A senior House Republican is arguing that sanctioning Russia would be key to neutralizing one of the biggest challenges facing Ukraine as it fights for its sovereignty. 

The push by Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, comes as Congress wrestles with legislation that would expand sanctions and slap tariffs on countries buying Russian energy. Supporters say the measures are overdue to undermine Russia’s war economy, while skeptics warn they could strain U.S. alliances and global markets.

‘With the right support, Ukraine could be successful, and Russia’s aggression could be defeated,’ Turner, who recently returned from a bipartisan trip to Ukraine, told a small group of reporters Thursday. 

‘In the presentations that I received, there is no question that the most significant challenge in this conflict is Russia’s ability to continue its industrial production.’

He added that military and other assistance that Russia is getting from China, Iran and North Korea is also keeping Moscow afloat.

‘We have to impact their ability for production. It is not just their ability currently for production, but is even the projections in the future,’ Turner said. ‘Right now, their economic engine is fueling their war engine.’

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin believed Kyiv would fall in a matter of days. However, that estimate has long since been shattered, and the two countries have since engaged in the bloodiest land war in Europe since World War II.

Moscow’s troops have since taken over parts of Donbas in eastern Ukraine and have held Ukraine’s Crimea territory since 2014.

President Donald Trump, who has met with leaders on both sides, gave Kyiv an enthusiastic vote of confidence earlier this week after speaking at the United Nations General Assembly.

‘After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia Military and Economic situation and, after seeing the Economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form,’ he posted on Truth Social.

‘With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win.’

Asked at one point about the Ukrainians’ assessment of Russia’s offensive this past summer, Turner said the front lines moved very little.

‘The Russian casualties, daily, are enormous. And that is sobering. The production of weapons by Russia is the only difference that’s allowing this aggression to continue,’ he said. ‘The economics of Russia to continue to be able to sell oil and energy is floating their ability to continue this aggression against Ukraine.’

China was the largest global customer of Russia’s fossil fuels as of August 2025, followed by India and Turkey, according to the Centre For Research on Energy and Clean Air.

And while much of Europe has sharply cut its reliance on Russian energy, it does still rely on Moscow for some supplies, according to the New York Times.

The U.S. has already levied a wide array of sanctions on Russian entities, imports and individuals since the war began. 

But legislation being led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., would go further, giving Trump wide discretion to levy more sanctions and heavy tariffs on countries that import Russian energy, among other measures.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a recent interview on CBS News’ ‘Face The Nation’ that he was supportive of sanctioning Russia, though he did not endorse the bill specifically.

‘I think appropriate sanctions on Russia are far overdue. I mean, I think there’s a big appetite for that in Congress, so we’re willing to work with the White House and our Senate colleagues in the House to get that done,’ he said.

When asked by Fox News Digital if he believed Congress could act without Trump’s green light, however, Turner said, ‘I don’t think the president has indicated that there’s a red light on moving forward with sanctions.’

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for the president’s thoughts but did not hear back by press time.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a grand jury on two counts, alleged false statements within jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of congressional proceeding, Fox News Digital has learned.

Fox News Digital exclusively reported in July that Comey was under criminal investigation by the FBI. The probe into Comey centered on whether he lied to Congress during his Sept. 30, 2020, testimony about his handling of the original Trump–Russia probe at the FBI, known inside the bureau as ‘Crossfire Hurricane.’

‘No one is above the law,’ Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X. ‘Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.’

FBI Director Kash Patel took to X to say, ‘Today, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability.’

‘For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust,’ Patel wrote. ‘Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on. Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.

‘Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account – no matter their perch.’

The indictment alleges that Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information in violation of 18 USC 1505.

The indictment also alleges Comey made a false statement when he stated he did not authorize someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source. According to the indictment, that statement was false. 

Fox News Digital also exclusively reported that former CIA Director John Brennan is under criminal investigation related to the Trump–Russia probe. 

Under federal law, prosecutors have five years to bring a charge, with the five-year mark occurring Tuesday.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

‘JUSTICE IN AMERICA!’ President Trump posted to his Truth Social account. ‘One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts.

‘He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’ 

The FBI opened its Trump-Russia probe in July 2016, known inside the bureau as ‘Crossfire Hurricane.’ 

President Trump, during his first term, fired Comey in May 2017. 

Days later, Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel to take over the FBI’s original ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ investigation.

After nearly two years, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in March 2019, yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after, John Durham was appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ probe.

Durham found that the FBI ‘failed to act’ on a ‘clear warning sign’ that the bureau was the ‘target’ of a Clinton-led effort to ‘manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes’ ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

‘The aforementioned facts reflect a rather startling and inexplicable failure to adequately consider and incorporate the Clinton Plan intelligence into the FBI’s investigative decision-making in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation,’ Durham’s report states.

‘Indeed, had the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as an assessment and, in turn, gathered and analyzed data in concert with the information from the Clinton Plan intelligence, it is likely that the information received would have been examined, at a minimum, with a more critical eye,’ the report continued.

Durham, in his report, said the FBI ‘failed to act on what should have been — when combined with other incontrovertible facts — a clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.’

Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report. 

New York, NY – As President Donald Trump’s new peace plan circulates at the United Nations, Israel launched long-range strikes deep inside Yemen, hitting targets more than 2,000 kilometers from home and underscoring how volatile the Middle East remains even as diplomacy plays out in New York.

Trump unveiled a 21-point initiative to end the Gaza war during meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week. 

A White House official, speaking on background, told Fox News Digital, ‘The President underscored his desire to bring fighting in Gaza to an expeditious close. Special envoy Witkoff summarized the U.S. plan for Gaza, including the return of all hostages living and deceased, no further attacks on Qatar, a new dialogue between Israel and Palestinians for peaceful coexistence and more.

‘Foreign partners expressed broad agreement that President Trump was the only one who could end the fighting in Gaza and expressed the hope that they could work together with Special Envoy Witkoff to consider the President’s plan as Americans continue to engage with Israeli officials,’ the White House official added. 

Arab officials told Fox News Digital that, during the meeting, leaders pressed Trump to confirm he would block Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing the discussion as ‘productive.’

Speaking at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, U.S. special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also described a ‘very productive’ meeting Tuesday between Trump and officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan.

‘We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Middle East,’ Witkoff said. ‘I think it addresses Israeli concerns as well as concerns of neighbors in the region.’

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking in a recorded UNGA address after being barred from entry to the U.S., also signaled support. 

‘We declare that we are ready to work with U.S. President Donald Trump and with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan that was approved in the conference that was held on the 22nd of September, in a way that would lead towards a just peace and regional cooperation,’ Abbas said.

Abbas added that the PA is prepared to take over security and governance in Gaza, while Hamas must disarm. 

‘The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation,’ he said. ‘Palestine is ours. Jerusalem is the jewel of our hearts and our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland. We will not leave our lands.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before departing for New York, where he is scheduled to address the UNGA Friday, said without directly commenting on the 21-point proposal, ‘In Washington, I will meet for the fourth time with President Trump, and I will discuss with him the great opportunities our victories have brought, as well as our need to complete the war’s objectives: to return all of our hostages, to defeat Hamas and to expand the circle of peace that has come our way following the historic victory.’

Even as Trump pushed diplomacy in New York, Israel expanded its campaign against Iran-backed militias. The IDF confirmed Thursday it carried out a wide wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Sana’a, Yemen, less than 24 hours after a Houthi drone slammed into a hotel in Eilat, wounding 24 people, two of them seriously.

Saudi and Israeli media reported more than 10 strikes during the Houthis’ weekly address, targeting command centers, intelligence headquarters and military compounds. Israeli officials estimate over 50 militants were killed. The IDF said the operation involved dozens of aircraft and long-range refueling, marking Israel’s 15th strike in Yemen since the war began.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the raids, carried out under the code name Package Delivered, dealt a heavy blow. 

‘We struck numerous terror targets of the Houthi regime in Sana’a, eliminating dozens of operatives and destroying stockpiles of drones and weapons,’ Katz declared. ‘As I promised yesterday — those who harm us will be harmed sevenfold.’

President Trump reacted to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, telling Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview that he ‘placed a cloud over the entire nation’ with the bureau’s ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ probe.

Comey, on Thursday evening, was indicted by a grand jury on two counts, alleged false statements within jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of congressional proceeding.

‘What they did was so terrible and so corrupt,’ Trump told Fox News Digital, referring to those involved in the Trump-Russia probe. ‘We had a great administration, though.’

Former Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok formally opened the Trump-Russia investigation, known inside the bureau as ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ on July 31, 2016.

Trump fired Comey in May 2017. Days later Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to take over the Crossfire Hurricane probe.

‘He is a very corrupt person. He was absolutely a terrible man for what this country stood for,’ Trump told Fox News Digital.

‘Comey placed a cloud over the entire nation, and actually, the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax made it very difficult,’ Trump said. ‘It could have caused wars.’

Fox News Digital exclusively reported in July that Comey was under criminal investigation by the FBI. 

Fox News Digital also exclusively reported that former CIA Director John Brennan is under criminal investigation related to the Trump–Russia probe. 

When asked whether Brennan should be charged as well, the president told Fox News Digital: ‘We’ll have to see what happens.’

‘It is up to the Justice Department, but I can tell you, it is a group of people that was very disappointing,’ the president said. ‘This makes Watergate look like peanuts.’ 

He added: ‘They tried to destroy our country.’

Comey’s case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The indictment alleges that Comey obstructed a congressional investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information in violation of 18 USC 1505.

The indictment also alleges Comey made a false statement when he stated he did not authorize someone at the FBI to be an anonymous source. According to the indictment, that statement was false. 

His arraignment is set for 10 a.m. on Oct. 9, in Alexandria Courtroom 600 before District Juge Michael S. Nachmanoff.

‘No one is above the law,’ Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X. ‘Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case.’

FBI Director Kash Patel took to X to say, ‘Today, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability.’

‘For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust,’ Patel wrote. ‘Every day, we continue the fight to earn that trust back, and under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on. Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.

‘Everyone, especially those in positions of power, will be held to account – no matter their perch.’

Meanwhile, after nearly two years, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, which concluded in March 2019, yielded no evidence of criminal conspiracy or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election.

Shortly after, John Durham was appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ probe.

Durham found that the FBI ‘failed to act’ on a ‘clear warning sign’ that the bureau was the ‘target’ of a Clinton-led effort to ‘manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes’ ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

‘The aforementioned facts reflect a rather startling and inexplicable failure to adequately consider and incorporate the Clinton Plan intelligence into the FBI’s investigative decision-making in the Crossfire Hurricane investigation,’ Durham’s report states.

‘Indeed, had the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation as an assessment and, in turn, gathered and analyzed data in concert with the information from the Clinton Plan intelligence, it is likely that the information received would have been examined, at a minimum, with a more critical eye,’ the report continued.

Durham, in his report, said the FBI ‘failed to act on what should have been — when combined with other incontrovertible facts — a clear warning sign that the FBI might then be the target of an effort to manipulate or influence the law enforcement process for political purposes during the 2016 presidential election.’

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Comey acknowledged that he and his family have known for years that there are costs to standing up to President Donald Trump.

‘We couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way,’ he said. ‘We will not live on our knees and you shouldn’t.’

Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this report. 

United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz on Thursday called mishaps during President Donald Trump’s U.N. speech ‘unacceptable’ and vowed to withhold U.S. funding until sweeping reforms are made.

Waltz appeared on FOX Business’ ‘Kudlow’ when host Larry Kudlow asked him about the incidents that appeared as if the U.N. was trying to sabotage the president.

Kudlow noted that the escalator malfunctioned as Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived, the teleprompter later failed, and finally the auditorium sound cut out.

Waltz added that the broadcast audio abruptly switched to Portuguese during Trump’s speech before returning to English.

‘The whole thing is unacceptable. The whole thing stinks,’ Waltz said. ‘There’s 150 world leaders there and this only happens to him, not once, not twice, but three times.’

He said the incidents are under investigation by the Secret Service and noted the Secretary General has pledged full cooperation.

‘As the ambassador, I said, you’ve got to open your doors, and some people were kind of shoulder shrugging at this,’ Waltz said. ‘This could have been incredibly serious. It’s insulting, and it’s right here on American soil.’

Waltz then turned to reform, criticizing the U.N.’s bloated bureaucracy and noting that seven agencies focus on climate issues alone. He argued the organization needs to be ‘cut up’ and reformed before U.S. taxpayer money flows again.

He confirmed the U.S. has withheld its U.N. contribution this year.

‘We’ve withheld this year,’ Waltz said. ‘We haven’t paid any and my first meeting with the Secretary General was, here are the reforms that we need to see before you start talking about taxpayer dollars.’

Waltz invoked Sen. Jesse Helms’ 1999 push to clean up the U.N. before releasing U.S. dollars, saying transparency and accountability remain essential.

‘We have every obligation to make sure it’s transparent,’ he said.

James Comey, the former FBI Director, was indicted on felony charges of obstruction and perjury Thursday, igniting fierce reactions across the nation and political spectrum.

The charges, announced by newly appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan in the Eastern District of Virginia, relate to his 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Halligan framed the indictment as a matter of accountability, declaring it ‘a breach of public trust at an extraordinary level’ and emphasizing that ‘no one is above the law.’ 

If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison.

The announcement sparked reaction with the fastest coming through from the president and his allies.

President Donald Trump has long demanded Comey’s prosecution since firing him in 2017 and railing against the Russia investigation he oversaw.

Trump celebrated the news with a triumphant post on his Truth Social account.

‘JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts. He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’ the president wrote.

Attorney General Pam Bondi also issued a sharp statement on X declaring, ‘No one is above the law. The American people deserve justice after years of lies and political interference.’

FBI Director Kash Patel amplified that opinion and cast the indictment as part of a broader effort to restore trust in the bureau. 

‘Today, your FBI took another step in its promise of full accountability,’ he wrote. 

‘For far too long, corrupt leadership weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and eroding public trust. Under my leadership, this FBI will confront the problem head-on. No one is above the law.’

U.S. Senator John Cornyn responded noting the gravity of Comey’s offenses.

‘While our legal system provides for the presumption of innocence, Comey’s accountability for FBI abuses during the first Trump term are long overdue,’ he said. ‘These charges are serious offenses, especially if committed by the head of our nation’s top law enforcement agency, and there must be consequences for any crimes.’

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called it ‘a long-awaited correction to years of corruption and cover-ups,’ while economic adviser Peter Navarro said it proved ‘justice delayed is not justice denied.’

Democrats condemned the charges as politically motivated. 

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) denounced what he called a ‘malicious prosecution,’ reminding reporters that Trump previously fired a prosecutor who refused to bring ‘frivolous charges.’

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued an even sharper rebuke. 

‘This kind of interference is a dangerous abuse of power,’ he warned. ‘By ousting a respected, independent prosecutor and replacing him with a partisan loyalist, Trump is undermining one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country and eroding the rule of law itself.’

Kamala Harris, when she was serving as vice president, rejected the Biden campaign’s pressure to celebrate the then-president as the winner of his disastrous debate against Donald Trump, saying she didn’t want to be fed ‘bulsh–t,’ she reported in her new memoir. 

”JOE BIDEN WON’—all caps, highlighted. ‘He fought through his cold as he is fighting for the American people,” a sheet of paper containing favorable talking points after then-President Joe Biden’s poor performance on the debate stage, according to Harris’ latest memoir, ‘107 Days.’ 

Biden’s poor debate performance against Trump in June 2024 served as the death knell to the campaign that already was coping with mounting public concern that Biden’s mental acuity had cratered and he was unable to serve a second term. Despite the abject failure of a debate performance, Biden’s campaign wanted Harris to deliver favorable assessments of the debate to the American people, according to her book. 

‘Are you kidding me?’ she said ran through her mind as she read the sheet of paper declaring Biden the winner of the night. 

She threw the paper back on the table before fielding a call from Biden’s team outlining she was expected to say more of the same as the talking points when joining media interviews. 

‘No. Don’t feed me bulls–t. Everyone saw what they saw,’ Harris continued in the book of what she thought during the call. 

The then-vice president said the disastrous debate was littered with Biden missing opportunities to attack Trump, stumbling over his words and losing his train of thought. 

‘Trump, meanwhile, was using his words like a weapon, but shooting before he aimed, spouting lies, unburdened by the truth,’ she wrote. ‘Biden, striving for accuracy, often stopped midsentence to correct himself, which left him sounding hesitant and garbled. I knew the important policy points he was struggling to convey, and I knew he knew them. He is a master of this material, but that was not coming across at all.’ 

The Biden campaign suffered a devastating gut punch when Biden delivered a bizarre line on Medicare. 

‘And then, at the end of a string of convoluted sentences in which he twice confused millions and billions, Joe lost his train of thought entirely, looked disoriented, and blurted out, ‘We finally beat Medicare,” Harris wrote in her scathing critique of the debate. 

‘Trump’s reply: ‘Well, he’s right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death,’’ Harris continued. 

The former vice president described that campaign staffers were tracking reactions to the debate online, with the vast majority describing Biden’s performance as ‘disaster,’ ‘train wreck’ and ’embarrassment,’ she wrote. 

Harris’ husband, attorney Doug Emhoff, faced his own outrage over Biden’s debate performance when left-wing Hollywood director Rob Reiner ‘screamed’ at him during a watch party that democracy was about to be squandered over Biden’s performance. 

‘Doug, at a watch party with Hollywood donors, was getting an earful. Rob Reiner had screamed at him: ‘We’re going to lose our f—ing democracy and it’s your fault!” Harris wrote. 

As Harris prepared to join CNN in a post-debate interview that was all but guaranteed to focus on Biden’s disastrous performance, she reflected on a joke about a cheating husband, she wrote.

‘I couldn’t help but think of the Richard Pryor joke where his wife catches him in bed with another woman. ‘You gonna believe me or your lyin’ eyes?’ he says,’ Harris wrote.

Harris said she would not tell voters ‘that their eyes had lied,’ and instead pivoted her talking points to ‘Trump’s numerous lies.’

‘Listen, people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance,’ she told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in the post-debate interview. ‘Donald Trump lied over and over and over again, as he is wont to do. He would not disavow what happened on January 6. He would not give a clear answer on whether he would stand by the election results this November. He went back and forth about where he stands on one of the most critical issues of freedom in America, which is the right of women to make decisions about their own body.’ 

Biden’s office declined comment when approached by Fox News Digital Tuesday morning. 

Harris’ ‘107 Days’ hit bookshelves Tuesday and recounts the days of her truncated presidential campaign after Biden dropped out of the race July 21, 2024.