The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld the second-degree murder conviction and 22 1/2-year sentence of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd. The incident occurred in May 2020 and sparked nationwide protests and outrage. The court rejected Chauvin's attorney's argument that the massive pretrial publicity and legal and procedural errors deprived Chauvin of a fair trial, sending a message that those responsible for such acts will be held accountable.
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The US Justice Department has charged 34 officers of the Chinese national police with operating an illegal police station in New York City to intimidate and silence dissidents. Two of the defendants have been arrested by the FBI and are expected to appear in federal court in New York. The US Attorney in the Eastern District of New York has said that the US government will not tolerate any foreign interference in its internal affairs.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has announced that House Republicans will vote on their own debt ceiling bill to empower the U.S. to meet its obligations until 2024. The bill would save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make the U.S. less dependent upon China, and curb high inflation, but President Joe Biden has refused to negotiate policy conditions for extending the debt limit. McCarthy has criticized the President for not being “sensible” and finding an agreement, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of the vote will be and how it will affect the U.S. economy.
On Friday night in Honolulu, Hawaii, a physical altercation at a cockfight escalated to a shooting, resulting in two deaths and three non-life-threatening injuries. The Honolulu Police Department is searching for a suspect believed to be in his 20s and are asking anyone with information to contact them. They are working to identify the suspect and bring justice to the victims and their families.
Lawmakers are returning to the Capitol to face a lengthy to-do list, including the looming debt limit crisis and the fallout from a leak of highly classified Pentagon documents. Republicans are pushing for spending cuts to be included in any debt ceiling deal, while Democrats are hoping to avoid a drawn-out battle over Senator Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) resignation due to her lengthy absence from the Senate. It remains to be seen how lawmakers will be able to address both issues in the coming weeks, as it is essential that both sides come together to reach an agreement that will prevent further damage to the economy.
Mitch McConnell is set to return to the Senate on Monday to decide whether to remove Dianne Feinstein from the Senate Judiciary Committee, a decision which could have major implications for President Biden's plans and the 2022 Senate race. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has defended Feinstein's ability to serve in the Senate, saying that a senator should be able to make their own judgments about when they're retiring. McConnell's decision is expected soon.
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, will hold a field hearing in Manhattan on Monday to discuss crime in the city. The hearing is seen as a way for House Republicans to curry favor with former President Donald Trump, and to discredit Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal case against him. It will include victims of violent crime and is expected to draw a lot of attention, as it is sure to be a contentious event.
A 16-year-old boy, Ralph Yarl, was hospitalized Thursday night after being shot while trying to pick up his younger twin brothers. Kansas City police are working to quickly prepare evidence for the Clay County prosecutor and have not released any further information. Yarl's family has started an online fundraiser and petition calling for justice.