The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a district judge's ruling that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows must face state election interference charges in state court. Meadows had sought to have his case moved to a federal venue, citing a federal law, but Chief Judge William Pryor ruled that the statute does not apply to former officers. The charges against Meadows stem from a lawsuit filed by the Georgia Democratic Party in August, and he has denied the allegations. It is unclear when the case will proceed in state court.
Posts published in “US”
Two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, have filed a lawsuit against former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, asking a federal judge to permanently bar him from making false claims about them. The 10-page complaint argues that Giuliani has continued to falsely accuse the mother and daughter pair of committing election fraud even after a federal jury found his statements to be false and defamatory. The suit seeks to put an end to Giuliani’s false accusations and prevent him from continuing to make them in the future.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered a shipment of illegal narcotics hidden in vats of jalapeño paste at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility in San Diego, containing over 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 500 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $10 million. The shipment was found in a commercial tractor-trailer being driven by a 28-year-old male with a valid border crossing card, and officers seized the shipment and arrested the driver. This discovery is part of a larger effort to crack down on cartels smuggling drugs across the southern border, with more than 1.5 million pounds of narcotics seized in the past year.
The Supreme Court paid tribute to the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the court, with a ceremony attended by all nine current justices and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. Her casket was carried up the steps of the court and passed under the words “Equal Justice Under Law” before being placed in the court’s Great Hall, which opened to the public for mourners to pay their respects. Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke at the private ceremony, noting O’Connor's commitment to justice and equality for all.
CIA Director William Burns is in Poland to meet with Israeli and Qatari officials in an effort to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. The U.S. military has been involved in the situation, engaging 14 one-way attack drones from Yemen, and the top two U.S. military leaders are now traveling to Tel Aviv to advise the Israeli government. The same group met twice last month in Doha, Qatar, in an attempt to resolve the hostage situation and prevent a wider regional conflict.
Ruby Franke, a former family vlogger, is expected to enter a plea agreement on Monday in Washington County, Utah, after being charged with six counts of felony child abuse. Police found two of her children with open wounds and malnourished, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt was also charged with two counts of child abuse and one count of child endangerment. The case has sparked a national conversation about the responsibilities of parents and influencers, and Franke's plea agreement is expected to be a first step in resolving the case.
On Sunday evening, a car crashed into a parked Secret Service SUV that was shielding President Joe Biden's motorcade in Wilmington, Delaware. First Lady Jill Biden and the President had just left the campaign office, and a reporter asked Biden why he wasn't faring better in polls. The motorcade continued on after the incident, and President Biden was able to leave the scene safely. The Secret Service is currently investigating the incident.
The White House and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) met on Saturday to discuss a potential immigration deal, however progress has been slow and a deal is unlikely to be reached before Christmas. The chamber is not set to reconvene until Jan. 9, meaning any aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan will be delayed until then. The White House and the CHC have yet to reach an agreement on the immigration deal.