Rep. George Santos, a Republican from New York, has been charged with federal offenses, according to multiple sources. He is expected to make a court appearance on Wednesday afternoon and could face penalties if convicted. The FBI is also investigating his alleged role in purporting to raise funds for a veteran's dying dog through a pet charity.
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President Joe Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss the looming deadline to increase the nation's borrowing authority to avoid defaulting on the national debt. Biden warned Republicans not to hold the economy hostage to their budget-cutting demands, while McCarthy insisted that a debt ceiling hike must be tied to budget cuts. The parties are still in discussions to reach an agreement before the deadline, or else the U.S. could default on its debt with serious economic consequences.
Eight people were killed and several others were wounded in a shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets mall in Dallas, Texas on Saturday. The gunman, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia, was forced out of the military due to mental health concerns and had three guns on him when he began his attack. An Allen police officer was able to shoot and kill the gunman within 3-4 minutes, saving countless lives and leaving the community of Allen, Texas in shock and mourning. The victims of the shooting have not yet been identified.
A civil jury found former President Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation of former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, awarding her $5 million in damages. The jury had been kept anonymous throughout the trial due to Trump's rhetoric related to the case. The verdict is a victory for Carroll, who has been fighting for justice for over two years, and serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of their social or political standing.
Authorities are searching for two individuals who escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center on Sunday evening, but were not noticed missing until 19 hours later. Grant is accused of killing four people, and both individuals are considered dangerous. The Philadelphia Police Department is leading the search for the two escapees, while the Philadelphia Department of Prisons is conducting an internal investigation into the incident.
Republican donor Harlan Crow has refused to provide a list of gifts he gave to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, prompting criticism from Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). Crow's lawyer argued that the Senate Finance Committee lacks a legislative purpose in its request for the list of gifts, and Senator Wyden has called for Justice Thomas to step down. It is unclear whether the Committee will pursue further action against Crow.
Senator Dianne Feinstein Returns to the Senate After Nearly Three-Month Absence Due to Health Issues
Senator Dianne Feinstein Returns to the Senate After Nearly Three-Month Absence Due to Health Issues
Senator Dianne Feinstein is returning to the Senate after a three-month absence due to health issues. Her absence has complicated Democratic efforts to pass legislation and confirm President Joe Biden's nominees, as her absence has caused a single-seat majority in the Senate to become a 10-10 stalemate. Feinstein, who has served in the Senate since 1992, is expected to cast her first recorded vote since February 16th as soon as Tuesday night.
The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) has filed a lawsuit against Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, seeking an injunction to prevent the government from defaulting on its debts due to the current debt limit. The lawsuit claims that the union’s workers are “at immediate and imminent risk of layoff or furlough” if a deal is not reached to increase the government’s borrowing limit. NAGE President David J. Holway said the debt limit “puts our members’ jobs and livelihoods at risk” and the union is “fighting to protect the economic security of our members and their families.”