Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has spent years hammering President Trump and his Justice Department (DOJ) over their handling of Jeffrey Epstein records, accusing them of trying to sweep evidence under the rug and even teasing that his "follow the money" work "ties back to Donald Trump." 

However, emails reviewed by Fox News Digital in the DOJ "Epstein files" show Wyden’s own family connection – an April 2016 appointment at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion between his son Adam and the disgraced financier. 

An email chain from late April 2016, after it was already public that Epstein was a convicted child sex offender and was accused of operating an under-age "sex slave" ring, shows Adam Wyden sought investment backing from Epstein during a meeting at Epstein's home in Manhattan where Epstein allegedly engaged in some of his criminal activity. The senator's son founded his own private investment fund, ADW Capital, in 2010.

"Jeffrey, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and hope my passion and dedication for my business came through in the meeting. I live and breathe this business and take my returns, integrity, and reputation quite seriously. And, I believe I have the mental fortitude and energy to stick through the tough times and drive value when others are fatigued," the younger Wyden said in an email in April 2016 to Epstein. "I intensely appreciate like minded individuals and would very much look forward to having you join us at the fund."

CHILD SAFETY NONPROFIT FOUNDED BY TOM STEYER'S BROTHER HAS MULTIPLE EPSTEIN TIES: ‘NO CONCERNS’

Other emails inside the tranche of Epstein documents released by the DOJ show Epstein and the younger Wyden communicating about a time and location for the meeting. Meanwhile, another document appearing to be a ledger of Epstein's daily engagements and activities on April 28, 2016, marks the meeting as taking place at 10:00 a.m. that day.

The same scheduling document also describes the young Wyden, in parentheses, as "Jonathon Farkas' friend." Farkas appears to refer to the husband of President Trump’s ambassador to Malta and the brother of Andrew Farkas, who had a "profound friendship" and business ties with Epstein, according to the New York Times. 

"I don’t speak to my kids about their business activities, and I read about this a few months ago on social media just like everybody else," Sen. Wyden said in a statement to Fox News Digital when reached for comment. "My investigation began four years ago and continues unchanged. I want transparency and accountability across the board."

WATCH: HILLARY CLINTON STORMS OUT OF EPSTEIN DEPOSITION AFTER HOUSE LAWMAKER LEAKS PHOTO FROM INSIDE

Adam did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment in time for publication. 

Wyden has repeatedly hammered the Trump administration over access to Epstein-related records and has argued his "follow the money" investigation "ties back to Donald Trump."

"One of the most important questions that comes out of this is why were America's leading banks – a number of them – basically sleepwalking throughout this whole Epstein matter," Wyden said in a video chronicling his probe into the Epstein scandal as the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. "They should have been watchdogging this. They should have brought to law enforcement what they believed was going on." 

Wyden also touted his plans to author a bill that would hold banks accountable in the future if they turn a blind eye to such illegal activity.

At the time of the April 2016 meeting between Epstein and the senator's son, Epstein was already a convicted sex offender who had pleaded guilty in Florida to sexually abusing a minor, and the Palm Beach investigation that led to Epstein's plea had identified dozens of possible Epstein victims, many of which were reportedly minors. 

President Donald Trump paused planned U.S. strikes on Iran just hours before a self-imposed deadline, citing diplomatic progress that Tehran immediately denied, even as U.S. forces continued moving into position, a split signal that leaves the next move uncertain.

The move creates a narrow five-day window in which the administration is signaling diplomacy while preserving the ability to strike, raising the stakes for whether talks materialize — or whether the delay simply sets up near-term escalation.

The abrupt shift follows a weekend ultimatum in which Trump warned the U.S. would begin targeting Iran’s power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened, a threat that rattled global oil markets and heightened fears of imminent conflict.

By Monday morning, however, Trump announced a five-day delay, pointing to what he described as "very good and productive conversations" tied to a broader framework that includes nuclear disarmament.

TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST ENVOY REVEALS WHAT LED TO BREAKDOWN IN IRAN TALKS BEFORE OPERATION EPIC FURY

The rapid shift from ultimatum to pause in less than 48 hours resets the clock, opening a five-day window for diplomacy before a decision on strikes.

The whiplash shift, from strike threat to sudden pause, adds to the uncertainty around Washington’s next move.

The White House and the Iranian mission to the United Nations could not immediately be reached for comment.

Iranian officials quickly rejected the claim that negotiations were underway, dismissing Trump’s comments as "psychological warfare" and accusing Washington of using the appearance of diplomacy to buy time.

Even as the White House points to diplomacy, the Pentagon has continued to expand its military footprint in the region.

In recent days, thousands of U.S. Marines have been deployed aboard amphibious warships, adding rapid-strike and ground-operation capabilities near Iran, with additional naval assets positioned to support escalation if ordered.

The posture suggests the United States is maintaining, and in some cases increasing, its readiness to act, even as Trump signals a potential opening for negotiations.

TRUMP DELAYS XI MEETING AS IRAN CONFLICT LETS US STRONG-ARM CHINA’S OIL SUPPLY

Iranian officials argue the two tracks are linked.

Tehran has accused Washington of using talk of diplomacy to influence oil markets and buy time for military repositioning, deepening uncertainty over whether the pause reflects a genuine diplomatic opening or a temporary delay before further action.

The dual-track approach is also being echoed by key U.S. allies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Trump sees "an opportunity to leverage the substantial achievements" of recent military operations to advance war objectives through a potential agreement.

"At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon," Netanyahu said.

Some analysts say the approach reflects a strategy of applying military pressure while testing whether diplomacy produces concessions.

"I think that there’s definitely a method to the president’s decision-making here," Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, told Fox News Digital. 

"He is testing to see what concessions the Iranian regime would be prepared to make," Brodsky said. "The president can be testing diplomacy. The president can also be buying time. … All these things can be true at the same time. It’s not either-or." 

Still, Brodsky expressed skepticism that the current moment will produce a breakthrough. 

"I remain skeptical that we’re anywhere near a point where the Iranian regime will make significant concessions," he said.

With the five-day window now underway, attention is shifting to what comes next.

If negotiations fail to materialize, the administration could move forward with the strikes it has already threatened or escalate to a ground operation — with forces now in position to carry them out. If talks do take shape, the pause could mark the start of a broader diplomatic effort.

A central unresolved issue is Iran’s nuclear stockpile, which Trump and Israeli officials have signaled remains a key objective of the operation. Securing or neutralizing highly enriched uranium could prove critical in determining whether the conflict moves toward a diplomatic resolution or further military action.

In the coming days, key indicators will include whether any indirect talks emerge through intermediaries, whether U.S. force posture continues to expand, and whether Iran takes steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or signals willingness to negotiate.

An Air Canada Express regional jet struck a Port Authority vehicle on the ground after landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, killing two people and forcing the airport to close.

The CRJ-900 plane, which was arriving from Montreal, struck the vehicle at about 24 miles per hour shortly before midnight, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Two pilots were killed in the incident, Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said at a news briefing. More than 40 passengers, crew members and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) officers were transported to the hospital, she said. 

"At this time, we understand that 32 have been released, but there are also serious injuries," Garcia said. "Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased and notifications are being made by Air Canada's care team at this time." 

DEAD PASSENGER ALLEGEDLY STORED IN HEATED GALLEY FOR 13 HOURS ON BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT, 'FOUL SMELL’ REPORTED

The jet was operated by Jazz Aviation, Air Canada's regional partner. Air Canada and Jazz Aviation confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital.

"Flight 8646 was en route to LGA from Montréal (YUL)," Jazz Aviation said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The preliminary passenger list indicates the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members, although this is subject to confirmation. The incident occurred at approximately 11:47PM on March 22, 2026."

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all planes at the airport, saying there was an emergency without offering specific details. The airport is expected to be closed until 2 p.m. Monday, the FAA said. 

LaGuardia's website showed arriving planes had been diverted to other airports or returned to where they took off from.

The Port Authority confirmed that the jet collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle.

"At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident," a Port Authority spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Emergency response protocols were immediately activated," the statement continued. "The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director. The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation."

The spokesperson added: "This is a developing situation based on preliminary information. The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities, and will provide additional updates as more details become available."

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy's office also confirmed to Fox News Digital that the flight crashed with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport after the plane landed late Sunday night and that the flight included four crew members — the captain, first officer and two flight attendants.

The New York Fire Department said in a statement that it was responding to an incident involving a plane and a vehicle on the runway at LaGuardia Airport, although it did not provide additional details.

The New York City Police Department confirmed the collision but did not offer further information.

Multiple videos taken at the scene showed the jet with severe damage to the front of the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is "launching a go team to investigate the March 22 Jazz Aviation, Air Canada Express Flight 8646, CRJ900, airplane that collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York."

Fox News Digital reached out to the FAA, NTSB and LaGuardia Airport for additional information.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management said travelers should expect road closures, traffic delays and cancellations near the airport.  

SOUTHWEST FLIGHT DIVERTED AFTER PASSENGER SCARE AS SECURITY INCIDENTS RATTLE US AIRPORTS

Air Canada said it was setting up a phone line for loved ones of the passengers to call for assistance. The number is: 1-800-961-7099.

The incident came amid weekslong turmoil at airports across the country amid a funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security, which has caused long lines and left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees working without being paid for more than a month. 

Some TSA workers have quit and security lines at many airports left travelers waiting for hours. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are slated to deploy to airports Monday to help the TSA. 

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Over a century ago, Britain was seen as the place to be. It pioneered science, including medicine. It built industries such as railroads, major bridges and created a strong middle class. And despite what some would say, it was the only major empire that abolished slavery and policed the oceans, at its own considerable expense, to make sure other countries didn’t enslave people. And it had the largest Navy in the World. Now, many say that all seems like a distant memory.

The latest controversy involves images or statues of some of the United Kingdom’s most lauded people. The face of Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during WWII, is being removed from the five-pound note by the Bank of England. The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the decision "absolutely crackers," noting the proposal was to replace Churchill and others with a picture of a beaver. 

STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS UK OVER GROOMING GANG HANDLING: 'UNSPEAKABLE ABUSE'

Churchill’s statue in Westminster was vandalized in 2020 and again last month. Churchill led the defense of Britain, which was the only country in Europe that didn’t fall during WWII. 

"Decades of woke education policy have taught people to deny and decry the history of this country as it is deemed to be oppressive, racist and unfair," Alan Mendoza, founder and executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital. He says the teaching labor unions controlled by the hard left have enforced their agenda on generations of pupils. "It is no surprise, therefore, that at least some of their victims have imbibed this philosophy and are acting on it."

Statues of British people who lived centuries ago have been targeted to be pulled down and then destroyed. Some of these efforts have been successful. Some have not. William Gladstone, Robert Peel, James Cook, and Francis Drake were targeted for destruction by activists, according to Sky News. These men were, respectively, a reformist prime minister, the founder of the police force, a naval explorer and a privateer. Luckily, their statues remain largely intact.

Now William Shakespeare is under attack. Apparently, being white is a bad thing, and some say the Bard was really a black woman. The activist summary is that Shakespeare might be used to advocate white nationalism.

These attempts to erase high-achieving Brits from history might appear trivial, Matt Goodwin, a GB News Presenter, wrote on X. "It matters far more than many people realize," he wrote. "Across the Western World, an assortment of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion [DEI] bureaucrats, radical activists, and increasingly compliant public institutions are engaged in a cultural project that seeks to delegitimize our national."

It’s not just statues and images that have been targeted. Flying your own country’s flag can get you in trouble. Left-wingers in Britain, such as Labour Party supporters, often view the flying of the United Kingdom’s Union Flag, or England’s George Cross, as racist or anti-immigration.

FORMER UK PM DEFENDS TRUMP FOR HIGHLIGHTING 'SHARIA LAW' IN BRITAIN DURING UN SPEECH

"So strong has become the voice of DEI and immigrants that any sign of a proud U.K. gets denounced," Ben Habib, founder of the Advance UK political party, told Fox News Digital. "DEI cannot bear strong nations - it wants them set aside so minorities feel at "home". 

Habib also notes there’s an added complication with the Union and St. George's flags - they both represent Christian Saints. "That is offensive to the growing numbers practicing foreign religions in the U.K.," he told Fox News Digital.

Much of this flag-hating began following the invasion of Israel by Hamas, an Iran-backed terrorist organization. The U.K. then witnessed a surge in Palestinian flags flying on public buildings. This upset more than a few British patriots, who then stepped out with the British flags. "We need to start cohering around national stories and symbols, and the flag is the most visual way of doing that," says Colin Brazier, a British culture commentator had previously told Fox News Digital.

Planning authorities, usually the local U.K. councils, do not need to grant permission for people to fly either the Union Flag or the George Cross. Other flags are seen as an advertisement. However, spray-painting a George Cross on a building that’s not yours is not allowed.

Despite the George Cross being seen as anti-immigrant in the U.K., the historical St. George, who died approximately 1700 years ago, is mentioned in the Koran as a friend of Moses. And some religious scholars suggest he is a servant of God.

At the same time, Britain’s economy has slowed to a near total stop under the present center-left Starmer government. The unemployment rate increased to 5.4% in December, up from 3.6% in August 2022, according to data from Trading Economics. The country’s GDP growth has been stuck at 1% or less since the first quarter of 2022. 

Part of the rush to take up flags may be the disastrous economy in Britain. One outstanding, poorly thought-through government policy came from the Labour Party, which mandated an increase in National Insurance contributions (the U.S. equivalent to FICA) by corporations, undermining any chance of increasing employment, as the jump in costs effectively acted as a tax on employment.

Fox News Digital's Michael Saunders contributed to this report.

Five years after a Maryland family lost their cat, Artemis is back in their lives.

Melissa and Brooke Garci did everything they could to find Artemis, who is an indoor/outdoor cat, after she went missing in 2021, WJZ-TV reported.

Melissa Garci told the news station she canvassed the neighborhood with flyers but to no avail.

Fast-forward five years to when a woman brought in a cat to the Humane Society of Harford County that she said she found in her unfinished basement.

AI PHOTO MATCH REUNITES TEXAS WOMAN WITH LOST CAT AFTER 103 DAYS

"Artemis was brought into our shelter by a caring community member," the Humane Society said in a post on Facebook.

The nonprofit said they scan every animal brought in for a microchip as part of standard protocol and found one on the wayward feline.

"We traced her chip with the manufacturer and called the owner. Her owner picked up the phone and was speechless. Artemis had been missing for 5 years!!" the Humane Society wrote, adding, "Tears were shed over this sweet reunion. We are so happy to have brought this family back together again!"

Erin Long of the Humane Society told WJZ: "This woman answered, 'Hello?' And we said we have your cat, and she was unbelieving. And she said, 'Are you sure? My cat has been missing for five years.’"

Brooke Garci told the station she felt like she couldn’t even cry yet when she saw Artemis again, "because I was in disbelief, but when I saw her, I was like, 'Omg, she looks exactly the same.’"

"Her instincts are strong," Brooke added.

Long said when Artemis first left her kennel she walked over to the Garcis and got on both of their laps.

"It was a beautiful thing," she said.

Democratic leaders say they don’t oppose voter ID laws, but they blocked a bill to impose a nationwide requirement Thursday.

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, attempted to pass a standalone voter ID bill through unanimous consent Thursday night, but Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., blocked the measure on the Senate floor. 

"I’ve heard my Democratic colleagues say that they don’t oppose photo ID laws," Husted said during a floor debate. "I heard Senator Schumer say, ‘Our objection as Democrats is not to photo ID. I heard Senator Fetterman say he supports a photo ID law."

"If I could quote him, ‘If the GOP wants real reform over a show vote, put out a clean standalone bill and I’m in aye," Husted continued, referring to a social media post Fetterman released Tuesday. "Well, that’s what I’m doing tonight."

THUNE ACCUSES CRITICS OF 'CREATING FALSE EXPECTATIONS' AMID BACKLASH OVER STALLED SAVE AMERICA ACT

The measure would have enacted a nationwide voter ID requirement, though 36 states already have similar rules on the books. The Ohio Republican said citizens could use a state-issued driver’s license, a U.S. passport or valid military or tribal ID to meet the requirement.

Husted, who is running for a full six-year term in November, slammed Democrats’ opposition to the voter ID measure in a brief interview with Fox News Digital on Friday.

"So apparently they would like people to believe that they’re for photo ID, but when it comes down to it, they didn’t appear to be," the Ohio Republican said.

Husted’s voter ID gambit came as the Senate is currently in the midst of a multi-day floor fight over the SAVE America Act, a Trump-backed elections bill aimed at preventing noncitizens from voting.

The marathon debate schedule is a move by Republicans to pin blame on Schumer and Democrats for blocking the bill. 

But it’s not the same floor takeover, called a talking filibuster, that President Donald Trump, a cohort of conservatives in the Senate GOP and a fervent right-wing social media campaign have pressed for the conference to pursue.

That’s because not enough Senate Republicans supported the move, which would require a near-unified front to successfully execute. And without Democratic support, the bill is doomed to fail at the end of the floor fight.

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: TRUMP'S SAVE ACT ULTIMATUM RUNS INTO SENATE REALITY

A Fox News poll released in September 2025 found that 84% of registered voters said photo ID should be required to prove citizenship before voting.

Still, Democrats could move to filibuster a standalone voter ID bill if Republicans were to hold an up-or-down vote on the measure over the coming days.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who notably opposes the SAVE America Act over provisions that would restrict mail-in ballots, has called on the Senate to pass a standalone voter ID bill. 

"Stop turning this into a Christmas list and attacking vote-by-mail," Fetterman wrote Tuesday. "If GOP wants real reform over a show vote––put out a clean, standalone bill and I’m AYE."

One of the core components of the SAVE America Act is providing proof of citizenship to register to vote, something Democrats have pushed back against more fiercely than the voter ID provision.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who is leading the SAVE America Act in the Senate, questioned why Democrats would say they want one without the other. 

"I’d love to hear their reasoning, why they would support voter ID but not proof of citizenship," Lee told Fox News Digital.

A criminal case tied to the 2020 Austin, Texas, George Floyd riots is erupting into a broader controversy, with prominent law enforcement groups calling for the Soros-backed district attorney to resign over accusations of misconduct, political coordination, and withholding key evidence.

Attorneys for Austin Police Department officer Chance Bretches filed a motion in Travis County district court to dismiss the case against him, alleging prosecutors in DA Jose Garza’s office violated the officer’s constitutional rights and compromised the integrity of the case by not disclosing alleged behind-the-scenes communications with Austin officials about potentially holding the city or police leadership criminally responsible for harming injured protesters. 

Bretches is facing charges of aggravated assault by a public servant after being deployed as part of a crowd-control response during the 2020 riot, where officers worked to disperse demonstrators and restore order in downtown Austin. His attorneys argue he relied on department-issued "less-lethal" beanbag rounds that were later called into question, contending the equipment itself was defective and contributed to the injuries at issue.

The alleged "secret meetings" with Austin officials about the city being responsible for the defective beanbag rounds that caused more harm than they were designed for, Bretches’s attorney says, were something the prosecution was "required to give us" because it showed the belief and possibility the city had "criminal culpability" in the case.

TRAVIS COUNTY DA FACES RENEWED ‘SOFT ON CRIME’ CRITICISM AFTER CAREER CRIMINAL CHARGED WITH MURDER

The motion bases its claim of "secret meetings" on two sworn declarations: one from a former Austin city manager, who says he personally met multiple times with Garza and prosecutors in 2023 to discuss potential charges against the city, and another from a former city council member, who says she was aware of internal communications indicating the DA’s office was considering such charge.

"Prosecutors can hold meetings with anybody, there’s nothing illegal about that," Bretches’ attorney Doug O’Connell told Fox News Digital. "The problem in this case is the district attorney felt he had enough evidence to indict the city as a corporate entity, which would make the city an alternative suspect or an unindicted co-defendant."

O’Connell argues that Garza triggered disclosure obligations under Brady v. Maryland, which requires prosecutors to turn over potentially exculpatory evidence to the defense.

"If you follow that logic, then the basis of his indictment of the city, which never materialized, is, in fact, Brady," O’Connell said. "Even if he thought he had enough evidence and later determined he didn’t, it’s still Brady. It’s a violation of the Michael Morton Act, a violation of the court’s order, and the defendant’s constitutional rights."

SOROS-BACKED 'ANTI-POLICE' DA SPARKS OUTRAGE AFTER SHOWING UP TO FALLEN OFFICER FUNERAL: 'SLAP IN THE FACE'

The Michael Morton Act, a Texas law enacted after a wrongful conviction case, requires prosecutors to turn over most evidence in their possession to the defense, including information that could be favorable to the accused.

O’Connell says that the law mandates that "exculpatory mitigating evidence" must be given to the defense.

"It's clear they didn't turn over the evidence of why they felt they could indict the city and the city was legitimately scared about this enough that the city went out and hired their own criminal defense attorney," O’Connell said. "So one of two things is true, either he had the evidence and he didn't produce it to us, or he didn’t have any basis to indict the city, and he was just threatening them, and that would be official oppression anyway."

Two of the most recognized police organizations in the area, Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) and the Austin Police Retired Officers Association (APROA), reacted to the motion by calling on Garza, who has long been accused of harboring animosity toward police, to resign from his role as the county’s top prosecutor.

"It's kind of the final straw, everything that's been going on with the continuing political prosecutions of Austin police officers who are out simply doing their job and doing the job the way that we're trained to do their job," Farris told Fox News Digital about the APROA’s official letter calling for Garza to step down, the first time they have done so despite intense criticism of Garza over the years.

Garza has faced public blowback from his critics for years over his treatment of police officers and from families of crime victims who have spoken out against what they view as a lack of willingness to put criminal offenders behind bars. 

"His focus has been on the cops and now we're finding out that he did some shady stuff and it's time for him to go," Farris said.

After winning an election following a campaign, backed by liberal megadonor George Soros, that pledged to prosecute police officers, Garza indicted over 20 police officers, including Bretches, for their role in quelling the Black Lives Matter riot. Garza has attempted to prosecute multiple other officers on deadly force-related charges with only one successful conviction that was later overturned. 

"There can be no worse violation of the oath taken by a District Attorney than to intentionally deny a defendant a fair trial," Robert Leonard, CLEAT executive director, said about the motion. "It is a direct violation of their Constitutional rights."

Additionally, O’Connell filed a motion requesting a court of inquiry calling on a district judge to investigate if Garza committed a crime through his actions.

O’Connell described the move as utilizing an "obscure provision in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure that allows a district court judge to hold a hearing to determine if the law has been violated."

"In this case, it would be a hearing to determine if the elected DA and top lieutenants committed an offense of official oppression and tampering with evidence by not producing the mitigating or exculpatory evidence in this case."

While some in local media have cast doubt on the likelihood of the motion being successful, O’Connell says he is optimistic that he will be granted a hearing on his motion, possibly on a previously scheduled court date on April 7. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Garza’s office for comment. 

"We are not going to litigate this case in the press," Garza’s office said in a statement this week to local media vowing to carry on with their case. 

"We remain ready to try this case and expect to start the trial in June as previously agreed with the defense. Justice delayed is justice denied, and four years is too long to wait. It is time for the community to weigh in on whether they believe that the defendant's actions violated the law."