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A new program for getting desperately needed food into the hands of starving Palestinians in Gaza is only days old, but it’s already mired in chaos and tragedy.

Dozens of Palestinians have been killed over the past few days while on their way to trying to obtain aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This group, backed by Israel and the US, is intended to replace the UN-led system of distributing aid in Gaza, to address a hunger crisis sparked by a monthslong Israeli blockade.

Over the past week, tens of thousands of Palestinians have converged on distribution points run by GHF, hoping to grab one of the limited number of packages before they run out.

For the past three days, Palestinian authorities and witnesses have accused Israeli forces of shooting dozens of civilians dead near one of the aid sites in Rafah.

On Monday and Tuesday, Israel’s military said it fired “warning shots” toward what were described as “suspects” approaching a military position, and the military was looking into reports of casualties. On Sunday, during the first deadly shooting, the military said it did not fire at civilians “near or within” the distribution site, even as a military source admitted Israeli forces fired towards individuals about a kilometer away from the site.

As international condemnation grows, here’s what to know about aid and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

What is the situation with food in Gaza?

Israel halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza in early March, with government officials saying their goal was to force Hamas to accept new ceasefire terms and release hostages taken during the militant group’s terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The ban meant no supplies entered the territory for 11 weeks, pushing Gaza’s 2.1 million people deeper into a hunger crisis. A UN-backed report warned in late April that one in five people were facing starvation and that the entire Gaza Strip was edging closer to famine.

Faced with growing international pressure, Israel eased its blockade two weeks ago, allowing a small amount of aid to enter Gaza, to be distributed through UN channels as well as through GHF. But the amount of aid trickling in is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the population, according to Palestinian officials and international aid groups.

On the first day of GHF’s delivery in southern Gaza last Tuesday, chaos broke out, as thousands of Palestinians rushed to receive food supplies, with Israeli troops firing warning shots into the air and the US contractors overseeing the site briefly withdrawing.

Gaza’s hunger crisis long predates Israel’s total blockade, however. Since Hamas’ attack, Israel has severely restricted the amount of aid that can enter the strip. And even before October 2023, Israel and Egypt had imposed a partial blockade on Gaza, meaning that 63% of the population was food insecure, according to the UN.

What is GHF?

GHF is a private, non-profit organization created with the backing of Israel and the US to take over aid delivery in Gaza, following Israeli accusations that Hamas was stealing some of the humanitarian aid that was destined for civilians. GHF relies on private military contractors for security and aims to replace traditional methods of aid delivery in Gaza employed by humanitarian organizations.

On Tuesday, the organization doubled down on its mechanism, saying its work continues “full-steam ahead” as it asserts it has delivered millions of meals in pre-packaged boxes to Palestinians. “In an operating environment as complex and volatile as Gaza, that kind of safe, direct, and large-scale aid delivery is unprecedented,” GHF said in a statement.

The group has faced internal turmoil – its executive director, Jake Wood, quit the day before GHF began operations in Gaza, and in a further blow, the Boston Consulting Group confirmed on Tuesday that it had canceled its contract with GHF.

The foundation set up four “Secure Distribution Sites” in southern and central Gaza aiming to feed around 1.2 million of Gaza’s estimated 2.1 million population. That pales in comparison to the United Nations system, which relies on some 400 aid distribution points dotted up and down Gaza.

The foundation coordinates with the Israeli military to designate specific routes for traveling Palestinians – many of whom must walk a long way through the devastated strip to get food – and issues warnings on Facebook against diverging from the designated roads.

But it’s unclear how many of those people are aware of these detailed instructions, nor how access to one of the hubs, designated SDS-01, takes them close to positions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Over the past three nights, Palestinians appear to have come too near to these positions, and the IDF said Tuesday it had opened fire towards people who had left the designated route.

The United Nations had warned that the Israeli military’s involvement in securing the areas around the sites could discourage participation or lead to recipients facing reprisals.

How has aid distribution changed and why?

Before GHF arrived in Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) were the main distributors of aid in the enclave. Additionally, UNWRA took a leading role in providing education and healthcare services.

But Israel has long had a contentious relationship with UNRWA and the UN at large. This relationship ruptured completely in the aftermath of the October 7 attack.

Israel’s parliament subsequently banned UNRWA from operating in the country, making any UN-led humanitarian efforts extremely difficult.

Both Israel and the US had also accused Hamas of stealing aid distributed by the UN. Hamas has rejected those claims, and humanitarian aid organizations say most of the food aid reaches civilians.

The UN has refused to participate in the new Gaza aid initiative, saying that GHF model violates some basic humanitarian principles. It warned that locating the initial distribution points only in southern and central Gaza could be perceived as encouraging Israel’s publicly stated goal of depopulating northern Gaza.

GHF has said it is working to open new sites, including in northern Gaza, but no such distribution points have yet opened.

What has been happening recently?

There is not enough food for everyone who needs it. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to seek aid from a tiny number of sites – and while a lucky few have been able to secure some relief, for most, the results have been disastrous.

Palestinian authorities have said more than 60 people have been killed by Israeli forces in the past three days near a GHF aid site near the southern city of Rafah.

Establishing exactly what happened at all these incidents is difficult, as Israel prevents international media from entering Gaza.

On Tuesday, nearly 30 people were killed, and dozens wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and Nasser hospital. The Israeli military said its forces opened fire multiple times after identifying “several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated access routes.”

On Monday, three Palestinians were shot dead and dozens wounded as they were on their way to access aid, Palestinian and hospital authorities said. The IDF said that Israeli forces fired warning shots approximately a kilometer (about 1,100 yards) from the aid distribution site.

On Sunday, the Palestinian health ministry, hospital officials and a half-dozen eyewitnesses said the Israeli military was responsible for gunfire that Palestinian officials said killed 31 people.

At the time, the Israeli military said its forces “did not fire at civilians while they were near or within” the aid site, but an Israeli military source acknowledged that Israeli forces fired toward individuals about a kilometer away, before the aid site opened.

GHF said on Sunday that none of the gunfire was in the distribution center itself or the surrounding area. After Tuesday’s shooting, the organization directed questions about shootings near the aid site to the IDF.

“This was an area well beyond our secure distribution site. We recognize the tragic nature of the situation and remain committed to ensuring the safety of all civilians during humanitarian operations at all of our sites,” GHF said in a statement.

What has the reaction been?

There has been widespread international condemnation, particularly from the UN.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday he was “appalled” by the reports of deaths and injuries on Sunday.

“It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,” Guterres said in a statement, calling for “an immediate and independent investigation” into the events and “for perpetrators to be held accountable.”

The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, said on Tuesday that Palestinians have been given “the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel’s militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism.”

In a post on X, Philippe Lazzarini, executive director of UNRWA, also slammed the new mechanism, saying: “aid distribution has become a death trap. Mass casualties including scores of injured & killed among starving civilians due to gunshots this morning. This is according to reports from international medics on ground.”

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, last week criticized the new aid mechanism run by GHF, saying the EU does not support “any kind of privatization of the distribution of humanitarian aid.”

The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada have also threatened to take “concrete action,” including targeted sanctions, if Israel does not stop its renewed military offensive and continues to block aid from entering Gaza.

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Laramide Resources’ (TSX:LAM,ASX:LAM,OTCQX:LMRXF) Crownpoint-Churchrock and La Jara Mesa uranium projects in New Mexico have received covered project status under the federal FAST-41 permitting initiative.

Enacted in 2015, the FAST-41 designation is intended to streamline the environmental review and permitting process for infrastructure projects considered important to national interests.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued several executive orders and initiated a Section 232 investigation into energy security as part of a broader focus on accelerating domestic energy and critical minerals development.

Laramide’s Crownpoint-Churchrock project, located in McKinley County, is comprised of two uranium deposits that are amenable to in-situ recovery (ISR) and holds a US Nuclear Regulatory Commission license.

According to the 2023 technical report, the project holds a 50.8 million pound U3O8 inferred resource.

The La Jara Mesa project, situated in the Grants Mineral Belt of Cibola County, is a sandstone-hosted uranium deposit currently working through the uranium production permitting process.

The Laramide news comes after the US Department of the Interior expedited the environmental assessment for Anfield Energy’s (TSXV:AEC,OTCQB:ANLDF) Velvet-Wood uranium project in Utah last month. According to reports, the review was completed in 14 days — a timeline significantly shorter than the standard review process.

Nuclear deals fuel market optimism

Shares of Laramide are up 4.69 percent on the TSX since the Monday (June 2) news, trading for C$0.67.

The uranium sector has seen a broad wave of positivity since Trump signed several executive orders geared at supporting the country’s nuclear industry, with players across the value chain benefiting.

Tuesday (June 3) brought another boost for the sector, with energy provider Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) announcing a major deal. In a significant development for the US nuclear energy sector, Constellation and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) have entered into a 20 year agreement through which Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta will purchase power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, starting in June 2027.

The deal is part of a wider initiative by Meta to meet its growing energy needs, in particular the energy required for its artificial intelligence and data center operations. The agreement will ensure the continued operation of the Clinton nuclear facility beyond the expiration of Illinois’ zero-emission credit program.

Clinton’s output will increase by 30 megawatts via the deal.

This partnership highlights the ongoing trend of tech companies investing in nuclear energy to meet escalating power demands and aligns with federal initiatives to bolster domestic nuclear capacity.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Uber said Monday that Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, one of the company’s longest-tenured top executives and the head of is delivery business is leaving after almost 13 years.

Gore-Coty joined Uber as a general manager in France in 2012, and worked his way up to become vice president of mobility for the Europe and Middle East region four years later, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was named senior vice president of delivery in 2021.

“It’s hard to imagine Uber without Pierre, because there hasn’t been much Uber without Pierre,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement that was part of a regulatory filing. “As one of our first employees, he was a driving force behind our global Mobility expansion and stepped up to run Uber Eats just weeks before the first Covid lockdowns.”

The company didn’t say what Gore-Coty plans to do next.

Uber also said that Andrew Macdonald, the company’s senior vice president of mobility and business operations, will become chief operating officer, reporting to Khosrowshahi. Macdonald, 41, will oversee the company’s global mobility, delivery and autonomous businesses in addition to “key cross-platform functions like membership, customer support, safety, and more,” the filing said.

Gore-Coty is one of 11 people listed on Uber’s executive team page. Macdonald is the only one who has worked at the company longer. He joined in May 2012, four months before Gore-Coty, according to LinkedIn.

“These last nearly 13 years have been the ride of a lifetime,” Gore-Coty said in the statement. “It was a true team effort, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built and the impact we’ve had on daily life in cities around the world.”

Uber shares were little changed in extended trading after closing on Monday at $83.64. The stock is up 39% this year, while the Nasdaq is about flat.

Last month, the company reported first-quarter results that beat on earnings but missed on revenue. A month earlier, the Federal Trade Commission sued Uber, alleging that the company engaged in “deceptive billing and cancellation practices” related to its Uber One subscription service.

In an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Khosrowshahi characterized the lawsuit as “a bit of a head-scratcher for us.”

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Elon Musk’s brain tech startup Neuralink has closed a $650 million funding round, the company announced Monday.

ARK Invest, Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and other firms participated in the round, according to a press release. Neuralink said the fresh capital will help the company bring its technology to more patients and develop new devices that “deepen the connection between biological and artificial intelligence.”

Neuralink is building a brain-computer interface, or BCI, which is a system that translates brain signals into commands for external technologies.

The company’s first system, called Telepathy, involves 64 “threads” that are inserted directly into the brain. The threads are thinner than a human hair and record neural signals through 1,024 electrodes, according to Neuralink’s website.

The initial aim of the technology is to help patients with severe paralysis restore some independence. As of Monday, five patients have been implanted with Neuralink’s technology, and are able to “control digital and physical devices with their thoughts,” the release said.

Neuralink is currently carrying out four separate clinical trials around its Telepathy system.

BCIs have been studied in academia for decades, and several other companies, including Synchron, Paradromics and Precision Neuroscience, are developing their own systems.

Paradromics on Monday announced it successfully implanted its BCI in a human for the first time.

It’s not clear what devices Neuralink will look to develop next, but Musk has for years espoused grand ambitions for the brain tech startup. He has even claimed that he would be willing to get an implant himself.

One of the capabilities Musk has repeatedly highlighted is the ability to restore vision to blind patients.

Neuralink received a “Breakthrough Device” designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a device called Blindsight. This designation is granted to medical devices that have the potential to provide improved treatment for debilitating or life-threatening conditions.

In a post on his social media platform X in September, Musk said Blindsight will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see.

Neuralink still has a long road ahead before it can commercialize these technologies.

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The White House defended the President Donald Trump-endorsed ‘big, beautiful bill’ Tuesday after outgoing DOGE-chief Elon Musk doubled-down on his criticism of the spending bill, calling it a ‘disgusting abomination.’

Musk, who has been openly critical of the proposed reconciliation bill, said Tuesday afternoon that he ‘just can’t stand it anymore.’

‘This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,’ Musk added in a Tuesday afternoon post on X. ‘Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’

The bill passed the House in late-May, ahead of Memorial Day, largely along party lines. However, two Republicans did vote against the measure, citing insufficient spending cuts and a rising national debt. GOP Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has also signaled he likely will not vote in favor of the bill in its current form, citing a debt ceiling increase that is a red-line for him. 

Trump has lashed out at Paul and others for opposing the bill, but he has taken a more measured approach to Musk’s criticism.

‘Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Tuesday afternoon press briefing when asked about Musk’s most recent criticism.

‘It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill and he’s sticking to it,’ she said. 

Musk, who led the cost-cutting efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), previously criticized the bill during an interview with CBS, noting he was ‘disappointed’ in the spending bill because ‘it undermines’ all the work his DOGE team was doing.

In May, when Trump was asked about Musk’s criticism of the bill on CBS, he responded, ‘Well, our reaction’s a lot of things,’ before pivoting to talk about the votes needed to support pass the bill. 

‘Number one, we have to get a lot of votes, we can’t be cutting — we need to get a lot of support and we have a lot of support,’ he said. ‘We had to get it through the House, the House was, we had no Democrats. You know, if it was up to the Democrats, they’ll take the 65 percent increase.’

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South Korean voters swung left in the presidential race Tuesday, and conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo conceded defeat to liberal opponent Lee Jae-myung in the snap election.

Kim, candidate of the People Power Party (PPP), said at a press conference in the early hours of Wednesday morning he ‘humbly accepts (the) people’s choice.’

The decision came after record early voting turnout prompted speculation Lee would secure the presidency and flip the top seat after the impeachment of predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was booted from office after he declared martial law in December.

The impeachment threw the country into political chaos after Yoon, also a member of the PPP, was removed from office two years early. 

It is unclear by what margin Lee secured the presidency, though reports had suggested for weeks that the liberal candidate was favored to win the top job. 

But Lee’s candidacy also prompted some serious concern when it came to his policy on international relations, particularly Seoul’s relationship with the U.S., China and North Korea.

Kim challenged Lee’s policies in a presidential debate last month after the liberal candidate said he would take a ‘pragmatic’ approach.

‘There’s no need to worry. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is important and should continue to grow and strengthen,’ Lee said, adding Seoul should not be ‘unilaterally bound’ to Washington, especially when it comes to the U.S.’s adversarial rivals.

‘We should not neglect ties with China or Russia,’ he added. ‘We need to manage them appropriately, and there’s no need to have an unnecessarily hostile approach like now.’

This position is a shift from the previous administration, which was hawkish on China and North Korea. 

Lee has said he wants to mitigate the ‘North Korea risk’ by easing relations with Seoul’s northern neighbor.

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President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance will attend the opening night of the musical ‘Les Misérables’ at the Kennedy Center next week, Fox News Digital has learned.

‘Les Misérables,’ one of the longest-running shows in Broadway and West End history, will have its opening night at the Kennedy Center on June 11. 

‘I love the songs, I love the play,’ Trump told Fox News Digital Tuesday. ‘I think it’s great — we may extend it.’  

The president has famously played songs from ‘Les Misérables’ at his rallies and events. 

‘The Kennedy Center is coming back,’ the president told Fox News Digital. ‘It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great.’ 

Kennedy Center President Richard Grennell told Fox News Digital that ”Les Misérables’ is proving to be a huge hit.’ 

‘Opening night is going to be electric,’ Grennell told Fox News Digital.  

Kennedy Center officials told Fox News Digital that there will be a red carpet for opening night and that select members of the media will be invited to attend. Officials also said that attendees of the opening-night performance will be encouraged to walk the red carpet. 

Meanwhile, Kennedy Center officials told Fox News Digital that the first two weeks of the performance are nearly sold out, exceeding $3 million in ticket sales at the box office and exceeding the typical sales timeline.

‘We expect sales to exceed all expectations, surpassing the previously defined goals,’ a Kennedy Center spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

Meanwhile, sources told Fox News Digital that the president is committed to revitalizing the Kennedy Center, with some suggesting it should eventually be renamed ‘the Trump–Kennedy Center.’ 

The Kennedy Center has two affiliates — the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. The new leadership team is currently working on business plans with its affiliates to ensure the Kennedy Center has larger endowments and ‘greater sustainability.’

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While lead production figures are helpful in tracking year-to-year activity, lead reserves provide a longer-term picture of which nations are best positioned to dominate the lead market in the future.

These reserves reflect the volume of economically recoverable lead available in each country — a critical factor in global supply chains, especially amid tightening environmental regulations and rising demand for energy storage.

Top lead reserves by country

According to the US Geological Survey, global lead reserves total around 96,000 metric tons. Here’s a look at the top 5 countries with the largest lead reserves, and what’s shaping their role in the market today.

1. Australia

Lead reserves: 35 million metric tons

Australia remains the undisputed global leader in lead reserves with an estimated 35 million metric tons, meaning the nation holds over one third of the world’s lead reserves.

The country also holds vast deposits of zinc and silver, with many polymetallic operations supporting lead output. The Northern Territory and Queensland are home to many of those mines, as well as lead exploration.

Despite flat year-on-year production, Australia remains one of the world’s top producers at 430,000 metric tons, thanks in part to efficient mining operations and strong regulatory frameworks. Most of Australia’s lead output is exported in concentrate form.

2. China

Lead reserves: 22 million metric tons

China boasts the world’s second-largest lead reserves at 22 million metric tons, and it is the world’s largest producer and consumer of lead. However, its lead output slightly declined in 2024 to 1.9 million metric tons amid broader mining reforms and tightening environmental restrictions aimed at curbing pollution.

According to a February 2024 report from the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, China boosted its lead concentrate imports by 9.6 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, bringing in a total of 712,000 metric tons.

3. Russia

Lead reserves: 8.9 million metric tons

Russia ranks third in lead reserves, with 8.9 million metric tons — up from estimates in past years. Production has remained relatively stable, coming in at 220,000 metric tons in 2024, and the country continues to benefit from its vast resource base in Siberia and the Far East.

Given mounting geopolitical tensions and Western sanctions, Russia has sought to strengthen resource independence by prioritizing internal demand and increasing ties with aligned economies. Lead plays a smaller but still strategic role in the country’s mining sector, particularly as a byproduct of polymetallic ore operations.

4. Mexico

Lead reserves: 5.6 million metric tons

Mexico is a major producer of silver and zinc, and lead often comes as a byproduct of those mining operations. The country holds the fourth-largest lead reserves globally at 5.6 million metric tons.

With its mining industry deeply integrated into global supply chains, Mexico is an essential exporter to both North American and Asian markets. The country produced 180,000 metric tons in 2024.

5. Peru

Lead reserves: 5 million metric tons

Rounding out the top five is Peru, a country known for its rich base metal deposits. With 5 million metric tons in lead reserves and a robust annual output of 270,000 metric tons in 2024, Peru remains a pillar of Latin American lead supply.

Other countries with notable lead reserves

While the top five countries above dominate the global reserve landscape, several other nations also hold substantial lead resources:

  • United States – 4.6 million metric tons
  • Iran – 2 million metric tons
  • India – 1.9 million metric tons
  • Sweden – 1.7 million metric tons
  • Turkey – 1.6 million metric tons
  • Bolivia – 1.6 million metric tons

Lead market outlook

Lead demand may be shifting with the rise of substitutes and regulatory changes, but the metal remains vital in energy storage, automotive batteries, radiation shielding and electronics. Countries with large lead reserves are not only crucial today — they are also strategically positioned to shape the future of global resource security.

The lead market in 2024 experienced notable volatility. Prices began the year strong and surged to a high of US$2,343 per metric ton in late May, but then retreated and fluctuated within a narrow range of US$1,950 to US$2,150 per MT.

By the end of the year, prices were down 2.4 percent year-to-date. Analysts attribute the swings to tightening regulations in China, reduced supply and global economic uncertainties.

Global demand for refined lead is expected to rise by 1.9 percent in 2025 to 13.39 million metric tons. Growth will be driven by increased consumption in India and Vietnam, and recovering demand in Europe and Mexico. The EV market remains a crucial new demand vector, with lead-acid batteries still widely used for onboard systems.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter Tuesday requesting House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to condemn the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for ‘forcefully’ entering Rep. Jerry Nadler’s congressional office and handcuffing a member of his staff. 

The letter, sent by Nadler and fellow House Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., disputes DHS’ claim that agents were doing a ‘security check’ at Nadler’s office. 

‘We therefore urge you to bring the Secretary of the DHS, Kristi Noem, before our Committee immediately to answer our questions about her agency’s irresponsible and dangerous actions,’ the House Democrats said in the letter.  

Nadler and Raskin said the video released from the incident reveals agents handcuffed a staffer and demanded access to ‘non-public areas’ inside Nadler’s office without ‘asking about the safety and security of his staff.’

‘These types of intimidation tactics are completely unwarranted and cannot be tolerated. The decision to enter a congressional office and detain a congressional staff member demonstrates a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries,’ Nadler and Raskin said. 

The House Democrats are urging Jordan to condemn the incident and requesting DHS Secretary Noem testify before the House Judiciary Committee. 

‘We call on you, as Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, to condemn this aggressive affront to the separation of powers and the safety of Members of Congress, our staff, and our constituents,’ Nadler and Raskin said. 

DHS previously told Fox News Digital the Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers who entered Nadler’s office were responding to reports that protesters were inside Nadler’s district office in Manhattan. There was a protest outside an immigration courthouse in the same facility as Nadler’s office. 

‘Based on earlier incidents in a nearby facility, FPS officers were concerned about the safety of the federal employees in the office and went to the location to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those present,’ a Homeland Security spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

‘Officers identified themselves and explained their intent to conduct a security check. However, one individual became verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office,’ the spokesperson added. ‘The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check. All were released without further incident.’

The House Democrats refuted the spokesperson’s claim in the letter and criticized the incident as a larger issue within President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. 

‘Sadly, this incident is part of a broader pattern by President Donald J. Trump and DHS of using unlawful, chaotic, and reckless tactics in communities across America, as they threaten and intimidate children, members of the clergy, students, as well as Members of Congress and their staffs,’ they said. 

Nadler slammed Trump for ‘sowing chaos’ in a statement released Saturday. 

‘The time is now to halt the use of these illegitimate tactics and to ensure that DHS complies with the law and with the norms of common human decency,’ Nadler and Raskin conclude in the letter. 

DHS did not immediately provide a comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is welcoming the Trump administration’s backup as he continues to probe the alleged ‘cover-up’ of former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating pardons granted by the Biden White House, specifically whether the ex-president ‘was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of autopen or other means,’ according to Reuters.

‘The Trump DOJ is right to open a probe into the potential unauthorized use of autopen at the Biden White House for sweeping pardons and other executive actions,’ Comer told Fox News Digital. ‘Americans demand transparency and accountability about who was calling the shots at the White House.’

The Kentucky Republican launched a House Oversight Committee probe into the prior administration last month, requesting appearances and information from five former senior Biden aides, including his physician Kevin O’Connor.

A source familiar with the matter previously told Fox News Digital that lawyers for all five former staffers were in communication with the committee, but Comer signaled that he would not rule out compelling their appearance if those talks fell through.

‘The House Oversight Committee is investigating the cover-up of President Biden’s mental decline and will be talking soon with a large group of former administration and campaign officials, under subpoena if necessary. We welcome the DOJ’s additional efforts to ensure accountability,’ Comer said.

The DOJ declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital.

Republicans have unleashed a tidal wave of scrutiny on the previous Democratic White House as new reports – as well as old concerns previously dismissed by mainstream media – surface about Biden’s mental state while in office and what lengths those closest to him took to allegedly hide it from others. 

It was considered all but taboo in Washington’s political circles to discuss Biden’s mental acuity until his disastrous debate against then-candidate Donald Trump in 2024.

Since then, myriad accounts about the former president misremembering longtime allies or losing focus in meetings have flooded the media.

It’s brought new scrutiny on some of the unprecedentedly broad pardons he issued during his waning days in office, including for his son, Hunter Biden, despite previously saying he would not do so.

Biden is also currently dealing with stage 4 prostate cancer, which he announced last month, though he told reporters in recent days he was ‘optimistic.’

Like the DOJ, Comer’s probe is focused on Biden’s mental decline and use of autopen for pardons and other executive actions.

‘The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating the role of former senior Biden White House officials in possibly usurping authority from former President Joe Biden and the ramifications of a White House staff intent on hiding his rapidly worsening mental and physical faculties,’ Comer said in letters to the former Biden officials.

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