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Fox News
5 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Rise in antisemitic extremism fuels wave of terror plots in the United States since 2020
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. The Sunday terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, two weeks after two Israeli Embassy employees were killed in Washington, D.C., highlights a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents that have occurred in the United States since 2020. "The explosion of antisemitism after [Oct. 7, 2023] indicated that it was … bubbling beneath the surface," Ruthie Blum, senior contributing editor at Jewish News Syndicate and former adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Fox News Digital. "There was always some kind of a ... flare-up of antisemitic, anti-Israel rhetoric on college campuses, et cetera. But this was an explosion, and it was happening, surprisingly, all over the United States." Blum added that recent antisemitic events are "a sign of a decaying society." Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces a federal hate crime charge and state charges of attempted first-degree murder, crimes against at-risk adults/elderly, assault, criminal attempt to commit class one and class two felonies and use of explosives or incendiary devices during a felony in connection with Sunday's attack, which left eight people dead. He allegedly threw explosives into a crowd Sunday in Boulder as a pro-Israel group, "Run for Their Lives," participated in a gathering on Pearl Street advocating for Hamas to release Israeli hostages. BOULDER TERROR ATTACK LATEST IN ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS RISING ACROSS US IN 2025 While Jewish Americans make up only 2% of the total U.S. population, reported single-bias anti-Jewish hate crimes comprised 15% of all hate crimes and 68% of all reported religion-based hate crimes in 2023, which is consistent with patterns from prior years, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). However, data shows a significant recent increase in antisemitic terrorist plots or attacks targeting Jewish people, Zionists or Jewish institutions. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AMONG VICTIMS IN BOULDER, COLORADO SUSPECTED TERROR ATTACK The ADL's Center on Extremism found of 16 terror plots or attacks targeting Jewish people since January 2020, nine of those incidents occurred within just the past 12 months (July 2024 to June 2025), compared to seven incidents recorded over the previous 54 months (January 2020 to June 2024). June 1, 2025 Colorado and federal authorities say Soliman executed a "targeted terror attack" that left eight people, ages 52 to 88, with injuries, including one in critical condition. None of the victims have died. "When he threw the Molotov cocktails, SOLIMAN yelled 'Free Palestine!' and the Molotov cocktails ignited in the crowd of people, causing burn injuries to eight individuals," the federal complaint states. Inside a vehicle registered to Soliman following the attack, authorities found a "red material consistent with the rags found in the black plastic container; a red gas container; and paperwork with the words, 'Israel,' 'Palestine,' and 'USAID,'" according to federal authorities. SUSPECT IN BOULDER TERROR ATTACK DETERMINED TO BE EGYPTIAN MAN IN US ILLEGALLY: FBI During an interview with law enforcement after the arrest, Soliman "stated that he researched on YouTube how to make Molotov Cocktails, purchased the ingredients to do so, and constructed them." He also told authorities "that he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead," court documents state. "He specifically targeted the 'Zionist Group' that had gathered in Boulder having learned about the group from an online search. SOLIMAN knew that they planned to meet … Sunday, June 1 at 1pm. He arrived at approximately 12:55 p.m. and waited for them. Throughout the interview, SOLIMAN stated that he hated the Zionist group and did this because he hated this group and needed to stop them from taking over 'our land,' which he explained to be Palestine. He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack," the federal complaint says. May 21, 2025 Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, is charged with the murder of foreign officials, a federal capital offense, along with multiple firearm-related counts and two counts of first-degree murder, after he allegedly killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a young couple who worked at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on a Wednesday evening following an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Rodriguez allegedly shot and killed the couple, who were leaving an American Jewish Committee Young Diplomats event at the museum. As he was taken into custody, Rodriguez shouted, "Free, free Palestine," as seen in a video taken after the attack. US POLITICIANS, JEWISH GROUPS CONDEMN 'HORRIFYING' BOULDER TERROR ATTACK WATCH: Suspect in DC shooting of Israeli Embassy staff shouts 'free Palestine' April 13, 2025 Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and related offenses for allegedly setting fire to Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence on April 13. In a 911 call allegedly made by Balmer, he admitted that he set multiple fires at the residence because of what Shapiro, who is Jewish, "wants to do to the Palestinian people," calling the governor a "monster," according to audio obtained by Fox 29. Balmer also allegedly blamed Shapiro for Palestinian deaths in the Israel-Hamas war. A warrant details Balmer's interview with state troopers in which he allegedly admitted to "harboring hatred towards" Shapiro. Balmer also apparently admitted to a trooper that he was responsible for the arson attack and said he planned to attack Shapiro with his hammer if he were to find the governor in the mansion. Dec. 28, 2024 Gainesville, Florida, man Forrest Pemberton, 26, was arrested for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack against an unnamed pro-Israel organization's offices in South Florida, according to CBS 12. Dec. 17, 2024 The FBI arrested 18-year-old George Mason University student Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan of Egypt for allegedly plotting to perpetrate a mass casualty attack at the Israeli consulate in New York City. Hassan allegedly provided bomb-making instructions and plans on how to attack the Manhattan consulate to an undercover FBI source and is charged with distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction in furtherance of the commission of a federal crime, according to court documents. BOULDER, COLORADO, SUSPECTED TERROR ATTACK SUSPECT MOHAMED SABRY SOLIMAN FACES MURDER, ASSAULT, OTHER CHARGES Oct. 26, 2024 Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, a 22-year-old Mauritanian national, allegedly shot and injured a 39-year-old Orthodox Jewish man who was wearing a kippah as he was headed to a synagogue. The suspect then allegedly opened fire on responding police and paramedics. Abdallahi was found dead of apparent suicide in his jail cell in November 2024, according to Fox 32 . He was facing multiple charges , including terrorism, hate crime, six counts of attempted first-degree murder and seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer or firefighter. Sept. 4, 2024 Canadian officials arrested Pakistani citizen Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, while he was trying to cross the border into the United States, allegedly as part of a planned mass shooting in New York to "murder as many Jewish people as possible, all in support of ISIS," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement at the time. "The defendant was allegedly determined to kill Jewish people here in the United States, nearly one year after Hamas's horrific attack on Israel," FBI Director Christopher Wray said at the time. Aug. 14, 2024 Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 44, of Jordan was arrested in August 2024 on suspicion that he sought to target businesses he believed were supportive of Israel. Hnaihen pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2024 to four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility. Hnaihen was living illegally in Orlando, Florida, at the time and was sentenced to serve six years in federal prison for threatening to use explosives and destruction of an energy facility. July 16, 2024 Federal authorities charged Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian national, with soliciting hate crimes and mass violence for his alleged plot to recruit others into carrying out a mass casualty attack against Jewish children. He also allegedly encouraged bombings, arson and poisonings against Jews, racial minorities and homeless people as early as July 2022, according to federal officials. He is accused of "repeatedly" encouraging others, "primarily via encrypted mobile messaging platforms, to commit violent hate crimes and other acts of violence," including "conspiring to solicit violent acts with the leader of a separate violent extremist Neo-Nazi group," the Justice Department said in a press release. Nov. 29, 2023 Las Vegas police officers arrested a 17-year-old Las Vegas resident, whose name has not been made public due to his age, on incendiary device and terrorism charges after the teenager allegedly plotted to carry out ISIS-inspired "lone wolf operations" in Las Vegas. "I will be starting lone wolf operations in Las Vegas against the enemies of Allah. I ask you to make Dua for victory," he apparently wrote in one chatroom message, according to court documents obtained by FOX 5 Las Vegas. Authorities allegedly found "a floor plan of Chaparral High School, guidebooks, and manuals for constructing explosive or incendiary devices" while searching his home, as well as the components of an explosive device. Nov. 18, 2022 New York City officials arrested two men, 21-year-old Christopher Brown and 22-year-old Matthew Mahrer, in an effort to stop a "developing threat to the Jewish community." The New York Police Department, along with federal authorities, said they uncovered an alleged threat to "shoot up" a synagogue, leading to the two arrests at Penn Station, WNYW-TV reported . Then-NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said officials also seized "a large hunting knife, an illegal Glock 17 firearm and 30-round magazine, and several other items" during the arrests. June 17, 2022 Ohio police and the FBI coordinated to arrest a Struthers teenager and self-described White supremacist accused of saying he was going to kill his father, shoot Black people and then conduct a mass shooting at a synagogue during a live-streamed video, according to WKBN. During their search of the teenager's resident, police found two loaded handguns along with several loaded magazines with racist and antisemitic symbols and messages on them, as well as a manifesto and 100 rounds of ammunition. Authorities charged the teen with making terrorist threats, domestic violence, inducing panic and threatening violence and possessing criminal tools. June 10, 2022 New York authorities arrested Matthew Belanger, a Marine Corps veteran originally from Hawaii, on Long Island, after he allegedly plotted to attack a synagogue in New York. While conducting a search warrant of Belanger's electronic devices, federal authorities found "approximately 1,950 images, videos and documents related to white power groups, Nazi literature, brutality towards the Jewish community, brutality towards women, rape, mass murderers, firearms, body armor, instructional documents relating to building explosives and/or illegal firearms, violent uncensored executions and/or rape, and communications related to illegally obtained firearms," according to federal court documents. Jan. 15, 2022 Officials arrested British citizen Malik Faisal Akram, 44, following an 11-hour standoff at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, during which the suspect held four victims hostage, all of whom were rescued. Akram could be heard on a Facebook live-stream video demanding the release of an imprisoned Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al Qaeda. Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving an 86-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2010 of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan, is being held at a federal prison in Fort Worth. Two teenagers were detained in South Manchester, United Kingdom, at the time in connection with the hostage incident, according to Greater Manchester Police. BOULDER TERROR ATTACK SUSPECT SAID HE WANTED TO KILL 'ALL ZIONIST PEOPLE,' USED MOLOTOV COCKTAILS: FEDS Oct. 31, 2021 Franklin Barrett Sechriest, 18, pleaded guilty to arson and hate crime charges in connection with a 2021 arson attack on Congregation Beth Israel, and a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison. He later apologized in court, saying, "I will never forgive myself," and promising to "atone" for his actions and denounce "evil ideology," according to FOX 7 Austin. Dec. 17, 2021 An Illinois grand jury indicted Brandon Simonson and Kristopher Martin on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder, hate crime and assault for allegedly killing a Jewish inmate at the prison where they were being detained. Authorities identified the men as members of a White supremacist gang called the Valhalla Bound Skinheads, an Oregon-based White supremacist gang. A federal judge found Simonson guilty in May 2025, and Martin pleaded guilty earlier this year. Blum noted that the Boulder, Colorado, suspects and others accused of antisemitic attacks are described as "lone-wolf terrorists," which she disputed. "Whether or not he actually is affiliated with a particular group or was paid by someone to commit such atrocities, it's the imbibed the ideology, and he was given permission," she said. "If … he was not dispatched by Hamas or anybody, even if he gets no financial benefit out of it, he's an ideologue, and he is acting according to a climate that is all around him." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Soliman was living in the United States illegally after entering on a work visa two years ago that has since expired, according to federal officials. He was booked into the Boulder County Jail on Sunday evening and remains held on a $10 million bond.
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
NASCAR's Harrison Burton talks move to Xfinity Series, appearance in Netflix documentary
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. The 2024 season was one Harrison Burton would like to forget about quickly. The 24-year-old NASCAR driver finished 16th in the Cup standings, leading to his departure from Wood Brothers Racing. He did have a win at Daytona International in the Coke Zero 400, but as he put it, "by that point, it's too late." That win was just one of his two top-10 finishes last season, but with a fresh start in the Xfinity Series, Burton has found it again. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON This season, now as a member of AM Racing, he already has six top-10s, including each of his last three races. "That was the best landing spot for me to be a better racecar driver, go to a team that really was rebuilding from square one," Burton told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "They saw a vision to rebuild around me and had to put the ball in my court and said, 'hey, if you want to drive for us, we'll kind of help put a team together that you are a part of.' So that was really fun for me to kind of build this thing up and take a team like AM Racing that had all the want and will in the world to go contend and lead and run well. "Right now, we're sitting inside the playoffs, we're starting to get some momentum going, and I think it'll just get better and better and better. So it was a great opportunity to kind of go back, rebuild up my stock a little bit." NASCAR POWER RANKINGS: JOEY LOGANO DOES TEXAS TWO-STEP ONTO THE LIST Fans now have an opportunity to get a closer look at Burton, as he's featured in Netflix's "Full Speed," which, like "Drive to Survive" and "Full Swing," gives a full behind-the-scenes look at the ins and outs of NASCAR and its athletes. "Just the concept and idea behind 'Full Speed' is something that when I heard the first season was coming out, it was super cool and I think good for our sport and good to get more knowledge about what we do out there and the people that are in our sport out there and all that was awesome," Burton said. "The thing that's so hard to explain to people is if I pick up a football or basketball, I know I'm not an NFL or NBA guy – it's apparent pretty quick. There's no racecar for you to go drive to see what we do. And so, the best way to kind of explain it and do all that is get the media out there and get an inside look at what it's really like, and I think that is super cool and what's a good opportunity about this documentary in general." Now, Burton wants fans to see him inside the winner's circle again. Of course, that is not easy in NASCAR, with fields of dozens of drivers, and only one of them truly happy every Sunday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "It's hard. It's such a hard mental battle, right? It's like golf in that way where, you know, you've got all these other people, and you're not 50-50 odds to win the game. You're one in 40, maybe even longer depending on the day. It's tough," Burton said. "It's always hard to evaluate [success], but the biggest thing for me is progress. "Did I get better? Did I do a better job here? Am I a better racecar driver going into next year? Everyone wants to win, but it's about, what are you going to do to win? What are the sacrifices you're going to make or the work you're going to put in to win? There's no blueprint to success other than that. That's the biggest thing. and what is, you know, the sacrifices you're gonna make or the work you're gonna put in to win? That's the biggest thing." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Alcatraz 2.0: Fmr. FBI agent floats 'perfect' new prison site that would scare even most hardened criminals
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. A former FBI agent floated an alternative location for President Donald Trump's revamped Alcatraz prison, which he thinks would serve as a deterrence for even the worst criminals. Trump called for the reopening of the notorious prison in a Truth Social post on Sunday evening. "REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!" Trump wrote. "For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering." Trump directed several agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI and Department of Homeland Security, to develop plans to reopen a "substantially enlarged and rebuilt" Alcatraz prison that would "house America's most ruthless and violent Offenders." He said the reopening of Alcatraz "will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE." LEGAL EXPERTS SAY TRUMP CAN DEFINITELY REOPEN ALCATRAZ, BUT COULD FACE 'AVALANCHE OF LAWSUITS' Former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News Digital he has an even better idea on where to build a prison that would serve as a deterrence for criminals. "If you want to build a prison, forget about Alcatraz," Gilliam said, pitching San Clemente Island in California as a possible location for the prison. San Clemente Island is primarily used by the U.S. Navy for several purposes, including training to become a Navy SEAL. The island is only accessible by boat and air, rendering it hard to reach for most people. Gilliam said San Clemente Island is well-suited to host a prison similar to Alcatraz because of its size and distance from California's coast, as it's around 80 miles from San Diego. TRUMP ORDERS FEDS TO REOPEN ALCATRAZ TO HOUSE 'AMERICA'S MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT' CRIMINALS "That is a perfect location that's close enough and you could build a prison out there for same or less amount of money," Gilliam said. "Just the isolation of it would send shock factors through the minds of a lot of these people. You would not want to go there because there's nothing there." The former FBI special agent said there's an unwritten rule that "nobody can hear you scream out there." Gilliam said he thinks Trump's plan to reopen Alcatraz will send a message to criminals. "I think the key to Alcatraz was always that it stood alone, you couldn't escape it and the most hardened criminals were there. So it was a scary place to be," he said. "And so I think as long as that stays with it, then it'll serve as a deterrent, I would think." In his social media post, Trump said only the most serious criminals would be placed in a revamped Alcatraz. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm," Trump added. "No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets." Alcatraz was opened in 1934, but closed 29 years later in 1963. It's now operated by the National Park Service, which operates tours of the infamous prison. Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Fox News
James Comey's daughter is key to Diddy prosecution after taking down Epstein accomplice
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. Sean "Diddy" Combs faces 15 years to life in prison if found guilty of sex crimes charges during an estimated eight-week trial, which kicked off Monday, May 5. The female-driven team for the U.S. Attorney's Office includes eight lawyers, according to the docket. The five women designated as leads include Emily Anne Johnson, Madison Reddick Smyser, Mary Christine Slavik, Meredith Foster and Mitzi Steiner. Maurene Ryan Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, is also listed for the prosecution, in addition to Matthew Raffi Shahabian and Olga Zverovich. Maurene's father was fired by President Donald Trump during his first term in the White House after the handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe. DIDDY TRIAL: PROSPECTIVE JURORS QUIZZED ON MIKE MYERS, INFIDELITY, MUSIC In December, Maurene joined the prosecution team three months after Diddy was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. WATCH ON FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DO? No stranger to high-profile trials, Maurene previously served as a lead prosecutor in the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell was found guilty on five counts after a monthlong trial and sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. DIDDY TRIAL: RAPPER FACES JURY IN OPINIONATED NY HOMETOWN IN BID FOR FREEDOM ON SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES "Today's sentence holds Ghislaine Maxwell accountable for perpetrating heinous crimes against children," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement at the time. "This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice. We again express our gratitude to Epstein and Maxwell's victims for their courage in coming forward, in testifying at trial, and in sharing their stories as part of today's sentencing." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Maxwell's attempt to appeal her sex trafficking conviction in 2024 was rejected by a federal appeals court, and in April, her legal team filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to Maxwell's conviction, Maurene was one of the lead prosecutors working on the case against Epstein before he died by suicide while awaiting trial in August 2019. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER She graduated from Harvard Law School in 2013 and joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2015. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
'Defund the police' mecca of Minneapolis overrun with violence, ‘failed leadership': former AG candidate
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. A string of shootings in Minneapolis last week left six victims dead and five others injured in just 24 hours, highlighting "the results" of "years of anti-police rhetoric and failed leadership," 2022 Minnesota attorney general Republican nominee Jim Schultz told Fox News Digital. Minneapolis authorities on Thursday announced the arrest of James Ortley, an alleged 34-year-old gang member, in connection with an April 29 mass shooting that left four dead and two injured. The April 29 incident was the first of six shootings in 24 hours that left a total of six people dead and five others injured, police said, adding that investigators are determining if some of the shootings are connected. "Minneapolis, sadly, is experiencing the tragic consequences of years of anti-police rhetoric and failed leadership from the Minneapolis State Council and the lunatic county prosecutor of Hennepin County in which Minneapolis sits," said Schultz, a father of four and president of the Minnesota Private Business Council. "When city officials demonize law enforcement and slash police budgets and refuse to prosecute the criminals, the results are bought on the streets." DOJ OPENS PROBE AFTER LEFT-WING DA REQUIRES PROSECUTORS TO CONSIDER RACE IN PLEA DEALS Particularly, after George Floyd's murder by police in 2020, Minneapolis became "ground zero" for the "defund the police" movement, Schultz noted, adding that public sentiment toward police and officer retention hasn't been the same since. "Years later, police staffing is still down," he said. "We still have half the police officers that we need. Morale is shattered and criminals feel emboldened because, originating out of that defund-the-police movement … the county prosecutor in Minneapolis, Mary Moriarty, is one of the [George] Soros-funded, hard-left prosecutors who has embraced every policy imaginable to undermine public safety." SOROS PROSECUTOR RIPPED FOR FAILING TO CHARGE WALZ STAFFER OVER TESLA VANDALISM: '2-TIERED JUSTICE SYSTEM' Schultz said Moriarty is "aggressively pursuing law enforcement" and "electing to ... dismiss cases that give lenient plea deals to individuals who had committed serious violent crime, and otherwise embracing a variety of very woke policies, like taking race into account in sentencing guidelines and otherwise." The suspect in Tuesday's mass shooting, for example, has a lengthy criminal history. Hennepin County records show Ortley was allegedly involved in a crime spree that resulted in a Minneapolis resident being shot through his bedroom window in February, but the district attorney ultimately denied charges for the 34-year-old, as the Star Tribune first reported. LEFT-WING DA FORCING PROSECUTORS TO CONSIDER 'RACIAL IDENTITY' IN PLEA DEALS In approximately the last 15 years, he has also faced charges ranging from DWIs to first-degree aggravated robbery, fleeing a police officer, illegal possession of a firearm and second-degree assault. These charges stem from two violent incidents in which he allegedly shot at a 16-year-old girl while stealing her phone in 2009 and stabbed a man at a bar in 2021. A witness described Ortley's weapon used in the attack as a "3-inch-long pocket knife." The witness further said she saw the victim run away from the defendant, lose his shoe and turn around, at which point Ortley grabbed the victim and "began stabbing him in the back," according to Hennepin County records. In the 2021 bar stabbing, Ortley's latest charge, he was sentenced to serve 39 months in prison and five years of probation, but the court issued a stay of execution, which temporarily stops the sentencing order. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Schultz said Minneapolis has seen a recent "improvement in the number of homicides in this city, in particular." "This, of course, is a huge step back … and a reminder that Minneapolis is still operating with a fraction of the police officers it needs," Schultz said of the mass shooting. "It's still operating in an environment in which many in city leadership are hostile to law enforcement and that crime problems in the city still persist, even if they are not at their peaks in the way that they were in 2020, '21, '23, '24." The former attorney general nominee said Hennepin County should "set aside these far-left bizarre policies that say that holding [criminals] accountable is somehow unfair because of the circumstances in which they found their lives." "We need to ensure that violent criminals are put in prison, for a just amount of time for the victims and for the public safety," he said. The Justice Department on Sunday announced an investigation into whether the Hennepin County Attorney's Office "engaged in a pattern of practice of depriving persons of rights, privileges or immunities secured or protect by the Constitution or laws of the United States" through Moriarty's new directive for its prosecutors to consider race when negotiating plea deals with criminal defendants. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a letter dated May 2, DOJ officials cited Moriarty's recently adopted "Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants," which instructs prosecutors to consider race when formulating plea offers, stating that "racial identity … should be part of the overall analysis" and that prosecutors "should be identifying and addressing racial disparities at decision points, as appropriate." "In particular, the investigation will focus on whether HCAO engages in illegal consideration of race in its prosecutorial decision-making," Justice Department officials said in the letter, which Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon shared on X. Fox News' Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
