Connect with us

Latest

Son of Republican megadonor throws hat in the ring for open at-large House seat in Wyoming

Published

on

Steve Friess, the son of the late Republican mega donor Foster Friess, just threw his hat in the ring to run for Wyoming’s open at-large House seat, seeking to pivot from helping fund political candidates to becoming one himself. 

Friess announced this week that he would be throwing his hat in the ring for Wyoming’s vacant, at-large House seat, which is currently held by Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., who, in December, indicated she would not run for reelection but instead for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring GOP Sen. Cynthia Lummis.

Friess’s father, Foster, ran for governor of Wyoming in 2018 before his subsequent passing a few years later. Despite losing in a fiercely competitive race, the late GOP businessman and donor was able to obtain the backing of Donald Trump at the time. His son, Steve, says he thinks he too can help lead Trump’s America First agenda “confidently and boldly.”

GOP GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL HAILS LEGENDARY GOLFER FOR HEFTY CAMPAIGN DONATION: ‘INCREDIBLY HONORED’

“I’m optimistic that I can help lead others to be very confidently and boldly continuing the America First agenda for President Trump. I think you can’t – you can’t always do that as a donor. You know, you write a check and you don’t always get what you hope comes out on the other side,” Friess, a longtime Wyoming resident, told Fox News Digital.

📣

FROM THE EDITORS  -  Keeping our readers safe extends beyond the headlines. We've secured an exclusive antivirus offer from TotalAV to help protect your devices and personal information.

Friess, a longtime Wyoming native, describes himself as a “political outsider,” but at the same time is touting his record in “the trenches” fighting for conservative causes. 

Friess was one of the early seed funders of the late GOP activist Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, raised the first million dollars for Tea Party Patriots and has been a big finder of the election-integrity nonprofit True the Vote. In talking to Fox News Digital, Friess also touted his work helping get major GOP candidates elected, such as Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., and Montana GOP Governor Greg Gianforte.

TOP DEMS BRUSH OFF TIES TO IMAM WHO HELD MEMORIAL FOR IRANIAN LEADER WHO VOWED ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’

“Each of these gentlemen had great successful careers and then took the time in their life to engage in this way of serving the country. I think this is what the founders intended,” Friess said. “None of us, none of that group – we’re not doing this for, you know, as a career, a title, or a way to get ahead. We all have a sincere vision of serving our state and our nation.”

Friess told Fox News Digital that he supports President Trump’s “bold” actions in Iran, described his actions in Venezuela as “wonderful” and said he wants to focus even more on the government’s budget priorities. 

Friess also said if elected, he would put his full support behind passing the SAVE America Act, a voter integrity law being pushed by Trump and Republicans aimed at shoring up election security, and has also said he would support term limits for members of Congress. 

Meanwhile, Friess told Fox News Digital that, if elected, he would also push to bring back Wyoming’s Federal Bureau of Mines, a federal agency previously housed under the Department of the Interior created in 1910 but later closed in 1966.

“One important issue that I think we face from a national security level is the fact that China has us over the barrel for a lot of strategic minerals. Wyoming has those strategic minerals, and I’m going to be calling for the recreation of something that was once known as the Bureau of Mines,” Friess posited. “What I’m envisioning is a government entity that’ll be here in Wyoming, not a new bureaucracy in DC, but it will be designed to expedite, streamline and advance the idea of making use of the resources that we have here, both from a jobs perspective and an opportunity perspective, but also from a national security perspective.”

Continue Reading

Latest

Newsom Probe Just Took ENORMOUS Turn – He’s Going To Need A LOT More Lawyers

Published

on

Newsom Probe Just Took ENORMOUS Turn – He’s Going To Need A LOT More Lawyers

A federal criminal investigation involving California Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken a significant new turn, with prosecutors issuing subpoenas demanding six years of records tied to an organization that has helped cover expenses connected to the governor.

Federal prosecutors in California’s Eastern District issued subpoenas earlier this month targeting the California State Protocol Foundation, according to documents reviewed by the San Francisco Standard.

And the scope of the records being sought is extensive.

Prosecutors are demanding information involving the foundation’s donors and fundraising activities, Newsom’s international travel and events, and money potentially used toward the governor’s residence, living costs or other personal expenses.

The subpoenas also seek communications involving Newsom himself, current and former aides, foundation board members and chief protocol officer Rebecca Prowda, who oversees the governor’s overseas travel.

📣

FROM THE EDITORS  -  Keeping our readers safe extends beyond the headlines. We've secured an exclusive antivirus offer from TotalAV to help protect your devices and personal information.

The documents were signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Anderson and state that the records are being sought as part of a pending criminal investigation in the Eastern District of California.

The records are expected to be presented to a grand jury.

Prowda, a central figure in managing Newsom’s international travel, is married to San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Individuals identified in reporting as foundation board members include longtime Newsom associates Steve Kawa and Jason Elliott.

The subpoenas add another layer to federal scrutiny that Newsom himself publicly acknowledged months ago.

On June 15, Newsom said that he and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom were facing scrutiny from the Department of Justice. According to Newsom, federal agents had contacted relatives, friends and former employees.

Newsom portrayed the investigation as an attempt to search for possible offenses rather than one launched in response to crimes authorities had already identified.

Sources familiar with the matter have reportedly said investigations touching Newsom’s circle have been underway for roughly a year.

Those sources said the inquiries originated with whistleblower complaints handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento rather than from directives issued in Washington.

The Justice Department has declined to publicly confirm or discuss the existence of the probe.

Another reported area of scrutiny involves Siebel Newsom’s tax filings and nonprofit organizations connected to the couple, including the California Partners Project.

But the California State Protocol Foundation could prove particularly significant because of the substantial sums of private money that have flowed through the organization.

Established in 2001, the foundation accepts private donations to pay certain expenses associated with gubernatorial travel, hosting and protocol — costs that could otherwise fall on taxpayers.

Since taking office in 2019, Newsom has directed more than $7.5 million in outside contributions to the foundation, according to the supplied reporting.

Approximately $5.1 million of that came from leftover inaugural funds.

The foundation has also paid other expenses, including costs associated with travel.

Some of its donors have included corporations and organizations with interests before California state government, adding another dimension to questions surrounding the relationship between private donors and organizations connected to the governor.

California law allows elected officials to solicit so-called “behested payments” — contributions directed toward charitable or governmental purposes. Payments exceeding certain thresholds are subject to disclosure requirements.

Newsom has reported hundreds of millions of dollars in behested payments to numerous organizations since becoming governor.

The existence of those payments is not itself evidence of criminal activity. Behested payments are legal when handled and disclosed in accordance with California law.

Still, reporting about donors to Newsom-linked nonprofits has raised questions about situations in which contributors also have business before state government, with critics sometimes describing the overlap as potential “pay-to-play.”

Newsom has previously been fined by California’s Fair Political Practices Commission over the late reporting of certain behested payments.

The widening scrutiny also comes against the backdrop of an entirely separate criminal case involving one of Newsom’s former top aides.

Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to commit fraud, filing a false tax return and making false statements in a scheme involving diverted campaign funds.

Newsom was not named in the charging documents in that case.

His office has said the governor cooperated with that investigation, which began before the current developments.

For now, the newly revealed subpoenas do not establish that Newsom committed a crime, nor does a grand jury investigation itself amount to a finding of wrongdoing.

But the latest development shows that federal prosecutors are doing more than making preliminary inquiries.

They are seeking years of financial records, donor information, communications and details surrounding Newsom’s travel and expenses for use in a pending criminal investigation — records that the subpoenas say will ultimately be placed before a federal grand jury.

Continue Reading

Latest

Trump Official Confirms Ilhan Omar Is Under Investigation

Published

on

Trump Official Confirms Ilhan Omar Is Under Investigation

White House border czar Tom Homan has publicly confirmed that federal immigration investigators are examining allegations involving Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, escalating a controversy that has followed the Minnesota congresswoman for years.

Homan made the disclosure Sunday during an appearance on “The Sunday Briefing,” where he was questioned about whether federal authorities possessed evidence of possible immigration or naturalization fraud involving Omar.

While Homan refused to reveal what investigators have uncovered, he acknowledged that an investigation is underway.

“I know things are going on, but I can’t give specifics of what’s happening,” Homan said.

He then issued a broader warning: holding elected office does not place someone beyond the reach of federal immigration law.

📣

FROM THE EDITORS  -  Keeping our readers safe extends beyond the headlines. We've secured an exclusive antivirus offer from TotalAV to help protect your devices and personal information.

“If someone committed an immigration violation, if someone committed marriage fraud or anything like that, regardless if they’re a congressman or not, no one’s above the law. So, I’ll leave it at that. We’ll let HSI, Homeland Security Investigations, continue the investigation.”

Homan was then pressed on the central question — was he actually confirming that Omar herself was under investigation?

His response left little ambiguity.

“I’m confirming that ICE is, yeah — look, I said months ago that there’s something that’s been reported and needs to be looked at.”

The remarks represent another public acknowledgment from a senior Trump administration official that federal authorities are examining allegations connected to Omar’s immigration history.

For years, critics of Omar have alleged that she married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, whom they have claimed is her brother, as part of an immigration arrangement.

That allegation has not been publicly proven, and Omar has repeatedly denied it.

In December, she characterized the accusations as “bigoted lies.”

Homan isn’t the first senior administration official to address the controversy.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has also publicly discussed allegations involving Omar and her family’s immigration history, saying investigators were examining potential wrongdoing.

Mullin made an extraordinary prediction about where the matter could ultimately lead if federal investigators establish that immigration laws were broken.

“Something’s going to happen. … We know that she married her brother to try to bring him to the United States. We know he now lives in London.

“There may be more to this, the whole family migration and possibly some illegal activity for them to come to the United States to begin with. … If we can prove it, that you shouldn’t have been here in the first place, we will deport you.”

Those statements are allegations by administration officials, not established findings of guilt. No criminal charges have been announced against Omar, and Homan did not disclose what evidence Homeland Security Investigations may currently possess.

Vice President JD Vance has also publicly weighed in.

In May, Vance said the Justice Department was reviewing whether Omar may have committed immigration fraud.

“You read the things about Ilhan Omar … who she married and whether she didn’t marry this person or that person,” Vance said then. “It certainly seems like something fishy is there, but everybody’s entitled to equal justice under the law.”

Vance had addressed the controversy even more forcefully during a March podcast appearance, saying he had discussed potential legal action with White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller.

“We think Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America,” Vance said at the time.

Omar subsequently denied that a Justice Department investigation was taking place.

Now, however, Homan has publicly confirmed that federal immigration investigators are examining allegations involving her.

The border czar also addressed what could happen if investigators were ultimately able to prove fraud occurred during the process through which someone became an American citizen.

“If someone lies through that process to becoming a citizen, and we can prove they, in fact, lied or misrepresented themselves, we can absolutely denaturalize them. We’ve done it before many times over the last 40 years I’ve been around, so it’s a process,” Homan said.

That does not mean such an outcome has been determined in Omar’s case. Federal officials have not publicly disclosed the precise scope of the investigation, what evidence investigators are reviewing, or whether prosecutors are considering criminal charges.

But Homan’s comments mark a significant development in a controversy that has persisted for years.

The question is no longer simply whether political opponents are making allegations against Omar.

A senior White House official is now publicly acknowledging that federal immigration investigators are looking into the matter — while making clear that what they ultimately find will determine what, if anything, happens next.

Continue Reading

Culture

Investigation Into Young Superstar Actress’ Death Takes Shocking Turn

Published

on

Investigation Into Young Superstar Actress’ Death Takes Shocking Turn

A stunning new development in the death of actress Hayden Panettiere is raising questions about whether a single pill may have been enough to end her life.

Investigators reportedly suspect the 36-year-old “Heroes” and “Nashville” star took what she believed was oxycodone — but that the pill may have been contaminated with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Now authorities are reportedly focusing attention on the person suspected of supplying Panettiere with drugs before her death.

Multiple law enforcement sources told TMZ that Panettiere apparently met with her alleged longtime drug dealer in Los Angeles before traveling to South Carolina.

Just days later, she was dead.

📣

FROM THE EDITORS  -  Keeping our readers safe extends beyond the headlines. We've secured an exclusive antivirus offer from TotalAV to help protect your devices and personal information.

Panettiere died Aug. 16 at a temporary residence in Greenville, South Carolina, only five days before what would have been her 37th birthday.

First responders discovered the actress unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

Investigators reportedly believe Panettiere took a single pill on the morning she died. Sources suspect that pill was oxycodone contaminated with fentanyl, an extraordinarily potent synthetic opioid.

But one crucial question remains unanswered.

Panettiere’s official cause and manner of death have not yet been determined. Authorities are awaiting toxicology results, and an autopsy reportedly found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.

The investigation has now expanded beyond the circumstances inside the South Carolina residence.

According to TMZ, authorities were “zeroing in on a potential drug dealer,” while Drug Enforcement Administration officials in both Los Angeles and South Carolina have reportedly become involved.

Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was also staying at the South Carolina residence and had traveled there with her from Los Angeles.

Hickerson has reportedly met with DEA officials, but he has not been accused or charged in connection with Panettiere’s death.

Exactly what he told investigators remains unclear.

According to a police report, Hickerson previously showed authorities a “bag of medication” that Panettiere had with her.

The names of the medications were redacted from the report, although the document appeared to identify nine separate drugs.

The circumstances surrounding Panettiere’s death are especially heartbreaking in light of her years of remarkably candid disclosures about addiction.

The former child star had publicly discussed her struggles with drugs and alcohol, including in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released just three months before her death.

Panettiere previously said she was only 15 years old when someone on her team began giving her what she described as “happy pills” ahead of red-carpet appearances.

“They were to make me peppy during interviews,” she told People magazine in 2022.

Looking back, Panettiere said she did not understand the consequences of what was happening at such a young age.

“I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction.”

As she grew older, she said the situation became increasingly difficult to control.

“But things kept getting out of control [off set],” she admitted.

“And as I got older, the drugs and alcohol became something I almost couldn’t live without.”

Panettiere also revealed that her problems with alcohol intensified while she struggled with postpartum depression following the 2014 birth of her daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Eventually, the physical consequences became impossible to ignore.

The actress was hospitalized with jaundice as her liver function deteriorated.

“Doctors told me my liver was going to give out,” she said.

The warning became even more dire.

“A doctor told me that if I didn’t stop drinking, I’d be dead within five years,” she revealed in her book.

Now, investigators are trying to determine exactly what happened during Panettiere’s final hours — and whether a pill she may have believed was oxycodone was actually contaminated with fentanyl.

Until toxicology testing is completed, that remains an investigative theory rather than an officially established cause of death.

But if investigators’ suspicions are confirmed, the actress’s death could have come down to a devastatingly small amount of a drug she may never have intended to take.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Political Signal