Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., agreed with comedians Andrew Schulz and Akaash Singh on Monday, who argued that the Democratic Party has completely robbed their constituents of the democratic process and that the party is a threat to democracy."Over the last four elections, Democrats, we felt that we didnt have a say on who could be president," Schulz said on his "Flagrant" podcast. "We talk a lot about the Republicans being autocrats and oligarchs and taking over democracy. But from the Democrat perspective, and Im a lifelong Democrat, I felt like the Democratic Party completely removed the democratic process from its constituents. And I think they need to have some accountability of that."The progressive senator agreed, adding, "no argument here."The Vermont senator has been touring the country with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that's drawn large crowds.CONSERVATIVES MOCK DEM RHETORIC ABOUT 'OLIGARCHY' AS NYC LIVING ROOM PIC OF ALEX SOROS AND ABEDIN GOES VIRALSchulz said he felt the party stole the nomination from Sanders in 2016, when he narrowly lost the Democratic primary to establishment favorite Hillary Clinton, who went on to lose to Donald Trump."And Ill be honest, it broke my heart when you supported them," Schulz told Sanders."In the world that I live in, you've got a choice. And I know a lot of people, including my wife, agree with you, but youre down to a choice," Sanders said. "Is it going to be Hillary Clinton? Or is it going to be Donald Trump? Not a great choice."Singh posed another question to Sanders about the Democratic Party being a threat to democracy.JAMES CARVILLE SAYS DEMOCRATS NEED TO STOP LETTING BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC DEFINE THE PARTYCLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE"Could we not also say, ostensibly, there hasnt been a fair primary for the Democrats since 2008, are they not also a threat to democracy?" he asked.Sanders replied, "yes.""Fair enough," he added. "Im not going to argue with that point. And thats why Im proudly an Independent."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

President Donald Trump spoke candidly about former President Joe Biden's recent prostate cancer diagnosis on Monday, expressing sympathy while also suggesting that the situation should be investigated.Biden's team announced the diagnosis on Sunday afternoon, saying the former statesman "was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.""On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," the statement added."While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," Biden's team concluded. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."'SMALL NODULE' FOUND IN BIDEN'S PROSTATE DURING ROUTINE EXAM, SPOKESPERSON SAYSSpeaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, Trump called the news "very sad, actually.""I'm surprised that you know, the public wasn't notified a long time ago because to get to stage nine (sic), that's a long time," Trump said. "I just had my physical. We had the doctors at the White House and over at Walter Reed, which is a fantastic hospital. I did a very complete physical, including cognitive tests."Trump also referenced Biden's cognitive decline during his presidency, stating that "anybody running for president should take a cognitive test.""They say it's unconstitutional. But I would say in that particular case, having a cognitive test wouldn't be so bad," the Republican said.Trump also posited that the public "wasn't informed" about Biden's medical situation and suggested that the situation should be investigated.OBAMA REACTS TO BIDEN CANCER DIAGNOSIS"I think somebody is going to have to speak to his doctor if it's the same, or even if it's two separate doctors," Trump said. "Why wasn't the cognitive ability, why wasn't that discussed? And I think the doctor said he's just fine. And it's turned out that's not so. It's very dangerous."The president concluded by saying the cancer diagnosis is "a very, very sad situation and I feel very badly about it.""I think people should try and find out what happened, because I'll tell you I don't know if it had anything to do with the hospital," Trump added. "Walter Reed is really good. There's some of the best doctors I've ever seen.""Somebody is not telling the facts," he concluded. "It's a big problem."News of Biden's aggressive cancer diagnosis shocked the country over the weekend. After receiving bipartisan messages of sympathy, the 82-year-old thanked his supporters on social media on Monday."Cancer touches us all," Biden wrote on X. "Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is working to stay ahead in modern warfare amid drone and artificial intelligence advancements on the battlefield.Hegseth, a former "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host, sat down with "The Will Cain Show" Monday at the Pentagon, where he laid out the Trump administrations posture toward China amid an arms race with the communist country and adversaries like Russia and Iran."We concede nothing to the communist Chinese. We're creating dilemmas for them at every level," he said.The Pentagon boss added that the White House is invested in the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine but is shifting its attention to countering Chinain the Indo-Pacific, a move reflected in Hegseths first overseas trip to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and Japan.PENTAGON LOSING CUTTING EDGE ON WEAPONS INNOVATION, NEEDS 'MASSIVE KICK IN THE PANTS,' SAY DEFENSE LEADERSChina has made significant advancements in drone production, with reports that the country is preparing to launch a new drone-carrying mothership capable of releasing up to 100 smaller drones at a time.Chinese technology company DJI touts itself as the world's leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial drones and has a hefty presence in U.S. and Asian markets.Craig Singleton, a senior China fellow at the non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies,told Fox News Digital that the Shenzhen-based company dominates the global drone market, controlling more than 70% of the worldwide market share."Thats alarming, because DJI drones are essentially data collectors for Beijing giving China potential access to sensitive infrastructure imagery, flight patterns, and more. Its not just a market-share problem its a national security threat," he said.CHINA LAUNCHES LARGE MILITARY DRILLS AROUND TAIWAN TO ISSUE SEVERE WARNINGHegseth told Fox News host Will Cain that the Pentagon understands the motives and capabilities of theChinese government and wants to build up a U.S. military thats capable of deterring any future conflict between the two nations."We don't want that conflict. You showed how big they are," he said, referring to a graphic that compares and contrasts the United States active personnel, warships and nuclear weapons to Chinas."President Trump has a great relationship with Xi Jinping we think that's a good thing. And we stared them down on trade we think that's a good thing. Rebalancing that dynamic is important. We're the ones in the background trying to say we would always prefer to resolve this peacefully. But we're gonna do that by being as strong as possible to meet their threat at every turn."The United States Marine Corpsestablished an attack drone team earlier this year to respond to the rapid development of armed first-person view (FPV) drone technology and tactics, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of modern warfare and how future battles could be fought.The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team will be based at the Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia.The FPV drones used will offer squad-level lethality at a range of up to 20 kilometers, nearly 12.5 miles, for under $5,000, compared to more expensive weapons systems with less capability, according to a press release from the service.

White Houses visitor logs reveal that many of the top Democratic leaders who most vocally defended former President Joe Bidens leadership capabilities were frequent White House visitors and were thus presumably aware of Bidens worsening cognitive decline.National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Mike Marinella slammed Democratic leadership for participating in what he called a "cover-up" and the "political scandal of the century."This comes as the 82-year-old former president's condition is once again making headlines, courtesy of excerpts from a new book being released this week, "Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," which offers claims of a White House cover-up of the then-president's apparent cognitive decline.Additionally, last week's leaked audio of Bidens 2023 interview with special counsel Robert Hur, in which the then-president appears to suffer memory lapses, is also fueling the conversation.DEMS FACE A LITMUS TEST OVER BIDEN'S COGNITIVE ABILITIESHur, who investigated whether Biden years earlier had improperly stored classified documents, made major headlines early last year when he decided not to charge Biden but described the then-president as an "elderly man with a poor memory."Visitor logs reveal that four top Democrats made a total of 63 visits to the Biden White House between 2022 and 2024.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made 21 visits to the White House in the span of just two years, 2022 through 2024, according to official visitor logs. This means that Jeffries would presumably have been very familiar with the former presidents condition.Despite these visits, Jeffries continued to assert that he was confident in Bidens leadership, even saying in a 2023 interview that based on firsthand knowledge of the former president "in a high stakes circumstance," Biden was an "incredible leader, incredible negotiator, incredible strategist, and he's strong, brilliant, understands nuance."TRUMP WISHES BIDEN 'FAST AND SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY' AFTER PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSISAgain, Jeffries claimed that Biden was "one of the most accomplished American presidents in our history, and he has the vision, I believe, the ability, the capacity and the track record to make a case to the American people that will result in us being successful in November."Jeffries insisted as late as February that Biden was "the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump."The last several documented visits Jeffries made were shortly before Bidens disastrous debate with President Donald Trump. Bidens shockingly poor performance at this debate led to calls for him to step down, ultimately leading to his dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.In addition to Jeffries, several other top Democrats were also frequent White House visitors, including House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., as well as Reps. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., and Suzan DelBene, D-Wash.Amid the Democratic turmoil in the wake of Bidens poor debate performance, DelBene, who made five visits to the White House between 2022 and 2024, expressed continued support for Biden, saying: "The stakes are incredibly high this election, for all of us. That hasnt changed after last week."DEM SENATOR SAYS BIDEN SHOULD HAVE DROPPED OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE MUCH SOONER"The choice this November is crystal clear," said DelBene. "Democrats who want to govern responsibly versus extremist Republicans obsessed with tax breaks for billionaires, rolling back reproductive freedom, and defending Trumps attacks on our democracy."Aguilar, who made 10 documented visits to the White House in the span of two years, continued to defend Biden even after the debate, saying in a July 9 press conference that "right now President Biden is the nominee, and we support the Democratic nominee."Meanwhile, Clark, who made 27 visits to the White House between 2022 and 2024 and was among Bidens most vocal supporters up until his poor debate performance, refrained from taking a strong stance on whether Biden should remain in the race, saying, "The decision is up to the president."After Biden announced he was dropping out of the race, Clark praised the former president, saying that "around the globe, he is admired for his steady, experienced leadership always honoring Americas crucial role as a facilitator of peace, democracy, and human rights."FORMER PRESIDENT ISSUES FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTS SINCE PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSISJeffries, Clark, Aguilar and DelBene did not respond to Fox News Digitals requests for comment.Marinella commented that "while Americans were asking questions, Democrat leaders lied to their faces and worked overtime to cover up the political scandal of the century."Marinella told Fox News Digital that "voters will never forget their disgusting deception."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was ripped on social media over the weekend for suggesting President Donald Trump was partially to blame for a Mexican Navy ship losing control and crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge."After being fully briefed on last nights Brooklyn Bridge accident, one thing is predominantly clear: there are more questions than answers as it relates to exactly how this accident occurred," Schumer said in a press release after a150-foot-tall Mexican Navy training ship, Cuauhtmoc, reportedly experienced a mechanical issue before its masts crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge,killing two cadets on the ship."Bridges serve as critical transportation arteries for commerce, emergency response, and daily travel, and many span key waterways that are vulnerable to both natural and man-made threats. The Coast Guard plays a crucial role in monitoring and securing these areas, deterring potential terrorist attacks, preventing illegal activities, and responding quickly to emergencies," Schumer wrote. "At the same time, maintaining the structural integrity and safety of Americas bridges is critical to the economy and the well-being of communities. A failure or attack on a major bridge could disrupt supply chains, endanger lives, and cause massive economic losses. It is unacceptable that the Trump administration is potentially jeopardizing our national and economic security as well as American lives."Schumer went on to point to the DOGE-implemented hiring freeze at the Coast Guard, arguing it could have impeded the Coast Guard's Vehicle Traffic System, which works in a similar fashion to the air traffic control system.TRUMP SAYS 'THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG' WITH TOP DEMOCRAT HE'S KNOWN 'A LONG TIME'Schumers claim drew immediate criticism from conservatives on social media as well as the Department of Homeland Security."Minority Leader Schumers accusations that a hiring freeze led to the U.S. Coast Guards Vessel Traffic Services not being adequately staffed are FALSE," the official DHS accountposted on X."The US Coast Guard has been fully supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Additionally, this incident had nothing to do with Vessel Traffic Services when a ship loses propulsion in a high current area, the vessel needs to engage all capabilities to stop and ideally tugs are nearby to support. We encourage Minority Leader Schumer to get his facts straight before he misleads the American people."CREW ON MEXICAN NAVY TALL SHIP SEEN CLINGING TO RIGGING AFTER COLLISION WITH BROOKLYN BRIDGE, VIDEO SHOWS"Mexican vessel: Loses control, hits bridge," Fox News contributor Guy Bensonposted on X."Schumer: Ill never forgive Drumpf for this!""Schumer is a stupid, evil man," conservative radio host and Fox News host Mark Levinposted on X."I, too, question Donald Trump's leadership of the Mexican Navy," substack writer Jim Treacherposted on X."Elon and Trump Derangement Syndrome is out of control," conservative communicator Steve Guestposted on X. "Schumer is trying to pass the blame from the Mexican Navy onto them"CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"He is an idiot,"senior counsel to Trump's assistant AG Leo Terrellposted on X.Fox News Digital reached out to Schumers office for comment."The U.S. Coast Guards New York Vessel Traffic Service was fully functional during the incident, operating in accordance with established procedures to manage commercial traffic and facilitate safe navigation," a Coast Guard spokesperson told Fox News Digital.Fox News Digitals Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content.Here's what's happening-Pope Leo XIV meets with JD Vance, Marco Rubio-Trump kicks off 18th week in office with high-stakes calls to potentially broker Ukraine, Russia peace-Biden speaks out for first time since cancer diagnosisThe Supreme Court on Monday agreed to lift a lower court injunction that blocked President Donald Trump's decision to terminate the protected legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants living in the U.S., in a win for the administration as it looks to deliver on its hard-line immigration enforcement policies.The decision clears the way for the Trump administration to move forward with its plans to terminate Biden-era Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for roughly 300,000 Venezuelan migrants living in the U.S. and allows the administration to move forward with plans to immediately remove these migrants, which lawyers for the administration argued they should be able to do.U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer argued as much when he asked the Supreme Court to lift the injunction this month, arguing in an emergency appeal that a lower court judge had overstepped their authority by blocking the administration from ending the program for certain VenezuelansREAD MORELITMUS TEST: Spotlight on Biden's cognitive decline forces Democrats to run the gauntletKUSHNER VOTE: Trump-pardoned real estate mogul Charles Kushner up for key diplomatic post'VILE': Walz ripped for 'sickening' use of Nazi era language describing Trump's immigration policy: 'Anti-American'NO CONCERNS: Trump remains confident in White House doctors despite Biden cancer diagnosis'HUGEADVANTAGE': Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' wins support from police for overtime tax eliminationGRIM NEWS: Obama reacts to Biden diagnosis: 'Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer...than Joe''NOT SEEKING WAR': Iranian president calls for negotiation and dialogue as nuclear talks continueHISTORIC DEAL: UK, Europe strike post-Brexit deal on defense, trade issuesUKRAINE BOMBARDED: Russia bombards Ukraine with drones hours after Trump announces talks with Putin'GOD BLESS US ALL': Trump to call Putin in a bid to end Russia's 'bloodbath' war with UkraineFORCED RESET: Trump's tough policies push UK, EU to significantly expand trade and defenseGAMBLING TAX DOLLARS: Republicans demand probe into DODs taxpayer-funded charges at casinos, bars and nightclubsREPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: A users manual to where we stand with the 'big, beautiful bill'BRIDGE TOO FAR: Schumer slammed for claiming DOGE might be to blame for Mexican ship crashing into Brooklyn BridgeRADICAL TRANSPARENCY: FBI director opens up files on Nashville school shooting to rep for first time'ONLY PERSON ARRESTED': Blue state political battle intensifies after Dem mayor's arrest at ICE facility: 'Outraged'TAKE-HOME PAY DAY: New projection signals good news for families, workers in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Decorated warfighter Ret. Gen. Stanley McChrystal lambasted recent moves at the Pentagon, arguing on Sunday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's focus on rooting out diversity, equity and inclusion is a "distraction.""I think that the DEI thing is, frankly, a distraction. It's not helpful," he told CBS "Face the Nation.""I am completely aligned with Secretary Hegseth on the idea that we need to defend the nation, that the defense department needs to be as effective as it can be, and that a certain warrior ethos matters," McChrystal explained. "We just define it differently."The four-star retired Army general challenged the conception that "everybody's got to look a certain way, got to have biceps of a certain size, there's got to be a male, straight."HEGSETH QUIPS '99.9%' OF DEI INITIATIVES ARE GONE FROM THE MILITARY UNDER TRUMPS WATCHHe also argued for a more inclusive military."In the counter-terrorist fight, where much of my experience was, it became a meritocracy. You didn't care what somebody looked like or how old they were, what their gender was or sexual orientation because it was too important to get the job done."America needs to harness talent from every corner of our society, everyone."McChrystal resigned as commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, only a year into the job, during the Obama administration after a Rolling Stone article attributed scathing comments about President Barack Obama to McChrystal and his aides.During his short tenure, McChrystal advocated for a buildup of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.HEGSETH SAYS HE'S UNDOING 'SOCIAL JUSTICE/BIDEN INITIATIVE' THAT TRUMP SIGNED INTO LAWHe had wanted 60,000 additional U.S. troops to reverse insurgent "momentum." Obama offered him 33,000.McChrystal appeared on CBS to promote his new book,"On Character: Choices That Define a Life.""As a nation, our character is our fate. So, what I am trying to do is convince people to start a national conversation on character, with the idea that it starts at the bottom," said McChrystal. "Not at the top."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Our national leaders are not the cause of the problem. They are the symptom of the problem. The cause is us," he argued."Weve always had a problem with certain evil in society and corruption, but I think the fact that we see everything so much now that we normalize it," McChrystal said. "We start to accept things in celebrities or leaders that frankly, things we wouldnt have accepted even a generation ago. And thats our problem."

The NFL owners are expected to reengage in talks about the polarizing tush push when they meet. Club owners are scheduled to hold meetings later this week in Minnesota.Last month, owners tabled the vote on a proposal to ban the play that became the Philadelphia Eagles' calling card over the past couple of seasons.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMFollowing April's annual meetings in Florida, ESPN reported that the vote on the infamous play was an even split. Sixteen votes in favor of keeping the tush push and 16 votes for banning it would leave the proposal to outlaw the play eight votes short of passing. Per NFL policy, a proposal requires 24 votes to pass.DESMOND WATSON, DUBBED 'THE TUSH PUSH TERMINATOR,' TURNING HEADS AT BUCCANEERS ROOKIE MINICAMP"My personal opinion? I think they should ban it," Luvu told NFL Network. "But I know the argument's going to be about, 'Hey, you guys have to stop it. Don't get us in short yardage,' and whatnot."Luvu then suggested the tush push was a cheap play and compared it to a rugby scrum."But it's kind of like a cheapo play. ... That's pretty much a scrum in rugby. That's how I kind of look at it. And we've got to have a scrum, too, on the other side. And the scrum is, we have a cadence where we all go at once. It's not like you hard count and this and that, where now you're getting us or myself jumping over the pile thinking that you're going to snap the ball. That's just my own personal opinion, and I'm going to leave it at that."Luvu, who plays linebacker for the Commanders, was flagged on three consecutive snaps late in January's NFC Championship game. He jumped over the line of scrimmage while the Eagles were lined up near the goal line for their signature tush push.The third penalty prompted one of the game's referees to announce, "Washington has been advised that at some point the referee can award a score if this type of behavior happens again."The Eagles defeated the Commanders in the NFC title game and advanced to Super Bowl LIX. Philadelphia's dominant performance in the game ended the Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of winning three consecutive championships.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Some McDonald's customers on TikTok claim that a certain food and drink combination from the fast-food restaurant can get rid of their migraines though doctors are quick to share other headache remedies.A migraine is a headache that can cause "severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head," according to the Mayo Clinic.Common effects include nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. The attacks can last for hours or even days, interfering with daily activities, the same source noted.MCDONALD'S SECRET DRINK ITEM WITH 'COTTON CANDY FLAVOR' GOES VIRALTaking a trip through the McDonald's drive-thru might help, some customers claim.One viral video which has over three million views and counting shows a woman sitting in her car in a McDonald's drive-thru, sipping a soda and eating fries. The text said she's doing this "because I've had a headache for 48 hours and TikTok said it would help."Other videos suggest a large Coca-Cola drink and an order of large fries "lovingly called the McMigraine," Dr. Brintha Vasagar told Fox News Digital can make the pain go away."There is some science [as] to why it works," noted the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based family medical physician.The caffeine and the carbonation in Coca-Cola are two of the reasons, according to Vasagar."If you think about most over-the-counter migraine treatments, the medications themselves can contain a dose of caffeine," she said.MCDONALD'S CHEF REVEALS WHY COFFEE FROM FAST-FOOD GIANT TASTES SO GOODThe caffeine constricts or narrows the blood vessels, which can provide migraine relief for some people, the doctor added.The carbonation can help settle the stomach for those who experience nausea with their headaches.When it comes to the salty fries, the sodium can help correct electrolyte balance and dehydration "which can be triggers," Vasagar said.The carbohydrates in the fries can also help settle the stomach, she added.Another element, Vasagar said, is the "psychological benefit of comfort food."FAST-FOOD MENU ITEMS THAT CHEFS LIKE TO EAT"For many of us, fast food, McDonald's, it's that nostalgia. It's that feeling of, 'This is going to be comforting and make me feel better.'"One person on TikTok wrote, "I work in neurology and our headache specialist literally recommends this to patients."Another person wrote that only Coca-Cola is effective, not Diet Coke. Others agreed with that."There is no scientific reason that one Coke over another should be beneficial for migraine treatment," Vasagar clarified."I really think that piece plays into the psychological part of it what feels comforting to people when [they're] feeling ill."This viral food hack isn't a cure, the doctor pointed out.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"This isn't a prevention measure," Vasagar said. "It's not like you can do the McMigraine every day and never get a migraine again. That's just not the way it works."Also, drinking a large Coke and eating a bunch of fries could make matters worse for some."Triggers for migraines vary from person to person," Vasagar warned. "So, this combination for some people will make their migraines worse."For more Lifestyle articles, visitfoxnews.com/lifestyleDr. Tania Elliott, a New York-based physician who specializes in allergies and internal medicine, told Fox News Digital that a better quick-fix solution is to stay hydrated."Consider having a little bit of caffeine, maybe in the form of matcha or green tea," and keep your electrolytes up, she suggested."You're getting the benefits of addressing the potential underlying issues of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, but you're not having the increased risks and unhealthy contributors from eating French fries and a Diet Coke," Elliott added.Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald's for comment.

A retired four-star admiral who once served as the Navys second-highest ranking officer, was convicted of bribery and other conspiracy charges, making him the most senior member of the U.S. military ever convicted of committing a federal crime while on active duty.Following a five-day trial, retired four-star Adm. Robert P. Burke, 62, was found guilty on Monday of a scheme to direct lucrative contracts to a training company in exchange for a $500,000-a-year job after leaving the Navy, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.Burke is facing up to 30 years in prison for his role in the scheme to direct contracts potentially worth millions of dollars to a New York City-based company that offered training programs to the Navy."When you abuse your position and betray the public trust to line your own pockets, it undermines the confidence in the government you represent," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro wrote in a post on X following the conviction.RETIRED NAVY ADMIRAL CHARGED WITH BRIBERY FOR ALLEGEDLY OFFERING GOVERNMENT CONTRACT IN EXCHANGE FOR JOB"Our office, with our law enforcement partners, will root out corruption be it bribes or illegal contracts and hold accountable the perpetrators, no matter what title or rank they hold," Pirro continued.Burke, who served as vice chief of naval operations, was once the Navys second-highest ranking officer.According to court documents and as the evidence proved at trial, from 2020 to 2022, Burke was a four-star admiral who oversaw U.S. naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, and commanded thousands of civilian and military personnel.Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, co-CEOs of a company not named by the DOJ, allegedly participated in the scheme to get a government contract in exchange for offering Burke a position with the company.The company provided a training program for a small part of the Navy from 2018 and 2019, before their contract was terminated.FORMER US ARMY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST SENTENCED FOR SELLING SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS TO CHINESE NATIONALThe company was told by the Navy not to contact Burke, but the three met in Washington, D.C., in July 2021 and Burke allegedly agreed to use his influence to get the company a sole-source contract and urge other Naval officers to use the company for a more widespread training program that Kim estimated would be worth "triple digit millions."In December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered his staff to award the company a $355,000contract to train Naval personnel under his command in Italy and Spain and made an unsuccessful attempt to convince a senior Naval commander to give them another contract."There was no connection between this contract and his employment. The math just doesnt make sense that he would give them this relatively small contract for that type of job offer," Burke's defense attorney, Timothy Parlatore, previously told Fox News Digital.Burke allegedly implied that he had no role in awarding the contract, and that his discussions with Kim and Messenger didnt start until after the contract started.'FAT LEONARD' MASTERMIND BEHIND LARGEST CORRUPTION SCANDAL IN US MILITARY HISTORY SENTENCED TO 15 YEARSBoth Kim and Messenger were arrested in May 2024 and were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery and could face 20 years in prison.Parlatore told Fox News Digital that they are "obviously disappointed by the verdict," but said "this is a result of the fact that the jury did not get to hear the whole story.""The investigation was very poorly conducted. It was conducted by the exact same investigator who completely screwed up the Fat Leonard case," Paralore said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"They didn't do any research and so you have an incompetent and unethical, corrupt investigator relying upon the word of a known liar, building this terrible case. And ultimately, the only way that they could bring it to a conviction was to only present certain evidence to the jury," Paralore continued.Fox News Digital reached out to the DOJ for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson contributed to this report.