Trump’s post-election fundraising comes under scrutiny by Justice Department
A federal grand jury in Washington is examining the formation of — and spending by — a fundraising operation created by Donald Trump after his loss in the 2020 election as he was soliciting millions of dollars by baselessly asserting the results had been marred by widespread voting fraud. According to subpoenas issued by the grand jury, the contents of which were described to The New York Times, the Justice Department is interested in the inner workings of Save America PAC, Trump’s main fundraising vehicle after the election. The new subpoenas did not make clear what possible crime or crimes the Justice Department might be investigating.
Bannon faces New York indictment in wall case
Steve Bannon, the self-professed populist adviser to former President Donald Trump, was accused by Manhattan prosecutors Thursday of defrauding Americans who wanted to contribute to construction of a southern border wall through an organization known as We Build the Wall Inc. Prosecutors said Bannon played an integral role in the organization and funneled more than $100,000 in donations to its president, Brian Kolfage. The state’s attorney general said that Bannon, too, had personally profited. Bannon was charged with two felony counts of money laundering, two felony counts of conspiracy and one felony count of a scheme to defraud. He has pleaded not guilty.
Authorities say DNA links Las Vegas official to killing of reporter
Authorities investigating the killing of a veteran Las Vegas journalist, Jeff German, said Thursday that they found DNA at the crime scene that matched a public official who had been the subject of German’s recent reporting. Robert Telles, the Clark County public administrator, was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of killing German. He had publicly expressed outrage over German’s coverage of his office, and police said their investigation showed that he had also been upset that German was pursuing additional reporting. Telles appeared in court Thursday, where a judge ordered that he be held without bail.
NASA could retry moon rocket launch in late September
After replacing leaky seals that halted a launch attempt of its new moon rocket last week, NASA said Thursday that it hoped to try again later this month. At a news conference Thursday, NASA officials announced two potential launch windows: Sept. 23 from 6:47 a.m. to 8:47 a.m. ET, and Sept. 27 from 11:37 a.m. to 12:47 p.m. ET. Before it can move ahead with another countdown, NASA will first conduct a test to ensure that the repairs worked by filling up the rocket’s huge tanks with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. That test is scheduled for Sept. 17.
Breast implants may be linked to additional cancers, FDA warns
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday warned women who have breast implants or are considering getting them that certain cancers may develop in scar tissue forming around the implants. The malignancies seem to be rare, but they have been linked to implants of all types, including those with textured and smooth surfaces, and those filled with saline or silicone. The FDA said it was not recommending that women remove breast implants because of the new warning. But the agency is advising women to monitor their implants, and to see a surgeon or a health care provider if they notice any abnormal changes.
In a surprise visit to Ukraine, Blinken offers aid and encouragement
Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a surprise visit to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, on Thursday, pledging $2.8 billion in military aid for Ukraine and other countries at risk of Russian invasion as the United States backs a Ukrainian effort to gain fresh military momentum. With Ukraine waging a counteroffensive to reclaim territory, the U.S. will send an additional $675 million in military support for the country, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in separate announcements. Blinken also said he was asking Congress to approve just over $2 billion more for longer-term investments in Ukraine’s military and that of 18 other mostly small and vulnerable European countries.
Fire at a karaoke bar in Vietnam kills 32
A blaze tore through a three-story karaoke bar in southern Vietnam this week, killing 32 people, authorities said Thursday, making it the deadliest fire in Vietnam since 2002. It was the latest in a series of fatal blazes at Vietnamese karaoke bars in recent years. The disaster prompted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to order fire inspections nationwide at karaoke bars and other establishments considered to be at high risk, including pubs, discos and nightclubs. An electrical short circuit set off the fire Tuesday night on the second floor of An Phu Karaoke, in Binh Duong province, just north of Ho Chi Minh City, police said.
By wire sources