Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is facing new allegations of bribery in a superseding indictment from Manhattan federal prosecutors, which accuse him of using his position as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit the government of Qatar and three businessmen. The indictment alleges Menendez accepted lavish gifts in exchange for using his power and influence as a U.S. senator, and he and his wife, Nadine, are charged with four counts related to the alleged bribery scheme. Menendez has denied any wrongdoing and is scheduled to go to trial in October, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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Four Colorado voters have asked the Supreme Court to decide whether former President Donald Trump is constitutionally eligible to appear on the state's Republican primary ballot. The appeal follows Maine's Secretary of State barring Trump from running for the presidency under the rarely used Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The Colorado voters believe the case is of "utmost importance" and warrants quick action, as it revolves around the Constitution's insurrection clause and whether Trump incited the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Supreme Court's decision could have a major impact on the Republican Party's future.
A 30-year-old man has died after he breached an emergency exit at Salt Lake City International Airport and climbed into a plane engine. Authorities performed lifesaving efforts, but he died on the scene. The incident is under investigation by the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Harvard University President Claudine Gay has resigned from her position on Tuesday following intense scrutiny for her testimony at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism and allegations of plagiarism in her academic work. After consulting with the university’s highest governing board, Gay concluded that it was in the best interests of Harvard for her to resign. The Harvard community has yet to comment on Gay’s resignation, and it is unclear who will take over the role of president in her absence.
Early Tuesday morning, an armed man broke into the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center in Denver, Colorado, shooting out a window and holding an unarmed security guard at gunpoint. He started a fire inside the building, causing "significant and extensive damage", but no injuries were reported. The Colorado State Patrol responded and the suspect surrendered, and the building is currently closed while repairs are made.
After 12 years of searching, the remains of Sandra Lemire were found in a minivan submerged in a retention pond in Kissimmee, Florida. The volunteer search and recovery team Sunshine State Sonar used new technology to locate the vehicle, which had been involved in a car accident. Lemire's family is relieved to have closure and is asking for privacy as they grieve.
On New Year's Day, a two-vehicle collision in Rochester, New York resulted in two fatalities and five injuries. The FBI is now investigating the incident as a possible terror incident after canisters of gasoline were found at the scene. Two passengers in the Outlander were killed and the driver and three other passengers were injured, while the driver of the Ford Expedition was also injured. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
The U.S. Navy has been working to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks since 2019. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in October to provide protection for Israel, and is now returning home, leaving behind three ships and 2,000 Marines to continue providing regional deterrence and defense. The Navy has also been providing training and assistance to local navies to help them better protect their waters from Houthi attacks.