Former Delta Air Lines co-pilot Jonathan J. Dunn has been federally indicted for allegedly threatening to shoot the captain of a commercial flight last year if he diverted the plane due to a medical emergency. The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General said Dunn is facing up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He is currently out on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 14.
Posts published in “US”
Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Michigan's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, claiming that she has not responded to a letter from his campaign requesting confirmation that his name would be included on the 2024 ballot. The lawsuit seeks a court ruling that would declare Benson does not have the authority to keep Trump off the ballot, and several legal groups have filed lawsuits in multiple states claiming Trump should be disqualified from office. It is unclear how the court will rule on Trump's lawsuit and whether or not he will be allowed to appear on the ballot for the 2024 election.
This week, the U.S. Senate is set to review a $105 billion national security supplemental request from the Biden administration, which includes aid to Ukraine and Israel, efforts to contain China, and tougher border security in the U.S. Meanwhile, House Republicans are planning to vote on an emergency aid package for Israel that does not include funding for other U.S. allies. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is advocating for the broader national security spending bill, while the House is pushing for a more targeted approach. The outcome of the Senate hearing and the House vote will be critical in determining the future of the Biden administration's national security spending bill.
Michael Yifan Wen, a Manhasset, New York man, was arrested and charged with menacing and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly pointed a gun at a 6-year-old boy who had mistakenly left Halloween treats on his porch. The incident has sparked outrage in the community and calls for stricter gun control laws in the state of New York. Wen is currently being held in Nassau County jail and is due to appear in court on November 5th.
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Blinken was outlining the Biden administration's requests for more U.S. aid to support Israel's attacks on Gaza when the protesters began shouting slogans such as "You have blood on your hands!" and "Cease-fire now!" Security eventually removed at least one protester from the room. The protest comes amid a growing international outcry over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 200 people dead and thousands more injured.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that a person of interest has been taken into custody following antisemitic threats made at Cornell University. The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 400% increase in reported incidents of antisemitism since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. In response, Gov. Hochul has taken steps to combat antisemitism on college campuses in New York, including increased security measures, increased training for faculty and staff, and the creation of a task force.
The Senate has confirmed Jack Lew as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, with support from only two Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of those Republicans, said the ambassadorship is "as important and timely as any nomination" due to the war against Hamas. Lew, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Obama, is expected to take up his post in Jerusalem soon.
The Education Department has released a new plan to provide debt relief to four groups of borrowers with federal student loans, estimated to be up to 12 million people. The proposal is open for public comment and will be finalized after a period of review, with details on implementation and when it will take effect yet to be released.