An appeals court has reversed the conviction of a pro-Trump influencer charged with spreading false information on social media to suppress Democratic voter turnout during the 2016 election, voiding conspiracy charges and a monthslong federal prison sentence handed down by a jury in Brooklyn, New York.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Wednesday unanimously voided the conviction of Douglass Mackey on federal conspiracy charges and remanded the case back to the U.S. Court in the Eastern District of New York to enter a new judgment of acquittal.The unanimous three-judge panelsaid in their ruling that "no rational jury" could have found that Mackey, 36, "knowingly" joined others in an illegal conspiracy aimed at influencing the outcome of the 2016 election or depriving people of their right to vote."The jurys verdict and the resulting judgment of conviction must be set aside," Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston wrote.TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SWARMS SCOTUS WITH EMERGENCY REQUESTS AND SEES SURPRISING SUCCESSThe verdict is a win for Mackey, a self-styled right-wing influencer and self-described "troll," who amassed roughly 58,000 followers on Twitter in the run-up to the 2016 election.Mackey, who used the handle "Ricky Vaughn," used his account to post false information designed to support then-presidential candidateDonald Trump, including memes designed to look like Hillary Clinton ads that told voters they could submit their ballots via text message.Mackey was convicted in 2023 on conspiracy charges and sentenced to seven months in federal prison.The three-judge panel ruled Wednesday that Mackeys posts, including the false memes he posted, were not sufficient evidence to prove that he had violated U.S. conspiracy laws, "even assuming that he did so with the intent to injure other citizens in the exercise of their right to vote," they said.SCOTUS DENIES FLORIDA AG REQUEST TO ENFORCE CONTROVERSIAL IMMIGRATION LAW"The government was obligated to show that Mackey knowingly entered into an agreement with other people to pursue that objective," Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston and Judges Reena Raggi and Beth Robinson wrote. "This the government failed to do."The decision was praised by Mackey, who immediately posted on social media about the verdict."HALLELUJAH!" Mackey said on X after the appellate court ruling on Wednesday. Mackey proceeded to thank God, his family, wife, lawyers and others who supported him during the trial in subsequent posts. He then threatened to pursue legal action over his conviction."Now we sue," he said.

A group of media outlets large and small has asked an Idaho judge to lift the gag order surrounding the Bryan Kohberger case, now that he has pleaded guilty and there is no investigation to protect.At a change of plea hearing last week, prosecutors asked to have the gag, officially called a "non-dissemination order," remain in place until Kohberger's official sentencing on July 23. Kohberger's defense did not object, and Judge Steven Hippler granted the request.Then-Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall put the gag order in place days after Kohberger's arrest at his parents' house on Dec. 30, 2022. The stated aim was to protect Kohberger's right to a fair trial by limiting extrajudicial information available to the potential jury pool.BRYAN KOHBERGER ACCEPTS PLEA DEAL IN IDAHO STUDENT MURDERS CASEMuch of the case proceeded behind closed doors until Hippler became the third judge to preside over the case following a change of venue that moved it from Latah County to Ada County.Still, there are many questions that remain unanswered, and under the order, lawyers, investigators and other witnesses have been blocked from discussing details that haven't already surfaced in the courtroom. And the terms of the plea deal did not require Kohberger to explain his actions.Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson hasn't held a news briefing since before Kohberger's extradition to Idaho in January 2023. The defense never has.Read the motion:HOW BRYAN KOHBERGER'S NOTORIOUSLY MUM DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS USING THE MEDIA TO HER ADVANTAGEBut now that Kohberger has admitted to the murders, there is no risk to his right to a fair trial, according to the motion. There won't be a trial at all."The Nondissemination Order, and its infringement on the First Amendment rights of the media, is no longer justifiable and should be vacated immediately," the motion continues.IDAHO MURDERS TIMELINE: BRYAN KOHBERGER PLEA CAPS YEARSLONG QUEST FOR JUSTICEThe media coalition includes FOX News, The Associated Press, other major outlets and a number of smaller Idaho publications including The Argonaut, the student paper at the University of Idaho, where the victims were killed.Kohberger last week admitted to four first-degree murders killing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. He told the court, with his parents looking on, that he entered their house, which has since been demolished, around 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022, with the intent to kill.The guilty plea will spare him from the potential death penalty. He is expected to receive four consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus another 10 years. And he forfeited his right to appeal and to seek a sentence reduction.

Israeli Columbia University professor Shai Davidai left the school on Wednesday after ongoing frustration with anti-Israel protests on campus."I can confirm that I have decided to leave Columbia and that the university's failure to take the anti-Jewish, anti-Israeli and anti-American protests seriously is the reason," Davidai told Fox News Digital. "Columbia leadership has failed, the faculty has lost its moral compass and too many of my colleagues just look the other way."He added, "I dont trust the acting president, the university's leadership or the entire board of trustees to do the right thing, and I dont see my colleagues stepping up to hold them accountable. I wouldn't advise anyone to come work here, so what's the point of staying?"ISRAELI COLUMBIA PROFESSOR WANTS TRUMP TO BLOCK CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS FROM RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDINGA Columbia University spokesperson also confirmed the news to Fox News Digital."Assistant Professor of Business Shai Davidai has decided to depart Columbia, effective July 8, 2025. The University thanks him for his service and wishes him the best in his future endeavors," the spokesperson said in a statement.Davidai also announced on Wednesday that the school had dropped an ongoing investigation launched against him in February 2024."BOOM. (Please help me spread this. @Columbia tried to smear my name. I wouldnt let them. Today, they finally admitted that I hadnt done anything wrong.)," Davidai wrote on X, including a note from the university.The note said that the Office of Institutional Equity closed its investigation without "any findings or conclusions of wrongdoing, and without imposing any discipline or penalty."Davidai had been suspended by Columbia University in the past after he had allegedly "repeatedly harassed and intimidated" students during an Oct. 7 anniversary protest in 2024. He was also barred from the schools main campus in April 2024 after planning a pro-Israel demonstration against anti-Israel protesters.COLUMBIA PROFESSOR SLAMS UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AS ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS WREAK HAVOC AT BARNARDDavidai has been an outspoken defender of Israel and Jewish students since the Oct. 7 terror attacks and has called out his school for allowing anti-Israel protests and disruptions on campus.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHe went viral after giving a speech weeks after the terror attack, calling then-president Minouche Shafik a coward for failing to stand against "pro-terror" organizations.

A suspect was arrested in Texas after allegedly damaging and chasing downan Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle, police said.The office of Harris County Constable Mark Herman said the incident unfolded Wednesday near a shopping plaza in Humble, just outside of Houston."ICE agents reported that they were being aggressively pursued by an unknown suspect," it said in a post on Facebook. "Deputies quickly responded and located the suspect, identified as Sergio Olivares.""An investigation revealed that Olivares had confronted the federal agents, damaged a side mirror on their vehicle, and then chased them down the roadway in a reckless and dangerous manner, endangering surrounding motorists," the office added.FBI SEEKING MILITARY VETERAN SUSPECTED IN ICE AMBUSH AT TEXAS DETENTION FACILITYConstables then helped ICE bring the situation under control and took Olivares into custody without further incident, authorities said.ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.ICE AGENTS TARGETED IN 2 AMBUSH ATTACKS IN RECENT DAYSOlivares was charged with criminal mischief and is being held at the Harris County Jail on a $500 bond.The incident happened just days after the Justice Departmentnamed 10 individuals charged with shooting a police officer in the neck and opening fire on other correctional officers outside the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, on the Fourth of July. "On Independence Day, a group of about 15 rioters violently attacked the ICE Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas and shot at a local police officer," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The officer sustained an injury to his neck and was transported to a nearby hospital. Thankfully, he has since been discharged and is expected to make a full recovery."A gunman also ambushed Border Patrol agents in McAllen, Texas, on Monday.Fox News Danielle Wallace and Matt Finn contributed to this report.

One year after gunfire erupted at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania marking what would become the first attempt on the president's life during the 2024 election cycle members of the Butler County Emergency Services Unit (ESU) are breaking their silence.For the first time, those who responded on that harrowing day are sharing their account in part two of Fox Nation's "Butler Under Fire."The installment gives subscribers a new glimpse into the day that nearly claimed President Donald Trump's life, featuring exclusive interviews, video footage, and audio recordings of the individuals who lived through the traumatic events."It will be something that weighs on us forever," said Commander Ed Lenz of the Butler County ESU.JOURNALIST WHO REFUSED TO DUCK DURING TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT REFLECTS ON BUTLER RALLY IN NEW BOOKLenz's job was to gather information on the ground and relay it up the chain of command on July 13, 2024. His unit worked to secure the event in a joint effort with the U.S. Secret Service.Witnesses from that day would later suggest that the Secret Service's lack of direction given to local agencies led to security failures that allowed 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks to position himself on a nearby rooftop and open fire at then-candidate Trump, striking him in the ear and killing rally attendee Corey Comperatore as he shielded his wife and daughters from bullets.In the latest "Butler Under Fire" episode, the Butler County ESU met with Comperatore's widow, Helen, to answer her questions about that day."They deserve to have the truth told," Lenz said. "They gave us permission to do this. We have their blessing to be here, and they wanted to do this. That really is the deciding factor.""We're not doing this for us. We're doing this for them."Helen wanted to meet with local law enforcement to find out more about that fateful day from their perspective. Upon meeting the unit, she received hugs from many.TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW GUNMAN EVADED SECURITY"For the team as a whole, getting to meet her and her showing support for the team means the world to all of us," ESU member Michael Murcko said.Murcko radioed Lenz about a suspicious person "lurking around the AGR building" and sighting the stage through a rangefinder a device used to measure distances that day, escalating the level of concern.Not long after, Lenz contacted the state police sergeant, whose job was to relay the information to Secret Service."I can tell you 100% that the Secret Service was absolutely aware," Lenz told Helen."They had all the information that we were telling them."According to Lenz, Crooks caught Butler County ESU Chris Kopas' eye early on."The shooter was one of the people that I began to monitor. He kept going in and out of eyesight, looking up and paying close attention to where our sniper units were located within that building" Kopas shared."It didn't seem like he had any cares about actually being at a presidential rally."Cell phone video captured the gunman walking through the vendor row near the entrance at 4:26 p.m.TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AFTERMATH, REACTIONS FROM INNER CIRCLE REVEALED IN NEW BOOKAt 5:45, a Beaver County sniper sent photos of Crooks to local snipers via a group chat. Local responders continued to relay urgent information, desperate to find Crooks, who had slipped from their sight.Helen, in disbelief that the area wasn't secured, called the incident the "ultimate failure.""What really gets me is that there was a threat and they [Secret Service] let him [Trump] come out on stage," she said."If they had just held him, none of this would have ever happened."Butler Township Police responded to the incident, trying to locate Crooks once he had climbed on top of the roof."The way [we] were positioned inside the building was we were not meant to be seen. Every window on the second floor had a screen in [it], and these windows were fairly narrow at about 18 to 20 inches wide, so our field of view was limited," Murcko said."We were not able to see the rooftop that Crooks was on."Trump took the stage at 6:02 p.m.Six minutes later, a Butler Township police officer attempted to scale the roof. Crooks, lying flat, was spotted with a rifle before others were alerted to the threat."I saw a wave of people running away from the rally," Murcko recalled. "And when I heard one woman specifically scream, I knew something was wrong."Lenz said he received the first radio transmission alerting him that Crooks was armed only 30 seconds before shots were fired. He then radioed his quick reaction force to engage.CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOX NATIONAt 6:11 p.m., Crooks opened fire on the president. Trump, turning his head to read from a chart showing the number of illegal immigrants entering the country under the Biden administration, narrowly escaped death as one of the projectiles grazed his right ear.Experts say, if he had not moved at the right time, it would have been "lights out."Comperatore was fatally shot. Two other attendees, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were critically wounded by gunfire.Helen said the Butler ESU "did what they were supposed to do" that day. At the same time, she is skeptical of other authorities for keeping a tight lid on information about Crooks."It needs to be talked about. It needs to be dug into. Start asking questions" she said.Part two of "Butler Under Fire" continues with expert input from investigative journalist Ken Silva and Tom Fitton, president of the government accountability non-profit Judicial Watch, and others to provide more context about that harrowing day.Accounts from Crooks' classmates and footage from congressional hearings regarding the incident are also featured.To watch the full episode, subscribe to Fox Nation and begin streaming today.Fox News' Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.

Tim Cunningham a professional clown and the board president of Clowns Without Borders wrote in the Washington Post on Thursday about liberal critics' frequent use of the word "clown" to describe President Donald Trump and members of his administration."None of this qualifies Trump for such a title. I am a clown and board president of the nonprofit, Clowns Without Borders. Im here to set the record straight," Cunningham argued in the Post.Cunningham listed several recent examples of Trump being called a clown, including by Democratic Strategist James Carville and MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell, who said in April the president was a "humiliated clown."The professional clown also noted there were "Kick out the Clowns" protests across the U.S.WASHINGTON POST BASHES SOCIALIST ZOHRAN MAMDANI AS POTENTIAL DISASTER FOR NEW YORK CITYConservatives have also compared the Democratic Party to a clown show, as Cunningham argued the title should not be used in politics at all."Our joyful work has been diminished into an insult. Every election season, the word clown resurfaces to compare tumultuous Washington politics to a circus. Political commentators and social media users are not the only ones who wrongfully sling this jibe. Clown is used by almost everyone to belittle those seen as foolish or incompetent. The more we mistreat the word, the more we lose understanding of a sacred art form," he wrote.Cunningham said people should find another way to "despise and depose fascism," and said "Keep Clown out of Trumpian comparisons, and for that matter, all politics."He also suggested people use the word "buffoon" instead.LONGTIME WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST QUITS PAPER, SLAMS GROWING EDITORIAL CONSTRAINTS UNDER BEZOSThe Post op-ed was mocked on social media.Abigail Jackson, the White House Deputy Press Secretary, quipped, "Yes, this is real."CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURECunningham also detailed his work with Clowns without Borders, explaining, "CWB has 13 operational chapters around the world; our budgets are small, but our reach is broad. We perform for thousands of people living in refugee camps, but we can also craft an act for an audience of one.""Clowns are more than childrens birthday party performers; we help people relax, heal and prompt others to think differently about the world," he wrote.

Jeffrey Epstein had more than 1,000 victims over more than two decades as a sex trafficker, according to federal investigators far more than prosecutors alleged in his 2019 indictment and how many women have come forward with civil lawsuits combined.In a two-page memo published last week, the Justice Department and FBI said a review of the case found Epstein had "no incriminating 'client list,'" that no additional files connected to the investigation could be released and that his death was indeed a suicide, as prior federal investigations found."Consistent with prior disclosures, this review confirmed that Epstein harmed over one thousand victims," the memo reads. "Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials. This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history."JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S BROTHER LAUGHS AT STUPID FBI MEMO DEFENDING CONTROVERSIAL SUICIDE RULING: REPORTA victims' compensation fund set up for Epstein's accusers some as young as 14 years old at the time of their abuse paid out more than $120 million to 150 people as of August 2021, according to FOX Business.Details about the hundreds of additional victims remain unclear. The FBI declined to comment.TRUMP SLAMS REPORTER FOR ASKING ABOUT 'CREEP' JEFFREY EPSTEIN DURING CABINET MEETINGRead the memo:Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of trafficking in a trial of her own. She is appealing the verdict, and until she exhausts her legal options, neither the FBI nor federal prosecutors are expected to release criminal evidence that hasn't already surfaced in court.However, in the memo, authorities said that most of the unreleased files pertain to minors or victims who appear to be minors, and that more than 10,000 videos and images included "illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography."JEFFREY EPSTEIN DIED BY SUICIDE, DID NOT HAVE CLIENT LIST: DOJ MEMORead Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 federal indictment:"Much of the material is subject to court-ordered sealing," the memo reads. "Only a fraction of this material would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial, as the seal served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing. Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography."Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Federal investigators say he hanged himself in his jail cell, but his brother has disputed that version of events.His most prominent accuser, Virgina Giuffre, died of suicide earlier this year.It's thanks to her own lawsuits that thousands of the publicly available documents regarding Epstein's crimes came to light.

Apparently, not everyone is familiar withCaitlin Clarks game.TheIndiana Fever star and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year was mentioned during an episode of "Jeopardy!" on Wednesday night after a contestant whiffed on a question about Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS"ThisUConn star had an intense Spring in 2025, playing on her first national championship team and being picked first in the WNBA Draft," the hint for the question in the category "Sporty Stuff" read.The hint was even accompanied by a picture of Bueckers, but the contestant that responded incorrectly named Clark.The other two contests didnt even attempt a guess before time ran out.CAITLIN CLARK'S MUCH-ANTICIPATED RETURN FALLS FLAT AS FEVER SUFFER BLOWOUT LOSS TO VALKYRIESClark was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2024WNBA Draft and also appeared in back-to-back national championships with the Iowa Hawkeyes, falling short both times to Angel Reeses LSU and South Carolina, respectively.However, a question about the WNBA wasnt the only sports topic that stumped Wednesday nights contestants.In response to what "number of points a team gets for a safety in theNFL," one contestant responded with three points, the second responded "What is one," before the final contest correctly answered with two points.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The father of a slain Fairfield, Connecticut, prep school lacrosse player reacted with shock after his son's suspected killer was acquitted on a murder charge on Wednesday afternoon."I'm astonished at the results, but, you know, it's due process," a stoic Kevin McGrath said outside the state Superior Court in Milford, Connecticut, later describing his son as a "wonderful person.""He's entitled to it," said McGrath. "And at the end of the day, the jury made their verdict. I'm not sure if, you know, they were in the same courtroom as we all were together, but that's the verdict. And we'll live with it."PREP SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER'S ACCUSED KILLER FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDERMcGrath was referring to Raul Valle, 20, who, after an eight-day trial and nearly three days of jury deliberation, was acquitted of murdering McGrath's son, James "Jimmy" McGrath, during a brawl at a rowdy, booze-fueled high school party in 2022.McGrath, who was 17 at the time, was a lacrosse player at Fairfield College Preparatory Academy. Valle was 16 at the time of the fatal stabbing, but was charged as an adult.Valle was also acquitted on the lesser included charge of intentional manslaughter, two charges of first-degree assault and one charge of second-degree assault.The jury was deadlocked on lesser included charges of reckless manslaughter and reckless assault. Judge Shari Murphy declared a mistrial on those counts, leaving the door open for Valle to potentially be retried.PREP SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYERS ACCUSED KILLER COULD WALK AFTER MAKING LEGAL MANEUVER: EXPERT"I can't even imagine that, you know, I'm standing here giving this part of the speech," Kevin McGrath said Wednesday. "I mean, I was ready for maybe manslaughter. I was not ready for not guilty. I'll be honest with you: I don't think anybody was.""I was extremely confident, probably overconfident. I'm shocked," he said. "You know, it's probably why I'm in control. I'm shocked right now of the verdict."McGrath was also magnanimous at times."Raul Valle received a fair trial," he assured reporters."I don't believe Raul Valle woke up Saturday morning and said he was going to kill Jimmy McGrath. You know, I never believed that. They didn't know each other. I'm just in shock that an innocent young man with a brilliant potential is not with us anymore. And the person that took his life is right now free tonight."He also graciously thanked first responders, investigators, the court and the media for conducting themselves professionally throughout the criminal justice process.CONNECTICUT TEEN TO STAND TRIAL FOR PREP SCHOOL ATHLETE'S MURDER THAT HAS 'SHAKEN' PARENTS, SCHOOLS: ATTORNEYMcGrath family attorney Michael Rosnick spoke briefly about the possibility of further legal action."There are lesser included charges," he said. "I anticipate, we anticipate, that the state's attorney's office will file an information, but I'm going to let the state's attorney's office speak for itself."The parties are currently embroiled in civil litigation.Valle attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Both had been at a house party on the evening of May 14, 2022, that involved a fight and underage drinking prior to the stabbing, which occurred at another house party later that night.At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, whose owners were present during the brawl, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who was suspected of having a knife.McGrath had "one stab wound to the left side of the chest," the warrant states. "The stab wound went through the rib and heart."Valle claimed during his trial that he acted in self-defense, and that he was protecting one of his friends.

The Justice Department charged seven Chinese nationals this week for allegedly operating a multi-million dollar marijuana trafficking ring.Authorities in Massachusetts arrested six of the defendants on Tuesday morning, but one remains at large. The DOJ says the migrants were smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border to work in marijuana grow houses and had their passports withheld "until they repaid their smuggling debts.""This case pulls back the curtain on a sprawling criminal enterprise that exploited our immigration system and our communities for personal gain," said U.S. Attorney Leah Foley."These defendants allegedly turned quiet homes across the Northeast into hubs for a criminal enterprise building a multi-million-dollar black-market operation off the backs of an illegal workforce and using our neighborhoods as cover. That ends today," she added.FBI LAUNCHES PROBES INTO 3 CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS FOR ALLEGED GENITAL MUTILATION OF MINORSAuthorities say the marijuana ring began operations around January 2020, focusing mostly on Massachusetts and Maine. Prosecutors claim the grow house operators maintained contact with each other through a list of marijuana cultivators and distributors from or with ties to China in the region called the "East Coast Contact List."DEA ARRESTS 4 IN COLORADO WITH SUSPECTED TIES TO SINALOA CARTEL, TREN DE ARAGUAThe DOJ says one home in Braintree, Massachusetts, served as a hub for the network. Authorities conducting a search of the home found over $270,000 in cash inside the house and inside a Porsche parked in its driveway.They also found several Chinese passports and other identification documents inside a safe.SAN DIEGO AUTHORITIES ARREST 3 NONCITIZENS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN TRANSPORTING MORE THAN $5M WORTH OF METHThe DOJ says the ringleader of the group was Jianxiong Chen, 39, but the others charged in the case are Yuxiong Wu, 36; Dinghui Li, 38; Dechao Ma, 35; Peng Lian Zhu, 35; and Hongbin Wu, 35, as well as Yanrong Zhu, 47, who remains at large.Additional October 2024 searches of grow houses located in Braintree and Melrose where Ma and Zhu allegedly resided, respectively, resulted in the seizure of over 109 kilograms of marijuana, nearly $200,000 in cash and numerous luxury items including a gold Rolex watch with a $65,000 price tag still on it, the DOJ said.