The family of Tyre Nichols has released a statement acknowledging the results of the medical examiner’s report, which confirms that he died from blunt force trauma. The attorneys representing the family are now calling for justice and accountability for the officers involved in the incident, and are demanding that the police department implement reforms to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future. The Shelby County District Attorney’s office has yet to announce any charges in the case.
News Mash
Four members of the far-right Proud Boys organization were found guilty Thursday of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including the rare charge of seditious conspiracy under a Civil War-era statute. Enrique Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl and Joseph Biggs were convicted of conspiring to prevent the peaceful transfer of power and obstructing Congress, marking the first convictions under the seditious conspiracy charge since the Civil War. The Justice Department has vowed to continue to pursue those responsible for the attack on the Capitol.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted private school tuition payments from conservative GOP megadonor Harlan Crow for his teenage grandnephew, Mark Martin, according to a new report from ProPublica. The total amount that Crow paid for Martin’s tuition over the years is unclear, but the news of Justice Thomas’ undisclosed gifts has raised questions about whether the payments were appropriate and if they violated the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. This has sparked a debate about the ethics of accepting gifts from those with a direct interest in a case before the court.
An explosion at an industrial park in Newburyport, Massachusetts left one worker unaccounted for and four hospitalized. Firefighters found an industrial-sized vat thrown 30 feet from the building, and the cause of the explosion is under investigation. The Newbury Fire Department is asking anyone with information about the missing worker or who may have been affected to contact them.
The U.S. is facing a potential default on its debt for the first time in history, with economists warning of dire consequences. Small business owners are particularly vulnerable, and President Biden is set to meet with congressional leaders to try and reach a deal to prevent a default. It is hoped that this meeting will result in an agreement that will prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday, one day after Russia accused the United States of being behind an alleged drone attack. The ICC recently issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Zelenskyy's visit is likely related to the warrant, as he was in The Hague to discuss the matter with the ICC and the International Court of Justice.
Brazilian Federal Police conducted a major operation on Wednesday, searching former President Jair Bolsonaro's home and seizing his phone as part of an investigation into alleged falsification of COVID-19 vaccine cards. Mauro Cid, one of Bolsonaro's closest allies, was arrested and several other locations were searched. The police said the "false data" were allegedly added to the database between November and December 2020, potentially undermining the government's efforts to contain the virus.
Two top congressional Republicans have issued a subpoena to the FBI for a document related to a possible bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden, which was brought to their attention by a whistleblower. The White House has accused the lawmakers of an "unfounded political attack" and the FBI is expected to respond to the subpoena in the coming days. The allegation has sparked a heated debate among Republicans, with some taking to Fox News to weigh in.