American Rare Earths Limited (ARR:AU) has announced Updated Announcement -Metallurgical Test Holes
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American Rare Earths Limited (ARR:AU) has announced Updated Announcement -Metallurgical Test Holes
Download the PDF here.
Geopolitical tensions are rising in several regions of the world, and governments are expected to increase their defense spending in the years ahead. This has investors looking to aerospace and defense stocks.
The entrenched Russia-Ukraine war, widespread conflict in the Middle East, military posturing in the ongoing US-China trade conflict and the spread of cybersecurity attacks on critical infrastructure — all of these developments and more are driving demand in the global defense market.
In 2024, the five countries spending the most on their militaries were the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
For the most part, the aerospace and defense industry provides equipment, technologies and services to national governments through contracts. The players in this space are typically defense contractors that design and manufacture aircraft, satellites, electronic systems, software, missiles, drones, autonomous vehicles, tanks and marine vessels.
Global aerospace and defense revenue reached record highs in 2024, according to PwC in its latest annual sector report, totaling US$922 billion across the top 100 companies. However, the firm reports that increased demand is outpacing supply and capacity from defense companies.
Today, the US accounts for the largest share of global defense spending, representing about 37 percent of worldwide military outlays. In fact, military spending represents about 12 percent of the US federal budget for fiscal year 2025. Worsening geopolitical tensions are expected to increase the US government’s spending on defense technology.
Market cap: US$189.46 billion
One of the most well-known American defense companies, RTX operates in the defense, aviation, space, electronics and cybersecurity sectors. The company captured more than US$80.7 billion in revenue for 2024, up 17.15 percent from the previous year.
The company’s defense solutions arm Raytheon was awarded a US$250 million contract in June 2025 from Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric (TSE:6503) for licensed production of ESSM Block 2 short to medium-range guided missiles.
‘Under the Direct Commercial Sale contract, Raytheon will provide missile kits, parts, and components as well as technical support for missile production at (Mitsubishi Electric) in Japan,’ the press release stated.
Market cap: US$151.52 billion
Another heavyweight in the aerospace and defense industry, Boeing designs and manufactures airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment and missiles.
Revenue for the company declined by 14.5 percent in 2024 over the previous year to come in at US$66.5 billion. The majority of that loss was driven by its airplane segment; its defense segment revenue dropped 4 percent over the same period. The company’s aviation sector has faced heavy scrutiny in recent years after several disastrous incidents linked to the Boeing 737.
As for its defense business, in March 2025, Boeing reported that production of its air defense systems, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seekers, reached an all-time high in 2024. According to the release, the company produces the seekers as a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin and has sold them to 17 countries, including the US and Ukraine.
Market cap: US$144.57 billion
Engineering and technology company Honeywell International develops and manufactures technological solutions for a variety of sectors. The company’s four business divisions are aerospace technologies, building automation, energy and sustainability solutions, and industrial automation. Honeywell’s sales came in at US$38.5 billion in 2024, up 5 percent from the previous year.
Honeywell has numerous defense contracts with government agencies around the world, including right at home with the US Department of Defense (DoD) and US Armed Forces. In May 2025, the company’s JetWave X satellite communication system was selected for use in the advanced US Army aircraft ARES.
Market cap: US$107.57 billion
Lockheed Martin’s business is concentrated on aerospace products and advanced defense technology systems. The F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet is among its most notable products, but Lockheed is also well known for its space launchers, ballistic missiles and satellites. The company’s 2024 net sales increased by 5.15 percent from the previous year to just over US$71 billion.
Unsurprisingly, about half of Lockheed Martin’s annual sales are made to the US DoD. However, governments around the world have purchasing contracts with the company to supply their militaries with defense products such as F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. In April 2025, the Royal Norwegian Air Force received the last two F-35 fighter jets of the 52 ordered in its most recent supply contract.
Market cap: US$76.57 billion
Although best known for its Gulfstream business jets, General Dynamics designs and manufactures wheeled and tracked combat vehicles, submarines, weapons and communications systems, as well as munitions. The company garnered more than US$47.72 billion in revenue for 2024, up 12.88 percent from the previous year.
General Dynamics is a major defense contractor for the US military as well as allied nations abroad. In April 2025, the company was awarded US$12 billion in contract modifications for the construction of two Virginia-class submarines for the US Navy, bringing the potential value of the contract to US$17.2 billion. This type of sub is designed for anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.
Investors looking to mitigate the risk of investing in individual stocks can diversify their portfolio with defense ETFs. While ETFs aren’t without risk, they are often considered a more stable investment compared to stocks as they allocate funds across a variety of stocks that are rebalanced by an asset manager to meet the return goals of the fund.
The biggest US Defense ETFs by assets under management are listed below according to data from ETF Database.
Assets under management: US$7.83 billion
The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF launched in May 2006. This fund invests in large, generally stable companies in the aerospace and defense sector, particularly those with the majority of their revenues based on long-term government contracts.
The ETF has 40 holdings and an expense ratio of 0.4 percent. IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF’s top holdings include RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics as well as another important name in the industry, L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX).
Assets under management: US$5.41 billion
Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF launched in October 2005. Like ITA, it also tracks large, stable aerospace and defense stocks with steady revenue streams from long-term government contracts.
While it has more holdings than ITA at 57, it also has a higher expense ratio at 0.58 percent. Unlike ITA, Honeywell is listed among Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF’s top holdings in addition to the other biggest US defense stocks.
Assets under management: US$3.76 billion
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF, which launched in September 2011, offers exposure to large cap stocks in this sector. It has the lowest expense ratio on this list at 0.35 percent.
Of the 40 holdings XAR tracks, the most heavily weighted US defense stocks include RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics as well as Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) and AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV).
Assets under management: US$2.69 billion
Launched in September 2023, Global X Defense Tech ETF is the newest defense ETF on the market. While it does offer a geographic diversity of exposure to the overall defense sector, its holdings are just over 50 percent based in the United States. This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.50 percent.
SHLD has 43 holdings, including the biggest US defense stocks such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, but is also heavily weighted in Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) and L3Harris Technologies.
Assets under management: US$249.19 million
Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares launched in May 2017 with the goal of tripling the daily return of an index of major defense industry stocks.
DFEN has the highest expense ratio on this list at 0.95 percent. Some of the most heavily weighted stocks of its 39 holdings are Boeing, Lockheed Martin and RTX.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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Forte Minerals Corp . (‘ Forte ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) ( CSE: CUAU ) ( OTCQB: FOMNF ) ( Frankfurt: 2OA ) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement with a strategic investor (the ‘ Investor ‘), who will acquire 6,326,066 common shares at a price of C$0.90 per share for gross proceeds of approximately C$5,693,459 (the ‘ Strategic Placement ‘). Upon closing of the Strategic Placement, the Investor will own 9.99% of Forte’s issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis, establishing a meaningful long-term position in Forte’s growth and exploration strategy.
The C$0.90 offering price reflects a premium to Forte’s current market value, underscoring the Investor’s conviction in the Company’s long-term potential.
Patrick Elliott, President and CEO of Forte, commented: ‘This strategic investment marks a significant milestone for the company. It reflects strong conviction in the long-term value of our portfolio and validates the quality of our exploration pipeline. We’re excited to begin what we see as a long-term, collaborative relationship that supports our vision to unlock meaningful copper and gold discoveries in Perú. ‘
The proceeds from the Strategic Placement will be primarily used to advance Forte’s Alto Ruri high-sulfidation epithermal gold project in Perú (‘ Alto Ruri ‘), with at least 80% of the funds dedicated to exploration activities at Alto Ruri. The remaining funds will support general working capital and corporate purposes.
In connection with the Strategic Placement, Forte and the Investor will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement whereby the Investor is entitled to certain rights, subject to the Investor maintaining certain ownership thresholds in the Company, including technical information sharing rights and the right to participate in future equity financings and top-up its holdings in relation to dilutive issuances in order to maintain its percentage ownership interest in the Company. The Investor has also agreed to voting support and standstill covenants.
In addition, under the Investor Rights Agreement the Investor and Forte will:
The closing of the Strategic Placement is expected to occur on or around July 23, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. All shares issued pursuant to the Strategic Placement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the closing date.
This investment signals a firm belief in Forte’s vision, technical leadership and the significant long-term value potential of Alto Ruri. This collaboration marks a major step in executing the strategy Forte has been actively advancing; to deliver pipeline projects that fuel the major developers and producers.
ABOUT Forte Minerals CORP.
Forte Minerals Corp. is an exploration company with a strong portfolio of high-quality copper (Cu) and gold assets (Au) in Perú. Through a strategic partnership with GlobeTrotters Resources Perú S.A.C. , the Company gains access to a rich pipeline of historically drilled, high-impact targets across key mineral belts.
Forte is committed to responsible resource development, creating long-term value, and fostering lasting partnerships with stakeholders and communities.
On behalf of Forte Minerals CORP.
(signed) ‘ Patrick Elliott’
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact:
Forte Minerals Corp.
office: (604) 983-8847
info@forteminerals.com
www.forteminerals.com
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Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’), including those identified by the expressions ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘may’, ‘should’ and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements relating to the terms of the Strategic Placement, the timing for completion of the Strategic Placement and the intended use of proceeds of the Strategic Placement. These forward-looking statements and information reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company with respect to the matter described in this press release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under ‘Risk Factors and Uncertainties’ in the Company’s latest management’s discussion and analysis, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management’s reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information or statements to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE’) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia
Join Dave as he reviews three common candle patterns traders can use to identify potential turning points. From bullish engulfing patterns to evening star patterns, Dave gives insights on how to leverage these powerful candle signals to anticipate market shifts. He also shows combining candle patterns with conventional technical analysis tools can help improve success rates.
This video originally premiered on July 14, 2025. Watch on StockCharts’ dedicated David Keller page!
Previously recorded videos from Dave are available at this link.
Bitcoin ($BTCUSD) is riding a wave of surging optimism, smashing past $112k as retail and institutional capital pour into the cryptocurrency. Some say the market has grown euphoric, and that a sharp pullback may be lurking around the corner. Others believe this is just the beginning of another leg higher.
A few key questions to guide your analysis: What does $BTCUSD’s history tell us about breakouts above major resistance after a prolonged period of sideways movement? If it’s the start of another move higher, how can you project an upside target? And, if it reverses, where could support levels come into play?
Let’s begin by taking a look at a 3-year weekly chart.
FIGURE 1. WEEKLY CHART OF $BTCUSD. Note the crypto’s impressive rallies after clearing resistance following a prolonged period of sideways trading.
In 2023, $BTCUSD traded sideways for six months, repeatedly failing to break above resistance around $31k. But once it did, the crypto soared more than 126% before a major pullback.
A similar pattern unfolded in 2024: seven months in a wide range, unable to clear resistance between $71k and $73k. When $BTCUSD finally broke out in November, it staged a parabolic move, rallying nearly 47% before pulling back again, setting another key resistance zone that brings it to overhead resistance range between $110k–$112k.
So this answers the question posed about $BTCUSD’s historical tendencies after breaking above a prolonged range. Historically, the crypto tends to stage an outsized run once it clears critical resistance. But will it happen this time around? If so, how can you estimate a potential upside target? And if the breakout fails, where might $BTCUSD find support?
Before looking at a daily chart, let’s look at $BTCUSD’s seasonality chart going back 10 years. If you’re curious as to how the crypto has performed during the summer months, maybe this can help.
FIGURE 2. 10-YEAR SEASONALITY CHART OF $BTCUSD. Most months on average have been quite strong for the asset, but October’s performance has been strong, with an average seasonal return of 21%.
According to its seasonality performance, July is arguably strong with a favorable positive close rate (70%) and return (9.6%). However, October is the crypto’s strongest month, with an 89% positive close rate and an average return of 21%. Over the last 10 years, $BTCUSD’s performance has been volatile, which accounts for the outsize returns on this chart. While seasonal tendencies don’t guarantee a repeat, knowing the general bullish/bearish seasonality context can help inform your analysis and trading decisions.
Now, let’s look at a daily chart to find entry points or estimate an upside target while identifying support, should its breakout fail to follow through.
FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF $BTCUSD. The asset just broke above critical resistance. If you have a position, now’s the time to estimate potential price targets.
$BTCUSD just broke the critical resistance level of $112k. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is indicating strong momentum, easing into an overbought reading. While there’s no way to fundamentally determine the crypto’s upside target, one technical method is to use a measured move by taking the height of the prior range and adding it to the top of the range (or the breakout level; this varies by trader).
Measuring the range from the support area around $98k up to $110–112k (we’ll settle for $110k), you can project that distance of $12k above the top level of the breakout range, which implies a potential target near $124k, more or less.
$110k breakout + $12k range height = $122k–$124k target, depending on entry.
However, note that some traders don’t wait for a 100% measured move before taking profits. Some will exit positions as soon as a 60% move has occurred, but that really depends on the trader.
Now, if $BTCUSD fails to follow through and reverses, you can reasonably expect support at roughly these three levels:
If $BTCUSD falls below the previous trading range, that is, below $98k, then the current rally is likely over.
Ideally, a trader’s entry point would have been at $112k. Considering that some platforms allow fractional lots of $BTCUSD, some people may choose to enter smaller positions, as a fractional position would minimize risk and reward.
If you already have a position in $BTCUSD, put it in your ChartLists, and set a price alert at $124k or any measured move percentage below that 100% target level (like 60% of the measured move would be at $119k).
If the breakout fails, expect a near-term bounce between $110k and $112k. However, a move lower toward $100k or $98k would likely signal an end to the bullish thesis. Traders might even consider placing a stop a few points below $98k to avoid the likelihood of further downside.
$BTCUSD has a history of explosive moves after clearing major resistance, but it can just as easily blindside you with a sudden reversal. That’s why it’s crucial to keep upside and downside levels in mind. Seasonality also favors the bulls, with most months delivering favorable returns. Add the crypto to your ChartLists and set price alerts to track whether your upside target is hit, or whether downside levels signal either an early bounce or a failed rally.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.
After a relatively quiet week for the S&P 500, we’re seeing some interesting shifts in sector dynamics. Let’s dive into the latest rankings, RRG analysis, and what it means for our portfolio strategy.
The big news this week is the ascent of the Materials sector, which has muscled its way into the top five at the expense of the Utilities sector.
The rest of the top five remained steady, but we’re seeing some movement in the lower ranks as well. Consumer Discretionary made a notable jump from #9 to #7, pushing Consumer Staples and Real Estate down a notch each. Energy and Health Care continue to bring up the rear at #10 and #11, respectively.
The weekly Relative Rotation Graph (RRG) gives us a broader perspective on sector trends. Technology continues to dominate, firmly entrenched in the leading quadrant, no surprises there. Industrials is showing stability with a short tail in the leading quadrant, indicating a consistent relative uptrend.
Communication Services, however, is raising some eyebrows. It’s lurking in the weakening quadrant with a short tail, suggesting a stable relative uptrend but with negative momentum. Financials are teetering on the edge of the lagging quadrant, a move that demands attention. Materials, despite its rise in the rankings, is actually in the lagging quadrant on the weekly RRG. You will see why it made its way into the top 5 on the daily RRG.
On the daily RRG, we get a more nuanced picture of short-term sector movements:
The tech train continues to roll, breaking through resistance around 240 and maintaining its upward trajectory in both price and relative strength. The RS line is pushing higher after a clean breakout from its falling trend, a bullish sign for the sector leader.
XLI is following through nicely on both price and relative strength charts. The raw RS line has established a new higher low, dragging the RS ratio higher. In my opinion, this sector looks rock-solid.
Here’s where things get dicey. XLC is clinging to its breakout above 105, but last week’s decline is testing that former resistance as new support. The raw RS line breaking below rising support is a warning sign that this sector could be in for a bumpy ride.
Similar to Communications Services, Financials has retreated to test old resistance as support. The raw RS line looks even worse here, having broken out of its rising channel weeks ago. Both RRG lines are flirting with the 100 level; a further push into the lagging quadrant seems likely.
XLB is showing some muscle, breaking out of its falling channel and taking out recent highs. The raw RS line is pushing against falling resistance — if it can break through, we could see a significant turnaround in the RRG lines, confirming the sector’s newfound strength.
Now, for the part that might sting a bit, the portfolio drawdown is ongoing. It’s something trend followers need to learn to live with. Currently, the portfolio is down about 2% for the year, while the S&P 500 is up over 6%. That puts us roughly 8% behind the benchmark YTD.
It’s not a comfortable position, but it’s part of the game. Trend-following strategies often lag in choppy or rapidly changing markets. The key is to stay disciplined and trust in the long-term efficacy of our approach.
#StayAlert and have a great week, Julius
America has triumphed in each industrial revolution – whether steel, energy or manufacturing – and has the power to lead the AI revolution, too. This week in Pittsburgh, President Donald Trump is bringing together leaders to address a defining challenge of our time: how to fuel the AI revolution with American energy.
Progress on this front will be consequential for our economy, our national security, and America’s global leadership.
President Trump’s announced $500 billion private sector AI investment is a critical enabler for our country. But artificial intelligence won’t power itself. It needs vast amounts of electricity, delivered affordably and reliably.
And as demand for AI computing surges, the real question isn’t just about who writes the best code – it’s also about who can build out data center infrastructure behind it. The U.S. has the unique capability to do that – including the energy dominance to fuel it – and we now have the political will to lead.
U.S. policy has often prioritized climate idealism over energy pragmatism. Wind, solar and battery technologies will play a key role in our energy future, but they are not available at the scale or reliability needed to fuel expected AI data center demand. And these combined sources are more expensive than U.S. natural gas.
Without a balanced and clear-eyed approach, we risk pushing AI innovation – and the economic and national security advantages that come with it – overseas.
Other countries are already trying to lure investment away from the United States by subsidizing AI computing power. In China, dozens of data centers are being built – 39 approved in the last quarter of 2024 alone. In Malaysia, authorities are fast-tracking electricity infrastructure for data centers, cutting lead times to just 12 months, compared to five years in the U.S. Some American companies are already helping to finance data center growth in the Middle East.
The path to powering America’s AI dominance is rooted in abundant American natural gas. The United States is already by far the world leader, accounting for a quarter of global natural gas production. And we are also one of the lowest-cost producers.
Equally important is to ensure AI power demand doesn’t drive up electricity costs for consumers. We can develop natural gas-based power generation independent of the current electric grid and co-locate it with data centers across the country. Providing this dedicated electricity prevents a competition for grid-connected power, which would drive up costs and burden our already strained electricity grid.
New solutions like this require creative partnerships and continued innovation – which is why Chevron is working with Engine No. 1 and GE Vernova to establish facilities designed to provide reliable, affordable, long-term power-generating solutions to underpin American AI leadership.
President Donald Trump, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Sen. David McCormick, R-Pa., recognize the opportunity for the United States to achieve AI dominance. By leveraging abundant American natural gas as a foundation to meet surging AI power demand, we can strengthen our national security, grow our economy and protect our technology leadership.
We have the power to lead the race to develop and deploy AI. It’s time to use it.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is urging Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to declassify all documents related to the assassination attempt on then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
Hawley’s request comes a year after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired off several shots at Trump from a rooftop near the presidential rally grounds. The gunman had a clear shot and grazed the president’s ear.
Even after a year, though, questions still remain about how Crooks was able to get a clear shot.
In his letter to Noem, Hawley mentions the one-year anniversary of the first assassination attempt on Trump.
‘This occasion marks a deeply troubling chapter in our nation’s history and serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in preserving public trust during moments of national crisis,’ he wrote. ‘To that end, I urge you to take the necessary steps to declassify all documents within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) related to the events of July 13, 2024.
‘As you know, assassination attempts against current and former presidents are rare but profoundly consequential events in American life,’ Hawley continued. ‘And the American people rightly expect full transparency from their government.’
The senator pointed to investigation stonewalling tactics from the Biden administration’s Secret Service and DHS, which he said ultimately denied basic facts to the American people.
‘The public learned far more from whistleblowers than they did from public officials, and I released a report documenting these disclosures, many of which have been corroborated to date,’ Hawley wrote. ‘In October of last year, in a unanimous vote, the Homeland Security Committee passed my legislation requiring the Secret Service release to the public all pertinent documents.
‘Now, I am requesting that you immediately declassify and release all documents relating to the first assassination attempt on President Trump within the full extent of your authority, subject only to the narrowest possible redactions necessary to protect ongoing operations or individual safety,’ he said. ‘The public deserves a full and accurate account of this event, the circumstances that allowed it to happen, and the steps the government has taken since to strengthen protective measures.’
Hawley requested a complete inventory of all classified or non-public materials related to the first assassination attempt on Trump, including reports, internal communications, threat assessments, after-action reviews and coordinated records with other agencies.
He also requested a formal explanation for the continued classification of materials Noem believes must remain restricted, as well as a proposed plan and timeline for the immediate declassification and public release of all remaining documents, all by July 30, 2025.
Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS for comment on the matter.
Hawley released a report in September, detailing the failures of the Secret Service in connection with the attempted assassination of Trump in July, which included whistleblower allegations that are ‘highly damaging to the credibility’ of the agency.
The report uncovered a ‘compounding pattern of negligence, sloppiness, and gross incompetence that goes back years, all of which culminated in an assassination attempt that came inches from succeeding.’
Hawley accused the Secret Service, FBI and DHS of all trying ‘to evade real accountability.’
‘These agencies and their leaders have slow-walked congressional investigations, misled the American people, and shirked responsibility,’ the report states.
After the first of two assassination attempts against Trump in just over two months, Hawley visited the Butler rally site to interview whistleblowers and opened up a whistleblower tip line, encouraging those with relevant information to share with officials.
Documents subpoenaed by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs also show major failures among the six U.S. Secret Service (USSS) agents who were suspended without pay in response to the assassination attempt.
The documents were based on interviews with the agents and their colleagues and revealed that several agents admitted the existence of major security concerns at the Butler rally, but none of them elevated the concerns or helped produce a plan to properly cover the roof that provided Crooks a clear shot of Trump.
The documents show that some agents in charge never even conducted walk-throughs of the site. For example, the lead advance agent, documents show, never did a final security walk-through of the rally site because she was in the hospital for heat exhaustion, the special agent in charge said when questioned.
Some of the agents were suspended without pay for various terms, though none of the agents were fired.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on Monday announced that he would revive his criminal referral against Dr. Anthony Fauci, adding yet another wrinkle to the ongoing Biden White House autopen saga.
‘Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ,’ Paul said on X.
It’s not the first time that Paul has issued a criminal referral against Fauci, who is the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and medical adviser to former President Joe Biden.
The first came in 2021, when Paul accused Fauci of lying to Congress about funding gain-of-function research for the COVID-19 virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The next came in 2023, again as part of Paul’s efforts to investigate the origins of the virus.
‘Perjury is a crime,’ Paul said. ‘And Fauci must be held accountable.’
Fox News Digital reached out to Paul’s office for comment.
This time, Paul’s reupping of his criminal referral comes after a new report added another chapter to the ongoing autopen saga, in which President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have accused Biden of shrugging off his authority to aides and top officials in the White House to authorize his signature on a slew of pardons and documents.
The New York Times reported that emails showed that Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients gave final approval for the use of the autopen for preemptive pardons for Fauci and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, two of Trump’s top critics.
Biden signed the bulk of his over 4,000 clemency documents in the waning months of his presidency, a point that Trump and congressional Republicans have pounced to hammer in the claims that the former president’s cognitive ability was declining and his staff were running the White House.
Trump has gone so far as to request Attorney General Pam Bondi open an investigation into Biden’s usage of the autopen, while Republicans in the Senate and House have all held their own committee hearings on the matter.
And earlier Monday, Trump told reporters that Biden’s alleged use of the autopen amounted to possibly ‘one of the biggest scandals that we’ve had in 50 to 100 years.’
‘I guarantee you he knew nothing about what he was signing, I guarantee you,’ Trump said.
Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
Iran on Monday warned that it would retaliate if the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took steps to impose ‘snapback’ sanctions as nations mull further action to halt Tehran’s nuclear development.
‘The threat to use the snapback mechanism lacks legal and political basis and will be met with an appropriate and proportionate response from the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei claimed during a press conference, according to a Reuters report.
Baghaei did not expand on how Iran would retaliate, but his threats come amid repeated warnings from security experts that time is running out to enforce the sanction mechanism by Oct. 18 under terms dictated by the 2015 nuclear deal.
The comments coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was originally intended to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but which some have argued was insufficient to adequately deter Tehran.
Under the terms of the JCPOA, any signatory can unilaterally call up snapback sanctions if Iran is found to have violated the terms of the agreement.
Though the U.S., which, alongside the U.K., France, Germany, China and Russia, signed the 2015 deal, was deemed by the U.N. and other JCPOA members unable to utilize the mechanism after Washington withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Despite repeated calls by the U.S. to enforce snapback – which would legally enforce all 15 U.N. members on the council, including Russia, to reimpose sanctions on Iran – no one on the UNSC or JCPOA has yet taken steps to enforce the sanctions.
‘I would say one of the few good things about the JCPOA is that it reverse engineers the veto in the sense that you really only need one of the permanent members to be able to do this,’ Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran orogram told Fox News Digital. ‘But why is no one doing it? It’s because it’s a risky move.
‘I think it’s a worthwhile move, but we have to be honest – it’s a risky move,’ he added.
Ben Taleblu explained that Iran’s most likely response to the severe sanctions under the snapback mechanism would be its abandonment of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – an international agreement that over 190 nations have signed, pledging either not to transfer weapons to another recipient by nuclear-capable nations, or not to develop atomic arms by non-nuclear nations, among other commitments.
The terms of the agreement are monitored by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency – which Iran has already suspended cooperation with following U.S. and Israeli strikes against its nuclear program last month.
‘In a world in which Iran’s most likely response is to leave the NPT, one has to be confident in at least the ability of military threats to deter Iran further, or at least the credibility of America’s and Israel’s, or the international community’s, military options against Iran moving forward,’ Ben Taleblu said.
‘The problem is the lack of a game plan. Has America provided Europe with a game plan, a road map for post-snapback?’ he added, noting there needs to be a much larger strategy for next steps should sanctions be reinforced.
Though the U.S. assesses that Iran’s nuclear program has been stunted by up to two years, experts remain convinced that Tehran’s atomic ambitions have not been deterred, and its ties to terrorist networks and adversarial nations mean it remains a top security concern.
Trump has said he is still committed to negotiating with Iran on its nuclear program, though questions remain over how long he will continue to allow negotiations to drag out before a European nation like the U.K., France or Germany must step in to enact snapback sanctions not only before the October deadline, but before Russia takes over control of the UNSC presidency that month.
Pushing through the snapback mechanism is expected to be a roughly six-week process.
Reports on Sunday suggested that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could call up the snapback measures as soon as Tuesday, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee championed the move in a post on X.
But Fox News Digital could not independently verify these claims and the German Foreign Ministry told Israeli news outlet JNS that the claims were incorrect.
The chancellor’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions.