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Developing now, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018

The claims of an ex-boyfriend of Christine Blasey Ford, the first woman to accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, have cast doubt on her testimony last week at a Senate hearing

The FBI could finish its investigation of Kavanaugh as soon as Wednesday, a source told FOX News

Negotiations between Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team and President Trump's lawyers for a possible interview have stalled over the recent report that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein discussed secretly recording the president, FOX News has learned

President Trump personally led efforts to silence porn star Stormy Daniels and keep their alleged relationship a secret, according to one report

Two letters sent to the Pentagon tested positive for the poison ricin, the day after a 'suspicious' envelope addressed to President Trump was intercepted

THE LEAD STORY - CHRISTINE FORD'S HONESTY QUESTIONED: In a letter released Tuesday and obtained by FOX News, an ex-boyfriend of Christine Blasey Ford seemingly contradicts her testimony under oath last week that she had never helped anyone prepare for a polygraph examination ... The former boyfriend, whose name was redacted, also said Ford neither mentioned Kavanaugh nor said she was a victim of sexual misconduct during the time they were dating from about 1992 to 1998. He said he saw Ford helping a woman he believed was her "life-long best friend" prepare for a potential polygraph test. He added that the woman had been interviewing for jobs with the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office.

Under questioning from sex-crimes prosecutor Rachel Mitchell last week, Ford said that she had "never" had "any discussions with anyone ... on how to take a polygraph" or "given any tips or advice to anyone who was looking to take a polygraph test." In a letter Tuesday evening that referenced the ex-boyfriend's declaration, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley demanded that attorneys for Ford turn over her therapist’s notes and other key materials, and suggested she was intentionally less than truthful about her experience with polygraph examinations during Thursday's dramatic Senate hearing. The doubts about Ford's testimony surface as another Kavanaugh accuser, Julie Swetnick - who has made lurid, uncorroborated sexual assault allegations about the Supreme Court nominee - faces growing questions about her own credibility.

FBI INVESTIGATION OF KAVANAUGH WRAPPING UP? - The FBI may wrap up its investigation into misconduct accusations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as soon as late Wednesday, a source tells FOX News, potentially clearing the way for a final Senate vote on his confirmation within days ... If the FBI's report is indeed delivered to the White House on Wednesday, FOX News expects a vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation could come as soon as Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., must first satisfy a number of procedural and parliamentary hurdles before a vote can be held, including filing a cloture petition (which must remain pending for a full day) in order to formally end debate on Kavanaugh's nomination. McConnell has vowed to hold a vote by the end of the week. Republicans command a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate, giving them little margin for error.

ROSENSTEIN 'WIRE' STORY COMPLICATES MUELLER-TRUMP TALKS: Discussions between Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office and President Trump's legal team over the conditions of a possible presidential interview have "not terribly advanced" from where they were a couple of weeks ago, a source familiar with the talks told FOX News ... The source said negotiations hit a snag when the New York Times reported Sept. 21 that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had discussed secretly recording Trump and enlisting cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. Rosenstein has called the Times report "inaccurate and factually incorrect" and at least one source has told FOX News that Rosenstein intended his comment about recording Trump to be sarcastic. Trump is tentatively scheduled to meet with Rosenstein at the White House later this week to discuss the report.

Also, the Associated Press reported that two prosecutors detailed to the Russia investigation for the past year are returning to their duties in other parts of the Justice Department. They join two other attorneys who left the team, assigned to investigate potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, over the summer.

House GOP, Rosenstein agree to meet to discuss 'wire' report

NOT-SO-QUIET-STORM: President Trump personally directed the efforts to prevent porn star Stormy Daniels from publicly discussing their alleged sexual encounter, the Wall Street Journal reported ... According to the Journal, Trump had learned that Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was planning to give an interview about their alleged relationship, even though she had signed a non-disclosure agreement in October 2016. Last February, anonymous sources told the Journal, Trump ordered his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to seek a restraining order against Daniels and coordinate with his son, Eric Trump and another outside attorney who had represented him and the Trump Organization.

Report: Trump reaped millions in tax schemes from father's business; NY Tax Department 'reviewing' allegations

SUSPICIOUS ENVELOPES UNDER EXAMINATION: Authorities at the Pentagon found at least two packages suspected of containing ricin, a spokesman said Tuesday, the day after a suspicious envelope addressed to President Trump was discovered... A Pentagon spokesman confirmed to Fox News that two packages -- addressed to U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and the Navy's top officer, Adm. John Richardson -- were suspected of containing ricin. The packages never made their way into the Pentagon, but were flagged in a mail delivery building next door Monday, the spokesman said. Initial tests were positive for ricin, a poison made from castor beans, but the FBI is now doing analysis to make final determinations.

Late Tuesday, the U.S. Secret Service said it had received a "suspicious envelope" addressed to President Trump the day before. The agency said the envelope "was not received at the White House, nor did it ever enter the White House." News of the suspicious packages in Washington came as authorities said two people were taken to a hospital after being exposed to a "white powdery substance" at Sen. Ted Cruz's office in Houston.

AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS

KAVANAUGH'S 'ICEGATE': "Whoever shall throw ice in a tavern is disqualified from service on the federal judiciary." – Tucker Carlson, on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," ridiculing the allegation against Brett Kavanaugh that he threw an ice cube at a man "unprovoked" at a New Haven, Conn., bar in September 1985. Clearly, the Founding Fathers foresaw this kind of situation, Carlson riffed. WATCH

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: AMAZON

Amazon hikes minimum wage to $15 an hour for all U.S. employees.

Ripple effect? Amazon's $15-an-hour wage may help lift pay elsewhere.

Elaine Parker: Ignore Amazon's self-serving calls to raise the federal minimum wage.

TRENDING

Secret identity of 150-year-old body found in NYC revealed.

Houston girl, 7, proudly sings national anthem in stands at Astros game.

You won't believe what turned up in flier's 'suspicious bag.'

THE SWAMP

Clinton accuser Juanita Broaddrick demands FBI probe on rape claim.

Trump at Mississippi rally: 'The only reason to vote Democrat is because you’re tired of winning.'

Pompeo to meet with Kim Jong Un on Sunday, State Department announces.

ACROSS THE NATION

DA who lost Kate Steinle case, called Trump a 'madman' says he won't seek re-election.

Officer takes stand in murder trial over black teen shot 16 times.

Grassley wants Air Force to investigate $1,280 hot cup.

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS

Trump: U.S. is entering 'manufacturing renaissance.'

Dow climbs to new record.

Worker shortage may cause wages to surge, study shows.

What went wrong at GE.

Stu Varney: As a newly minted U.S. citizen, I did not sign on to the rule of a Democrat mob.

Amobee CEO Kim Perell, a self-made millionaire, reveals the secret to success.

CEO departures are on the rise. Here's a list of the big ones.

Ferrari's newest million-dollar supercar already sold out.

FOX NEWS OPINION

John Stossel: Government fails the seriously mentally ill.

Sean Hannity: Why I am reading David Limbaugh's new book 'Jesus is Risen.'

Charlie Kirk: 10 things Democrats will take away from us if they win control of the House and Senate.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARED

PHOTO: ‘Vice’ teaser shows Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in new Adam McKay movie.

FOX News wins cable news ratings crown for 67th straight quarter.

Seth Meyers slams Trump as 'sexist' after tense exchange with reporter.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Naked servant painting revealed in newly discovered ancient tomb mural.

Drone footage shows pod of dolphins 'dancing.'

The Goblin dwarf planet may lead to Planet Nine discovery.

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FOX & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Pete Hegseth talks to students at College of the Ozarks. Steve Doocy shares his family pot roast recipe on "Cooking with Friends." Staff Sgt. Ron Shurer shares his story. Special guests include: Tomi Lahren; Sean Spicer; and Fla. Gov. Rick Scott.

On FOX Business:

Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Special guests include: Ronna McDaniel; RNC chairwoman; Mark Penn, former senior adviser to the Clintons; Luisa Kroll, assistant managing editor of Forbes; U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y.; Martin Feldstein, Harvard University economics professor.

Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary; Karl Rove, former White House deputy chief of staff.

The Intelligence Report, 2 p.m. ET: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue; GOP strategist Ed Rollins.

On FOX News Radio:

The FOX News Rundown podcast: On Tuesday, first lady Melania Trump began her tour of Africa, kicking off her first solo international trip with stops in Ghana, Kenya, Egypt and Malawi. Paul Tilsley, FOX News reporter in Africa, and historian and "First Ladies Man" Andrew Och weigh in. With more than 44 million borrowers, 1 million of whom are in default, student loan debt has hit the $1.5 trillion mark, making it the second-highest debt in the United States behind mortgages. Jordan Goodman, "America's Money Answers Man," helps explain why student loan debt has increased so much through the years. A veteran struggling with debt also tells his story. Plus, commentary by Media Buzz host Howard Kurtz.

Want the FOX News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.

The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: The Kavanaugh confirmation saga, the blockbuster New York Times report on President Trump's finances and Trump's new trade deal with Canada, Mexico will be among the top topics of debate with the following special guests: Josh Holmes, Juan Williams, Martha MacCallum and Robert Lighthizer.

The Tom Shillue Show, 3 p.m. ET: Juan Williams, co-host of "The Five," joins Tom Shillue to discuss his new book, "What the Hell Do You Have to Lose? Trump's War on Civil Rights" and the latest news of the day!

#OnThisDay

2003: A tiger attacks magician Roy Horn of duo "Siegfried & Roy" during a performance in Las Vegas, leaving the illusionist in critical condition on his 59th birthday.

1995: The jury in the O.J. Simpson murder trial in Los Angeles finds the football legend not guilty of the 1994 slayings of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman. In 2008, 13 years to the day later, Simpson is found guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.

1991: Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton enters the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

FOX News First is compiled by FOX News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Thursday morning.

