US fighter jets have shot down three unidentified objects in North American airspace in the past week, raising questions from Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., about the Biden administration's lack of transparency. Himes noted that the "Gang of Eight" received a "very extensive briefing" on the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down last week, but that information about the other objects may be scarce. The US Department of Defense has not yet released any information about the objects.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith has been appointed by the Justice Department to investigate former President Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the mishandling of classified government records. ABC News has reported that Smith has subpoenaed former Vice President Mike Pence as part of the inquiry, and other individuals may have been subpoenaed as well. Smith has also been investigating Trump's role in the attack and his handling of classified documents in key battleground states.
Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines, is set to appear before the Senate's Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to explain the airline's holiday travel debacle that led to 16,000 flight cancellations and millions of passengers getting stranded. Watterson will tell the committee that the airline "messed up" due to a winter storm and operational shortfalls, and has since taken steps to ensure similar problems do not occur in the future. The hearing is expected to provide further insight into the incident and result in recommendations for how airlines can better handle similar situations.
Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Mike Turner have criticized President Biden for waiting several days to take action against a suspected Chinese spy balloon detected over Alaska. On Saturday, fighter jets shot the balloon out of the sky off the coast of South Carolina on the president's orders. The incident has raised questions about the Biden administration's handling of foreign threats, and how it will ensure the safety of the American people in the future.
A suspected Chinese surveillance balloon has caused a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and China, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone his trip to China. Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies believes the incident has reinforced concerns about China's ambitions, further straining the relationship between the two countries. The situation is being monitored closely and it is unclear when Blinken's trip will be rescheduled.
The FBI is investigating a claim by Navy veteran Richard Osthoff that Rep. George Santos misused funds from an online fundraising campaign intended to cover lifesaving surgery for Osthoff's service dog. Osthoff has provided the FBI with text messages and other records related to the campaign, and the US Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York is leading the investigation. Santos has not responded to questions about the matter, and the FBI has yet to comment.
The Justice Department has denied a request from House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan for sensitive information related to an ongoing investigation into classified documents found at President Joe Biden's home and a former office. In a letter, Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar stated that disclosing non-public information could jeopardize investigations, violate statutory requirements, and interfere with the Department's ability to conduct its investigations. However, the Department has already provided the committee with a significant amount of information related to the investigation.
The Memphis Police Department has relieved a sixth officer of duty in connection to the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man whose death has sparked nationwide outrage and protests. The department has launched an internal investigation and is being represented by Ben Crump, who has called for justice and the release of body camera and surveillance footage of the arrest. The department has not released any further information on the investigation.