Latest news with #PatFallon
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Lawmakers demand 'immediate' probe into anti-ICE tracking app: ‘Target on their backs'
FIRST ON FOX: A group of House Republicans is calling for an "immediate" probe into an app that allows people to track federal immigration actions in real time. House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams, R-Texas, and Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, said the ICEBlock app "paints targets" on the backs of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents throughout the U.S., and asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether the program's creators are violating federal law. "We are disturbed to learn that the developers of this app may be encouraging people to interfere with and evade lawful ICE operations designed to remove criminals from our streets. While the creators of this app claim to promote 'awareness,' their actions actively undermine the integrity of our justice system," their letter to Bondi said. "The development and use of this app is not simply neighborhood awareness; it is a blatant interference with agency operations that has the potential to put government agents in danger and even cost them their lives." The memo was signed by five other House lawmakers: Reps. Randy Weber, R-Texas; Michael Rulli, R-Ohio; Tom Tiffany, R-Wis.; Mark Alford, R-Mo., and Brad Finstad, R-Minn. It comes as the Trump administration's severe crackdown on illegal immigration continues to be a political flashpoint between the right and left. Both sides have accused the other of acting outside the scope of federal law. Democrats have claimed the Trump administration is using dubious legal justifications to carry out President Donald Trump's deportation goals, while Republicans argue that left-wing officials' opposition to ICE amounts to impeding federal authorities. The ICEBlock app appears to be another bid to block federal immigration authorities. Its description on the Apple App Store reads, "Stay informed about reported ICE sightings, within a 5 miles radius of your current location, in real-time while maintaining your privacy. ICEBlock is a community-driven app that allows you to share and discover location-based reports without revealing any personal data." Bondi herself warned developer Joshua Aaron to "watch out" in an appearance on "Hannity." Aaron told Los Angeles Magazine he created the app to "fight back" against what he saw as a rise in authoritarian tactics. "Imagine you're walking down the street, and a notification comes up that says, 'ICE spotted four blocks ahead'…Instead of continuing down that path, you can turn left or turn around and avoid the situation altogether," he told the outlet. The lawmakers' letter said, "ICE operations are designed to remove dangerous criminals from our streets. This app, labeled as an 'early warning system,' deliberately alerts the public to the whereabouts of ICE agents, which gives individuals who are here illegally or have a criminal record time to hide or evade apprehension." "This app not only hinders criminal apprehension efforts but also makes the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security's mission of protecting public safety more difficult," they wrote. They argued that public knowledge of ICE raids led to the chaos in Los Angeles, when protesters clashed with law enforcement for several days. "Given the severity of this issue, we respectfully request that the Department of Justice begin an immediate investigation into 'ICEBlock' and its developers to determine whether it violates federal laws pertaining to obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting fugitives," they wrote. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for comment. Fox News Digital also reached out to the developer of ICEBlock via the app's website.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'How dare you?': GOP Rep. grill Dem Gov. Walz for comparing ICE agents to 'Gestapo' at House hearing
Tensions flared during a heated House Oversight hearing as Rep. Pat Fallon demanded that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz apologise for previously likening ICE agents to the 'Gestapo.' The hearing, intended to focus on sanctuary city policies, took place just days after violent unrest broke out in Los Angeles. Governors Tim Walz (MN), Kathy Hochul (NY), and JB Pritzker (IL) were summoned to testify, facing sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers over their immigration views and sanctuary state policies. Show more Show less
CBS News
29-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Texas lawmakers in Congress discuss U.S. bombing of Iran, and whether to trust that nation won't rebuild its nuclear weapons program
Multiple U.S. and international agencies say the U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear weapons sites, on top of Israel's attacks, have caused severe damage to the terrorist nation's program. Republican U.S. Representative Pat Fallon, 4th Congressional District in North Texas, told CBS News Texas that he fully supported President Trump's military operation. In an interview for Eye On Politics, he said, "I think President Trump took the right action. It was a decisive action. It's obvious that Iran's nuclear program is a lot worse off today than it was just a few weeks ago and this is the nation state that's the largest state sponsor of terror in the world. They're responsible for the death of over 600 U.S. service members in Iraq. So this is a regime that definitely needed to be curtailed and we don't want to see them go nuclear." In an interview for Eye On Politics, Democratic U.S. Representative Julie Johnson of Farmers Branch told CBS News Texas that the bombings were in the national interest for the U.S. and Israel. "We don't want a nuclearized Iran, right. That is a full stop. Nobody wants Iran to possess nuclear weapons. And so obviously, the President felt like they needed to intervene that Israel obviously had taken those steps. The men and women of our military executed the mission that the President had for them. Seems like they executed well. I'm thrilled that there's a cease fire. That's what we want. We want peace in the region." Distrust in Iran moving forward Neither Johnson nor Fallon said they trust Iran to do the right thing and not attempt to rebuild their nuclear weapons program. Johnson said, "I think we always have to be suspicious. They're a very hostile power to the United States. They're a hostile power to Israel and their right to exist. They have been an enemy of this country for many years, so I don't think we can trust them to do anything at this point." Fallon said, "I 100 percent do not trust the theocratic authoritarian regime in Tehran. Absolutely not. We know we cannot trust them, and we can't verify. So, any agreement that we have moving forward has to be verifiable with the International Atomic Energy Agency to give them that access to ensure that there's not centrifuges, that there's not enriching uranium to weapons grade things of that nature, and that's complete, open unfettered access. Otherwise, it's not worth the paper that it's written on any agreement with these folks." Vote to impeach President Trump After the President's decision to bomb Iran, U.S. Representative Al Green, D-Houston, filed a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump. While 79 Democrats in the House voted for the resolution, most of the Democratic members of Congress voted to table the resolution. They include Representative Johnson who explained, "We don't have the votes to impeach the President. And so, it's just simple as that. Democrats have tried that path. They've sung that song twice now unsuccessfully, and it just creates diversion from the message that Democrats have that's really permeating through the people of this country." Fallon criticized the Democrats. "That was an absurd vote. It's just throwing slop to the extreme left."
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Apologise right now': Rep. Fallon snaps at Dem Gov. Tim Walz for comparing ICE agents to 'Gestapo' - The Economic Times Video
Tensions exploded during a fiery House Oversight hearing as Rep. Pat Fallon demanded an apology from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for previously comparing ICE agents to the 'Gestapo.' The hearing, originally scheduled to address sanctuary city policies, came just days after violent clashes erupted in downtown Los Angeles. Governors Tim Walz (MN), Kathy Hochul (NY), and JB Pritzker (IL) were all called to testify, facing intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers over their immigration stances and sanctuary policies.
Fox News
06-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'Gone too far': GOP lawmakers rally around Trump after Musk raises Epstein allegations
House GOP lawmakers are accusing Elon Musk of going "too far" after he suggested President Donald Trump was "in the Epstein files." "Hopefully we never have to answer questions about tweets like that from Elon again," said Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, calling Musk's comments "not helpful." "Elon crossed the line today," Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital, Musk referenced late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in relation to Trump Thursday as part of a larger tirade against the president and Republican leaders over their budget reconciliation bill. The tech billionaire accused Republicans of adding to the national debt — currently nearing $37 trillion — with legislation they've called Trump's "big, beautiful bill." "Time to drop the really big bomb. [Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" Musk wrote on X. "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out." Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said Musk had "gone too far." "There's just no need for this," Nehls said. "Those conversations should be taking place behind closed doors." Some Republicans argued that any damning information about Trump and Epstein would have already been revealed if it existed. "What I would say is, if Joe Biden had Donald Trump in the Epstein logs, there's no question it would have come out during the campaign," Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. "So, I don't know what's prompting it. I think it's all unfortunate." Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., questioned why Musk would let his young son, nicknamed "X," around Trump if he believed he was closely associated with a pedophile. "The Biden administration would have put it out. There's nobody that Democrats hate more than Donald J. Trump, and he's handing them their lunch every day. So, I don't put much faith into it," Burchett said. "Why would he let his kid hang out with the president if that was true? That just doesn't make any sense. And now he's calling for his impeachment. I mean, it's just going off to the deep end." Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who is leading a task force on declassifying federal investigations, including Epstein's, told reporters she did not think Musk's suggestion held water. "Speaking to Jeffrey Epstein, I will be very specific that I do believe that if President Trump was in the Epstein files, they would have released it during the primary, and they didn't," Luna said. "So, the fact is, is that I do not believe that President Trump is in the Epstein files, the way that it's being implied, but either which way, this is why we continue to push for transparency." Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., however, stood apart in his answer in calling for more transparency into the Epstein files. "Facts will bear out whatever they will," Norman said. "The Epstein files are bound to come out, and let it come out. We ought to see it. America has a right to know, just like they do with the John F. Kennedy files, the Bobby Kennedy files." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed Musk's tirade to Trump's bill, which is focused on working- and middle-class tax relief and not benefiting Musk and his companies enough. "This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again," Leavitt said. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital, "I could not tell you what Elon Musk's motivations are, but I can tell you what we're going to do, which is avoid a $4 trillion tax increase on the American people. And while it's well-known the two men were acquainted, a source familiar with the matter pointed out that Trump had kicked Epstein out of his Palm Beach Golf Club. Trump had permanently banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for hitting on a teenage daughter of a club member, according to a book, "The Grifter's Club." "The administration itself released Epstein files with the President's name included. This is not a new surprise Elon is uncovering. Everyone already knew this," the source said. "If Elon truly thought the President was more deeply involved with Epstein, why did he hang out with him for six months and say he 'loves him as much as a straight man can love a straight man?'" Fox News Digital has also reached out to Musk for comment via his office at Tesla.
