President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is visiting Washington, D.C. to seek additional military aid to help fend off Russia’s invasion, but a key bloc of Republicans in the GOP-controlled lower chamber have expressed skepticism and sent a letter to the White House expressing their opposition to the request for $24 billion in additional funding. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans have voiced their support for the Biden administration’s efforts, but the letter from the GOP lawmakers expresses their concern that the Biden administration has not provided sufficient answers to their questions. The letter states that the lawmakers will not support additional funding for Ukraine until they receive answers to their questions.
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President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Wednesday to discuss the far-right Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians and the need to protect democracy in Israel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said negotiations over Israel are getting closer every day, but that treatment of Palestinians is a major issue to be resolved. Biden is pushing Netanyahu to find a compromise on the judicial overhaul and to improve conditions in the West Bank, but it remains to be seen if the two leaders can come to an agreement.
Ray Epps, a participant in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, has been charged with disorderly conduct in federal court in Washington, D.C. He is set to enter a plea deal on Wednesday, Sept. 20, and is one of more than 400 suspects identified by the FBI in connection with the attack. The investigation is ongoing.
Rudy Giuliani, former attorney to President Donald Trump, is being sued for allegedly failing to pay more than $1.36 million in legal fees to the law firm of Costello and Associates. The firm claims to have provided legal services to Giuliani since 2019, including representation in election interference cases and during criminal investigations, and has only been paid $150,000 of the $1.5 million billed. This is the latest in a series of legal troubles for Giuliani, with the outcome of this lawsuit yet to be determined.
Hunter Biden has filed a lawsuit against two IRS agents, alleging that they have unlawfully shared his private tax information in violation of the law. The complaint claims that the agents have targeted and sought to embarrass him through public statements to the media, and seeks a court order to prevent further disclosure and damages for the alleged violations. The IRS has yet to comment on the lawsuit, and its implications for taxpayer privacy remain to be seen.
Donald Trump's defense team has filed papers in D.C. federal court to request that Judge Tanya Chutkan recuse herself from the federal 2020 election conspiracy case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, arguing that her prior comments have created an appearance of prejudgment. Chutkan has refused to recuse herself, noting that the defense’s argument “fails to identify any actual bias or prejudice” she has expressed. The case is set to go to trial in June 2021, and it is unclear how the court will rule on Trump's request.
President Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to meet in Washington, D.C. next Thursday, with the Biden administration considering sending long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems to Ukraine and pushing Congress to authorize $13 billion in military funding. The meeting is expected to be a key moment in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and a show of solidarity between the United States and Ukraine.
On September 11th, the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks was commemorated. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks, and 343 firefighters died on the day of the attacks, with 341 more dying from illnesses related to the recovery efforts. The memorial pool at the World Trade Center site serves as a reminder of the courage of those who responded to the attacks and the lasting impact of the tragedy.