Justice Department sues Arizona over voting restrictions
The Justice Department sued Arizona on Tuesday over a new state law requiring proof of citizenship to vote in a presidential election, saying the Republican-imposed restrictions are a “textbook violation” of federal law. Arizona’s law, which Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed in March, requires voters to prove their citizenship to vote in a presidential election, like showing a birth certificate or passport. It also mandates that newly registered voters provide a proof of address, which could disproportionately affect people with limited access to government-issued identification cards. Those include immigrants, students, older people, low-income voters and Native Americans.
Georgia subpoenaing Giuliani, Graham in Trump election probe
The Georgia prosecutor investigating the conduct of former President Donald Trump and his allies after the 2020 election is subpoenaing U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to testify before a special grand jury. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Tuesday filed petitions with the judge overseeing the jury as part of her investigation into what she alleges was “a multi-state, coordinated plan by the Trump Campaign to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.” The move marks a major escalation in a case that pose a serious legal challenge to the former president as he weighs another White House run.
Jan. 6 hearings to resume next week
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol plans to hold a hearing Tuesday to reveal its findings about the connections between President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election and the domestic violent extremist groups that helped to organize the siege. The panel announced that the session would take place at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday. It is expected to be led by Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., who plan to chart the rise of the right-wing domestic violent extremist groups that attacked the Capitol and how Trump amassed and inspired the mob.
New evacuations for communities near California forest fire
Evacuation orders have been expanded for remote communities near a wildfire that’s chewing through California forests. The Sierra Nevada Gold Country fire tripled in size to more than 4.7 square miles Tuesday. The fire erupted on the Fourth of July at a recreation area packed with people. Between 85 to 100 celebrating at a river were forced to take shelter at a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. facility. Amador County Sheriff Gary Redman says they were safely evacuated. Evacuations are in place for parts of Amador and Calaveras counties. Redman suggested fireworks or a barbeque as a possible fire cause.
Ukrainian governor urges evacuation of 350,000 residents
The governor of the last remaining eastern province partly under Ukraine’s control urged his more than 350,000 residents to flee as Russian troops escalated their offensive. The governor of Donetsk made the plea Tuesday, after Russia declared it had seized the neighboring Luhansk province. In Donetsk province, a city in the path of Moscow’s offensive came under sustained bombardment Tuesday. The mayor of Sloviansk reported “massive shelling” that killed at least one person and wounded seven in the city. Russian forces are apparently positioning to advance farther into Ukraine’s Donbas region. The mostly Russian-speaking industrial area is where Ukraine’s most experienced soldiers are concentrated. In nearly all of Ukraine Tuesday night, air alerts were activated.
NATO approves membership bids of Sweden and Finland
NATO’s 30 member states formally approved membership bids for Finland and Sweden on Tuesday, sending their applications to alliance capitals for ratification by legislatures. The ratification process must be unanimous and can take several months at least. “This is truly an historic moment,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference alongside the foreign ministers of the two countries, Ann Linde of Sweden and Pekka Haavisto of Finland. “With 32 nations around the table, we will be even stronger.” The accession of Sweden and Finland would enhance NATO’s deterrence against Russia and make it easier to police the Baltic Sea and defend Baltic nations.
By wire sources
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