Elmer Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison on Thursday for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prior to his sentencing, Rhodes delivered a 20-minute-long diatribe in which he called himself a “political prisoner” and said his only crime was trying to stop politicians from “destroying” America. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta delivered a searing rebuke to Rhodes before handing down the longest sentence yet to any of the more than 400 people charged in connection with the attack.
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Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers, is set to be sentenced Thursday on felony counts related to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Prosecutors have asked for a 25-year sentence, while Rhodes is asking for time served. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta will issue the sentence.
The CDC released a report showing that the rate of new HIV infections in the US has decreased by 12% between 2017 and 2021, despite a sharp drop in HIV testing in 2020. Other wealthy Western nations have seen even greater success, with annual infection rates dropping by more than 70% in the Netherlands, 68% in Italy and 44% in Australia. The CDC report is a positive sign of progress, but there is still much work to be done to ensure all Americans have access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained in Russia since March and his pre-trial detention has been extended until August 30th by the Lefortovsky District Court in Moscow. The U.S. State Department and international human rights groups have called for his release, while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused him of espionage without providing any evidence.
Prince Harry has lost a legal battle to pay for police protection when he visits Britain, with the High Court in London ruling against him. The decision was taken by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures after he and Meghan stepped down from their official roles in 2020. The court rejected the Duke of Sussex's assertion that the British government exceeded its authority when it denied him the right to hire police for security.
Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine wrongfully detained in Russia since December 2018, has expressed his concern about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has called for the release of Whelan and other wrongfully detained Americans in Russia, and the Biden administration has yet to comment on the situation. Whelan remains hopeful that he will be released soon, expressing confidence that the wheels are turning.
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., announced Monday that he will not seek re-election after 20 years in the Senate, instead focusing on clean energy, tackling global warming and spurring economic growth. He has served in public office for nearly 50 years, beginning in 1970, and is confident his former intern, Lisa Blunt Rochester, will make an excellent successor. Carper is proud of the work he has done in the Senate and is looking forward to the next 20 months.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, criticizing the "radical left" and President Biden in a roughly 40-minute speech. Scott joins a rapidly expanding field of contenders looking to unseat former President Donald Trump, emphasizing his personal background and his family's experience with poverty and success. His candidacy comes as the Republican Party is in the midst of a heated debate over its future direction, and Scott is sure to be a strong contender in the 2024 presidential race.