
Anti-ICE attackers revealed to have extensive history of radical protest activities
Ines Soto, who is part of the group of ten charged with attempted murder of federal officers and firearm offenses, was arrested at a protest in 2016 for allegedly resisting arrest and trying to avoid detention, according to K-HOU 11 at the time.
The protest was against a speech by Richard Spencer at Texas A&M University. The outlet My Aggie Nation noted that Soto was 31 in 2016, which corroborates with a KERA News report stating that Soto is now 40 years old and was released on a $10,000 bond.
Meanwhile, KERA News reported that Savanna Batten partook in the Occupy Wall Street movement through an "Occupy Dallas" protest in 2011, where she was arrested for allegedly not allowing people to come and go from a Chase Bank. The case was ultimately dismissed, as a criminal trespassing charge was scrapped in exchange for 24 community service hours, the outlet reported.
Batten also specifically has a history of anti-ICE activism, as she was charged for allegedly blocking a highway in June 2018 near a Dallas ICE facility, and the charge for that was also dismissed in 2019 as part of a program.
Fox News Digital reported last week that Benjamin Song, who was captured by the FBI last week, had a known protest background. He was named in a 2023 lawsuit over a counter-protest to the New Columbia Movement at a drag brunch in Fort Worth, Texas. The lawsuit noted Song was tied with a pro-arms leftist group, the Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club.
In addition, he was also arrested in 2020 during a protest in Austin for allegedly assaulting a public servant, according to Fox 4.
Song's social media profiles also indicated that he was extremely vocal online about his stances and activism, and also appeared to use a martial arts studio tied to his mother to film tactical exercises.
"Do you want to end mass shootings? Abolish the police," he posted in June 2022 under the X handle, BubbleBreakBS.
Song, a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, is accused of firing two AR-15-style rifles at two correctional officers and one Alvarado police officer, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.
"Make no mistake, this was not a peaceful protest," Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson said in a July 8 statement. "This was an ambush on federal and local law enforcement officers. This increasing trend of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas. Those who use violence against law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted using the toughest criminal statutes and penalties available."
A local police officer was shot in the neck by a suspect in the woods, according to the complaint. Another assailant allegedly fired dozens of rounds at unarmed correctional officers who had stepped outside the facility. Cars outside the facility were vandalized with "Ice pig" and "Traitor," as authorities obtained anti-government literature from those involved, as well as a flag that said "Fight Fascism, Fight Oligarchy."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
![OXFORD GRAY NORTH AMERICA CORP ("OXFORD GRAY") RECENTLY FILED BREACH OF CONTRACT LAWSUIT FOR OVER $9 MILLION AGAINST AUSTIN, TEXAS-BASED COMPANY, FINTIV, ALSO KNOWN AS MOZIDO, OWNED AND LED BY MICHAEL LIBERTY ["Liberty"]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdims.apnews.com%2Fdims4%2Fdefault%2Fdcac1a4%2F2147483647%2Fstrip%2Ftrue%2Fcrop%2F700x394%2B0%2B28%2Fresize%2F1440x810!%2Fquality%2F90%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fassets.apnews.com%252F90%252F29%252F4e3c1cc7446089a9101a7bdff4c8%252Fdefaultshareimage-copy.png&w=3840&q=100)
![OXFORD GRAY NORTH AMERICA CORP ("OXFORD GRAY") RECENTLY FILED BREACH OF CONTRACT LAWSUIT FOR OVER $9 MILLION AGAINST AUSTIN, TEXAS-BASED COMPANY, FINTIV, ALSO KNOWN AS MOZIDO, OWNED AND LED BY MICHAEL LIBERTY ["Liberty"]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fapnews.com.png&w=48&q=75)
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Associated Press
OXFORD GRAY NORTH AMERICA CORP ("OXFORD GRAY") RECENTLY FILED BREACH OF CONTRACT LAWSUIT FOR OVER $9 MILLION AGAINST AUSTIN, TEXAS-BASED COMPANY, FINTIV, ALSO KNOWN AS MOZIDO, OWNED AND LED BY MICHAEL LIBERTY ["Liberty"]
WASHINGTON, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxford Gray Corporation recently filed a lawsuit in Austin, Texas, for over $9 million for breach of contract against the Austin-based company, Fintiv (also known as 'Mozido'), which Michael Liberty led and controlled. [See HERE. Case D-1-G-N-25-004633, 6/27/2025, Travis County, Texas, 345th Travis Co. Texas] Allegations by Oxford Gray in the Austin case Fintiv, the Austin, Texas-based company, formerly known as 'Mozido,' led and controlled by Michael Liberty, borrowed a total of $5 million under a series of Promissory Notes ('Notes') evidencing loans by plaintiff Oxford Gray Corp. to Fintiv. The notes were subject to payment of principal and interest due as per the repayment schedule set forth in the Notes. Oxford Gray alleges in the recently filed Texas case that Fintiv defaulted on timely payments under the Notes and therefore is in breach of contract and owes more than $9 million in unpaid principal and interest due under the Notes. For Texas case, see HERE. In a separate case filed in October 2024 in Florida, Oxford Gray alleges that Michael Liberty signed a personal guaranty for one of the Promissory Notes at issue in the Austin case and is requiring Liberty to honor his personal guarantee of that Note. See HERE. Icarus Cap. Corp. and Oxford Gray Corp. v. Fintiv and Michael Liberty, individual, 5-21-2025, #223582, Fla. 9th Judicial Cir., Orange Co. Fla, Case No. 2024 CA 009041-O. The complaint filed in Texas begins as follows, to provide context for the case: 'This case stems from Fintiv's failure to repay a series of promissory notes entered into with Oxford Gray…as part of what the U.S. Department of Justice described as a 'scheme to defraud' investors that resulted in a 2019 criminal indictment of Liberty.' Oxford Gray attached a copy of the Liberty criminal indictment as an exhibit to, and relevant to, the Oxford Gray / Austin, Texas case. See February 27, 2019, Maine federal indictment of Michael Liberty HERE. However, Lanny J. Davis, a Washington D.C. attorney and outside legal advisor to the plaintiff in the case, Oxford Gray North America Corp., said it is only fair to point out that Mr. Liberty's 2019 indictment and a 2016 prior guilty plea for violating federal campaign finance laws were both discharged as a result of the February 2021 pardon of Mr. Liberty by President Trump. See President Trump's pardon of Mr. Liberty HERE. Davis also pointed out that the presidential pardon does not interrupt an ongoing 2018 civil enforcement case against Liberty by the US Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') alleging a 'scheme to defraud' -- nor block the continuation of this breach of contract case filed by Oxford Gray in Austin, Texas. See SEC complaint filed against Michael Liberty for scheme to defraud investors and other allegations HERE. Davis added: 'My client Oxford Gray hopes and believes that justice will be done and that Mr. Liberty will be required to comply with his written personal guarantee of loans made to Fintiv.' Attorney Lanny Davis is a legal advisor to the plaintiff Oxford Gray North America Corp. He is a Washington D.C. attorney, founder of the law firm Lanny J. Davis & Associates, has been a practicing attorney for more than 40 years, and also served as a White House Special Counsel to President Bill Clinton and served on a bipartisan privacy and civil liberties panel appointed by President George W. Bush. View original content: SOURCE Oxford Gray North America Corp.

Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Trump quietly renews Chevron's license in Venezuela, marking shift in U.S. policy
In a marked shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, the Trump administration has quietly approved a new license allowing oil giant Chevron to restart its operations in the South American nation, according to sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The decision this week represents a departure from earlier hard-line measures and suggests a recalibration aimed at balancing energy interests with ongoing foreign policy challenges involving the Nicolás Maduro regime. The new arrangement, described by sources as a 'specific license' rather than a general one, allows Chevron to resume more regular activity with Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA. Under the framework, Chevron will reportedly pay the Maduro regime in barrels of oil rather than in cash — a shift that may give Caracas some latitude to commercialize its resources amid continued international sanctions. Sources say that one significant distinction between a specific license and a general one is that the former can be issued privately while the latter is granted is such a way that it is there for the public to see. 'They made it a specific license instead of a general license like the last one,' said a person briefed on the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Negotiations were held in Caracas yesterday negotiating some changes to the contract with PDVSA.' Asked about the new license, the State Department said it was only issued for Chevron's maintenance purposes and to create the conditions for the regime to repay the huge debt that it owes the Texas-based oil company, but that it would not aim to provide Maduro any type of financial relief. 'While we cannot speak to any specific licenses, the U.S. government will not allow the Maduro regime to profit from the sale of oil,' the State Department told the Miami Herald in an email. Experts, however, said it was hard to see how the Caracas regime would not benefit financially under the new arrangement. Venezuela's debt to Chevron had been estimated in around $3 billion before the amount was reduced following the Biden administration's decision to grant the Texan oil company a license to operate in the country. That license was revoked by the Trump administration earlier this year in a move that took effect in May and that significantly disrupted the finances of the socialist regime. Chevron was responsible for roughly a quarter of Venezuela's oil output, which earlier this year stood around 900,000 barrels per day. Other international energy companies—Spain's Repsol, Italy's Eni, France's Maurel & Prom, and India's Reliance Industries—were also affected by the U.S. restrictions. Collectively, those firms accounted for another 230,000 barrels per day of production. Chevron and the other companies have played a central role in Venezuela's efforts to recover from the near-collapse of its oil industry, which once produced 3.2 million barrels per day before declining to just 400,000 barrels per day in 2020. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, just ahead of Saudi Arabia. Estimates from industry analysts prior to the license suspensions suggested that foreign companies were providing the Maduro government with an average of $700 million to $800 million per month. While official U.S. policy continues to call for democratic reforms in Venezuela, the quiet reauthorization of Chevron's operations indicates a more pragmatic approach in dealings with Caracas. Sources say U.S. officials have engaged in direct negotiations with high-ranking Venezuelan figures, including National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. Back channel talks reportedly remain active, involving U.S. diplomats based in Bogotá and senior Venezuelan officials. These conversations have included proposals to restore diplomatic presence by reopening embassies in Washington and Caracas, although no official announcements have been made. The policy shift also reflects evolving dynamics within the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time critic of Maduro, is now seen as playing a central role in shaping the administration's Venezuela strategy, while former special envoy Richard Grenell appears to have taken a back seat. 'The State Department or National Security Council is calling the shots now,' said the source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely. While Rubio has historically supported a tough stance against authoritarian governments in the region, his involvement in the Chevron licensing process suggests that broader U.S. strategic interests—particularly energy security—are now taking precedence. Industry observers note that despite efforts to keep the new license quiet, public disclosure may be inevitable as Chevron's oil begins to reenter Gulf Coast refineries. 'You can't keep it under wraps too long,' the source said. 'Eventually, the oil is going to look for passage through the Gulf to refineries in the U.S.' Chevron has operated in Venezuela for nearly a century and was the last major American energy firm to maintain a presence in the country amid sweeping sanctions. Its continued presence has long served as an indicator of U.S. policy direction. While the license renewal may open the door for other companies to explore similar arrangements, it also raises questions among Venezuelan opposition leaders and human rights groups concerned that any form of normalization with Maduro could weaken efforts to restore democratic governance. For now, the resumption of Chevron's operations marks a potentially significant turning point in U.S.-Venezuela relations — one that could reshape diplomatic, economic and political dynamics in the region.


Fast Company
10 hours ago
- Fast Company
Trump rollback on clean energy subsidies stalls major solar, wind projects and manufacturing plans
Singapore-based solar panel manufacturer Bila Solar is suspending plans to double capacity at its new factory in Indianapolis. Canadian rival Heliene's plans for a solar cell facility in Minnesota are under review. Norwegian solar wafer maker NorSun is evaluating whether to move forward with a planned factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And two fully permitted offshore wind farms in the U.S. Northeast may never get built. These are among the major clean energy investments now in question after Republicans agreed earlier this month to quickly end U.S. subsidies for solar and wind power as part of their budget megabill, and as the White House directed agencies to tighten the rules on who can claim the incentives that remain. This marks a policy U-turn since President Donald Trump's return to office that project developers, manufacturers and analysts say will slash installations of renewable energy over the coming decade, kill investment and jobs in the clean energy manufacturing sector supporting them, and worsen a looming U.S. power supply crunch as energy-hungry AI infrastructure expands. Solar and wind installations could be 17% and 20% lower than previously forecast over the next decade because of the moves, according to research firm Wood Mackenzie, which warned that a dearth of new supplies could slow the expansion of data centers needed to support AI technology. Energy researcher Rhodium, meanwhile, said the law puts at risk $263 billion of wind, solar, and storage facilities and $110 billion of announced manufacturing investment supporting them. It will also increase industrial energy costs by up to $11 billion in 2035, it said. 'One of the administration's stated goals was to bring costs down, and as we demonstrated, this bill doesn't do that,' said Ben King, a director in Rhodium's energy and climate practice. He added the policy 'is not a recipe for continued dominance of the U.S. AI industry.' The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration has defended its moves to end support for clean energy by arguing the rapid adoption of solar and wind power has created instability in the grid and raised consumer prices – assertions that are contested by the industry and which do not bear out in renewables-heavy power grids, like Texas' ERCOT. Power industry representatives, however, have said all new generation projects need to be encouraged to meet rising U.S. demand, including both those driven by renewables and fossil fuels. Consulting firm ICF projects that U.S. electricity demand will grow by 25% by 2030, driven by increased AI and cloud computing – a major challenge for the power industry after decades of stagnation. The REPEAT Project, a collaboration between Princeton University and Evolved Energy Research, projects a 2% annual increase in electricity demand. With a restricted pipeline of renewables, tighter electricity supplies stemming from the policy shift could increase household electricity costs by $280 a year in 2035, according to the REPEAT Project. The key provision in the new law is the accelerated phase-out of 30% tax credits for wind and solar projects: it requires projects to begin construction within a year or enter service by the end of 2027 to qualify for the credits. Previously the credits were available through 2032. Now some project developers are scrambling to get projects done while the U.S. incentives are still accessible. But even that strategy has become risky, developers said. Days after signing the law, Trump directed the Treasury Department to review the definition of 'beginning of construction.' A revision to those rules could overturn a long-standing practice giving developers four years to claim tax credits after spending just 5% of project costs. Treasury was given 45 days to draft new rules. 'With so many moving parts, financing of projects, financing of manufacturing is difficult, if not impossible,' said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. 'You are looking to see what is the next baseball bat that's going to hit you on the head.' About face Heliene's planned cell factory, which could cost as much as $350 million, depending on the capacity, and employ more than 600 workers, is also in limbo, Pochtaruk said in an interview earlier this month. The company needs more clarity on both what the new law will mean for U.S. demand, and how Trump's trade policy will impact the solar industry. 'We have a building that is anxiously waiting for us to make a decision,' Pochtaruk said. Similarly, Mick McDaniel, general manager of Bila Solar, said 'a troubling level of uncertainty' has put on hold its $20 million expansion at an Indianapolis factory it opened this year that would create an additional 75 jobs. 'NorSun is still digesting the new legislation and recent executive order to determine the impact to the overall domestic solar manufacturing landscape,' said Todd Templeton, director of the company's U.S. division that is reviewing plans for its $620 million solar wafer facility in Tulsa. Five solar manufacturing companies – T1 Energy, Imperial Star Solar, SEG Solar, Solx and ES Foundry – said they are also concerned about the new law's impact on future demand, but that they have not changed their investment plans. The policy changes have also injected fresh doubt about the fate of the nation's pipeline of offshore wind projects, which depend heavily on tax credits to bring down costs. According to Wood Mackenzie, projects that have yet to start construction or make final investment decisions are unlikely to proceed. Two such projects, which are fully permitted, include a 300-megawatt project by developer US Wind off the coast of Maryland and Iberdrola's 791 MW New England Wind off the coast of Massachusetts. Neither company responded to requests for comment. 'They are effectively ready to begin construction and are now trapped in a timeline that will make it that much harder to be able to take advantage of the remaining days of the tax credits,' said Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward.