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Schumer says century-old law forces Trump DOJ, FBI to release Jeffrey Epstein files by August deadline

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that Democrats invoked a century-old law to force President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice and the FBI to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. 

At a press conference, Schumer said he joined all his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Homeland Security Committee in invoking ‘a century-old and little-known law known as the Rule of Five.’ Under the federal law, Schumer said, ‘when any five senators on the Homeland Security Committee call on the executive branch, the executive branch must comply.’ 

Schumer said their request ‘covers all documents, files, evidence and other materials’ in possession of the DOJ and the FBI related to the case of the United States v. Jeffrey Epstein. 

‘While protecting the victims’ identities can and must be of top importance, the public has a right to know who enabled, knew of, or participated in one of the most heinous sex trafficking operations in history,’ Schumer said. 

He pointed to past statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel promising transparency, but argued the public has only received ‘stonewall, evasion, lies.’ 

‘Donald Trump campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. He broke that promise,’ Schumer continued. ‘Trump should stop hiding from the truth. He should stop hiding from the American people. So today, Senate Democrats took action. We’re invoking federal law and using our authority as a check on the executive to compel transparency.’ 

‘It’s not a stunt. It’s not symbolic. It’s a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law. And we expect an answer from DOJ by August the 15th,’ the top Senate Democrat continued. ‘That’s what accountability looks like. This is what oversight looks like. And this is what keeping your promises to the American people look like.’ 

He also appealed to Senate Republicans. 

‘If you believe in transparency, if you believe Congress has a role to play in checking the executive, join us. Join us in calling for more transparency on the Epstein files, because once there’s transparency, the truth emerges,’ Schumer said. 

The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Schumer initially made the announcement during a speech on the Senate floor earlier Wednesday. The top Democrat argues that he and four other senators can force the Department of Justice to release the files to the public.

President Donald Trump explains why he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago

Wednesday’s floor speech was Schumer’s second in the past few days focusing on the Epstein files. He also called on the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment on the Epstein case on Tuesday.

He argued the FBI assessment should accomplish three things: determine if foreign intelligence agencies could gain access to the information ‘the president does not want to release in the Epstein files, through methods that include cyber intrusion;’ identify any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign intelligence agencies with access to non-public information in the Epstein files, ‘including being able to gain leverage over Donald Trump, his family, or other senior government officials;’ and result in the FBI publicly showing that the bureau is ‘developing mitigation strategies to counter these threats and safeguard our national security.’

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Agent’s alleged attempt to smuggle wife on Trump’s Scotland trip being probed in latest Secret Service fiasco

President Donald Trump dished on the ‘strange story’ stemming from reports that a Secret Service agent attempted to smuggle his wife onto a Secret Service cargo plane accompanying the president on his trip to Scotland, as the Secret Service kicks off an investigation into the incident. 

Trump told reporters that he had just heard about the alleged incident, which he labeled a ‘weird deal’ and said that the agency was handling the matter. 

‘I don’t know, that’s a strange one. I just heard that two minutes ago. I think Sean’s taking care of it … Is that a serious story?’ Trump told reporters on Air Force One Tuesday, appearing to reference Sean Curran, Secret Service director. 

‘I don’t want to get involved, it’s a strange story,’ Trump said. 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on whether Trump had been briefed on the matter or on the investigation. 

Real Clear Politics first reported that a Secret Service agent attempted to smuggle his wife aboard a Secret Service cargo aircraft during Trump’s travels for his Scotland trip. 

When asked about the report, the Secret Service told Fox News Digital a personnel investigation is underway. 

‘The U.S. Secret Service is conducting a personnel investigation after an employee attempted to invite his spouse – a member of the United States Air Force – aboard a mission support flight,’ a Secret Service spokesperson said in a Tuesday statement to Fox News Digital. 

‘The aircraft, operated by the U.S. Air Force, was being used by the Secret Service to transport personnel and equipment,’ the spokesperson said. ‘Prior to the overseas departure, the employee was advised by supervisors that such action was prohibited, and the spouse was subsequently prevented from taking the flight. No Secret Service protectees were aboard and there was no impact to our overseas protective operations.’ 

The Secret Service has come under scrutiny following the aftermath of the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

In that incident, 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight bullets at Trump from a rooftop during a campaign rally. One bullet grazed Trump’s ear, and the gunman killed Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, father and husband attending the rally. 

Additionally, another man was apprehended and charged months later with attempting to assassinate Trump at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

Both incidents are under investigation, and a bipartisan House task force that investigated the Pennsylvania attack determined the episode was ‘preventable,’ and that various mistakes were not an isolated incident.

Since these episodes, the Secret Service has implemented a host of changes to its agency to beef up its security practices. 

Specific steps taken include expanding the use of drones for surveillance purposes, and overhauling its radio communications networks and their interoperability with Secret Service personnel, and state and local law enforcement officers. 

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Grassley rebukes Trump’s pressure to ‘have the courage’ to speed up nominations

President Donald Trump pressured the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee to end a longstanding practice in the Senate to expedite his nominations to district courts and U.S. attorney’s offices, but the lawmaker isn’t budging.

Trump late Tuesday night demanded that Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ‘have the courage’ to end the ‘blue slip’ tradition in the Senate, which effectively gives senators the ability to veto district court and U.S. attorney nominees in their home states.

He charged that the practice was ‘probably unconstitutional,’ and lamented that a president would ‘never be permitted to appoint the person of his choice’ because of it.

‘Chuck Grassley, who I got re-elected to the U.S. Senate when he was down, by a lot, in the Great State of Iowa, could solve the ‘Blue Slip’ problem we are having with respect to the appointment of Highly Qualified Judges and U.S. Attorneys, with a mere flick of the pen,’ Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform.

‘Democrats like Schumer, Warner, Kaine, Booker, Schiff, and others, SLEAZEBAGS ALL, have an ironclad stoppage of Great Republican Candidates,’ he continued.

The 91-year-old Grassely, who has been a member of Congress since 1975 and in the Senate since 1981, handily beat his previous opponent by over 12 points three years ago.

The longtime lawmaker addressed Trump’s comments during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday that he was surprised to see the president ‘go after me and Senate Republicans over what we call the ‘blue slip.”

‘Now, to people in the Real America — not here in Washington, D.C., an island surrounded by reality — the people in Real America don’t care about what the ‘blue slip’ is, but, in fact, it impacts the district judges who serve their communities and the U.S. Attorneys who ensure law and order is enforced,’ Grassley said. ‘I was offended by what the President said, and I’m disappointed that it would result in personal insults.’

Trump’s fury comes as Senate Republicans are working to ram as many of his nominees through Senate Democrats’ blockade as possible. Currently, lawmakers are working on a deal to get more low-hanging fruit nominations, like ambassadors, through in a large group rather than eating away at floor time.

One instance where Democrats have opted to block some of Trump’s nominees came earlier this year when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., used his blue slip privileges to nix Trump’s U.S. Attorney nominees for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

‘Donald Trump has made clear he has no fidelity to the law and intends to use the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney offices and law enforcement as weapons to go after his perceived enemies,’ Schumer said at the time. 

‘Such blatant and depraved political motivations are deeply corrosive to the rule of law and leaves me deeply skeptical of Donald Trump’s intentions for these important positions,’ he said. 

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Who is Steve Ricchetti, the longtime Biden confidante questioned in Comer’s cover-up probe?

Steve Ricchetti, a longtime Democratic operative and lobbyist, is sitting down with House Oversight Committee investigators Wednesday.

He’s known as a member of former President Joe Biden’s inner circle who reportedly played a key role in downplaying concerns, both public and private, about the ex-commander-in-chief’s mental fitness for office.

Ricchetti also reportedly helped craft Biden’s historic letter announcing the end of his 2024 re-election bid that July, according to the New York Times.

But long before that, Ricchetti graduated from Miami University in Ohio and got a Juris Doctor from Virginia’s George Mason University.

His first major role in electoral politics came when Ricchetti served as executive director for the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, from 1990 to 1992.

Ricchetti then worked for former President Bill Clinton as a congressional liaison from 1993 to 1996 and then again as White House deputy chief of staff for operations from 1998 to 2001.

During that second stint, he played a critical role in wrangling House Democrats during the GOP’s impeachment proceedings against Clinton.

In between and in later years, Ricchetti enjoyed a lucrative career as a lobbyist, even founding the lobbying firm Ricchetti Inc. with his brother in 2001.

His work with Biden began in 2012 when Ricchetti was appointed to be counselor to the vice president during the Obama administration – one of several ex-lobbyists appointed to that White House, despite former President Barack Obama’s vow not to hire K Street operatives. He was soon elevated to be Biden’s chief of staff in late 2013.

Ricchetti also chaired Biden’s 2020 campaign before playing a critical role in his administration, where he acted as part of a small ‘Politburo’ of close advisors who helped control the White House, Axios reporter Alex Thompson and CNN host Jake Tapper wrote in their book ‘Original Sin.’

‘In terms of who was running the White House, it’s a small group of people that have been around,’ Thompson told the PBS program ‘Washington Week’ earlier this year.

Several members of Ricchetti’s family also notably had roles in the Biden administration; two of his sons and his daughter worked for the Treasury, State Department, and in the White House, respectively.

At the time, the White House argued they got the jobs on their merits rather than their father’s closeness to Biden.

Ricchetti also reportedly played a key role in dismissing concerns about Biden’s mental health.

Two weeks after Biden’s disastrous debate against current President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported that Ricchetti got into a ‘shouting’ argument with Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., after the latter called to express concerns about Biden’s political viability.

U.K.-based outlet The Times reported that Ricchetti ‘sounded like a mob boss’ in a conversation with actor George Clooney days before the Hollywood star and longtime Democratic donor penned an explosive op-ed calling for a new 2024 nominee in early July 2024.

And multiple outlets have reported that Ricchetti also denied any concerns about Biden’s mental acuity in an off-the-record conversation with an unnamed reporter at an unnamed outlet that almost ran a story shining a light on concerns about Biden’s mental health.

Ricchetti is the seventh ex-Biden aide to speak with investigators in House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer’s probe into whether White House officials covered up signs of Biden’s decline.

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Trump says his Aug 1 tariff deadline ‘will not be extended’ – here are the countries that might not make it

President Donald Trump warned that his August 1 deadline for making a trade deal with the U.S. ‘stands strong’ on Wednesday, threatening several key nations with a big tariff hike.

‘The August first deadline is the August first deadline — it stands strong, and will not be extended. A big day for America!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social, using all-caps.

Here are the major countries that still need to negotiate deals with the U.S.

Canada

Trump sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney threatening a 35% tariff if a deal isn’t struck, but negotiations appear to have stalled.

‘We haven’t really had a lot of luck with Canada. I think Canada could be one where they’ll just pay tariffs. It’s not really a negotiation,’ Trump said of the negotiations with our neighbor to the north on Friday.

Carney himself said on Monday that negotiations have reached an ‘intense phase.’

‘It’s a complex negotiation. You see with the various trade deals that have been agreed to by other jurisdictions — the European Union yesterday, Japan before that, Indonesia, United Kingdom — that there are many elements to these negotiations. We’re engaged in them. But the assurance for Canadian businesses, for Canadians, is we will only sign a deal that’s a good deal, the right deal for Canada,’ he told reporters Monday.

According to the US Trade Representative (USTR), Canada is America’s third-largest importer, totaling $412.7 billion in 2024. The U.S. exported $349.4 billion to Canada in the same year.

Mexico

Trump sent a similar letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum earlier this month, this one threatening a 30% tariff.

No deal has been struck as of Wednesday, however, and neither party has been vocal about where negotiations stand.

Mexico is America’s top source of imports, totaling $506 billion in 2024, according to the USTR. Meanwhile, the U.S. exported $334 billion to the country over the same year.

China

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent negotiated with Chinese officials in Sweden this week and said Tuesday that the talks were ‘very constructive.’

He emphasized to reporters that no final agreement was made, however. Unlike most countries, China is facing an August 12 deadline rather than August 1, giving them somewhat more breathing room for negotiations.

‘Nothing is agreed until we speak with President Trump,’ Bessent told reporters.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News on Monday that the deadline for China could be extended even further than August 12, though that decision will be up to Trump.

South Korea

Trump warned South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in a July 7 letter that the country would face a 25% blanket tariff if a deal isn’t reached by August 1.

Lee’s office said late last week that it was preparing a proposal. Lutnick met with three top Korean officials in Washington this week, though no news has come out of the meeting.

Taiwan

Taiwan has yet to reach a trade deal with the Trump administration, but Taipei has a delegation in Washington hoping to reach one before August 1, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The self-governed island is facing a 32% tariff if it does not secure a deal.

‘All the relevant talks are still ongoing,’ one source familiar with the talks told Reuters, with another saying negotiators were still in the U.S.

‘We hope these negotiations will accomplish four objectives: safeguarding national interests, protecting industrial interests, ensuring public health, and securing food safety. These objectives serve dual purposes: promoting balanced bilateral trade between Taiwan and the U.S., and enhancing cooperation in diverse areas like technology and national security,’ Taiwan’s cabinet said in a statement.

India

Trump appears to have slammed the door shut early on India, announcing on Truth Social that the country will face a 25% tariff across the board beginning August 1.

‘Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country. Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — all things not good!’ Trump wrote.

‘India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25%, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAGA!’ he added.

Brazil

Trump threatened a massive 50% blanket tariff on Brazilian goods in a letter to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva earlier in July.

Trump credited the higher rate to Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who many compared to Trump himself. The U.S. president said Bolsonaro was the victim of a ‘witch hunt.’

Lula’s regime has requested that the U.S. exempt certain industries from the tariffs, but a deal before August 1 appears unlikely.

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Homerun Resources Inc. Appoints Strand Hanson Limited as UK Financial Adviser to Explore Dual Listing on London Stock Exchange

Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) (OTCQB: HMRFF) (‘Homerun’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that Strand Hanson Limited has been appointed as its UK Financial Adviser.

This engagement marks a significant step as Homerun evaluates a potential dual listing on the international commercial companies secondary listing segment of the FCA’s Official List, and admission to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

Strand Hanson Limited is a leading independent financial advisory firm based in London, known for its expertise in corporate finance and capital markets. With a strong track record in advising growth companies, particularly in the natural resources and energy sectors. Their extensive experience in advising international companies on LSE listings brings valuable insight to Homerun’s growth objectives and ambition to increase its global investor base.

Homerun is a vertically integrated materials leader revolutionizing green energy solutions through advanced silica technologies. As an emerging force outside of China for high-purity quartz (HPQ) silica innovation, the Company controls the full industrial vertical from raw material extraction to cutting-edge solar, battery and energy storage solutions.

The decision to pursue a dual listing on the London Stock Exchange supports Homerun’s strategy of expanding its capital markets presence, improving share liquidity, and enhancing visibility with institutional and retail investors worldwide. London, as one of the world’s premier financial centers, offers unparalleled access to international capital and a diverse range of sophisticated investors.

This move will position Homerun to:

  • Broaden its shareholder base beyond North America.
  • Access deeper pools of capital and improve funding flexibility.
  • Enhance the Company’s brand recognition in the UK and European markets.
  • Attract high-caliber institutional investors who are active on the LSE.
  • Offer investors increased trading flexibility, transparency, and regulatory standards associated with London’s Main Market.

Commenting on the partnership, CEO, Brian Leeners, stated: ‘We are excited to welcome Strand Hanson Limited as our UK Financial Adviser. Their proven track record and expertise with London listings will be instrumental as we assess the merits of a dual listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, aligning with our objectives to create greater value for our shareholders.’

About Homerun (www.homerunresources.com)

Homerun (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) is a vertically integrated materials leader revolutionizing green energy solutions through advanced silica technologies. As an emerging force outside of China for high-purity quartz (HPQ) silica innovation, the Company controls the full industrial vertical from raw material extraction to cutting-edge solar, battery and energy storage solutions. Our dual-engine vertical integration strategy combines:

Homerun Advanced Materials

  • Utilizing Homerun’s robust supply of high purity silica sand and quartz silica materials to facilitate domestic and international sales of processed silica through the development of a 120,000 tpy processing plant.

  • Pioneering zero-waste thermoelectric purification and advanced materials processing technologies with University of California – Davis.

Homerun Energy Solutions

  • Building Latin America’s first dedicated high-efficiency, 365,000 tpy solar glass manufacturing facility and pioneering new solar technologies based on years of experience as an industry leader in developing photovoltaic technologies with a specialization in perovskite photovoltaics.

  • European leader in the marketing, distribution and sales of alternative energy solutions into the commercial and industrial segments (B2B).

  • Commercializing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy Management and Control System Solutions (hardware and software) for energy capture, energy storage and efficient energy use.

  • Partnering with U.S. Dept. of Energy/NREL on the development of the Enduring long-duration energy storage system utilizing the Company’s high-purity silica sand for industrial heat and electricity arbitrage and complementary silica purification.

With six profit centers built within the vertical strategy and all gaining economic advantage utilizing the Company’s HPQ silica, across, solar, battery and energy storage solutions, Homerun is positioned to capitalize on high-growth global energy transition markets. The 3-phase development plan has achieved all key milestones in a timely manner, including government partnerships, scalable logistical market access, and breakthrough IP in advanced materials processing and energy solutions.

Homerun maintains an uncompromising commitment to ESG principles, deploying the cleanest and most sustainable production technologies across all operations while benefiting the people in the communities where the Company operates. As we advance revenue generation and vertical integration in 2025, the Company continues to deliver shareholder value through strategic execution within the unstoppable global energy transition.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Homerun Resources Inc.

‘Brian Leeners’

Brian Leeners, CEO & Director
brianleeners@gmail.com / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)

Tyler Muir, Investor Relations
info@homerunresources.com / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp)

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
The information contained herein contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be ‘forward-looking statements’.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260662

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Backlash against Sydney Sweeney ‘jeans/genes’ ad gets mocked by WH: Americans are ‘tired of this bulls—’

A top White House official waded into the Sydney Sweeney-American Eagle advertisement controversy late Tuesday, calling left-wing backlash and claims of a ‘shift toward whiteness’ more ‘cancel culture run amok.’

Steven Cheung, President Donald Trump’s communications director, reposted an MSNBC headline claiming Sweeney’s ad promoted racial superiority in the form of genetic ‘whiteness’ – and wrecked it in a caption.

‘Cancel culture run amok,’ Cheung said.

‘This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024. They’re tired of this bulls—.’

While some TikTokers simply noted the ad’s multiple similarities to a 1980 Calvin Klein ad featuring then-child-model Brooke Shields – others lambasted Sweeney’s version as a sinister nod to eugenics; citing how ‘great genes’ and ‘great jeans’ are homophones.

TikTokkers, compiled by the New York Post, lambasted the ad as ‘Nazi propaganda’ and ‘fascist-weird.’

Activist Zellie Imani, whose X profile includes the phrase ‘All Black Everything,’ called the ad a ‘love letter to White nationalism and eugenic fantasies, and Sydney Sweeney knew it.’

Those types of responses drew their own incredulous comment from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas:

‘Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women — I’m sure that will poll well,’ Cruz said on X.

First son Donald Trump Jr. took to Instagram to troll critics as well.

Trump Jr. posted an artificially-generated image of his father in the ad instead of Sweeney and paraphrased Owen Wilson’s fashion-designer-character catchphrase from the Ben Stiller film ‘Zoolander.’

‘Hanse – Um, Donald is so hot right now,’ Trump Jr. quipped.

Such signaling from the first family and the White House has also led to feelings that the cultural tide is turning in favor of the right for the first time in decades.

Proponents of that view also point to the cancellation of Stephen Colbert and the entire CBS ‘Late Show’ franchise.

American Eagle will reportedly be donating proceeds from such jeans to the national Crisis Text Line to support victims of domestic violence.

The company defended the ad in a statement last week:

ABC features professor linking Sydney Sweeney ad to ‘eugenics movement

‘This fall season, American Eagle is celebrating what makes our brand iconic – trendsetting denim that leads, never follows,’ American Eagle & Aerie president and creative director Jennifer Foyle said.

‘Innovative fits and endless versatility reflect how our community wears their denim: mixed, matched, layered and lived in. With Sydney Sweeney front and center, she brings the allure, and we add the flawless wardrobe for the winning combo of ease, attitude and a little mischief.’

American Eagle CEO Jay Schottenstein and family also have friendly ties with the Trumps, as the Wall Street Journal reported they have been Mar-a-Lago members for years and Schottenstein’s son held his wedding at the Palm Beach compound.

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Biden ‘Politburo’ member Steve Ricchetti appears before House investigators in Comer cover-up probe

Longtime Democratic operative Steve Ricchetti is appearing before House investigators on Wednesday, the seventh former White House aide to be summoned for Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s probe.

Ricchetti most recently served as counselor to President Joe Biden during the vast majority of the Biden White House’s four-year term.

He’s now expected to sit down with House Oversight Committee staff for a closed-door transcribed interview that could last several hours.

Ricchetti said little to reporters on his way inside the room. His lawyer told Fox News Digital to expect a statement after his interview.

‘I’m not gonna say anything on the way in. I’m just gonna go in and- just go in and give an interview,’ Ricchetti told Fox News Channel’s Chad Pergram.

Asked if Biden was ‘up for the job’ of president, Ricchetti said, ‘Of course he was.’

Comer, R-Ky., is investigating whether Biden’s top White House aides concealed signs of mental decline in the president, and if that meant executive actions were signed via autopen without his knowledge.

Ricchetti first began working for Biden in 2012, when he was appointed as counselor to the vice president during the Obama administration. He was soon promoted to Biden’s chief of staff in late 2013.

Ricchetti, who made a living as both a lobbyist and a Democratic insider, chaired Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign as well.

The committee’s interest in him, however, lies in his alleged key role in managing the White House while aides reportedly worked to obscure signs of the president’s mental decline.

‘As Counselor to former President Biden, you served as one of his closest advisors. According to a report, you were part of a group of insiders who implemented a strategy to minimize ‘the president’s age-related struggles,’’ Comer wrote to Ricchetti in June, referencing a Wall Street Journal report.

‘The scope and details of that strategy cannot go without investigation. If White House staff carried out a strategy lasting months or even years to hide the chief executive’s condition—or to perform his duties—Congress may need to consider a legislative response.’

Axios reporter Alex Thompson, who co-wrote ‘Original Sin’ with CNN host Jake Tapper about Biden’s cognitive decline and his aides’ alleged attempts to cover it up, told PBS program Washington Week earlier this year that Ricchetti was part of a small group of insiders that some dubbed Biden’s ‘Politburo.’

He also played a key role in Biden’s legislative agenda, most notably as one of the Democratic negotiators working with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to avoid a full-blown fiscal crisis over the U.S. national debt in early 2023.

It comes after another close former aide, former White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain, appeared before investigators for his own transcribed interview last week.

Like Klain, Ricchetti is appearing on voluntary terms—the fourth former Biden aide to do so.

Three of the previous six Biden administration officials who appeared before the House Oversight Committee did so under subpoena. Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor, as well as former advisers Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, all pleaded the Fifth Amendment during their compulsory sit-downs.

But the three voluntary transcribed interviews that have occurred so far have lasted more than five hours, as staff for both Democrats and Republicans take turns in rounds of questioning.

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Fortune Minerals Announces New Convertible Security Agreement With the Lind Partners

 

  Proceeds to provide working capital & pre-pay government supported work programs  

 

  NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES  

 

 

  Fortune Minerals Limited (TSX: FT,OTC:FTMDF) (OTCQB: FTMDF) (‘ Fortune ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) ( www.fortuneminerals.com ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a new convertible security funding agreement (‘ Funding Agreement ‘) with Lind Global Fund III, LP, an entity managed by The Lind Partners (together, ‘ Lind ‘) pursuant to which the Company has agreed to draw down C$3,155,000 in exchange for the issuance of a convertible security to Lind (the ‘ Convertible Security ‘).

 

The proceeds from the issuance of the Convertible Security will be used for general working capital purposes and to pre-pay and partially match the costs for government supported work programs currently underway for the vertically integrated NICO Cobalt-Gold-Bismuth-Copper Critical Minerals Project (‘ NICO Project ‘) (see news releases dated, May 16, 2024, and December 5, 2023). Fortune is working closely with the Government of Canada, the Government of the United States and the Government of Alberta to expand North American critical minerals production and enhance domestic supply chain resilience and security. The Company has been awarded ~C$17 million of non-dilutive contribution funding from the U.S. Department of Defense through its Defense Production Act Title III program, Natural Resources Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative and Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration programs, and Alberta Innovates Clean Resource Intake program. These funds are helping advance the NICO Project toward a construction decision and provide a reliable North American supply of cobalt sulphate, gold doré, bismuth ingots, and copper cement enhancing domestic supply chains for three Critical Minerals with a highly liquid and countercyclical gold co-product to mitigate metal price volatility.

 

The Convertible Security will have a two-year term, with a face value (‘ Face Value ‘) of C$3,774,000 and is secured by a lien against the Company’s mining assets. Lind will be entitled to incrementally convert the Face Value amount of the Convertible Security over a 24-month period, subject to certain limits, at a conversion price equal to 85% of the five-day trailing volume weighted average price (‘ VWAP ‘) of Fortune’s common shares (‘ Common Shares ‘) prior to the date of conversion. Commencing 60 days following the date on which Lind advances the funds pursuant to the Convertible Security to the Company, Fortune will have the right to repurchase the Convertible Security, subject to Lind’s option to convert up to one third of the Face Value into Common Shares prior to such repurchase at a conversion price equal to 85% of the 5-day VWAP. Lind will also receive a closing fee of C$120,000 and 15,641,293 Common Share purchase warrants exercisable at an exercise price of $0.1141 per Common Share for 60 months from the date of closing.

 

The Toronto Stock Exchange (the ‘ TSX ‘) has provided conditional approval in respect of the issuance of the Convertible Security.

 

  This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities will not be and have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements.  

 

  About The Lind Partners:  
The Lind Partners manages institutional funds that are leaders in providing growth capital to small- and mid-cap companies publicly traded in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. Lind’s multi-strategy funds make direct investments ranging from US$1 to US$30 million, invest in syndicated equity placements and selectively buy on market. Having completed more than 200 direct investments totaling over US$2 billion in transaction value, Lind’s funds have been flexible and supportive capital partners to investee companies since 2011.

 

  About Fortune Minerals:  
Fortune is a Canadian mining company focused on developing the vertically integrated NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper critical minerals project in Canada. The NICO project is a development stage asset consisting of a planned mine and concentrator in the Northwest Territories and a dedicated hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association north of Edmonton. Fortune also owns the Sue-Dianne copper-silver-gold satellite deposit located 25 km north of the NICO deposit and is a potential future source of incremental mill feed to extend the life of the NICO mill and concentrator.

 

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  This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. This forward-looking information includes statements with respect to, among other things, issuance of the Convertible Security pursuant to the Funding Agreement, and the Company’s plans to develop the NICO Project. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management as well as certain assumptions at the date the information is given (including, in respect of the forward-looking information contained in this press release, assumptions regarding: final approval by the TSX in respect of the Funding Agreement and related matters; the Company’s ability to complete construction of a NICO Project refinery; the Company’s ability to arrange the necessary financing to continue operations and develop the NICO Project; the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals for the construction and operation of the NICO Project, including the planned NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper mine and concentrator and the timing thereof; growth in the demand for cobalt; the time required to construct the NICO Project; and the economic environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of gold, cobalt and other by-product metals, anticipated costs and the volumes of metals to be produced at the NICO Project). However, such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. These factors include the risks that the TSX may not provide final approval in respect of the Funding Agreement and related matters, that global geopolitical situations may interfere with the Company’s ability to continue development of the NICO Project, the Company may not be able to finance and develop NICO on favourable terms or at all, uncertainties with respect to the receipt or timing of required permits, approvals and agreements for the development of the NICO Project, including the related hydrometallurgical refinery, the construction of the NICO Project may take longer than anticipated, the Company may not be able to secure offtake agreements for the metals to be produced at the NICO Project, the Sue-Dianne Property may not be developed to the point where it can provide mill feed to the NICO Project, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties and in the mining industry in general, the market for products that use cobalt or bismuth may not grow to the extent anticipated, the future supply of cobalt and bismuth may not be as limited as anticipated, the risk of decreases in the market prices of cobalt, bismuth and other metals to be produced by the NICO Project, discrepancies between actual and estimated Mineral Resources or between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries, uncertainties associated with estimating Mineral Resources and Reserves and the risk that even if such Mineral Resources prove accurate the risk that such Mineral Resources may not be converted into Mineral Reserves once economic conditions are applied, the Company’s production of cobalt, bismuth and other metals may be less than anticipated and other operational and development risks, market risks and regulatory risks. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by the Company. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise it to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.  

 

  

 

  View source version on businesswire.com:    https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250730234914/en/   

 

  Fortune Minerals Limited  
Troy Nazarewicz
Investor Relations Manager
info@fortuneminerals.com  
Tel: (519) 858-8188
www.fortuneminerals.com  

 

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LaFleur Minerals Engages Advisors for Strategic Beacon Gold Mill Restart Debt Financing and Announces LIFE and Charity Flow-Through Unit Offerings

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) (‘LaFleur Minerals’ or the ‘Company’ or ‘Issuer’) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm’s length engagement agreement (the ‘Agreement’) dated July 25, 2025, with FMI Securities Inc. (‘FMIS’), an Ontario-registered Exempt Market Dealer, and FM Global Markets Inc. (‘FMGM’), a FINRA-registered U.S. dealer (together with FMIS, the ‘Agents’). Under the Agreement, the Agents will act as exclusive corporate finance advisors and placement agents on a best-efforts basis to LaFleur Minerals for a proposed secured debt financing of up to CAD $5,000,000 (the ‘Debt Financing’) for the purpose of restarting gold production at the Beacon Gold Mill, located in Val d’Or, Quebec, Canada.

The proposed Debt Financing is intended to support the advancement of the Company’s restart and commissioning of its 100%-owned Beacon Gold Mill in Val-d’Or, Québec. The term of the engagement is 180 days and may be terminated earlier by either party with written notice. The Company confirms that no securities have been issued or will be issued to the Agents in connection with the Agreement or the provision of the Agent’s services thereunder. As compensation for their services, the Agents will receive a non-refundable work fee of CAD $25,000 payable in cash upon signing of the agreement and will receive a 4% cash commission on gross proceeds raised from lenders introduced by the Agents and a 2% reduced cash commission for closings involving pre-approved parties on the Company’s exclusion list. A break fee of CAD $50,000 payable in cash is due if a secured debt financing is completed without the Agents during the agreement term.

NON-BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF LIFE AND CHARITY FLOW-THROUGH UNITS

LIFE Offering

The Company also announces a non-brokered private placement offering of up to 6,000,000 units of the Company (the ‘Units‘) at a price of $0.48 per Unit gross proceeds of up to $2,880,000 (the ‘LIFE Offering‘). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a ‘Common Share‘) and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (a ‘Warrant‘) granting the holder the right to purchase one (1) additional Common Share of the Company (a ‘Warrant Share‘) at a price of $0.75 at any time on or before 24 months from the Closing Date (defined below). The Warrants will be subject to an accelerated expiry upon thirty (30) business days’ notice from the Company in the event the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE‘) is equal to or above a price of $0.90 for fourteen (14) consecutive trading days any time after closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds from the LIFE Offering will be used for the advancement of exploration initiatives at the Company’s Swanson Gold Project and for operational purposes at the Beacon Gold Mill, in addition to working capital and general corporate expenses.

The Units will be offered for sale pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by CSA Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, to purchasers resident in Canada, excluding Quebec, and other qualifying jurisdictions.

The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. There is an offering document (the ‘Offering Document‘) related to the LIFE Offering that can be accessed under the Issuer’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at the Company’s website at www.lafleurminerals.com. Prospective investors should read this Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The Company has also agreed to pay qualified finders and brokers a cash commission of 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the LIFE Offering and such number of broker warrants (the ‘Broker Warrants‘) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of Units sold under the LIFE Offering. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date.

Charity Flow-Through (FT) Offering

The Company also intends to offer up to 3,750,000 charity flow-through units of the Company (the ‘Charity FT Units‘) at a price of $0.69 per Charity FT Unit for gross proceeds of up to $2,587,500 (the ‘Charity FT Offering‘). Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one (1) Common Share to be issued as a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Québec) (each, a ‘Charity FT Share‘) and one (1) Warrant which shall have the same terms as the Warrants included in the Units to be issued in the LIFE Offering.

The gross proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Charity FT Units will be used on the Company’s Swanson Gold Project to incur ‘Canadian Exploration Expenses’ as such term is defined under subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and will qualify as ‘flow-through mining expenditures’ as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or would so qualify if the references to ‘before 2026’ in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘flow-through mining expenditure’ in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act were read as ‘before 2027’ and the references in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that definition to ‘before April 2025’ were read as ‘before April 2026’). The qualifying expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2026, and will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2025, in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issuance of the Charity FT Shares.

All securities issued in connection with the Charity FT Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The closing of the LIFE Offering and Charity FT Offering is expected to occur on or about August 15, 2025 (the ‘Closing Date‘), or such other earlier or later date as the Company may determine.

This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. ‘United States’ and ‘U.S. person’ are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

About LaFleur Minerals Inc.

LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) is focused on the development of district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt near Val-d’Or, Québec. Our mission is to advance mining projects with a laser focus on our resource-stage Swanson Gold Deposit and the Beacon Gold Mill, which have significant potential to deliver long-term value. The Swanson Gold Project is approximately 18,304 hectares (183 km2) in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines, and Globex Mining. LaFleur has recently consolidated a large land package along a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold deposits and several other showings which make up the Swanson Gold Project. The Swanson Gold Project is easily accessible by road allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills, further enhancing its development potential. Lafleur Mineral’s fully refurbished and permitted Beacon Gold Mill is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for processing mineralized material at Swanson and for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF LaFleur Minerals INC.

Paul Ténière, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer
E: info@lafleurminerals.com
LaFleur Minerals Inc.
1500-1055 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4N7

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding ‘Forward-Looking’ Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements related to the closing of the LIFE Offering and the Charity FT Offering, and the anticipated use of proceeds from the LIFE Offering and the Charity FT Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260636

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