Lesley Wolf, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, defended her work in a closed-door deposition with congressional investigators on Thursday, despite facing threats and harassment. She said that she was legally obligated not to address specific allegations made by IRS whistleblowers due to Justice Department policies. Wolf also accused Republicans of coddling the president’s son Hunter Biden, and said that the truth has become collateral damage in today's political climate.
News Mash
A British teenager who went missing six years ago while on vacation in Spain has been found in southern France by a concerned motorist. The Toulouse National Gendarmerie confirmed his identity and he is expected to soon return to England. The teen told the driver that he had been living in an alternative community with his mother and wanted to live his own life, prompting him to leave.
Nassau County Republicans have selected Mazi Melesa Pilip, an Ethiopian immigrant and former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, as their nominee for the upcoming special election to replace ousted GOP Rep. George Santos. Pilip will face former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), the Democratic nominee, in the Feb. 13 special election. Pilip has been endorsed by the Nassau County Republican Party and is seen as a competitive candidate in the race for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives.
University of Arizona police and local authorities are searching for a potential kidnapper after at least two students were accosted near the campus this month. The suspect has been linked to a dark blue, four-door car, possibly an early 2000s Toyota Camry or Corolla with a fading Arizona license plate. Police are asking anyone with information about the suspect to contact the University of Arizona Police Department or the Tucson Police Department.
Pope Francis has called for an international treaty to ensure the ethical development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This follows an incident earlier this year when an AI-generated image of Pope Francis went viral, highlighting the potential for deepfake imagery to spread quickly online. Many voices from the tech industry, government, and civil society have joined the chorus, arguing that the potential benefits of AI must be balanced with the need to protect people from potential harms. The Pope believes that an international treaty is needed to ensure that AI is developed and used ethically, for the benefit of humanity.
Two hunters made a remarkable discovery in rural Idaho on Saturday, Dec. 9, when they found a crushed Chevrolet that matched the description for that of a missing 72-year-old woman. The men called police and the woman was found alive inside the car, having likely spent days alone in the wild. The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office praised the two men for their quick action and are still investigating the incident.
Kathleen Folbigg, a 56-year-old woman who had been found guilty of killing her four children in 2003, has had her convictions overturned by the New South Wales Court of Appeals. The pardon was granted at the direction of the New South Wales state government, based on new scientific evidence suggesting the children may have died from natural causes. This marks the end of a 20-year legal battle for Folbigg, who was released from prison in June, and her exoneration has been welcomed by many.
Two men, Giovanni Hernandez and Miguel Solorio, who were wrongfully convicted of crimes more than two decades ago have been exonerated by a judge. District Attorney George Gascón said that it is "truly devastating" when people are wrongfully convicted, and that the case is a reminder that the criminal justice system is not perfect. The District Attorney's Office is committed to ensuring that justice is served and that no innocent person is wrongfully convicted.