Attorney General Merrick Garland is set to strongly defend the Justice Department against Republican accusations of bias and conspiracy theories during a congressional hearing. Garland will address claims that the department is being weaponized against former President Donald Trump and will emphasize that such attacks are unfounded and threaten the integrity of future investigations. He will also highlight the dangers of falsehoods and threats directed at federal law enforcement, asserting that the Justice Department will not be intimidated or influenced by political pressures.
Several major Wall Street firms, including JPMorgan, State Street, and Pimco, have recently withdrawn from the Climate Action 100+ coalition, signaling a shift in their environmental commitments. This move follows a trend of financial giants scaling back their climate pledges, partly due to Republican criticism and concerns about legal risks. The retreat highlights the challenges faced by businesses in fulfilling their promises to address climate change, with some experts suggesting that previous commitments may have been more symbolic than substantive.
First Lady Jill Biden defended her husband's age, describing it as an asset to his presidency and countering attacks from Republican presidential hopefuls. She also expressed pride in her son Hunter's recovery from addiction amid ongoing scrutiny and criticism from GOP members over his legal issues.
President Joe Biden is facing the uncomfortable reality of his son Hunter Biden's ongoing legal troubles, as the Justice Department brings additional criminal charges against him. Hunter Biden's legal problems, along with revelations about his lifestyle and addiction struggles, are expected to remain in the news cycle for months to come, potentially impacting Biden's reelection campaign. Republicans are using Hunter Biden's actions to try and damage the president politically, although no evidence has emerged showing that President Biden benefited from his son's foreign business dealings. Despite the challenges, Biden's team remains confident that voters will make their decision based on other factors.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has spoken out against Republican attacks aimed at him, stating that they are actually intended to "destroy a presidency" by targeting the first family. Biden's comments come after he was indicted on nine charges, including tax evasion, by a federal grand jury. He expressed sympathy for two Republican lawmakers who have aggressively pursued him, calling them "not healthy people." The charges against Biden come amid House Republicans' efforts to link President Biden to his son's business dealings, although no evidence has been produced to support these claims.
Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has adopted a more aggressive approach in his legal battles, filing lawsuits and challenging his indictment on gun charges. While some White House staff are concerned that this strategy may draw more attention to his legal entanglements and personal struggles, others believe that fighting back is necessary to counter Republican attacks. Hunter Biden's legal moves are being closely monitored by his father's advisers, with differing opinions on the potential political repercussions. Hunter Biden's lawsuits target figures such as Rudy Giuliani and former Trump officials, and he has even attempted to subpoena Donald Trump.
Merrick Garland, the US Attorney General, defended the Department of Justice's handling of the Hunter Biden inquiry and other issues during a House judiciary inquiry. Garland vowed to not be intimidated by Republican attacks aimed at eroding trust in federal institutions. Republicans criticized Garland's appointment of David Weiss as a special counsel to handle the investigation into Hunter Biden, claiming that Weiss would protect Joe Biden. The hearing also touched on the defunding of the FBI, with Garland warning of catastrophic consequences if the agency were defunded. The White House dismissed the hearing as a distraction from more pressing matters, such as funding the government.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing attacks from fellow Republicans as a government shutdown looms. Rep. Victoria Spartz called McCarthy "weak" and criticized him for failing to address the fiscal catastrophe. Rep. Matt Gaetz accused McCarthy of lying and called for his removal as speaker. Rep. Nancy Mace blamed McCarthy for not holding individual votes on spending bills. Rep. Ken Buck warned that McCarthy's promises on various issues are coming due, creating a "perfect storm" of problems. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed McCarthy and former President Donald Trump for adding $7 trillion to the national debt.
The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, has sent a memo to Republican members of the panel alleging that relatives of President Joe Biden engaged in business with foreign nationals. The memo provides limited details about the Biden family’s alleged business dealings with foreign nationals, including allegations that Hunter Biden received more than $1 million from a company controlled by a Romanian official accused of corruption. The memo also alleges that the Biden family and associates' “activities in coordination with Chinese nationals and their corporate entities appear to be an attempt to engage in financial deception.” The White House has dismissed the allegations as baseless and a political stunt.
The White House is reportedly planning to boost support for Vice-President Kamala Harris in the face of increasing Republican attacks on her and age-related concerns about President Joe Biden. Biden, who is already the oldest president ever elected, will be nearly 82 by election day next year and 86 at the end of a second term if victorious. Harris, who is 58, has long been the subject of reports that she has struggled to make an impact as vice-president.
White House advisers have developed a plan to better promote the work of Vice President Kamala Harris amid Republican efforts to turn her into a liability. There is a growing view among White House aides that Harris’ work needs to be more prominently displayed to the public to earn her more recognition for her role in the administration. Biden is trying to tamp down public concerns about his age and whether he could complete another four-year term as Republican increase their attacks against Harris to cast her as the real candidate at the top of the ticket.
Republican lawmakers are attacking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's ties to billionaire George Soros as he prepares to bring an expected indictment against former President Donald Trump. However, records and people familiar with both men suggest that Soros' connection to Bragg is not as clear as Republicans leaders make it sound. There is no proof that Bragg is "bought by Soros," as claimed by Sen. J.D. Vance. Soros' involvement with Bragg appears to have come through his donations to the racial justice group Color of Change, which supported Bragg's campaign but did not receive earmarked funds from Soros.
