsibilities.
At the time, his attorney, Leonard Levine, told The Associated Press that, "justice is slow, but it’s finally been done."
"I believe it's just a matter of time before he is totally exonerated," he added.
Levine did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Prosecutors, however, framed the outcome differently.
"Today marks the second time that we’re holding James Heaps responsible for the unconscionable crimes he committed while being entrusted with the safety of his patients," Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said, according to the release.
"For years, Heaps exploited the sacred trust between a doctor and patient to prey on vulnerable victims during medical procedures. This sentence ensures that Heaps will finally be held accountable for the harm he inflicted under the guise of care. To the survivors: I hope today brings you closure knowing that the individual who violated your trust has been definitively brought to justice. To all survivors, please know that we believe you and we will fight for you."
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
In 2023, the doctor's former patients claimed he groped them, made suggestive comments, or conducted unnecessarily invasive exams at the college's student health center, the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, or in his campus office.
The women who filed lawsuits against Heaps claimed the school ignored their comments and allowed the abuse to continue.
Fox News Digital's Greg Normand-Diamond contributed to this report.
Raiders GM John Spytek admits to getting 'a few calls' about the No 1 pick ahead of next week's NFL Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Fernando Mendoza, the national championship-winning quarterback from Indiana, the first overall pick in the NFL Draft next Thursday.
But that hasn’t stopped teams below the Raiders at No. 1 overall from calling their phone about a possible trade up scenario.
Raiders GM John Spytek spoke during a pre-NFL Draft news conference, during which he admitted to getting a "few calls" about the first overall selection his team owns.
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"Those teams know where they stand," Spytek said, via ESPN.
Spytek said during the news conference that good trades can always materialize on draft night, sometimes even right before the pick. However, if a player stands out to the team, as Mendoza is believed to have done, the Raiders will turn down an offer.
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"If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick," Spytek added. "But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from, and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to listening to that."
All signs point to Mendoza, who has cemented himself as the best quarterback in this draft after an undefeated season at Indiana. It also became more apparent that a quarterback was needed for Las Vegas after reaching a deal with the New York Jets to reunite them with Geno Smith, who was their starter in 2025 following a prior deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Raiders, however, did bring in Kirk Cousins after his release from the Atlanta Falcons, though his $20 million in guaranteed money on a whopping $172 million deal indicates he will serve as a mentor for whoever the Raiders bring in the building through the draft . Aidan O’Connell is also on the Raiders’ roster under new head coach Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks, serving as their offensive coordinator before taking this promotion following a one-year stint by Pete Carroll in Sin City. It didn’t go according to plan for Las Vegas, resulting in the first overall selection.
But things are looking up for the silver and black, as Spytek used the team’s vast free agent cap room to sign the likes of center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor, among others.
Now, Spytek and the franchise have their eyes set on improving the roster even more with potential cornerstone pieces through the NFL Draft. The Raiders possess 10 total picks, including the first overall selection, which is the first time they’ve had that slot since 2007.
And those picks, if it's Mendoza or anyone else in the draft, will have to earn their roster spot and playing time like everyone else across the league.
"Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play," Spytek explained. "It’s just really hard to play really well at a young age. But we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we have Aidan, and we’ll see how it goes."
The NFL Draft begins with the Raiders on the clock next Thursday in Pittsburgh.
Suspect arrested after housekeeper tied up, attacked in Massachusetts mansion heist
A suspect was arrested after a $20 million oceanfront Massachusetts mansion was broken into by two masked men, who allegedly attacked a housekeeper, tied her up and held her at gunpoint while reportedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in valuables.
Emajae Brown, 25, was charged with home invasion, kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, witness intimidation, armed assault in a dwelling, larceny over $1,200, breaking into a building at nighttime with the intent to commit a felony, larceny of a motor vehicle and armed burglary.
Brown was taken into custody in Gloucester and prosecutors argued he was a danger to the community, according to Boston 25 News.
On the morning of March 28, a neighbor on Paine Avenue in Beverly, Massachusetts, called 911 to report a home invasion.
POLICE HUNT ARMED SUSPECT AFTER HOUSEKEEPER BOUND, ATTACKED IN LUXURY MANSION HEIST: REPORT
Investigators learned that two armed suspects had broken into the mansion and assaulted and tied up a housekeeper who was inside the home before leaving with several valuable items. The housekeeper was the only person home at the time of the incident.
During the burglary, the suspects allegedly grabbed the housekeeper's phone and tossed it in the ocean, according to CBS Boston. They also allegedly made her find bleach and place valuable items in trash bags.
"What they did to my housekeeper was just horrendous," homeowner Thomas Swan III told WCVB last month after the heist.
"She was held at gunpoint, sometimes dragged by her hair, ultimately tied up and left in the garage. She’s really, really special, but truly traumatized by this, truly traumatized," he added.
After the suspects left, the housekeeper escaped and went to a neighbor’s home to call for help. She was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and later released.
"She went on to tell investigators the suspect was pointing a firearm at her head and escorting her around the home," a prosecutor said in court on Tuesday, according to CBS Boston.
One robber fled the scene with several valuables, including money and gold, in a Porsche stolen from the home. That vehicle was later located by police several miles away near a cemetery in Lynn.
Ring cameras were able to locate Brown, who was tracked through phone surveillance to New York City, where he was allegedly meeting with a jewelry dealer, according to Boston 25 News.
Local and federal authorities eventually found more than $300,000 and numerous gold items in his car, the outlet reported.
Police also said Brown was the ex-boyfriend of another housekeeper who worked at the home. The prosecutor said they learned that Brown had an open domestic charge from an incident at the Encore Boston Harbor casino.
Brown was ordered held without bail until the next hearing on April 21.
US military kills four alleged narco-terrorists in lethal strike on drug-trafficking vessel in Eastern Pacific
The U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing four alleged narco-terrorists, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
"On April 14, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," SOUTHCOM said in a post on X. "Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations."
"Four male narco-terrorists were killed during this action," SOUTHCOM said.
ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS KILLED AS US FORCES STRIKE SUSPECTED DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN CARIBBEAN
No U.S. military forces were harmed, the command added.
SOUTHCOM did not immediately provide additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved.
The strike came after SOUTHCOM said Monday that it conducted another strike in the Eastern Pacific, killing two individuals believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking.
The U.S. military has carried out dozens of strikes in recent months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.
SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.
Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Docs show migrant accused of killing Loyola student was flagged as flight risk before release
The House Judiciary Committee released internal Border Patrol documents on Tuesday, showing that a Venezuelan migrant now charged in the killing of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman was flagged as a flight risk and had no valid asylum claim before being released into the U.S. in 2023.
Jose Medina-Medina, 25, is accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Gorman in Chicago in March.
Fox News Digital previously reported that Medina-Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was apprehended at the southern border in 2023 and later released into the country under the Biden administration.
In a post on X, House Judiciary Republicans said the documents show officials released a migrant they described as dangerous despite warning signs.
"The subject is a native and citizen of Venezuela by virtue of birth," the document reads. "The subject is a migrant illegally present in the United States, have no immigration documents in their possession nor have or anyone else filed a petition on their behalf. Subject has close family ties or roots in this country yet are likely to abscond."
Additional records state the subject had no valid U.S. address or identification and was unable to provide a verifiable point of contact.
The documents also detail the circumstances of Medina-Medina’s apprehension at the border.
"A Border Patrol Agent encountered subject in the El Paso Border Patrol Sector area of responsibility," the document read. "A Border Patrol Agent determined this subject had unlawfully entered the United States from Mexico, at a time and place other than as designated by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security of the United States.
"After determining that the subject was an undocumented migrant who illegally entered the United States, the subject was arrested and transported to the Central Processing Center (CPC) in El Paso, Texas for further processing using the [redacted] Systems," the document continued. "The subject was asked and responded that they do not fear harm or persecution should they be returned to their native country."
Despite those findings, the documents show he was processed for a Notice to Appear and released on recognizance "due to lack of space," under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
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Federal prosecutors on April 2 charged Medina-Medina with illegally possessing a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. In addition to the federal charge, he faces state-level charges including murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and illegal possession of a weapon.
Prosecutors said Gorman was with friends at a Rogers Park pier in the early morning hours of March 19 when she spotted Medina-Medina near a lighthouse and warned others. Authorities said Medina-Medina then chased the group and shot Gorman in the upper back as they fled.
In a statement after charges were filed, the Gorman family said, "Sheridan was a real person—she had a future, a family, and a life full of promise."
Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Top United Nations Human Rights official points to reparations as the 'key to dismantling systemic racism'
A top United Nations (UN) official on Tuesday pointed to reparations as the "key to dismantling systemic racism."
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, applauded reparations efforts across the world while speaking at the fifth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
The efforts that Türk lauded during his speech were "anti-discrimination laws, the creation of independent human rights and equality institutions and steps towards reparations."
Highlighting the "daily discrimination" people of African descent are facing in the workplace, hospitals, classrooms, and interactions with law enforcement, Türk claimed that the situations are "the direct legacy of colonialism and enslavement."
Türk called on Member States to take action, claiming that "Racism and dehumanising rhetoric" persists. Member States were asked to adopt "anti-racism laws, policies, and practices" to create more inclusive societies. The official reportedly also called on young people of African descent and members of civil society to "be included at all levels of decision-making and that "momentum towards reparatory justice should be maintained."
Türk’s comments came after the UN adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity and for member states to pursue reparations to rectify "historical wrongs"
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"The slave trade and slavery stand among the gravest violations of human rights in human history – an affront to the very principles enshrined in the Charter of our United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, themselves born, in part, from these injustices of the past," Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said.
The implementation of reparations has been a growing trend in the United States, spanning from the east to west coast.
Evanston, Illinois was the first local municipality to pass a reparations plan and then issue direct cash payments of $25,000 to local residents to address past racial housing discrimination.
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Not too far from Evanston, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is gearing up to issue reparations in some form after launching a community engagement effort called "Repair Chicago" to gather experiences of harm of Black residents. On the state level, the Illinois state commission is looking to implement reparations for Black residents after releasing a report that lays out what it called the state's history of harms against them in March.
Despite efforts to issue reparations, some of these programs are facing obstacles due to budgetary or legal pressures.
Former Swalwell ally says longtime friendship with him 'clouded my judgement' as rumors swirled in DC
One of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's, D-Calif., closest friends in Congress said their tight-knit relationship "clouded my judgment" regarding rumors that swirled about the ex-lawmaker for years in Washington, D.C.
"Eric Swalwell lied to all of us," Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said at an impromptu press conference in his office. "He lied to the most powerful people in this country and they trusted him. They trusted him with some of the most sensitive spots in our government, whether it was on Judiciary Committee, Intel Committee, impeaching Donald Trump."
"And that clouded my judgment, my friendship with him," he continued. "Our family's friendship together with him clouded my judgment. And I was wrong. I deeply, deeply regret that."
SWALWELL OUT AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AFTER 13 YEARS IN CONGRESS
It’s a sharp pivot for Gallego, given that the two had a familial-like relationship. Just last week, Gallego defended Swalwell online against allegations of misconduct, which he later said he regretted.
Their kids went to baseball camp together, they babysat one another’s children, and Gallego even jumped on board as national chair for Swalwell’s failed 2020 presidential bid.
But after a bombshell report from the San Francisco Chronicle alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted a former staffer, his former friend is no longer sticking up for him.
In the days since that report surfaced, five people in total have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct or rape.
Gallego, while heaping blame on Swalwell and apologizing to his alleged victims, maintained that he had no knowledge of the alleged behavior. He noted, however, that rumors had circulated about Swalwell — and other past lawmakers — in the nation’s capital for years.
When pressed on the nature of those rumors, Gallego said Swalwell was "flirty," but nothing along the lines of the allegations that sank his gubernatorial bid and congressional career — nor activity that "I would say would rise to the occasion that I would be able to, you know, not talk to his wife the next day and be able to look her in the eye."
When allegations began to surface online at the onset of Swalwell’s gubernatorial run, Gallego said Swalwell "manipulated" him into believing it was a smear campaign similar to the one used against him during his 2024 Senate race against Kari Lake.
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"He knew I came off a horrible race where I had to answer to my family. I have to answer accusations to best friends, to my kids. And he fed into that," Gallego said. "He fed into it and I fell for it like everyone else. I fell for the lies. I regret it, but that's what happened."
The two spent significant time together — on official and private trips, on each other’s campaigns, and within the halls of Congress.
When asked how it was possible that neither he nor other lawmakers who had known Swalwell for years — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. — were aware, Gallego said "he became very good at being a predator."
"And he clearly preyed on these women in different positions. And he became extremely proficient at lying to us, lying to his family, lying to his community," Gallego said. "You know, the nature of his job allowed him to travel. And we just did not fully understand … There's just no way we could have seen any of this."
Facing expulsion and a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of his conduct, Swalwell officially resigned from Congress on Tuesday.
While he apologized to his family and constituents, he doubled down against the accusations leveled against him.
"I will fight the serious false allegations made against me," Swalwell wrote in his resignation letter. "However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
DOJ seeks to vacate Jan 6 convictions in sweeping move tied to Trump order
The Department of Justice on Tuesday filed motions to vacate the convictions of several high-profile defendants involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.
The filings, submitted to the Court of Appeals by the United States, specifically seek to vacate criminal judgments against identified members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys organizations, most of whom were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
"In the Executive Branch’s view, it is not in the interests of justice to continue to prosecute this case or the cases of other, similarly situated defendants," federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia wrote in one filing.
The move follows a presidential proclamation on Jan. 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump commuted the prison sentences of the defendants to "time served," allowing them to be released without serving additional time.
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Tuesday’s filings — which mark an attempt to clear some of the final charges still standing in the probe — also asked to dismiss the indictments "with prejudice," meaning the charges would be permanently dismissed and could not be brought again by the government.
At least eight primary defendants were named in two similar appeals filed Tuesday.
A major high-profile defendant referenced in the filings is Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, whom prosecutors previously said plotted to "oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power" when Trump lost the 2020 election. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other charges.
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Other mentioned Oath Keepers members include Kelly Meggs, the leader of the Florida chapter of the organization, as well as Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins.
Among the Proud Boys members mentioned, Ethan Nordean, one of the group’s leaders, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl, who are also named.
The Justice Department is also seeking to vacate the conviction of Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola, who was caught on camera smashing a Capitol window with a riot shield. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Officials noted that they are also filing similar motions for other related defendants in related cases.
Hours after returning to office in January, Trump either pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly all individuals convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. More than 1,500 people were arrested in connection with the protest.