Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to hide $130,000 in hush money paid during the 2016 presidential election. This is the first time in American history that a president has been fingerprinted and faced a judge in a criminal prosecution. If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison, with the trial set to begin in June.
Posts tagged as “Advancing American Freedom”
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, challenging former President Donald Trump who is currently the front-runner. Hutchinson has served in various political roles since 1997, and is the first major rival to challenge Trump for the nomination. He made the announcement in an interview with ABC’s “This Week” that aired Sunday and plans to make a formal announcement in April in Arkansas.
WNBA star Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle have expressed their concern and support for American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges. Griner, who was held in Russia for most of last year, urged the Biden administration to “use every tool possible” to secure Gershkovich's release. The Wall Street Journal, for which Gershkovich works, has denied the charges and called for his immediate release, and the Biden administration has said it is “deeply concerned” and working to secure his release.
Douglas Mackey, a self-styled far-right propagandist from Florida, was convicted of conspiring to deprive individuals of their right to vote in the 2016 presidential election. Mackey had 58,000 Twitter followers and used false information to influence the election, such as the hashtag #DraftOurDaughters to suggest that Hillary Clinton would institute a military draft of women if elected. He faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in June 2021.
On Wednesday, Russian authorities arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg. U.S. Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan has warned that Gershkovich is likely to face a sham, closed trial on espionage charges and endure tough treatment. This arrest is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised tensions between Russia and the West, and the international community is urged to pay attention to the case and take action.
Monica de Leon Barba, a 29-year-old American woman, has been missing since Nov. 29 when she was last seen walking her dog home from work in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico. Her family found her dog on the street and the FBI is offering a reward of up to $40,000 for information leading to her recovery. Her brother said she was visiting Tepatitlán when she was kidnapped and her family has described the last four months as "torturous."
The trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds have released their annual report, revealing that the trust funds are facing financial challenges and will run out of reserves in 2034. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has expressed the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to protecting these programs, and the trustees have urged lawmakers to take action to address the pending shortfall.
On International Transgender Day of Visibility, President Joe Biden issued a statement denouncing the wave of discriminatory state laws aimed at trans Americans, which he blamed on “MAGA extremists.” He acknowledged the bullying, discrimination, and political attacks trans kids face, and praised their courage in the face of threats. He called on all Americans to stand up for the rights of transgender Americans and urged Congress to pass the Equality Act.