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'We just tell the truth': VP Harris' longtime mentor repeatedly defended controversial Obama pastor
Vice President Kamala Harris’ pastor and longtime mentor repeatedly defended former President Obama’s controversial pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, when his past sermons sparked a firestorm of controversy during the 2008 presidential campaign, a Fox News Digital review found.
Rev. Amos Brown, the longtime minister of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church, and Wright were reportedly “friends” and attended the same graduate ministry school together in Dayton, Ohio, according to a March 2008 San Francisco Chronicle article profiling Brown’s sermon. The article went on to say Brown even has a photo of Wright in his church office.
“On Sunday, he told a packed church that the criticisms being hurled at Obama for his close ties to Wright are part of a conspiracy aimed at damaging the candidate on the issue of religion because there’s not another negative issue out there that has tarnished his reputation,” the article said.
“What you are seeing happening to Barack Obama was hatched, crafted and developed a year ago when you were sleeping,” Brown reportedly said during the sermon. “This kind of nonsense does not just happen.”
‘VOICE OF LEADERSHIP’: HARRIS HAS REPEATEDLY PRAISED HER PASTOR WHO BLAMED AMERICA FOR 9/11
Vice President Kamala Harris’ pastor, Amos Brown, right, has deep ties to former President Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright.
Brown, who said he has known Harris and her family for more than two decades and was one of Harris’ guests to attend her inauguration in 2021, could be a major liability for her campaign as his past sermons and ties to Wright start to surface. Harris previously praised Brown for being “on this journey with me every step of the way.”
In an April 2008 op-ed for SFGate, Brown defended Wright and claimed that the soundbites from Wright’s previous sermons were being “mischaracterize[d]” by the media. He responded to the San Francisco Chronicle piece by saying the reporter characterized his and Wright’s style of preaching as similar, but Brown rejected the description of their tone as “fiery.”
“As regards to Wright’s and my style of preaching; we are not angry; we are not inflammatory; we just tell the truth with passion and enthusiasm,” Brown said. “And we will not be silent when persons mischaracterize our witness as anger.”
“If White preachers – Billy Graham, Pat Robinson, Jerry Falwell and others – can exercise their freedoms, and sometimes say the wrong things – as the facts document – we should be able to say the right things on the behalf of social justice and peace, and not be demonized by detractors,” he added.
Wright previously blamed Jews in 2009 for keeping him from talking with Obama after he won the White House. He has also made a number of other inflammatory remarks, including when he said after 9/11 that “America’s chickens are coming home to roost.”
Obama would go on to distance himself from Wright during the 2008 campaign, saying he was “outraged” and “saddened” by Wright’s words and resigned his membership at the church in May 2008.
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Former President Obama, left, and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. (AP)
The following year, months after Obama was sworn in as president, Wright was invited by Brown to speak at his church, where Brown has been the pastor since 1976. Wright was reportedly “one of several featured speakers as part of a celebration of the church’s 33rd anniversary under Brown’s leadership” and gave a “half-hour, high-energy sermon, sprinkled with spontaneous songs, jokes and impersonations.”
Brown, who previously broadcast an entire Wright sermon before his congregation during the presidential campaign in an attempt to prove Wright was being taken out of context, defended Wright’s participation in his church’s anniversary event honoring him, saying, “That is part of the spiritual DNA of this church, to lend clarity and context to important public policy issues.”
In addition to the 2009 visit, Wright visited Brown’s church at least two other times, in 2010 and 2012.
In September 2010, Wright visited multiple churches between Oakland and San Francisco, including Brown’s Third Baptist Church.
In December 2012, Brown posted on his Facebook that “in the wake of last week’s atrocious tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut,” his church would be doing a service focused on peace and ending violence in America.
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“The entire Bay area community is invited to join in this worship experience which will feature President Obama’s former pastor, Dr. Jeremiah Wright, D.Min, Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Methodist Church, Chicago, Illinois, as the guest preacher,” the Facebook post said. “Other special guests include legendary actor and activist Danny Glover.”
Harris has repeatedly praised Brown, who previously sparked his own controversy by blaming America for 9/11 days after the terrorist attacks during a memorial service, and has given him multiple shoutouts during speeches as the vice president.
“I just want to, if you don’t mind for a moment, take a moment of personal privilege to talk about Dr. Brown. He has been on this journey with me every step of the way, from when I first thought about running for public office almost two decades ago,” Harris said in 2022 during the NAACP National Convention. “And he has been such a voice of leadership, more leadership, and leadership in our nation. And so I want to thank you, Dr. Brown, for all that you are – all that you are.”
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Westover High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on July 18, 2024. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
During the annual session of the National Baptist Convention, USA in 2022, Harris reflected on her longtime friendship with Brown.
“For two decades now, at least, I have turned to you,” Harris said. “I have turned to him. And I will say that your wisdom has really guided me and grounded me during some of the most difficult times. And – and you have been a source of inspiration to me always. So thank you, Rev. Brown, for being all that you are.”
“It is always an honor to spend time with my pastor, Rev. Dr. Amos Brown of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco,” Harris said in a 2023 Instagram photo caption of her and Brown embracing. “He remains a source of inspiration to me always.”
“I want to – shout-out to my pastor, Amos Brown, for joining us. And – and with that, let’s begin our conversation,” Harris said in 2021 during a virtual roundtable session with faith leaders.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign and Brown for comment.
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Washington officials blast conservatives for Minnesota-style day care fraud claims in new state
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A top blue-state governor slammed conservatives for inflicting “deep damage” on the Somali–American community, while the state’s top prosecutor warned of potential charges after citizen journalists filmed encounters with alleged Minneapolis-like day care addresses and streamed them online.
Citizen journalists have raised public visibility of rampant fraud allegations in Minnesota, with a large part of the allegations stemming from within the Somali community there. Weeks after Gov. Tim Walz came under fire, other bloggers traveled to Seattle and King County, Washington, to visit what they claimed were similarly fraudulent day care sites — drawing Olympia’s ire.
Former White House Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk highlighted media posted by Kristen Magnuson, who, along with Cam Higby — an independent journalist recently connected with Charlie Kirk’s conservative Turning Point USA organization — and podcaster Jonathan Choe, sounded the alarm about alleged Minneapolis-style situations cropping up in the Pacific Northwest.
“They are fraud-maxxing this exploit,” Musk claimed in response to a post by Magnuson that included a video scrolling a list of up to 539 daycare centers in Washington state that she said allegedly listed Somali as the primary language.
TIM WALZ PUSHES BACK ON MINNESOTA FRAUD ALLEGATIONS FOLLOWING VIRAL DAYCARE VIDEO
Meanwhile, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, took to X to post several photos of himself meeting with what he said were Somali community leaders.
In those meetings, Ferguson said he “discuss(ed) the deep damage inflicted by Donald Trump’s harmful rhetoric and reckless deportations. Here in Washington state, we recognize that diversity is a strength.”
Democrats have claimed such “damage” as an uptick in anti-Somali rhetoric and some liberals have condemned citizen journalists taking it upon themselves to visit alleged day care sites.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson speaks at a podium in Seattle. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
When Fox News Digital attempted to recreate the 539 day care center list Wednesday from the official Department of Child and Youth Services website, the option to select Somali as a primary language had either been removed or was not there. Magnuson said several of the day cares lacked addresses or other standard identifying information.
MINNESOTA’S NEW MEDICAID FRAUD PREVENTION FIX WON’T MAKE ‘ANY DIFFERENCE,’ FORMER FBI AGENT SAYS
Choe replied to Washington Gov. Ferguson on X, warning that he has a “serious Somali fraud problem in (his) state,” particularly in King County, Washington, which Choe alleged was “especially out of control.”
FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE’ INVESTIGATION AFTER VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGES MINNESOTA DAYCARE FRAUD
“Hey Bob, can you explain this for us?” Higby replied to Ferguson on X, while including a video of him reportedly approaching an address in Federal Way, Washington, that he alleged received more than $200,000 in subsidies.
In the video, a man who accompanied Higby approached the door of the apparent residence and asked if the building was “Dhagash Family Child Care” — as a female voice responded, “no,” and Higby said “rustling” could be heard as his partner approached a home security camera.
In another video, Higby alleged he went to an address listed for a day care that allegedly received $800,000 in subsidies in the town of Kent, Washington, but found “no daycare here” when he approached what appeared to be a residential address.
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“Records show massive subsidy payments following inspections reflecting risk of death to children,” Higby wrote.
“There are 539 childcare centers in Washington state that list Somali as the primary language. Most don’t even give a street address. I don’t know how many of these are submitting fraudulent claims for state grants and subsidies, but I have a strong hunch the number is not zero,” read a separate statement from Magnuson.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) told Fox News Digital that the agency “appreciate(s) our licensed child care providers and the important work they do to care for and educate our youngest learners.”
“We take fraud seriously. Washington state utilizes a variety of measures to minimize fraud. For example, DCYF conducts unannounced site visits at every licensed childcare provider at least once per year,” the agency said.
DCYF also randomly audits its rolls to confirm the accuracy of disbursements to the day care providers, the agency said, verifying attendance and matching families authorized to receive such benefits. The agency said it tallied 1,440 audits in 2024.
Of the lack of addresses found by Magnuson, DCYF said the state has addresses for every provider listed even if the public-facing website lacks full data, and that about 5,500 providers or 2.6% statewide do list Somali as their “language spoken.”
DCYF told Fox News Digital that anyone suspecting fraud should contact the state’s hotline directly at 1‐800‐562‐6906.
FEDS LAUNCH ‘MASSIVE OPERATION’ IN MINNESOTA AMID FRAUD SCANDAL
Washington state government reporter Carleen Johnson also replied to Ferguson’s tweet saying she visited several “Somali-run home daycare centers” in Federal Way, Washington, comparing her visits to those of YouTuber Nick Shirley in Minneapolis.
“There were no children and no one willing to chat with this reporter,” she said. “They threatened me with police.”
Amid the videos dropping, Washington Democratic Attorney General Nicholas Brown said his office received complaints from Somali residents “after reports of home-based daycare providers being harassed and accused of fraud with little to no fact-checking.”
“We are in touch with the state Department of Children Youth and Families regarding the claims being pushed online and the harassment reported by daycare providers,” Brown said, adding that showing up on a person’s porch and “threatening or harassing them is not an investigation; neither is filming minors who may be in the home.”
SENATE PRESSURE MOUNTS AS MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL CONTINUES TO UNFOLD
Brown urged anyone subjected to that treatment to contact police or his office’s hate crimes and bias hotline.
“If you think fraud is happening, there are appropriate measures to report and investigate,” Brown said in a statement. Where “fraud is substantiated and verified by law enforcement and regulatory agencies, people should be held accountable.”
Higby responded to Brown appearing to reference his work, tweeting that “journalists showing up to daycares and asking for applications is not harassment or threatening — unless of course, it’s a fraudulent daycare, then it may be threatening to the fraud ring.”
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The FAA issued a ground stop for the Seattle airport. (Reuters/Chris Helgren)
Neither Brown’s nor Ferguson’s office responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by press time.
According to Newsweek, Magnuson filtered her searches for Somali as the primary language of a day care, and added a filter for Washington “Early Achievers” program beneficiaries, which “entitles them to state funding. That second filter cut the number of centers returned to 274,” according to the outlet.
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A parcel tax plan to rescue Muni would charge most homeowners at least $129 annually if voters approve the policy in November.
The finalized tax scheme, which updates a version presented Dec. 8, comes after weeks of negotiations between city officials and transit advocates.
The plan lowers the levels previously proposed for owners of apartment and condo buildings. They would still pay a $249 base tax up to 5,000 square feet of property, but additional square footage would be taxed at 19.5 cents, versus the previous 30 cents. The tax would be capped at $50,000.
The plan also adds provisions limiting how much of the tax can be passed through to tenants in rent-controlled buildings. Owners of rent-controlled properties would be able to pass through up to 50% of the parcel tax on a unit, with a cap of $65 a year.
These changes bring the total estimated annual tax revenue from $187 million to $183 million and earmark 10% for expanding transit service.
What you pay depends on what kind of property you or your landlord owns. There are three tiers: single-family homes, apartment and condo buildings, and commercial properties.
Owners of single-family homes smaller than 3,000 square feet would pay the base tax of $129 per year. Homes between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet would pay the base tax plus an additional 42 cents per square foot, and any home above 5,000 square feet would be taxed at an added $1.99 per square foot.
Commercial landlords would face a $799 base tax for buildings up to 5,000 square feet, with per-square-foot rates that scale with the property size, up to a maximum of $400,000.
The finalized plan was presented by Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, at a board meeting Tuesday.
The plan proposed in December was criticized for failing to set aside funds to increase transit service and not including pass-through restrictions for tenants.
The tax is meant to close SFMTA’s $307 million budget gap, which stems from lagging ridership post-pandemic and the expiration of emergency federal funding. Without additional funding, the agency would be forced to drastically cut service. The parcel tax, a regional sales tax measure, and cost-cutting, would all be needed to close the fiscal gap.
The next steps for the parcel tax are creating draft legislation and launching a signature-gathering campaign to place the measure on the ballot.
Any measure would need review by the city attorney’s office. But all stakeholders have agreed on the tax structure presented Tuesday, according to Emma Hare, an aide to Supervisor Myrna Melgar, whose office led negotiations over the tax between advocates and City Hall.
“It’s final,” Hare said. “We just need to write it down.”
Denver police are searching for suspects in a Saturday night parking lot shooting that killed a 16-year-old and wounded three men, at least one of whom is not expected to survive, according to the agency.
Officers responded to the shooting in the 10100 block of East Hampden Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, near where East Hampden intersects South Galena Street, according to an alert from the Denver Police Department.
Police said a group of people had gathered in a parking lot on the edge of the city’s Kennedy neighborhood to celebrate the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro when the shooting happened.
Paramedics took one victim to a hospital, and two others were taken to the hospital in private vehicles, police said. A fourth victim, identified by police as 16-year-old William Rodriguez Salas, was dropped off near Iliff Avenue and South Havana Street, where he died from his wounds.
At least one of the three victims taken to hospitals — a 26-year-old man, a 29-year-old man and a 33-year-old man — is not expected to survive, police said Tuesday. One man was in critical condition Sunday night, one was in serious condition and one was treated for a graze wound and released.
No suspects had been identified publicly or arrested as of Tuesday afternoon.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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