Since the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, the Republican conference has been in chaos as they search for a replacement. At least eight candidates are vying for the position, with Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota the latest to earn the nod and attempt to secure the 217 votes needed to win the gavel.
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This trial is the first time former President Donald Trump and his former lawyer Michael Cohen have been in the same room since Cohen was sentenced in 2018. Cohen is accused of helping to defraud the Trump Organization by inflating the value of assets in order to obtain loans, and has testified that Trump was aware of the fraud. Trump's lawyers have denied the allegations and argued that the case is politically motivated. The trial is expected to last several weeks and will include testimony from other witnesses.
In a civil fraud trial in New York, former President Donald Trump and his former fixer Michael Cohen faced off for the first time in five years. Cohen testified that Trump would come up with his own net worth estimations and it was his responsibility to reverse engineer the numbers. Trump voluntarily attended the trial for a sixth day this month, while Cohen didn't look at Trump while walking past him to testify. The trial is expected to continue for the next few weeks.
Donald Trump is challenging the federal criminal charges brought against him in connection with the 2020 presidential election, claiming in court filings that his actions are protected by the First Amendment and that he cannot be tried again after being acquitted by the Senate in his impeachment trial. His defense team argued that the prosecution is politically motivated and asked the federal judge to dismiss the charges. The judge has yet to issue a ruling on the matter.
Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to former President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, has pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. In exchange for her plea, Ellis will receive five years of probation and have to pay $5,000 in restitution to the state. Former President Trump has distanced himself from Ellis, with his campaign releasing a statement saying she was never a part of the campaign's legal team. This plea agreement is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into alleged efforts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election.
Washington State Senator Jeff Wilson was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on Friday night for possession of an unregistered firearm. Wilson, a Republican from Longview, was traveling with his wife for a five-week vacation in Southeast Asia when he reported the unloaded gun to customs officials. His office has not commented on the incident beyond a statement released on Monday, and it is unclear if Wilson will face any further charges or penalties. The incident has raised questions about the security measures at the Portland, Oregon airport, and sparked debate among Washington state residents.
Hamas released two hostages, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, for "compelling humanitarian" reasons, bringing joy to their families but leaving over 200 people still held captive. Donald Trump has filed motions in the Jan. 6 case against him, while seven people have died in a Louisiana highway crash and House Republicans are narrowing down speaker candidates.
China has replaced its Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu, who had been in office since June 2023. This is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following the removal of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July. The removal of these two officials has raised questions about the stability of the Chinese government and the future of President Xi Jinping's leadership.