Exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui has been arrested by federal authorities in New York on charges of fraud and money laundering. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York alleges that Guo and an associate created a series of fraudulent businesses worth $1 billion, and the FBI is currently executing a search warrant at Guo's residence. This case is part of the U.S. government's efforts to combat financial crimes, particularly those committed by Chinese nationals.
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Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to Donald Trump, has been testifying before a grand jury investigating an alleged "hush money" payment made on Trump's behalf. He has also been coordinating lawyers for Trump in multiple investigations, including the one into the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. His involvement in the situation has been described as "complicated" and the outcome of the investigation is yet to be seen.
Donald Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina argued that Trump's denial of knowledge of the payments to Stormy Daniels was not a lie because he was following the advice of his then-lawyer Michael Cohen. The exchange between Tacopina and MSNBC's Ari Melber is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into the payments, which could result in criminal charges for Trump.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has unanimously accepted a draft plan by a panel proposing reparations for Black residents, which includes a one-time payment of $5 million to each eligible Black resident, the elimination of personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least $97,000 for 250 years, and homes in San Francisco for just $1 a family. The plan has met with some pushback from politically liberal San Franciscans, but the Board of Supervisors will meet again in September to discuss the issue.
After two years without a permanent ambassador to India, the U.S. Senate has confirmed former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti for the role. Despite pushback from some Democrats due to allegations of sexual harassment and bullying by one of Garcetti's former aides, enough Republicans backed him to give the U.S. its first permanent ambassador to India under President Joe Biden. This confirmation is expected to further strengthen the ties between the two countries.
A US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea after a Russian Su-27 aircraft flew in front of it and dumped fuel, prompting a diplomatic spat between the US and Russia. The White House has condemned Moscow's actions while Russia has denied its aircraft came into contact with the drone. The US is trying to prevent the drone from getting into the wrong hands while Russia is working to retrieve the wreckage.
Daniel P. Watson, a 28-year-old man from Pell City, Alabama, has been arrested and charged with four counts of murder in shootings across two Alabama counties. Two victims have been identified in St. Clair County, while two victims in Jefferson County were found dead in a car Monday night. Watson is being held at the St. Clair County Detention Center and the investigation into the shootings is ongoing.
The US Marshals Service has launched an interstate fugitive investigation for Roy C. McGrath, 53, the former chief of staff to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, after he failed to appear in court on Monday. McGrath is facing charges of wire fraud, theft in programs receiving federal funds, and other related charges in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the Maryland Environmental Service. The Marshals Service is now seeking to apprehend McGrath and is asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact their local office or submit a tip online.