Key takeaways: The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has determined that there is insufficient evidence to charge actor Armie Hammer with a crime in…
News Mash
House Oversight Chair James Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley have subpoenaed the FBI for a FD-1023 form that they claim contains information about an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden. FBI Director Christopher Wray has offered to allow them to view the document at FBI headquarters, but Comer and Grassley are pushing for the document to be in their office. The FBI has declined to provide the document, prompting Comer to move forward with a vote to hold Wray in criminal contempt of Congress.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed John Scott as the interim Attorney General following the impeachment of Ken Paxton by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Scott is a former Texas Secretary of State and Deputy Attorney General, and Abbott praised his decades of experience and expertise in litigation. The Senate will have the final say on whether or not Paxton is removed from office, but it is unclear when they will take up the issue.
Alex Murdaugh, a former attorney, was arraigned Wednesday on federal money laundering and wire fraud charges for allegedly stealing money from his clients. He pleaded not guilty, but his lawyer said that might change soon. State prosecutors have also indicted Murdaugh on similar charges, and his lawyers have said he has been cooperating with federal investigators. The case is ongoing and it is unclear what the outcome will be.
Danny Masterson, best known for his role in the sitcom “That ’70s Show”, has been found guilty of two counts of rape in a Los Angeles retrial. After more than six days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third count. The Church of Scientology played a central role in the trial, with Masterson's wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, present in court and weeping as he was led away. He faces up to 30 years in prison and will be sentenced at a later date.
Mike Pence is set to launch his 2024 presidential campaign next week in Des Moines, Iowa, with a speech and campaign video. He had previously told CBS News that anyone serious about seeking the Republican nomination would need to enter the contest by June, and believes there is room for his brand of "traditional conservatism" in the party. Donald Trump has remained largely silent on the debt ceiling, leaving Pence to make his voice heard.
On Wednesday morning, a boiler explosion at the Oak Grove Power Plant in Franklin, Texas resulted in the death of one contractor. There was no fire and no danger to the public, and the cause of the explosion is under investigation. The plant is still in operation and generating power, and Luminant, the plant's owner, has not released any further details about the incident.
The House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday night on a bill that would cut federal spending by more than $1 trillion and raise the debt ceiling through the 2024 presidential election. The bill is expected to pass with support from both Republicans and Democrats, although there is opposition from both sides of the political spectrum. If the bill passes, it will be the first time in history that the U.S. has avoided a government debt default. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries need both parties to pass the bill in order to lift the debt ceiling a few days before the U.S. is expected to run out of money to pay its bills. Majority of the left wing of the Democratic Party is likely to vote no, arguing that the bill does not address underlying issues of inequality and poverty.