The House Ways and Means Committee made a major move on Friday morning, releasing six years of President Donald Trump’s personal and business tax returns,…
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The House select committee investigating the January 6th Capitol attack released transcripts of interviews with Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, former White House deputy chief of staff Tony Ornato, and Robert Sinners, who worked on the Trump campaign’s Election Day operations in Georgia in 2020. Thomas told the committee that her text message expressing disgust with then-Vice President Mike Pence was not related to his refusal to stop the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s win, but rather to her frustration with him not talking up election fraud claims. Sinners told investigators his “intent was never to be aligned with team crazy” and Ornato said he couldn’t recall details from January 6, citing “the fog of war” during the US Capitol attack. The committee also released emails showing an aide for former President Donald Trump reaching out to Jared Kushner about trademarking phrases related to the 2020 election.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of waging a war to ensure Vladimir Putin remains in power, leading to deadly strikes in several regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that the attacks have left at least one dead and 20 injured, while Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 30% of the capital was left without power. Despite the attacks, many Kyiv residents have returned to the city to spend New Year's Eve with their loved ones, while Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska urged Ukrainians to persevere.
Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer and internet personality, was involved in a Twitter spat with Greta Thunberg this week. On Friday, he and his brother were arrested and charged with human trafficking and rape, leading to a wave of social media speculation and conspiracy theories. Afualo, a rapper who had previously defended and promoted Tate's content, tweeted that he knows Tate but is not his "hero".
Two people have died in a rock slide at Yosemite National Park this week, with the identities of the victims yet to be released. The park, which welcomed 3.3 million visitors in 2021, has closed Big Oak Flat Road east of Foresta as a result of the incident, which is currently under investigation.
Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to voluntarily abdicate the papal reins in nearly 600 years, has passed away at the age of 93. He was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in 1927 in Marktl, Germany and was a staunch advocate for conservative Roman Catholicism. His funeral will be held on Thursday, Jan. 5, in St. Peter's Square, with Pope Francis presiding over the mass.
Global leaders have paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 95. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
George Santos, the newly elected congressman from New York's 12th District, is facing multiple investigations into potential financial irregularities and questions about his background. The Federal Election Commission records show suspicious expenditures, and the Eastern District of New York and Nassau County District Attorney are probing his finances and inconsistencies in his résumé. Santos has admitted to fabricating and "embellishing" several claims about his background, and his campaign donors have expressed shock and betrayal. The outcome of these investigations remains to be seen.