CA Biotech Tycoon Found Guilty in Murder-for-Hire Plot That Left Father of Six Dead

October 7, 2025

A California biotech tycoon murder-for-hire case has ended in conviction after jurors found Serhat Gumrukcu, 42, guilty of orchestrating the 2018 killing of Gregory Davis, a Vermont father of six, following a failed oil deal.

Gumrukcu — founder of Enochian Biosciences, once touted for developing an experimental HIV cure — faces a mandatory life sentence for ordering the abduction and murder of Davis, who had threatened to sue him over a soured business transaction.

According to prosecutors, Gumrukcu enlisted his associate Berk Eratay, 38, who then contacted Aron Ethridge, 45, to hire hitman Jerry Banks, 37. On Jan. 6, 2018, Banks arrived at Davis’ Danville, Vermont, home disguised as a federal marshal, abducted him, and fatally shot him. Davis’ body was found the next day in a nearby snowbank.

Federal investigators uncovered a tangled web of lies, payments, and digital evidence linking Gumrukcu to the killing. Emails, bank transfers, and cellphone data revealed that the biotech executive had sought to silence Davis to protect his multimillion-dollar biotech merger involving Enochian Biosciences.

“Serhat Gumrukcu tried to hide his role in the murder of Greg Davis by paying one man to pay another man to pay the hitman,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher, praising years of “determined investigation” by the FBI and Vermont State Police.

Co-conspirators Banks, Ethridge, and Eratay were each sentenced to lengthy prison terms ranging from 110 to 200 months.

At a recent hearing, Davis’ widow Melissa Davis confronted Gumrukcu, declaring, “You thought you could silence my husband, but your lies die here in this courtroom.”

Oregon DA Drops Charges Against Conservative Journalist After Viral Portland Arrest

October 7, 2025

A conservative journalist who was arrested during a chaotic protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland is now off the hook — after prosecutors dropped all charges.

Nick Sortor, a well-known conservative reporter, was taken into custody Thursday and charged with second-degree disorderly conduct following what he said was a confrontation with Antifa-linked individuals. Video of the arrest quickly went viral, sparking outrage among free speech advocates who accused Portland officials of politically motivated policing.

But on Monday, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced it would not pursue charges against Sortor, citing a lack of evidence. “After a careful review of the investigation, including reports and video, we do not believe the crime of Disorderly Conduct can be proven against Mr. Sortor beyond a reasonable doubt,” the office said in a statement.

While two other individuals arrested during the same protest were formally charged, Sortor’s record was cleared. Portland Police Chief Bob Day supported the DA’s review, saying, “Our enforcement actions are guided solely by law and probable cause, not by politics or personal characteristics.”

Sortor called the decision a “victory” and promised this is “only the beginning,” hinting at possible legal action.

EPA Sued After Axing Biden’s Solar Fund

October 7, 2025

Solar Fraud Case — Solar Panel (Andreas Gücklhorn/Unsplash)

Business owners and nonprofits have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its termination of a residential solar program worth billions of dollars.

“The One Big Beautiful Bill eliminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which included a $7 billion pot called ‘Solar for All,’” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on social media upon terminating the program. “In some cases, your tax dollars were diluted through up to FOUR pass-through entities, each taking their own cut off the top! The bottom line is this: EPA no longer has the statutory authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive.”

According to the lawsuit, the termination is “unlawful,” as Congress previously created and funded the program to “provide low-income households and disadvantaged communities with savings on their electricity bills and affordable energy through rooftop and community solar programs.”

“Instead of distributing the Solar for All funds as Congress directed, Defendants hastily and unlawfully terminated the Solar for All program. Defendants’ action to terminate the program violates the law in multiple ways,” the lawsuit adds, going on to claim, “If Defendants’ unlawful termination of the Solar for All program is allowed to stand, nearly one million low-income households will lose access to affordable, resilient solar in communities in all states and territories, and hundreds of thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs will be lost, especially in the low-income and disadvantaged communities Congress intended these funds to benefit.”

The Biden-era program, announced in 2024, was funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. “The 60 selections under the $7 billion Solar for All program will provide funds to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and nonprofits across the country to develop long-lasting solar programs that enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar, lowering energy costs for families, creating good-quality jobs in communities that have been left behind, advancing environmental justice and tackling climate change,” the Biden EPA explained at the time.

Connecticut Mom’s Chilling Antifreeze Poisoning Plot Stuns Community Amid Custody Battle

October 7, 2025

judge — Gavel (Zolnierek/Getty Images via Canva Pro)

A Connecticut mother has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly carrying out a calculated antifreeze poisoning plot against her husband amid a bitter custody dispute.

Kristen Hogan, 33, of Ridgefield, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of interfering with an officer, according to the Connecticut State Police. Investigators say Hogan poisoned her husband’s wine with ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze, in an apparent act of revenge.

Court documents reveal that Hogan’s husband became violently ill after drinking a “small amount” of wine from his refrigerator on August 7. Doctors ruled out a stroke and later determined he had been poisoned with antifreeze. When questioned by detectives, Hogan admitted she spiked his wine but claimed she “never intended to kill him, but just wanted to make him sick as payback for him being mentally abusive.”

Authorities say Hogan also tampered with a bottle of tea on another occasion and that her child was hospitalized in September with similar symptoms. On her phone, investigators discovered internet searches for “monoethylene glycol” and “how much… would kill you.”

The husband told police Hogan was the only person with access to his home and that she stood to gain full ownership of their house and custody of their child if he died.

Hogan is being held on a $1 million bond.

Jack Smith’s ‘Weaponized FBI’ Tracked GOP Senators’ Private Calls in Jan. 6 Probe, Officials Reveal

October 7, 2025

The weaponized FBI appears to have crossed yet another red line — this time, allegedly tracking the private communications of sitting U.S. senators.

Documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that former Special Counsel Jack Smith and his “Arctic Frost” team were monitoring the phone records and locations of nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Lindsey Graham, Josh Hawley, Marsha Blackburn, and Ron Johnson. The records show the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team conducted a “preliminary toll analysis” of their communications during Smith’s investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol events.

The discovery was made by new FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who immediately briefed the lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Bongino condemned the findings, saying, “It is a disgrace that I have to stand on Capitol Hill and reveal this — that the FBI was once weaponized to track the private communications of U.S. lawmakers for political purposes. That era is over.”

According to officials, the surveillance was conducted after Smith subpoenaed major phone providers in 2023 — long after the events of Jan. 6. The case, labeled “ARCTIC FROST—Election Law Matters—SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE MATTER,” was later deemed a “prohibited case.”

Patel pledged full transparency, declaring, “The American people deserve the truth, and under my leadership, they will have it.”

Woman Finds Hundreds of Absentee Ballots in Amazon Package

October 7, 2025

Mail in Ballot — Mail-in Ballot (Photo by EyeWolf/Getty Images)

Maine authorities are investigating a claim that an Amazon package contained hundreds of unmarked absentee ballots. The report follows the town of Ellsworth stating that it was missing a shipment of 250 absentee ballots.

“I have full confidence that law enforcement will determine who is responsible, and any bad actor will be held accountable,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said during a news conference. This year, it seems that there may have been attempts to interrupt the distribution of ballots and ballot materials.”

Republican Representative Laurel Libby said in a statement reported by the Associated Press that “Mainers need to turn out in force, and every single person that supports voter ID and securing our elections needs to get out and vote between now and Nov. 4 to ensure that we secure our elections.”

Amazon told the outlet that it appeared the package was “tampered with outside of our fulfillment and delivery network, and not by an Amazon employee or partner.”

The Maine Republican Party said last week that “Getting Absentee ballots out of the Secretary of State’s Office should be like getting Gold Bars out of Fort Knox, not like taking candy from a baby!”

“Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green and even Communist Parties should be disgusted with Shenna Bellows!” the statement declared.

Republicans have also called for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate the incident.

The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against Maine last month after it failed to provide information relating to voter roll records. The filing alleges the state violated the law by refusing to provide information “regarding the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce an unredacted, computerized state voter registration list.”

Gang Leader’s Bounty to Kill Border Agent Sparks Outrage Over ‘Attack on the Rule of Law’

October 7, 2025

columbus — Chicago (Pedro Lastra/Unsplash)

Federal prosecutors say a Chicago gang leader’s violent plot represents a chilling attack on the rule of law — and a growing danger to those who defend America’s borders and communities.

Agents arrested Juan Espinoza Martinez, a suspected Latin Kings leader, after he allegedly offered cash bounties to capture or kill a senior immigration officer working with “Operation Midway Blitz.” According to the Justice Department, Martinez posted on Snapchat: “2k on information when you get him” and “10k if you take him down.”

U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros condemned the plot, calling it “an attack on the rule of law.” He added, “The defendant’s actions in this case demonstrate a profound contempt for human life and public safety.” Federal officials say Martinez used his influence to direct gang members to patrol and arm themselves in Chicago’s gang-ridden neighborhoods following a police-involved shooting on Oct. 4.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the case highlights the Justice Department’s focus on combating gang violence and restoring safety in American cities. “Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe,” Blanche said.

Conservatives argue this case underscores the consequences of lax immigration enforcement and soft-on-crime policies that embolden violent offenders.

Trump Unleashes Alaskan Minerals

October 7, 2025

President Donald Trump issued a memorandum directing his administration to authorize the establishment of the Ambler Road Project, a 211-mile road allowing access to critical minerals.

“The permits for the road have been held for years due to protracted litigation, and the President has finally allowed this project to go forward to support the Administration’s energy dominance agenda,” a White House fact sheet explains, noting that the road is in the public interest due to the nation’s need for critical minerals.

An access road in the area is “crucial” for developing “one of the largest undeveloped copper-zinc mineral belts in the world,” the fact sheet adds, noting the land “contains extensive deposits of copper, silver, gold, lead, cobalt, and other strategic metals.”

The Trump administration has also partnered with Trilogy Metals to support mining in Alaska. The partnership will see the Department of War investing an estimated $35.6 million for critical mineral resource development while also being a 10% shareholder in the company.

“This proposed partnership with the U.S. Government represents a significant milestone for Trilogy Metals and for the development of a secure, domestic supply of critical minerals for America in Alaska,” said Tony Giardini, President and CEO of Trilogy Metals. “The Department of War’s interest underscores the strategic importance of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects in supporting U.S. energy, technology, and national security priorities. We look forward to working with our partners at South32, federal and state agencies, and Alaska Native communities to advance this world-class district responsibly and collaboratively.”

Trump Pressure Forces Qatar’s Al Jazeera to Curb ‘Incitement’ and Praise for Terror

October 7, 2025

The White House’s pressure on Qatar appears to be paying off. Facing demands from President Donald Trump, Qatar has reportedly forced its Hamas-linked news outlet Al Jazeera to curb “incitement” to terror across the Middle East, according to a Monday report.

Israel’s Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal asked on X, “What’s going on at Al Jazeera? If you go onto its website, you’ll see relatively mild news items, as opposed to the incitement that is usually prominent on the Qatari propaganda network.” Segal cited colleague Ehud Yaari, who said Qatar is “carrying out a purge” at Al Jazeera and that the network now focuses more on Gaza’s humanitarian situation “instead of praising and boasting about the actions of Hamas’ military wing.”

Yaari said the change is “apparently part of understandings between [Qatar] and the United States, under which Al Jazeera will reduce the amount of incitement it spreads throughout the Middle East.”

The news follows high-stakes talks in Egypt between Israeli, Hamas, and U.S. negotiators working to finalize Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Trump warned Hamas to “MOVE FAST” and said the group faces “obliteration” if it refuses to give up power in Gaza.

An intelligence official confirmed, “Hamas is very unhappy with the changes at Al Jazeera,” noting that “Trump and Netanyahu forced the Qataris to change direction.”

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) called Al Jazeera “a mouthpiece for terrorists like Hamas,” while lawsuits in the U.S. accuse the outlet of aiding Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Jay Jones Scandal Deepens as Shocking Police Remarks Surface

October 7, 2025

Virginia flag — (Photo by Manuel Augusto Moreno/Getty Images)

The Jay Jones scandal is deepening as the Virginia Democratic attorney general nominee faces new scrutiny over disturbing comments about police and fellow lawmakers. According to a Virginia Scope report, Jones told Virginia House Rep. Carrie Coyner (R) that police might “move on” and “stop shooting people” if “a few of them died.”

Coyner said the comments came during a “heated” phone call about qualified immunity, a legal protection for police officers that allows them to make split-second decisions without fear of personal liability. Jones, she said, believed that ending qualified immunity would force officers to “act differently” and reduce deadly incidents.

Jones denied making the statement, saying, “I did not say this. I have never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement, period.” But Coyner’s account adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding Jones, who previously sent text messages about “shooting” GOP House Speaker Todd Gilbert and “pissing on their graves,” referring to Gilbert and other Virginia Republicans.

“Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and joked about shooting Todd Gilbert,” Coyner said. “It’s disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.”

Even some Democrats are calling for accountability. MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said, “He should probably be forced to withdraw from the race, and ‘probably’ is doing a lot there.”

Jones, who was also convicted of reckless driving in 2022 for speeding at 116 mph, faces Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the November 4 election.