Hunter Biden indicted on three
gun felonies after failed plea deal
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, was charged Thursday by federal prosecutors with lying about his drug use when he purchased a handgun in 2018 and with illegally possessing the weapon, setting up the potential for a trial coinciding with his father’s reelection campaign. The indictment came as House Republicans stepped up their efforts to use Hunter Biden’s work abroad to build a case for impeaching President Joe Biden. The charges are related to whether Hunter Biden had lied on a federal government form that he was required to complete when he purchased a handgun in Delaware in 2018.
Georgia judge orders 2 trials for defendants in Trump election case
A judge Thursday granted former President Donald Trump and 16 others a separate trial from two of their co-defendants who will go to trial next month in the Georgia election interference case. The judge, Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court, has laid out an expedited trial schedule for Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, two lawyers who helped Trump try to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. The two had invoked their right under Georgia law to seek a speedy trial, in part to avoid the high cost of a more protracted legal fight. Their trial is set to begin with jury selection Oct. 23.
DeSantis spreads vaccine skepticism with guidance that contradicts CDC
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida’s administration issued COVID-19 vaccine recommendations this week that directly contradicted federal officials’ guidance as his presidential campaign tries to use the resurgence of the virus to appeal to Republican voters. With cases ticking up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Tuesday that everyone 6 months and older who had not received a COVID-19 shot in the last two months receive a booster vaccine. DeSantis’ administration advised that Florida residents under 65 skip the updated boosters. “I will not stand by and let the FDA and CDC use healthy Floridians as guinea pigs for new booster shots,” DeSantis said.
to showrooms.
Ukraine intensifies attacks on Russia in Crimea and Black Sea
Ukraine is stepping up its long-distance attacks into Russian-occupied Crimea and the Black Sea, launching several new strikes Thursday. The Ukrainian military said it had hit a Russian surface-to-air missile defense system in Crimea and two Russian vessels at sea, a day after it struck two Russian warships docked in Crimea. The statements could not immediately be confirmed or refuted. The Russian Defense Ministry said only that attacks on a ship in the Black Sea had failed. In recent weeks, Ukraine has accelerated the pace of strikes in and around the Crimean Peninsula, a critical supply hub for the Russian military.
China conducts major military exercises in Western Pacific
China launched large-scale military drills in the Western Pacific this week, deploying an aircraft carrier and dozens of naval ships and warplanes in a major show of force aimed at pushing back at U.S. pressure. The joint exercises come after the United States conducted military drills across the region in recent weeks with allies. Defense analyst Ben Lewis said China’s military was likely practicing enforcing a blockade around Taiwan, which would complicate the ability of the U.S. to come to Taiwan’s aid if it were to be invaded by China.
By wire sources
